humbled by the Holy God

Man is humbled, and each one is brought low,

and the eyes of the haughty are brought low.

But the LORD of hosts is exalted in justice,

and the Holy God shows himself holy in righteousness.

Isaiah 5:15-16

God’s justice is perfect. And even though we may see earthly situations where proud humans seem to be able to defy God’s holiness now, rest assured that this will not stand. God will show Himself holy and righteous. God will judge sin, particularly those in defiance of Him. And when He does, people are clearly humbled. The proud are brought low. God is exalted. His perfect righteousness prevails. He will not let sin go unpunished.

Isaiah’s perspective prophesies to a rebellious people. Jerusalem will soon fall. The Jews will suffer for decades of defying God. The generations who have turned from God’s Law to worship idols will fall. The leaders who perpetuated this national rebellion will be disgraced. The structure built on idolatry, pride, and rejection of the covenant will collapse with nothing left. History shows this to be exactly what happened. God judged sin. God’s justice was exalted. God showed Himself holy and righteous in the destruction of sinful, societal structures and ending an idolatrous, selfish culture.

Man is humbled. We either humble ourselves in worship of God, accepting His means of salvation and trusting His Word, or we are humbled by His complete, grinding, relentless justice. The first humility leads to a pleasant experience of grace and glory. The humility of judgment leads to loss, regret, and ultimately a dark eternity of torment away from God.

Lord Jesus,

I thank You that You humbled Yourself and obeyed to death on a cross. And I, a humbled sinner, plead Your gracious gift to believe God’s judgment fell on You for me. And in my place condemned You stood… sealed my pardon with Your blood. May that gospel truth, the story of every Christian’s new life in You, be saving many even today who believe!

Amen