12 The Day that God-of-the-Angel-Armies is matched against all big-talking rivals, against all swaggering big names; 13 Against all giant sequoias hugely towering, and against the expansive chestnut; 14 Against Kilimanjaro and Annapurna, against the ranges of Alps and Andes; 15 Against every soaring skyscraper, against all proud obelisks and statues; 16 Against ocean-going luxury liners, against elegant three-masted schooners. 17 The swelled big heads will be punctured bladders, the pretentious egos brought down to earth, Leaving God alone at front-and-center on the Day we're talking about.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 2:12-17
Commentary on Isaiah 2:10-22
(Read Isaiah 2:10-22)
The taking of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans seems first meant here, when idolatry among the Jews was done away; but our thoughts are led forward to the destruction of all the enemies of Christ. It is folly for those who are pursued by the wrath of God, to think to hide or shelter themselves from it. The shaking of the earth will be terrible to those who set their affections on things of the earth. Men's haughtiness will be brought down, either by the grace of God convincing them of the evil of pride, or by the providence of God depriving them of all the things they were proud of. The day of the Lord shall be upon those things in which they put their confidence. Those who will not be reasoned out of their sins, sooner or later shall be frightened out of them. Covetous men make money their god; but the time will come when they will feel it as much their burden. This whole passage may be applied to the case of an awakened sinner, ready to leave all that his soul may be saved. The Jews were prone to rely on their heathen neighbours; but they are here called upon to cease from depending on mortal man. We are all prone to the same sin. Then let not man be your fear, let not him be your hope; but let your hope be in the Lord your God. Let us make this our great concern.