Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee. How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? (Isaiah 14:11-17)
The first fall happened when Lucifer, the anointed cherub, full of pride and greed tried to take on God Himself. Can you imagine the angel with all the musical instruments suddenly silenced by the sound of a crashing chaos as he fell to the earth like lightning?
This isn’t just Lucifer’s story. Human history is littered with tales of pride and greed that ended in decimation and desolation. Amid tensions between nations, groups, and individuals on the earth, Isaiah nudges us to see beyond the surface. Our true enemy isn't a specific nationality or political stance. Our enemy is not an Arab or Israeli. Our enemy is not Palestinians or Syrians or Americans. Our enemy is clear if we understand the truth of Scripture. Our enemy is Satan himself. He is the one that sows the seeds of rebellion, greed, and destruction.
Ephesians 6:12 tells us that our enemy is not made of flesh and blood like a man. Our enemies are the powers of darkness that strive to manipulate and use mankind as puppets for their purpose of rebelling against God’s Word, God’s way, and God’s people.
Practical Application
When people frustrate you or you get angered by a political group or nationality, remind yourself who the real enemy is. Pray that God opens the eyes of those who are being used by the devil and that Satan’s hands would be taken off them.