Isaiah Chapter 2
Overview of Isaiah 2:22
Isaiah 2:22 states: "Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem?" This verse serves as a powerful reminder of the transient nature of human life and the futility of placing trust in human power and wisdom. It calls for a re-evaluation of where one places their faith and trust.
Key Themes
Human Frailty: The verse highlights the temporary and fragile nature of human existence, comparing it to a breath, which is fleeting and insubstantial.
Trust in God: Implicit in the admonition to stop trusting in humans is the call to place trust in God, who is eternal and all-powerful.
False Security: The verse critiques the reliance on human leaders and authorities, suggesting that such trust can lead to disappointment and insecurity.
Perspective on Worth: It encourages believers to reconsider what they value and esteem in life, promoting a focus on the divine rather than the transient human condition.
Isaiah Chapter 2
1 This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:
2 In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.
3 Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.
5 Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.
6 You, LORD, have abandoned your people, the descendants of Jacob. They are full of superstitions from the East; they practice divination like the Philistines and embrace pagan customs.
7 Their land is full of silver and gold; there is no end to their treasures. Their land is full of horses; there is no end to their chariots.
8 Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made.
9 So people will be brought low and everyone humbled— do not forgive them.
10 Go into the rocks, hide in the ground from the fearful presence of the LORD and the splendor of his majesty!
11 The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled and human pride brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
12 The LORD Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled),
13 for all the cedars of Lebanon, tall and lofty, and all the oaks of Bashan,
14 for all the towering mountains and all the high hills,
15 for every lofty tower and every fortified wall,
16 for every trading ship and every stately vessel.
17 The arrogance of man will be brought low and human pride humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day,
18 and the idols will totally disappear.
19 People will flee to caves in the rocks and to holes in the ground from the fearful presence of the LORD and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth.
20 In that day people will throw away to the moles and bats their idols of silver and idols of gold, which they made to worship.
21 They will flee to caverns in the rocks and to the overhanging crags from the fearful presence of the LORD and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth.
22 Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem?
Meaning
This chapter emphasizes the future establishment of God's kingdom, where nations will seek Him for guidance and peace will reign. It contrasts the lofty pride of humanity with the ultimate supremacy of God, highlighting the need for humility and faithfulness. The passage also warns of judgment against idolatry and pride, foreseeing a time when all earthly power and idols will be rendered meaningless.
Moral Lesson
The moral of Isaiah 2 is a call to humility and reliance on God rather than on human strength or material possessions. It teaches that true peace and guidance come from God, urging believers to walk in His light and to reject the idols of this world. Trusting in human wisdom alone is folly, and it is essential to seek God's ways for a righteous and fulfilling life.
