Isaiah 14:13-14: I Will or Will I ?
How Not To Be Like Satan
This morning at Men’s Breakfast at Heartland Baptist Fellowship Brady Barnes took us to Isaiah 14 and posed the question of what it looks like to turn the five “I will” statements into “will I” statements. That thought captured my heart so I looked into it and this what God gave me.
The Heart Of Pride Lifted Exalted Over God.
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Isaiah 14:13-14
- I will ascend into heaven
- I will exalt my throne above the stars of God
- I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
- I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
- I will be like the most High.
God answers Lucifer clearly and directly.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. 16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; Isaiah 14:15-16
Though Satan is finished before he starts, the same pride that drove him to exalt himself over God is the same pride that blinds him from his pending judgment. Here in Job Satan has morphed into a creature known as Leviathan as he fulfills the prophecy Jesus proclaimed in the garden in Genesis 3:14. The anointed Cherub that covered the throne has been reduced to a creature fit for destruction with scales of pride crawling about in the dust of the earth. The antithesis of his prideful declaration.
15 His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal. 16 One is so near to another, that no air can come between them. 17 They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered. Job 41:15-17
The Scripture Gives Us The Keys To Reverse The Curse Of Pride.
The scripture gives us the keys to reverse engineer Isaiah 14:13-14 and overturn the pride that all humans wrestle with. The scripture clearly declares that all those who do not reverse this curse are serving Satan who is the king of pride.
34 He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride. Job 41:34
I sincerely doubt anyone reading this desires to be counted as a child of pride so follow these simple yet profound points to reverse the curse of pride in our hearts.
The Five “Will I’s” That Reverse The Curse of Pride.
-
Will I humble myself under the mighty hand of God?
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 This is the opposite of ascension over God, this is a bowing before God in humility and honor. -
Will I put the needs of others ahead of myself?
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Philippians 2:3-4 Now, if humble ourselves before God in Love and esteem others better than ourselves, we have the makings of fulfilling the “Great Commandment”.27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. Luke 10:27 -
Will I walk in the light as he is in the light? We notice that Lucifer is seeking a seat in the height of power in Isaiah 14:13. That is the opposite of what the child of God is seeking. 1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Psalms 1:1-2 The child of God is blessed when he walks away from the counsel and congregation of the ungodly. He walks in the light like Jesus. He also doesn’t stand in the way of sinners. That has a double entendre, first we don’t stand in the middle of the path of sinners and secondly we are not standing in the way and counted as one of the sinners. The child of God is careful where he plants his feet. Lastly, the child of God doesn’t sit down in the seat of the scornful. To be scornful is to be a boastful, mocking loudmouth. We don’t sit in that seat and we don’t want to. All of Psalm 1:1 can be clearly summarized in the following passage: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 What a glorious passage!
-
Will I condescend to men of low estate? Again, Jesus is the opposite of Lucifer. Instead of seeing more glory, he laid his glory down so others could be reconciled. The clear antithesis of ascending above the heights of the clouds; is condescending to men of low estate. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Romans 12:16
-
Will I suffer unjustly and fill up the sufferings of Christ?
24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: Colossians 1:24You have heard of having “skin in the game”, well Jesus is the ultimate checkmate on reversing the curse of pride. He not only sets the standard of humility, he chose to fulfil it in an earthen vessel of humanity. When he was at his weakest, made a little lower than the angels, he conquered sin and death. Wow! What an example to follow! The good news is he allows us to participate in his suffering through the rigors of ministry and unjust persecution. Paul told his disciple Timothy: 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12 The light of Christ shines most when suffer for righteousness sake. Satan nor his fallen angels can never suffer for righteousness sake, because they are all together unrighteous and blinded by pride. The child of God is called to suffer for Jesus’ sake, knowing that our labor in the Lord is not in vain. We don’t shrink from it, we expect it and understand that it is Satan’s last gasp at a glory he will never obtain. 12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 1 Peter 4:12-14
Summary
Herod was a king who saw himself as a ruler but was really ruled by the king of pride. On his birthday he was leveraged by his own oath to slay John the Baptist whom he feared and respected but his pride would not allow him to do the right thing and set his seat to the side and bow before King Jesus. Instead, John suffered unjustly though he was a just man. Jesus allowed this to happen because it proved the wickedness of human government both Hebrew and Roman. It also revealed and magnified the righteousness of John and exalted him to Abraham’s Bosom, where he would soon see Jesus and be delivered into the third Heaven where paradise was taken after Jesus’ ascension. John lived out and summarized in a few words the five “Will I” questions we must all ask ourselves as we die to self and allow Jesus to live through us.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30