The LORD Alone Will Be Exalted

“For you have rejected your people,
    the house of Jacob,
because they are full of things from the east
    and of fortune-tellers like the Philistines,
    and they strike hands with the children of foreigners.
Their land is filled with silver and gold,
    and there is no end to their treasures;
their land is filled with horses,
    and there is no end to their chariots.
 Their land is filled with idols;
    they bow down to the work of their hands,
    to what their own fingers have made.
So man is humbled,
    and each one is brought low—
    do not forgive them!
Enter into the rock
    and hide in the dust
from before the terror of the Lord,
    and from the splendor of his majesty.
The haughty looks of man shall be brought low,
    and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled,
and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.

For the LORD of hosts has a day
    against all that is proud and lofty,
    against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low;
against all the cedars of Lebanon,
    lofty and lifted up;
    and against all the oaks of Bashan;
against all the lofty mountains,
    and against all the uplifted hills;
against every high tower,
    and against every fortified wall;
 against all the ships of Tarshish,
    and against all the beautiful craft.
And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled,
    and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low,
    and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
And the idols shall utterly pass away.” Isaiah 2:6-18

If the LORD alone will be exalted in that day, why do we not exalt Him alone today?

Ah, the things we exalt and craft into our gods! The pedestals we erect, the shrines before which we bow! An object, a commendation of approval, a wink or tease, an ideal of what we wish would be but is not. Maybe it is an individual we love or admire or compete with or resent- any can morph our heart affection into idolatry. There is much we accumulate- material, experience, or credential- that we hold too high but will one day topple before our Lord.

Consider collected trinkets, savored predictions, unholy alliances, and unstable securities. What notoriety do we relish, or accomplishment do we trust? One day, the Lord will surely humble us. His terror will swallow our fear of man, and His splendor bring every thought and deed to light. His radiance will expose our depravity, His perfection our supposed greatness. He who reigns far above the heavens and condescends to save us will bring us to our knees, to account, and to wonder and praise. (Psalm 113:4; Romans 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Ephesians 4:10; Philippians 2:6-8)

Would we learn the Isaiah secret today! Would we gaze at Him who is high and lifted up, our King of kings and Great High Priest who intercedes for our foolish pride! Would He reorient our vision, touch us with holy fire, cleanse us of pomp and swagger, and transform our every affection! (Isaiah 6:1-8; Revelation 17:14; 19:16)

Lord of lords, train me to exalt You in every thought, every effort, every endeavor, every day. I offer You all I hold dear so I can offer You the rightful, exclusive, supreme worship You merit.