FIRST QUARTER 2021
SABBATH SCHOOL INSIGHT #6
FEBRUARY 6, 2021
“PLAYING GOD”

 

“Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation,” Isaiah 25:9

This week we examine the origin of pride and self-exaltation and explore why God’s kingdom triumphs and endures forever.

At the pinnacle of its glory days Nebuchadnezzar ruled the golden empire of Babylon.  Nebuchadnezzar achieved a string of victories and successes.  He also encountered a few obstacles along the way, the biggest being his pride.  “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30).

Through a couple of dreams, some faithful Jewish exiles, and other divine providences Nebuchadnezzar is eventually humbled and converted.  He acknowledges and worships the Creator God Whose “dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation (Daniel 4:34).  The monarch’s concluding testimony is: “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice.  And those who walk in pride He is able to put down” (Daniel 4:36).  Regrettably, Belshazzar does not take his grandfather’s experience to heart (Daniel 5).

“Babylon, with all its power and its magnificence, the like of which our world has never since beheld, — power and magnificence which to the people of that day seemed so stable and enduring, — how completely has it passed away! As “the flower of the grass” it has perished. So perishes all that has not God for its foundation. Only that which is bound up with His purpose and expresses His character can endure. His principles are the only steadfast things our world knows. It is these great truths that old and young need to learn. We need to study the working out of God’s purpose in the history of nations and in the revelation of things to come, that we may estimate at their true value things seen and things unseen; that we may learn what is the true aim of life; that, viewing the things of time in the light of eternity, we may put them to their truest and noblest use. Thus, learning here the principles of His kingdom and becoming its subjects and citizens, we may be prepared at His coming to enter with Him into its possession.” –Ellen G. White, Education, pp. 183, 184.

The bible is an inspired historical and prophetic book that takes us on a journey, beginning with the creation of our world and the entrance of sin, through to the recreation of the earth and the eradication of evil.

There is a richness in the historical narratives and prophecies of the bible.  Names and events contain a surprising depth of meaning and importance.  Stories, places, persons, and animals are often representative.  Take for example the description of Leviathan found in the book of Job.  Speaking of this creature God concludes His questioning of Job with the words, “He is king over all the children of pride” (Job 41:34).

Who is Leviathan, this king who reigns over the children of pride?  He is the serpent, the dragon, Satan the adversary, the prince of evil and deception.  In Isaiah 14 he is spoken of as the king of Babylon.

The origins of Babylon go back years before Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel’s time.  We read of Babylon’s beginnings in Genesis and of its ultimate demise in the book of Revelation.  It was a disbelief of God’s word and a desire for greatness (“Let us make a name for ourselves” Genesis 11:4.) that prompted the building of the tower of Babel on the plain of Shinar.  The word Babel embraces a dual meaning – The gate of god(s) and confusion of the people.  Babel stands in contrast with Bethel, “the house of God, the gate of heaven.”  The ladder from heaven, the Son of Man, (John 1:51) bridges the divide caused by sin.  Salvation by faith in the sacrifice and merits of a divine-human Savior stands in contrast with salvation by human achievement.

Babylon’s foundation of selfish pride results in unholy ambition, taking, envy, hate, force, and confusion.  The foundation of Heaven’s Jerusalem is agape and agape manifests itself in others-centeredness, humility, kindness, mercy, justice, and truth.  Contrasting the kings[i] of each of these cities is most helpful in understanding why God’s kingdom endures forever.  Let’s take a look at the king of Babylon described in Isaiah 14 and the Servant, New Jerusalem’s King, who we will study in greater detail in the second half of the book of Isaiah.

The Oppressor versus the Benefactor:  The king of Babylon oppressed and weakened the nations.  In anger he continually struck the people with unceasing blows (Isaiah 14:4-6, 12).  He made the earth tremble, shook kingdoms, made the world a wilderness, and destroyed its cities.  He did not let his prisoners go free (Isaiah 14:16-17).  He destroyed his land and his people (Isaiah 14:20).  The Suffering Servant Who was Himself oppressed identifies with the afflicted.  He was smitten, wounded, bruised and “cut off” for those He came to save (Isaiah 53 4-8).  He is merciful and just (Isaiah 42:3).  He releases the prisoners, bringing them out from the prison house (Isaiah 42:7).  He is given as a covenant to the people, to restore the earth and its desolations (Isaiah 49:8-10).  “Thus, says the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him who contends with you, and I will save your children” (Isaiah 49:25).

Pride and Self-exaltation versus Humility and Self-sacrificing Love:  The king of Babylon is pompous (Isaiah 14:11) and boasts, “I will ascend into heaven, above the stars of God. I will set my throne on high.  I will sit on the mount of the congregation, on the farthest sides of the north, above the clouds.  I will be like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:13-14).  The Suffering Servant “has no beauty that we should desire Him.”  He is despised, rejected, and not esteemed (Isaiah 53:2-3).  He, the Lamb of God, offered and poured out His life for the sins of the world (Isaiah 53:6-12).  Christ “made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant.  And coming in the likeness of men, being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:5-8).

Light and Darkness:  Lucifer, son of the morning, shut up his prisoners away from the light.  In the end this once light-bearer is brought down to darkness, to the lowest depths of the Pit (Isaiah 14:12-15).  The Servant dispels darkness and brings light.  He leads the blind out of darkness so they can see.  He is made a light to the Gentiles and salvation to the ends of the earth (Isaiah 49:6; 42:6, 16; 60:2, 3).  “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined” (Isaiah 9:2).

Responses from the Kings:  The kings of the earth are startled when they see the king of Babylon humiliated and exposed (Isaiah 14:9-11, 16).  They say, “Have you also become as weak as we?  Have you become like us?  Your pomp is brought down to the grave, and the sound of your stringed instruments; the maggot is spread under you, and worms cover you” (Isaiah 14:9-11).  When the kings see the Servant, they are likewise startled.  This humble Man of sorrows, Whose “visage was marred more than any man,” has been highly exalted!  “Kings shall shut their mouths at Him” (Isaiah 52:13-15).  “Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and its Holy One, to the despised One, to the One abhorred by the nation, to the Servant of rulers: Kings shall see and arise, princes shall also bow down, because of the LORD Who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel has chosen You” (Isaiah 49:7).

Beginnings and Endings:  The king of Babylon aspired to greatness, but in the end, he is laid low and cut down (Isaiah 14:8, 12).  He who destroyed his land and people (Isaiah 14:20) is not joined with them in burial.  While they sleep, he is cast out of his grave “like an abominable branch, covered with the slain, like a corpse trodden underfoot” (Isaiah 14:18, 19).  During the thousand years Satan has no one to tempt or torment.  He is given time to reflect on the untold devastation his rule has caused.  At the end of the thousand years, he and his followers are destroyed (Revelation 20).  With his offspring and seed he will be cut off forevermore.  I will “cut off from Babylon the name and remnant, and offspring and posterity,” says the LORD” (Isaiah 14:15-22).  The humble Servant was “like a root out of dry ground,” yet His life of disinterested love revealed true greatness.  He died the death of the wicked but was given an honorable burial because “He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth” (Isaiah 53:9).  Though “cut off from the land of the living” He would see His offspring.  “He shall see the labor of His soul and be satisfied” (Isaiah 53:8, 10, 11).  “Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).  The Lamb and the Father (Who share their throne with the redeemed—what an amazing thought!) reign eternally (Revelation 3:21; 22:1-5).  The universe is clean, and affliction will never arise again (Nahum 1:9).

Lucifer said, “I will be like the Most High.”  Wherein then was Lucifer wrong?  Simply in this, that he took the wrong way to be like God.  He thought that by exalting himself he could be like God, whereas self-exaltation makes one most unlike Him.  Whoever lifts himself up will not find God for God calls on all to humble themselves to walk with Him.  “He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.” Luke 1:52. “He that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Luke 18:14. –E. J. Waggoner, Treasures in Isaiah, p. 86.

“It was a being of wonderful power and glory that had set himself against God. …Lucifer had been the covering cherub. He had stood in the light of God’s presence. He had been the highest of all created beings, and had been foremost in revealing God’s purposes to the universe. After he had sinned, his power to deceive was the more deceptive, and the unveiling of his character was the more difficult, because of the exalted position he had held with the Father.  God could have destroyed Satan and his sympathizers as easily as one can cast a pebble to the earth; but He did not do this. Rebellion was not to be overcome by force. Compelling power is found only under Satan’s government. The Lord’s principles are not of this order. His authority rests upon goodness, mercy, and love; and the presentation of these principles is the means to be used. God’s government is moral, and truth and love are to be the prevailing power.” –Ellen G. White, Desire of Ages, pp. 758, 759.

“At the cross of Calvary, love and selfishness stood face to face. Here was their crowning manifestation. Christ had lived only to comfort and bless, and in putting Him to death, Satan manifested the malignity of his hatred against God. He made it evident that the real purpose of his rebellion was to dethrone God, and to destroy Him through Whom the love of God was shown.

By the life and the death of Christ, the thoughts of men also are brought to view. From the manger to the cross, the life of Jesus was a call to self-surrender, and to fellowship in suffering. It unveiled the purposes of men. Jesus came with the truth of heaven, and all who were listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit were drawn to Him. The worshipers of self belonged to Satan’s kingdom. In their attitude toward Christ, all would show on which side they stood. And thus, everyone passes judgment on himself.

In the day of final judgment, every lost soul will understand the nature of his own rejection of truth. The cross will be presented, and its real bearing will be seen by every mind that has been blinded by transgression. Before the vision of Calvary with its mysterious Victim, sinners will stand condemned. Every lying excuse will be swept away. Human apostasy will appear in its heinous character. Men will see what their choice has been. Every question of truth and error in the long-standing controversy will then have been made plain. In the judgment of the universe, God will stand clear of blame for the existence or continuance of evil. It will be demonstrated that the divine decrees are not accessory to sin. There was no defect in God’s government, no cause for disaffection. When the thoughts of all hearts shall be revealed, both the loyal and the rebellious will unite in declaring, “Just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints. Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? . . . for Thy judgments are made manifest.” Revelation 15:3, 4. –Ellen G. White, Desire of Ages, pp. 57, 58

One day very soon, surely we want to say, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us.  This is the LORD; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation” (Isaiah 25:9).

“Let us, then in order that we may escape, hide ourselves in Him Who is meek and lowly in heart, that the storm may pass over our heads –E. J. Waggoner, Treasures in Isaiah, p 94.

While we await our Lord’s soon return, may we point all within our sphere of influence to “Behold the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

“All self-exaltation and self-admiration are the result of ignorance of God and of Jesus Christ, Whom He has sent. How quickly will self-esteem die, and pride be humbled in the dust, when we view the matchless charms of the character of Christ!” –Ellen White, RH, December 22, 1896.

 

~ Martha Ruggles