Isaiah 2:11, commentary and pictures

In that day all human loftiness, pride and self-exaltation will be humbled and bowed down, and the Lord alone will be exalted. That is the day of the Lord upon everyone proud and lifted up to bring them low, when He arises to shake the earth, judging all that is high, driving men in terror to hide in rocks and caves and to cast their silver and gold idols to moles and bats until idols are utterly abolished. It points to a coming time when withering plagues and the final conflict over the deliverance of God's people will humble kings and nobles with rich and poor alike, and seize with terror the proud who defied God and mistreated His commandment-keeping people. It is a warning for the last days to be studied and proclaimed now, for the great day is at hand, that a world following human opinions and institutions instead of God's law will not go unpunished but God's truth, cause and law will triumph. Therefore men must look not to men but to God, humbling themselves under His mighty hand, looking to Jesus, relying solely on the merits of Christ's blood, obeying His Word with heart and soul, and letting Him alone be exalted in His workers and their work.

Words and Day Described

In that day all human loftiness, pride, haughtiness and self-exaltation will be humbled, bowed down and brought low, and the Lord alone will be exalted. That day is the day of the Lord of hosts upon everyone who is proud and lofty and lifted up, to bring him low, when He arises to shake terribly the earth. The judgment in that day falls on all that is lifted up, including the high cedars and hills, the high towers and fenced walls, the ships and the pleasant images.

In terror before the glory of His majesty, men will enter into the rock and hide in the dust and go into the holes of the rocks and caves of the earth. The proud and boastful who defied Him will be seized with terror and seek to hide as He shakes the earth. In that same terror they will cast away their idols of silver and of gold to the moles and to the bats, and idols will be utterly abolished.

The verse first reproved Judah, whose pride and love of display accompanied oppression, wealth and injustice. The proud and self-exalting of that people will be brought low in the day of judgment, while the Lord alone is exalted.

Coming Judgment and Warning

The verse points to a coming time when withering plagues from God will humble humanity, bringing down all human loftiness and pride so that the Lord alone is exalted. In that humbling kings and nobles as well as rich and poor alike will bow when judgments fall.

On the day of the Lord and in the final conflict, including the deliverance of His people, human pride and boastful arrogance will be brought low. The proud who defied God and mistreated His commandment-keeping people will then be seized with terror and seek to hide from the majesty of the Lord as He shakes the earth, and their idols will be cast away. A world that follows human opinions and institutions as idols and resists God's law will not go unpunished. Despite skepticism, scoffing, worldliness, idolatry and opposition, God's truth and cause will triumph and His law will be exalted.

It is a warning for the last days to be studied carefully and proclaimed now, because the great day of the Lord is at hand, even at the door, calling sinners to turn to God with all the heart before judgments fall. In that day of the Lord of hosts judgment falls upon everyone proud and lifted up, upon high cedars and hills and towers and walls and ships and images, so that men enter into the rock and hide in the dust and go into holes and caves for fear of the Lord and for the glory of His majesty when He arises to shake terribly the earth, and idols are utterly abolished. The warning is sent not to extinguish God's people but so that those who walk in obedience to His will with uncorrupted loyalty may be a separate and holy people formed to show forth His praises. Their testimony is borne not for display but to call attention to the hand that sustains the world.

It stands as invitation and warning to those who have had great light yet have not followed the light but have chosen unbelief until they cannot tell light from the darkness of error. Two armies stand opposed, one carrying out the planning of Satan and the other upholding the will of God, and the warfare between good and evil constantly increases in intensity in preparation for the last great battle. What is outlined will certainly come to pass, with increasing war and bloodshed and confusion of nations as each seeks to outdo the other for possession.

Humility Trust and Obedience

Isaiah 2:11 means that men must look not to men but to God, making the Word of God their earnest study and obeying Him with heart and soul. The day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon everyone that is proud and lofty and upon everyone that is lifted up, and he shall be brought low. In that day men are called to enter into the rock and hide in the dust for fear of the Lord and for the glory of His majesty.

Looking to Jesus humbles human pride and brings down haughtiness, because He alone has the words of eternal life. Eternal life is lost through self-sufficiency, self-confidence and vain conceit. It is kept by relying solely on the merits of the blood of Christ and by taking the Bible as guide and counselor so as not to err from the right path. Doing the will of God instead of one's own will keeps the channel open for constant enlightenment, advance in the light, and readiness to impart light to others.

In the perils coming upon the world the haughtiness and pride of men shall be brought low, while the Lord alone shall be exalted as the One who measures every character and the value of every person by willing obedience to the laws of His kingdom. Human praise and flattery are of little value and avail nothing for present and eternal good, belonging to Satan as the great flatterer and seducer. Therefore no one should flatter self or make any account of the praise of men. The lesson is to humble self under the mighty hand of God, following Jesus Christ who came in greatest humility, letting the Lord do all the exalting and the fashioning of mind, disposition and character as the hope and crown of rejoicing.

Trusting in human strength or glorying in wisdom, talents, or anything apart from Christ leads to defeat and teaches a person need of divine help. Proud hearts that remain unbowed reveal failure to submit to God. Human pride and self-confidence must be humbled and self-exaltation brought low, and the Lord alone will be exalted.

The verse warns against boasting, acting as a master over others, trusting in people, or taking the place that belongs to God. Human beings belong to God, having been bought with the precious blood of His Son. Impediments should lead people to seek God's wisdom and power humbly and persistently.

The Lord alone is to be exalted in His workers and their work. He keeps His eyes on His workers and allows obstructions and apparent failures and temporary frustration for their good, so that success does not come from him that willeth nor from him that runneth, but His own wisdom and power are more decidedly manifested and His own name is glorified. He does not delight in disappointing hopes and bowing souls with anguish. He will fulfill the desire of those who are faithful to do His bidding and will not let them spend their strength for nothing. But they must not prescribe to Him time, place, or manner, and must walk in the way of duty and commit themselves, their work, their time, and their talents to God and trust His timing.