Isaiah 14-16: The Fall of Pride

Throughout the centuries, God's enemies have looked on his people with derision.  They have been taunted, ridiculed, attacked, captured, slaughtered and oppressed.  But, regardless of how it may have looked at any point in time,  God has not forgotten or abandoned those he has chosen.

The LORD will have compassion on Jacob;
once again he will choose Israel
and will settle them in their own land.
Aliens will join them and unite with the house of Jacob.
Nations will take them and bring them to their own place.
And the house of Israel will possess the nations
as menservants and maidservants in the LORD's land.
They will make captives of their captors and rule over their oppressors. - Is. 14:1-2 NIV

All of these conflicts, this oppression of God's chosen, are nothing more than another chapter in the ongoing saga of the battle between God and the 'son of the dawn', the one who would usurp power from the Almighty himself.  But, God is the only One, the Alpha and Omega, the only one that was there before time, and none of His creation, no matter how brilliant, beautiful or powerful, can ever take His place.

How you have fallen from heaven,
O morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!
You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven;
I will raise my throne above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.
I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.
"But you are brought down to the grave,
to the depths of the pit. - Is. 14:12-15 NIV

It takes enormous pride to think one can go against God or His people.  From Babylon, Assyria and Moab, to the current day, many have let their pride influence how they view God's people.  Pride has let them think that God's people are weak, inept and ignorant.  But, that pride is based on nothing.  God will always win.  Pride will always fall.  Always.

The oppressor will come to an end,
and destruction will cease;
the aggressor will vanish from the land.
In love a throne will be established;
in faithfulness a man will sit on it—
one from the house of David—
one who in judging seeks justice
and speeds the cause of righteousness. - Is. 16:4-5 NIV