Written September 2nd, 2021 – Late Thursday Night
“So the common man will be humbled and the man of importance abased,
The eyes of the proud also will be abased.
But the LORD of hosts will be exalted in judgment,
And the holy God will show Himself holy in righteousness.” ~Isaiah 5:15-16
This passage comes in the middle of a song of indignation, wrath, and judgment. The song is directed to the “Well-beloved” of the LORD – the people of Israel – and it includes indictment after indictment against the rebellious nation. These verses make up the middle of the chapter and they could be used as a summary statement for all of history, even though they are part of a righteous condemnation. Read them again.
There is no one who can stand before the LORD. The rich, the poor, the important, the proud, the common, the shrewd, the crude, the wicked, the conniving, the prisoner, the judge, the mighty, the weak – everyone – will be humbled and condemned before Him. He will be exalted in judgment and He will show Himself holy in righteousness. He will be lifted up and glorified and His perfect and pure character will be magnified.
Oh, how terrible His judgment and condemnation is! Oh, how awful the weight of sin that hangs on the hearts of mankind! And even worse, His people (not just Israel, but the Church that has been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb) are often found reveling in that same sin. Do not believe for a second that He is ok with it; how hot His anger must burn when He sees it!
My friends, the time is far past; let us live no longer for the world, the flesh, and the devil, but let us present ourselves to the LORD as His holy vessels. Let us humble ourselves and exalt Him, casting aside everything that weighs us down and everything that inhibits His life from blossoming in us. May He be glorified in His people once again!