1 Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!
2 Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand.
3 The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:
4 And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.
5 In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,
6 And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.
7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.
8 For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.
9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
14 Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.
15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
19 From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report.
20 For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.
21 For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.
22 Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.
23 Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech.
24 Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground?
25 When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat and the appointed barley and the rie in their place?
26 For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.
27 For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod.
28 Bread corn is bruised; because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break it with the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it with his horsemen.
29 This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.
Isaiah 28 is a chapter that weaves together themes of judgment, salvation, and spiritual understanding. It is a chapter that is both a warning and a promise, a chapter that speaks to the people of Israel in their time of need and to us in our own. It is a chapter that reminds us of the power of God's Word and the importance of listening to it. In this essay, we will delve into the main themes of Isaiah 28, its context in the larger book of Isaiah, and its relevance for modern readers.
To understand the significance of Isaiah 28, we must first understand its context. The book of Isaiah is a prophetic book in the Old Testament, written by the prophet Isaiah. It is divided into two main sections: chapters 1-39, which primarily contain messages of judgment against the people of Israel and Judah for their sins, and chapters 40-66, which predominantly offer messages of comfort and salvation.
Isaiah 28 falls into the first section. At this point in Israel's history, the Northern Kingdom of Israel has fallen to the Assyrians, and the Southern Kingdom of Judah is threatened. The people have turned away from God, and Isaiah is warning them of the consequences of their actions. However, embedded within these warnings are promises of hope and salvation for those who turn back to God.
The opening verses of Isaiah 28 (1-6) depict the judgment against Ephraim (the Northern Kingdom of Israel). They are described as a fading flower, a symbol of their fleeting glory and impending doom. The people are portrayed as drunkards, an image that suggests their moral and spiritual corruption. Yet even in this scene of judgment, there is a promise of a "crown of glory" and a "diadem of beauty" for the remnant who remain faithful to God.
Verses 7-13 continue the theme of judgment, but now the focus shifts to Judah. The people's leaders are accused of being drunkards and of failing to understand God's Word. Isaiah uses a fascinating metaphor here: God's Word is compared to a foreign language that the people cannot understand. This metaphor underscores the spiritual blindness and deafness of the people.
However, in verses 14-22, the tone shifts again. Here, Isaiah issues a warning to the leaders of Jerusalem who are relying on political alliances for their security instead of trusting in God. The prophet warns them that their "covenant with death" will not stand. Nevertheless, amidst these harsh words, there is a glimmer of hope. Isaiah speaks of a "cornerstone" that God has laid in Zion, a sure foundation for those who believe. This cornerstone is commonly interpreted as a prophecy about Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
Verses 23-29 of Isaiah 28 offer a parable about a farmer and his work. The farmer does not plant and harvest at random; he carefully plans and carries out his work according to the nature of each crop. This parable is a metaphor for the way God works. God's judgments are not arbitrary; they are carefully planned and executed according to His wisdom. The chapter ends with a reminder that all of this wisdom comes from the Lord of hosts, who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance.
Thus, Isaiah 28 reminds us of the power of God's Word. It is a word of judgment for those who refuse to listen, but it is also a word of hope and salvation for those who do. The people of Judah were called to listen to God's Word, to trust in Him rather than in their own plans, and to recognize His wisdom and guidance. This same call extends to us today.
Isaiah 28, like the rest of the book of Isaiah, is not just a historical document; it is also a living word that speaks to us today. The themes of judgment, salvation, and the power of God's Word are as relevant now as they were then.
We live in a world where it is easy to rely on our own plans and strategies, to seek security in political alliances, or to become spiritually deaf and blind. Isaiah 28 warns us of the dangers of such attitudes and actions. It reminds us that true security and salvation can only be found in God, and that listening to His Word is crucial.
Isaiah 28 also offers us hope. Despite the warnings of judgment, the chapter is permeated with promises of God's grace and salvation. The cornerstone that God has laid in Zion is a reminder of God's faithfulness and of the salvation that He offers through Jesus Christ. The parable of the farmer is a reminder of God's wisdom and guidance. These promises give us hope and comfort in the midst of the challenges and uncertainties of life.
In conclusion, Isaiah 28 is a chapter that speaks powerfully of God's judgment and salvation, and of the importance of listening to His Word. It is a chapter that challenges us and offers us hope, a chapter that reminds us of the power and wisdom of God. As we reflect on this chapter, may we be inspired to listen more closely to God's Word, to trust in Him for our security and salvation, and to recognize His wisdom and guidance in our lives.
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