So far in the book of Isaiah we have seen plenty of allusion towards the judgments awaiting this world. Here in chapter 14 we see more of that, as Isaiah returns to issuing dire warnings. This chapter is a little different, however, in that he begins to talk about what is going to happen to Lucifer at the end of time. He never mentions Lucifer by name here, but it is strongly hinted at that he is the one that will be subject to the worst of these judgments.
Almost since the beginning of time Lucifer has been sowing discord not only here on earth, but in heaven. We know that he is a master manipulator and deceiver. He is responsible for causing original sin and was cast out of heaven before the creation of the world. Because he once was in heaven and led a revolt of angels, we do know that he is a former angelic being. Despite what he thinks though, he is not equal to God.
12 How you have fallen from heaven,
O morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!
13 You said in your heart,
"I will ascend to heaven;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.
14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High."
15 But you are brought down to the grave,
to the depths of the pit.
16 Those who see you stare at you,
they ponder your fate:
"Is this the man who shook the earth
and made kingdoms tremble,
17 the man who made the world a desert,
who overthrew its cities
and would not let his captives go home?"
18 All the kings of the nations lie in state,
each in his own tomb.
19 But you are cast out of your tomb
like a rejected branch;
you are covered with the slain,
with those pierced by the sword,
those who descend to the stones of the pit.
Like a corpse trampled underfoot,
20 you will not join them in burial,
for you have destroyed your land
and killed your people.
The offspring of the wicked
will never be mentioned again. – Isaiah 14:12-20
One of the names Lucifer has been given is the morning star. This is how we know that he is the morning star that Isaiah is referring to here. We see that when God has won the final victory over him he will not have a fate as simple as one who ignored. Rather, he will be sent to the pit because he tried to exalt himself as the most high. This is yet another lesson against having too much pride, as we cannot hope to exalt ourselves above God. It is also a lesson in being humble. Lucifer has very little humility, which we know as a quality that God desires in us. The moment we begin to think we are equal to God in any way we begin to turn away from him because we then think we can accomplish things on our own.
TODAY'S QUESTIONS:
- Why is Lucifer in store for a worse fate than someone who turned away from God.
- Why does Isaiah equate Babylon to the morning star in this chapter?
- Why are there further warnings here against Assyria?
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