Isaiah 28
-Ephraim, or in other words the
Northern Kingdom, has captivity predicted by Isaiah at the Word of the LORD.
They are like drunkards wearing a crown of pride, but their glory is fading
quickly as the LORD is sending His strong and mighty agent as a tempest of
destruction (Isaiah 28:1-4). “In that day,” the day of future restoration, the
LORD of hosts will become a beautiful crown of glory to His remnant people, and
a Spirit of justice and strength will preside giving God’s people power to
repel the onslaught at the gate. The priest and the prophet who are drunk on
their worldly power will reel, stagger, totter, and be confused in their
deception. Their tables are full of “filthy vomit” without a single clean place
(Isaiah 28:5-8). They are detestable in the LORD’s sight. God says, “Order on
order, line on line, a little here, a little there.” Ephraim wanted to have
rest for their weariness apart from looking to the LORD. God says that since
they would not come to Him, He would give them the Assyrians as conquerors
because of their haughty, high-minded, selfish attitudes of mockery. They
treated the prophet Isaiah like a disrespected school teacher. Their minds were
made up and they weren’t changing. Therefore, God will turn them over to going
away into captivity, stumbling backward, unrelenting brokenness, becoming
ensnared (Isaiah 28:9-13). *Application* Here is a matter of influence. Who
influences your daily decisions? Are you doing things in your own power looking
to the influencers of the world like a drunkard? Or, are you turning your focus
to Christ and His Word for peace, rest, and success? God’s ways are not hard
when we learn to submit to His authority and wisdom and learn from His ultimate
precepts (Psalms 19:8; 119).
-Judah is also warned in this
passage. The rulers of the people in Jerusalem are called scoffers. They have made
a covenant with death and a pact with Sheol (the underworld, hell). They
falsely assumed the overwhelming scourge of foreign invasion would pass by
them. They made falsehood their refuge and concealed themselves with deception
(Isaiah 28:14-15). Because of their waywardness and in spite of their
unfaithfulness God pronounces a Messianic claim in verse sixteen, “Behold, I am
laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone for the
foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in It will not be disturbed.” The
LORD “will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the level; then
the hail will sweep away the refuge of lies and the waters will overflow the
secret place (Isaiah 28:17).” The covenant of death will be canceled by the
Messiah and the pact of Sheol will not stand. The LORD will rise up as at Mount
Perazim and Gibeon (Where God fought for David and Joshua, 2 Samuel 5:20,
Joshua 10:1-14). He promises to do His task, His unusual task to work His work
as only He can. It is an extraordinary work (Isaiah 28:18-21). There can be no
mistaking that this is the work of the sacrificial atonement by the cross of
Jesus Christ and His resurrection. Because the Lord is the Redeemer, His people
are commanded not to carry on as scoffers. If they do there will be the
consequence of their fetters being made stronger. His decisive destruction on
all the earth has been made known to the true prophet, which calls for
repentance and faith (Isaiah 28:22). The last part of the chapter reflects in
poetic prose the need to listen to God’s wisdom for healing and proper
instruction for the purpose of wisdom. God, while He expects pain in the
offering, will not continue to thresh the humble forever. He will eventually
make the weak strong. “This comes from the LORD of hosts, who has made His
counsel wonderful and His wisdom great (Isaiah 28:23-29).” *Application* There
is amazing power in our weakness before God. If He will use His own Son as an
example of suffering and weakness for the greater Kingdom purposes, why would
we expect anything different? This is simply the way of God (1 Peter 1:6;
2:4-10; 4:12-14). God wants to instruct and teach you properly (Isaiah 28:26). Go
through all that the LORD asks of you in humble submission to His plans and
purposes. He will lift you up too in the end. Seek perseverance and
steadfastness!
Verse to Memorize: Isaiah 28:16
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