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Isaiah 47 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
You were secure in your wickedness; you said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and knowledge led you astray. You said to yourself, ‘I exist, and there is no one else.’
Isaiah 47:10 HCSB
Over the years the church has come under attack from all sorts of false teachings. Mysticism, new age, prosperity, and much more have mixed their beliefs with Christianity. Here, in verse 10, God is calling out the false wisdom of scorcery and spells which was common to pagan religions of that time. It’s interesting that He uses the word wisdom since it is really not wise at all. Many times those who profess a higher knowledge are led astray by their pride. This is precisely the source as we read it in the next sentence.
I exist and there is no on else. What a proud statement. It’s far too easy to sit back in our cozy Christian environment and point the finger at others. But how many times have we done this? Sure, maybe we don’t actually say that, but we do things all the time without any fear that God is watching our every move. We say, in our hearts, “No one sees me.” If we didn’t, then our behavior would change.
I’m personally convicted of this because I know I justify certain behaviors with this kind of attitude. “If no one saw it, then I’m OK.” This kind of crafty wisdom does not fool God. In fact, there is a tension that hopefully builds when you think on these things because the Holy Spirit does not approve. We aren’t perfect, and never will be, but we must strive for holiness. A great way to start is to be aware of the fact that God is with us and watching over us.