Behold Your God: Exalted and Unrivaled

Bible Passage: Isaiah 2:6–22

Introduction: God will bring down everything we exalt in His place, so that He alone is lifted up.

I. A land full of everything but God (vv. 6–9)

1. God gives them over to their choices (v. 6a)

a. A land full of borrowed spirituality (v. 6b): “They are full of superstitions from the East; they practice divination like the Philistines and embrace pagan customs.”
b. A land full of wealth (v. 7a): “Their land is full of silver and gold; there is no end to their treasures.”
c. A land full of military firepower (v. 7b): “Their land is full of horses; there is no end to their chariots.”
d. A land full of self-made idols (v. 8): “Their land is full of idols” Psalm 115:8

2. The tragedy is a heart filled with everything except God (vv. 6–8, compared with 6:3).
3. Those who exalt themselves will not be lifted up (v. 9). “So people will be brought low and everyone humbled— do not forgive them.”

II. Divine judgment and the fall of human pride (vv. 10–17)

1. “The Day of the Lord” (v. 12): Isaiah introduces a phrase that echoes throughout the prophets and into the New Testament: The Day of the Lord (Amos 5:18, 1 Thess 5:2, 2 Pet 3:10).
2. The Eden Instinct: Running from God instead of to Him (v. 10, 19, 21)
3. Eight monuments of human pride brought low (vv. 13–16)

a. Natural grandeur: The cedars of Lebanon and the oaks of Bashan.
b. Geographic height: The towering mountains and high hills.
c. Military security: The lofty tower and the fortified wall.
d. Commerce and luxury: The trading ships of Tarshish and stately vessels.

4. The unshakable refrain: “the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.” (vv. 11, 17)

III. Idols in the dark (vv. 18–21)

1. Idols are utter nothings (v. 18): Isaiah declares, “The idols will totally disappear.” (Ps 115:4–8, 1 Cor 8:4).
2. The tragic fate of human idols: Thrown to moles and bats (vv. 19–21)
3. The last day exposes every idol (Rev 6:15–17; 2 Thess 1:9).

IV. The final verdict: Stop trusting in borrowed breath (v. 22)

1. Humanity runs on borrowed breath (v. 22a) “Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils.”
2. Exposing the bad bargain: Why trust something that cannot carry us? (v. 22b)

V. Observations: Behold Your God (Isaiah 2:6–22)

1. Behold your God as the One who gives us over to what we choose (v. 6; Rom 1:24–28; Ps 81:11–12).
2. Behold your God as the One who carries us where idols cannot (Isa 46:1–4; Isa 2:18–21).
3. Behold your God as the One who brings down the proud and lifts up the humble (Jas 4:6; 1 Pet 5:5–6; Luke 1:52).
4. Behold your God as the One who guards His glory for our sake (Isa 42:8; 43:7, 25; 48:11).

VI. Christ as the fulfillment of Isaiah 2

1. Christ: the One who was exalted by going low (Phil 2:5–11)
2. Christ is the rock: Hide in the rock, not from the rock (Isa 2:10, 19, 21; 1 Cor 10:4; Rev 6:15–17)
3. Christ, the giver of true breath (Gen 2:7; John 20:22; Ezek 37:9–10)

Takeaway:

Stop trusting in fragile human breath, and trust the One who gives it.