Have you ever knowingly been in a place that God didn’t want you? Have
you ever made a covenant with someone other than God? Do you think that God is
okay with that decision? Today we’ll look at Isaiah 28:14-29. To give you some
insight into what we are reading, let’s look at the beginning at the chapter.
Verse one states “Ah, the proud crown of the
drunkards of Ephraim, and the fading flower of its
glorious beauty, which is on the head of the rich valley
of those overcome with wine!” The people of Ephraim or Israel have blatantly
disobeyed God. They proud of their capital city of Samaria; which is situated
on top of a mountain; and the valley is full of vineyards. The prophet in
verses 1-13 will give them 10 warnings of judgment; which was carried out by
the king of Assyria.
Isaiah 28:14-15: A Covenant with
Death
Isaiah has reproved those who made a joke of God’s word and goes
on to “reprove those that made a jest of the judgments of
God, and set them at defiance.”[1] Thus
Isaiah begins to speak to the people of Jerusalem. These people are “scoffers”
of God’s word. Before we begin digging deep into these verses, let’s note that
verse fourteen begins with the word “Therefore”; this is giving the people a
second chance of listening to the word of God. How often does God give us a
second chance to listen to Him?
Beginning with verses 14-15 we’ll note that the people of Judah
had made a covenant with death and Sheol. They were offered to make a deal with
God (Isaiah 28:12) and are now being trustful of someone other than God. In
verse 15, we see that they were boasting about their new covenant.[2] It is
possible that this new covenant was with Egypt.
Isaiah 28:16-19a. A Second Chance
In verse sixteen we see that God’s response to the people by the
use of the word “therefore.” God reminds the people that He has already
provided safety and security to the people of Judah and that their covenant
with Egypt will only result in death and terror (28:17-19). In verse 16, note that God says “See, I have
laid a stone.” Not “I have let you lay a stone.” God was telling them;
it is only by my stone that you are saved. Yet the people rejected it and made
a covenant with Egypt.
Not only is Isaiah telling them “God has protection for us,” but
he is also using an analogy of constructing a building (1 Kings 6:12). Now this
building will stand through many trials and tribulations, because God built it
on a firm foundation. Just as the wise man built his house on the rocks; the
storms came and his house stood (Matthew 7:24-25). Yet like the foolish man,
the children of Judah had built their home on the sand, and by doing so, their
“home” wouldn’t stand in the storm (Matthew 7:26-27).
As we look at verses 17-19, we note that God is using “plumb lines”
of righteousness and justice to make sure that the house will stand firm (Amos
7:7-9). For those who don’t know a "plumb line” is; it is a “string with a
weight at one end that when suspended points to the earth’s center of gravity
and is used to determine the verticality of something.”[3] In
other words, God was subjecting the people to the plumb line to show them how
to live uprightly.
Verse 18-19a we see the national deception that their covenant
with death shall truly bring. Instead of protection, we are told that the every
storm that comes will affect the children of Judah. Eugene Peterson says in The
Message “Then you’ll see that your precious life insurance policy wasn’t worth
the paper it was written on. Your careful precautions against death were a pack
of illusions and lies.”[4]
We also note that in verse 19a that God is telling the people when
disaster strikes you’ll be crushed by it. The people will rush for cover. For
God will not only allow this attack to happen, but it will be like an
outpouring of His anger towards the disobedient. When I read this, I am
reminded of “The Seal Judgments” in Revelation 6:15; in which terrified people
have ran into caves to hide from the “wrath of the Lamb.”[5]
Isaiah 19b-22: Sober Up and Listen
In
these verses we see God giving a warning of terror to come (28:19b); in the
next verse, we see a proverb of failed expectations (28:20) and finally in
verses 21-22 Isaiah is giving the people a warning to stop; destruction is on its
way.
With
destruction coming, Isaiah hoped that these final warnings would change the
minds of the Children of Judah. “The
warning in 28:19b contrasts the false message of the drunken spiritual leaders,
who speak gibberish and think that everything will go fine because of this
covenant of death with Egypt (28:9–10, 14–15), with the
message of Isaiah, which indicates that Egypt will not help them resist
Assyrian aggression.”
In the past, God’s
supportive work had allowed David to defeat his enemies. He was also able to
chase the Philistines from Gibeon to Gezer (2 Sam 5:17-25; 1 Chr 14:16). Isaiah
knows that God’s power is unlimited for those who trust him and that this same
passion for justice and righteousness will destroy those who reject him.[6]
Clendenen goes on to say “Consequently, the prophet pleads
with his audience to stop proudly scoffing (28:22 is picking up a theme from 28:14)
at God’s warnings, for if they do not change their ways, God will make their
suffering even worse.[7] Isaiah is telling them, “Sober up, and listen! Your time
to act is now!”
Isaiah 28:23-29: The Parable of the
Farmer
While it would seem quite odd to add this parable to the end of
the warnings against a future judgment if the people hadn’t changed their ways,
we note that Isaiah is telling them, God’s instructions are the right way, His
counsel and wisdom is great. There is a reason why we must listen to Him.
Isaiah instructs the people, “Listen to what I am saying.” These
people would have been familiar with farming.
Given that fact, he asks “If a farmer plows for planting, does he plow
continually?” What would that avail? Nothing! So why continue in your sins,
what do they bring to you? Nothing! Instead he tells them, “His God instructs
him and teaches him the right way.” Isaiah is letting the people know that God
is a God of mercy and love; if they will only allow Him to teach them.
The second part of this is that the different grains
are harvested in different ways; in this no one step is continous. Similarly,
God's judgment would come, but not last forever. He
is the Master “Farmer,” who knows how to handle each “crop.”[8]
Conclusion
The
scoffers are mocking God; they think that their own covenant will save them.
Instead of listening to Isaiah they continue to mock God and His judgment. Isaiah
pleads with them to listen to his warnings. He doesn’t want to see the people
suffer any more than they already have. The final verse reads “And these signs
came forth from the Lord of Hosts. Take counsel, exalt vain comfort.”[9] In
other words, take my advice and don’t boast of your comfort in your “covenant
with death.” Just as the southern kingdom was at odds with God and would be
enduring his judgment our modern society is also. Just as God has given them
foundational instructions; He has given us a foundational stone. Psalm 118:22
we note that even though God had set a stone in place, the builder’s rejected it.
When the people began to reject the stone, God exalted it to the capstone. Paul
tells the church at Ephesus “So then you are no
longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and
members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined
together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord” (ESV, Ephesians 2:19-21).
Instead of boasting in our own works, we are to stop being
arrogant and learn from God, the right way to live.
Bibliography
Brenton, Lancelot Charles Lee. The Septuagint Version of the Old
Testament: English Translation, Is 28:29. London: Samuel Bagster and Sons,
1870.
Clendenen, E. Ray. Isaiah 1–39. The New American Commentary,
p 492. Nashville: B & H Publishing Group, 2007.
[1]Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible:
Complete and Unabridged in One Volume, Is 28:14–22. Peabody: Hendrickson,
1994..
Life Application Study Bible.Rev 6:15-16. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House
Publishers, Inc., 2005.
Merriam-Webster, Inc. Merriam-Webster's
Collegiate Dictionary. Eleventh ed. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc.,
2003.
Peterson, Eugene H. The Message: The Bible in Contemporary
Language, Is 28:18. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005.
Walvoord, John F., Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary. The
Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, V 1, p 1078.
Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.
[1] Henry,
Matthew. Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and
Unabridged in One Volume, Is 28:14–22. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994.
[2] The word “Boast” comes from the NIV
translation of the Bible. In most versions of the Bible, it is translated
“said.” However, due to the nature of the judgment it is possible that the
people were boasting about their covenant; since it offered “safety.” All
scripture will be taken from the NIV unless otherwise noted.
[3] Merriam-Webster, Inc. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate
Dictionary. Eleventh ed. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003.
[4] Peterson,
Eugene H. The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language, Is 28:18.
Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005.
[5] Life Application Study Bible.Rev 6:15-16. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House
Publishers, Inc., 2005.
[6] Ibid.,
Clendenen, p 490
[7] Ibid., p 490
[8] Walvoord, John
F., Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge
Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, V 1, p 1078. Wheaton, IL:
Victor Books, 1985.
[9] Brenton,
Lancelot Charles Lee. The Septuagint Version of the Old Testament: English
Translation, Is 28:29. London: Samuel Bagster and Sons, 1870.
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