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In Isaiah
14:12 it speaks of Lucifer falling from heaven, etc., and makes
mention of his being "cut down to the ground" who DIDST weaken the
nations.
To begin in the middle of a thought always does violence to the
thought and causes one to miss the proper meaning. The thought here
of which this 12th verse is only a part begins with the 4th verse of
this chapter and continues through the 23rd verse. This puts the
12th verse down in the middle of the thought.
The 4th verse says, "That thou shalt take up this proverb against
the king of Babylon, and say, . . ." This makes it clear that the
remarks made here refer to the king of Babylon and to no other. The
thoughts concerning the proverb against the king of Babylon are
continuous from this 4th verse through the 23rd verse. I request
anyone who does not agree with this interpretation of this Scripture
to show where the line of thought changes and the remarks are
directed to another person other than the king of Babylon. The 4th
verse introduces the proverb against the king of Babylon and
continues through the succeeding verses to tell of his violent acts
in the earth against other nations and peoples for which the
judgments of God are pronounced upon him and in the 22nd verse he
mentions judgments against Babylon which show clearly that that
subject is still under consideration.
Now, let us take a direct look at this 12th verse which mentions
Lucifer who is said to have fallen from heaven as being cut down to
the ground who DIDST weaken the nations. This, then, was some
judgment upon him for something he had done before this came to
pass. Could it then refer to the devil? Could he have weakened the
nations while he was still in heaven and then later been cast out of
heaven for having weakened the nations? Could he have done any evil
work in the earth while he was still a pure angel in heaven? Of
course not!
But, on the other hand, the king of Babylon did do these things and
became so exalted in his heart that he said he had done all these
things with his own hand. The Babylonish Kingdom was the first
universal kingdom that history records, and her king subdued and
weakened and brought under subjection all other nations. Hence the
reference to him who DIDST weaken the nations.
The 4th chapter of Daniel, verses 12 and 13, will throw much light
on this 14th chapter of Isaiah. In verses 10 to 16 is given a vision
that Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had. Let us read it: "Thus
were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in
the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great. The tree
grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven,
and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth: The leaves
thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat
for all; the beast of the field had shade under it, and the fowls of
the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.
I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and behold a watcher
and an holy one came down from heaven; He cried aloud, and said
thus, 'Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his
leaves, and scatter his fruit; let the beasts get away from under
it, and the fowls from his branches: Nevertheless leave the stump of
his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the
tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven,
and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:
Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be
given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.' "
In the 19th verse Daniel begins to interpret his vision to him and
refers to the tree, etc., and in the 22nd verse he says, "It is
thou, O king, that art grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy
dominion to the end of the earth."
This corresponds exactly with the 13th verse of the 14th chapter of
Isaiah, which reads: "For thou has said in thine heart, I will
ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God,"
etc. Nebuchadnezzar was proud in heart and said the same thing in
different words in the 30th verse of the 4th chapter of Daniel after
he had subjected all the kingdoms of the world to himself. Listen to
him: "The king spake and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I
have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of MY power,
and for the honour of MY majesty."
In Daniel 4:25 Daniel proclaims unto the king what is the decree of
the most high concerning him. "That they shall drive thee from men,
and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they
shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with
the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou
know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it
to whomsoever he will."
In Daniel 4:31-33 we find that this judgment actually came on
Nebuchadnezzar and just how serious it was because that in his heart
he was lifted up with pride and exalted himself in his heart even
unto heaven to the exclusion of the God of heaven and did not
acknowledge Him but said he had done all this with HIS OWN HAND,
etc. Thus he fell from heaven (the exalted position he held and
attributed this unto himself in his heart) and was cut down to the
earth and humiliated beyond any other man that we have any record
of. |
