Listen to Babylon (as a nation) talk, a prime example of vanity and pride for sure: “Thou that sayest in thine heart, I am, and (there is) none else beside me.” Isaiah 47:8 (Yes, God knows what’s in our hearts, our very thoughts and aspirations!)

Now look two verses later, still in Isaiah 47, and still quoting boasting Babylon. “For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me.”

What an indictment! (Babylon believes: “Nobody sees me. I can sin with impunity!” Forgetting verses like: “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” Proverbs 15:3)

Then (verse 10) she once again boasts: “I am, and none beside me.”

Talk about an exaggerated sense of self. This may even be self-worship! And notice that first clause: “I am!” (That’s God’s Domain! Remember Jesus’ great “I AM” Statements?)

God hates such pride! In fact, it is at the “top” of His “most despicable sins” list! See Proverbs 6:16-19 for proof.

Now … having said that … I’d like to point your attention back to Isaiah 45 for just a minute.

Listen to God speak, Isaiah 45:5. “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me.” (Did you read that?)

Then glance at the very next verse, Isaiah 45:6 … “That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.”

God used of Himself the same vocabulary (“I AM, AND THER IS NONE ELSE”) as did reprobate Babylon of her inflated self!

Babylon just equated herself with Almighty God!

This is sheer “humanism,” man exalting man!

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be LOVERS OF THEIR OWN SELVES, covetous, boasters ….” 2 Timothy 3:1-2

And you know what scares me?

Many in our Country feel and act and talk the same way!

Displacing God … with self!

And, just as God has judged Babylon, so will He judge vain American!

Isaiah had earlier preached this: “For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is PROUD and LOFTY, and upon every one that is LIFTED UP; and he shall be brought LOW.” Isaiah 2:12

Let me close today by illustrating the opposite attitude, humbleness of mind … quoting John the Baptist. “He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30

Idolatry is wrong!

Whether one worships a block of chiseled stone, a piece of carved wood, or some human being! Including oneself!

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3, thus saith the Lord.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Lord today we pray that: “From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name will be praised.” Psalm 113:3

.