What does Isaiah 2:13 mean?
What high and mighty things do human beings put their trust in instead of the Lord of hosts? Isaiah begins to list some of these items (Isaiah 2:14–18). In every case, the day of the Lord will come and bring those things low.He begins with mighty trees, those of Lebanon and Bashan. These sizable trees were used to make powerful structures; they were sources of beauty and protection. The Lord is greater than such trees. Human beings may put their trust in large, natural wonders. They may feel that resources and wealth can make them secure (Proverbs 11:28; Psalm 49:5–6), but the Lord can quickly and easily bring their destruction (Psalm 20:7; 33:17).
Isaiah 2:6–22 begins with stunning words: the Lord has "rejected" His people Israel. Instead of trusting Him, they worship false idols and practice fortune-telling. They believe these things and their deal-making have brought them wealth and security. The day of the Lord, though, will result in the abandonment of their homemade idols. He will bring low every great thing they trust instead of the Lord. The people will try to escape the Lord's majesty in the darkness of caves as He terrifies the earth. Isaiah finishes this section with telling His people to stop esteeming human beings.
Isaiah describes Israel's far future as a time when all the nations of the earth will recognize Israel's God as the Lord. They will come to Jerusalem to learn from Him how to live. Isaiah tells his people to walk in the light of the Lord now. Instead, they worship false gods, follow fortune tellers, and make deals. Their great wealth, military might, and endless homemade idols will not save them from the God's judgment on day of the Lord. Human arrogance will be brought low as the Lord is exalted. Isaiah summarizes the chapter with a warning not to trust fallible people, instead of God.
