The LORD Alone Will Be Exalted

Isaiah's second vision about the future reign of YHWH on the earth continues. He foresaw the distant future and turns to his own people to encourage them to change their ways and listen to their God. "Come, House of Jacob, and let us walk in the light of YHWH." During the reign of King Uzziah, the king had been struck with leprosy because he dared to enter the House of the LORD to burn incense in front at the incense alter in front of the veil of the Most Holy Place. This was for the priests only, but Uzziah did it anyways and then was struck with leprosy. His son Jotham was co regent while Uzziah was hidden in shame due to the disease. Where Uzziah had been mostly a godly king until he dared enter the Temple to burn the incense, Judah was being influenced by the failing northern kingdom of Israel, which would soon fall to Assyria. Israel was blowing through rival kings at the end before their exile, all of them evil, all of them worshiping other gods. 

Let us walk in the light of the LORD was the word for Judah. Not the light of Israel, or Assyria, or Egypt. Not walking after the false gods of Sidon, Philistia, or Edom. God had openly declared that He would bring the promised calamities on Judah as He was on Israel for their wickedness. He would abandon them according to the word prophesied by Moses. God's chosen rebellious people would not listen to any of the Prophets God had sent, so God then lists why He would let them face their end. They were influenced by cultures to their east - Edom, Ammon, Moab, Babylon, Assyria, Persia, even nations further east. The mid 700s BC was a time of great mixing of culture. The children of Israel were importing not only great wealth, but ideas contrary to God from all over the world. Silver, Gold, horses and chariots, all the things God had warned against accumulating, these and more they were hording for themselves. Yet none of that could save them and this was coming to an end.

Their idolatry had covered Jerusalem and Judea. Idols were everywhere, even in the Temple itself. God was going to humble them all from the common man to their kings, princes, and wealthy. The proud would be abased, the lofty would be humbled and the LORD alone would be exalted in that Day. Isaiah tells of a coming Day of Reckoning that was coming against the mountains, hills, high towers, fortified walls, and everything that people placed their trust in other than God. The cedars of Lebanon, the oaks of Bashan, and the ships of Tarshish would all fall. The pride of man would be humbled and YHWH alone will be exalted in that Day. The idols will completely vanish, because those who worship them will throw them into caves and holes in the ground when they see the terror of the LORD when He returns in full glory and splendor. 

Even today the elite are building doomsday bunkers underground to hide their wealth and idols, preparing for a future day when they feel they must hide to protect themselves. Isaiah foresees that all of that will not protect them. They will hide in caverns, caves, and in the clefts of the rocks when the Glory of the LORD appears, but they will not escape. The whole earth will tremble and the rocks will cover them to their death. The breath of life will be extinguished and God alone will be praised. John also sees this same event and records it in Revelation 6 when Jesus opens the 6th seal. The earth quakes, the sun goes dark, the moon turns blood red, and the stars of the heavens fall from the sky. The sky is split apart like a scroll, mountains and islands move out of their places. The kings of the earth, commanders, great men, the rich, the strong, and even slaves and free men hide themselves in the rocks and caves, calling for the mountains to cover them rom the great wrath of God who sits on the Throne of Heaven. Everyone recognizes that the Great Day of Wrath has come and no one is able to stand because Jesus is returning with might and power and majesty.