Isaiah 14, Part Four: Pride and Arrogance

Israel had been besieged by Babylonia. Jerusalem was sacked and its population killed or exiled to Babylon (Daniel 1). Babylonia itself was then besieged and conquered by the Medes. (Daniel 5:3).

The final king of Babylonia, Belshazzar, proclaimed five instances of "I will...":

• I will ascend to heaven;
  
• Above the stars of God I will set my throne on high;
• I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north;
• I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
• I will make myself like the Most High. (Isaiah 14:13-14 ESV)

STARS: kokab "ko-KAWB" (a star, as round or shining); probably from kabbon (hilly, as heaped up) or from kawa (to prick or penetrate; to blister, as smarting or eating into)

MOUNT OF ASSEMBLY: har mo'ed "har mo-ADE" (a mountain or range of hills of an appointment; a fixed time or season; a festival; a year; an assembly; the congregation; the place of meeting; a signal); from ya'ad (to fix upon by agreement or appointment; to meet; to summon to trial; to direct in a certain quarter or position; to engage for marriage)

FAR REACHES OF THE NORTH: yereka sapon "yer-ay-KAW tsaw-FONE" (the flank, rear or recess that is hidden or dark; the north, as a quarter that appeared gloomy and unknown); from yarek (to be soft; the thigh; the generative parts; shank, flank, or side) and sapan (to hide by covering over; to hoard or reserve; to deny; to protect or lurk)

CLOUDS: ab "awb" (an envelope; darkness or density; a scud cloud; a copse); from ub (to be dense or dark; to becloud)

A "scud cloud" refers to a formation of vapory clouds driven fast by the wind. "Copse" or "coppice" refers to a small group of trees, orginally an area in which the trees or shrubs have been cut back to ground level to stimulate growth for firewood or timber.

The core of the king's proud declarations of power center upon height. The king imagined himself far removed from any earthly power, farther even than stars which appear to us as dots of light. The king considered himself as high as a mountain, distant as the farthest edge of the unknown north, unconstrained and free as storm clouds.

What do you think?

Is pride and arrogance more likely to bring wealth and power, or does wealth and power bring pride and arrogance?

How might some aspects of our American culture tend toward pride and arrogance, or rebellion against God?

In what sense does any sin connect to proud rebellion against God?

Which of the "I will" statements do you perhaps yield to when considering a sinful act?

What holds God back from casting you down to Sheol, the place of the dead?

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