Holier than Thou

“I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine’s flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.” Isaiah 65:2-5

God was frustrated with the Israelites. Down through the centuries, they had enjoyed the unique blessings of being God’s chosen people; but they had never learned to follow His Word and obey His commands completely. God had made promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He had used Joseph to protect and preserve the Israelites as they grew into a nation. He had brought plagues upon the Egyptians and drowned Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea. He had spoken to them from Mount Sinai and given them His law in tables of stone. He had fed them with manna and given them water from the rock. He parted the Jordan River and knocked down the walls of Jericho. After all of this, they still refused to obey. In spite of their sin, they looked down upon the people around them. They said, “I am holier than you are.” Pride never looks good on anyone, but it is especially ugly when we point out other people’s flaws while refusing to recognize our own.