How you have fallen from heaven,
Isaiah 14:12-15 NIV
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 the heavens;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.
I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.”
But you are brought down to the realm of the dead,
to the depths of the pit.
This passage is sometimes thought to describe Satan’s rebellion and fall from heaven. This is reflected in the KJV, where the word translated as “morning star” in the NIV is translated as Lucifer. This identification of Lucifer with the morning star originally came from the Latin Vulgate. But it is probably a reference to Venus, often the last “star” seen shining in the morning sky.
However, given the context of this passage, it more likely refers to the king of Babylon. This general section of Isaiah prophesies against many of the nations surrounding Israel. Isaiah 13:1-14:27 is directed toward Babylon, with Isaiah 14:4-21 being a “taunt against the king of Babylon” (Isa. 14:4 NIV).
A Warning Against Pride
But whether you understand this passage to refer to Satan or the king of Babylon, the message is the same. It is a warning against pride. Pride that elevates a person into the place of God.
If you have ever spent much time around young children, you have likely encountered the phrase, “I can do it all by myself.” That is not a bad thing for a child, but it is a danger for us as we grow older. It reflects pride in my ability to face whatever comes my way. And it can lead me to see myself as the “master of my destiny,” making myself like God, the Most High.
It can also lead me to believe that I know best, not just in my own life, but also in a larger context. This can be seen in many walks of life, including politicians, business leaders, and, unfortunately, even Christian leaders. People whose pride gives them a god complex and hurts, not just themselves, but many others.
The proverb “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18 NIV) is true. Nothing good will come from taking God’s rightful place on the throne of my life. Ultimately, it leads to destruction—maybe not in this life, but certainly in eternity.
