"I am God, and there is no other." That means that I am not a god, sports is not, wealth is not, fame is not.
However, we know that all of these can be a idols that people worship.
The Israelites were worshiping idols, bowing to the altars of sacrifice to Baal, and making alliances that they believed would save them. They didn't listen to Isaiah. They were overcome and sent into exile.
At this point in the Book of Isaiah, they are back in Israel after years of exile thanks to Cyrus who acted on behalf of the God of Israel. God had saved them and brought them home. Now they have a second chance to bow only before God.
We know that they will fail again. However, this passage is here during Advent to point also to Jesus, as Son of God who will save all of us and open the gates to heaven.
If you think some of these phrases sound familiar, you are correct. In the hymn included in Paul's letter to the Philippians, chapter 2, we read, "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven those of earth, and those under the earth and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
This is not a coincidence. The early Christians believed, as we do that Jesus was divine as well as human. Many of them had been witnesses to the resurrection and saw that those who had "raged against" Jesus to the point of crucifixion were not only disappointed, but furious that they had been unable to stop the Good News from spreading.
But, those of them, and of us, who have been justified by faith, rejoice.
Let us put aside any idols in our lives, and bow only before the One who saves us.
