Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"The day of the LORD of hosts"
Text: Isaiah 2:12
THE DAY OF THE LORD OF HOSTS
A common phrase used by many prophets was “The day of the LORD”. Isaiah employed the full phrase, “The day of the LORD of hosts.” He wanted to emphasise the great majesty of the LORD God.
“For the day of the LORD of hosts
Shall come upon everything proud and lofty,
Upon everything lifted up—
And it shall be brought low—
Upon all the cedars of Lebanon that are high and lifted up,
And upon all the oaks of Bashan;
Upon all the high mountains,
And upon all the hills that are lifted up;
Upon every high tower,
And upon every fortified wall;
Upon all the ships of Tarshish,
And upon all the beautiful sloops.”
Isaiah 2:12-16
1. The people who would suffer greatly are listed:
a) The proud and the lofty.
b) These would be brought down from the lofty places they had ascended.
2. The things that the proud people honoured and held in high esteem.
a) “Everything lifted up”
b) A short list of these things lifted up (prized by “the high and mighty”).
i) The cedars of Lebanon.
ii) The oaks of Bashan.
The wood from these trees was used in the homes of the rich and powerful.
They were costly things. Only the rich and powerful would have been able
to afford to purchase them.
iii) The high mountains and hills.
They were regarded as sacred. Shrines were often built in the high hills.
The rich spared no expense to build these shrines.
iv) High towers and fortified walls.
These were erected by mighty kings to defend their cities.
They did not rely on the LORD for their protection but on these mighty walls.
v) “The ships of Tarshish”
Tarshish was the centre for the shipping world in the ancient days.
They were a powerful and rich maritime city.
They built great ships that helped their owners trade with other countries.
c) These were five things that the proud and lofty rich people took great pride in. These things would be judged and brought down in the day of the LORD of hosts.