The fall of Lucifer or a warning for all who lead?
Isaiah 14:12-21
A passage commonly cited in systematic theologies as a reference to Satan surprisingly may have a more practical application for today.
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Published April 21st, 2022
Main point summary
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Notes
notes
Main point summary
The desire of a leader to exalt themselves (pride), instead results in the opposite: ignominy, in the esteem of all who witness such a fall and in their lasting legacy, potentially extending even to their future generations.
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editing
OT
Isaiah 14:12-21
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“How d you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, e son of Dawn!
"How greatly you have been diminished, O bright and shining one, who had such great potential!
How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low!
You have been brought down, who has brought down others!
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You said in your heart,
Because your heart's desire was...
f ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God
to be exalted to the highest possible level;
g I will set my throne on high;
to make your kingdom greater than any other's;
I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; 1
to extend your influence over others to the farthest possible extent;
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
to be esteemed more than all others;
I will make myself like the Most High.’
to even be considered an equal with God Himself.
h But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.
Instead, this attitude has resulted in your downfall; you have sunk to the lowest possible level.
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Those who see you will stare at you and ponder over you:
This will cause those who witness this great fall to carefully consider:
‘Is this i the man who made the earth tremble,
'Could this really be the one who once had global influence,
who shook kingdoms,
who was feared by other kingdoms,
who made the world like a desert and overthrew its cities,
who did as he pleased throughout the world, devastating and conquering other kingdoms,
j who did not let his prisoners go home?’
and no one could do anything to stop him?'
All the kings of the nations lie in glory, each in his own tomb; 1
Rulers of this sort are typically honored by monuments at their deaths;
but you are cast out, away from your grave,
but you won't even be laid to rest in a common grave,
like a loathed branch,
instead you'll be thrown out like a worthless stick,
comparison
k clothed with the slain, those pierced by the sword, who go down to the stones of the pit,
you will be as an unknown soldier, killed in battle and thrown into an unmarked pit,
like a dead body trampled underfoot.
because the dead body can't be identified.
You will not be joined with them in burial,
You will not be honored as other rulers of this sort,
because you have destroyed your land,
because your rule actually did great harm to your kingdom,
you have slain your people.
and people have even died because of it.
“May l the offspring of evildoers nevermore be named!
I wish that even the memory of all such wicked rulers would be wiped out!
Prepare slaughter for his sons
That their descendants would meet untimely ends
m because of the guilt of their fathers,
because of what their fathers have done,
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lest they rise and possess the earth,
or else they, too, might take over and follow the same pattern,
and fill the face of the world with cities.”
and all the world's kingdoms share a similar fate."
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inference
We start at the end: the colossal failure of one who should have been great.
What caused this colossal failure? Colossal pride!
As a result: the esteem of others that was so greatly desired has turned to scorn.
And what could have been a tremendous legacy has turned out to be a mere "flash in the pan;" quickly forgotten.
However, this is an appropriate end for anyone who desires glory for himself instead of the well-being of those he leads with serious repercussions for their future generations!
discourse
Notes
This is the first time I have done an extensive, in-depth study of this passage. I will be preaching this text in mid-May.
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Disclaimer: The opinions and conclusions expressed on this page are those of the author and may or may not accord with the positions of Biblearc or Bethlehem College & Seminary.