Isaiah 28:1-29
Q.1. Why was the judgment of Ephraim’s leaders inevitable? What would replace the rational words of God? What would God’s judgment achieve? How would Israel’s fortunes change in future? – (Isa.28:1-13)
This prophecy probably was made in the first years of Hezekiah’s reign, when Samaria still remained. The portion included in this chapter predicted the fall of Samaria (Isa.28:1&6). The prophecy then turned to Judah, who were guilty of the same sins as the northern capital. It berated them for their mockery of the prophet’s message (Isa.28:9). Isaiah’s words were full of loathing of the moral corruption of both kingdoms. He particularly spoke of the vice of drunkenness which was the cause of much of the sinful degradation of the leaders and all the people (Isa.28:7-8). God’s rational and edifying words of the prophets would be replaced by the foreign language of their captors whom they would not understand (Isa.28:11-12). God’s message would still stand, and they would pay the price for their refusal to take God’s prophets seriously – So the word of the Lord to them will be, “Order on order, order on order, line on line, line on line. A little here, a little there,” That they may go and stumble backward, be broken, snared, and taken captive (Isa.28:13). Paul used this prophecy to argue for the necessity of giving a rational message to church gatherings. He reminded the Corinthians of the warning that God gave, that if His people refused to listen to His message, He would expose them to a language they could not understand – Indeed, He will speak to this people through stammering lips and a foreign tongue (Isa.28:11 c.f. 1 Cor.14:6-12, 20-23). Yet, despite the impending judgment on that generation, God again foreshadowed a day of blessing for a remnant of His people – In that day the Lord of hosts will become a beautiful crown and a glorious diadem to the remnant of His people (Isa.28:5). Israel’s fortunes would change because God is a God of grace.
Q.2. What false hope had the leaders given the nation? Would this avert God’s judgment? How would God achieve His purposes? How did Isaiah illustrate that God’s plans would be followed through? – (Isa.28:14-29)
What was this ‘covenant of death’ and the ‘pact with Sheol’ that had deceived the nation? (Isa.28:15 & 18). Instead of trusting God, the leaders had entered into an agreement with Egypt, in order to help protect them from foreign invasion. God declared that the agreement would not stand. The prophet then described the plight that would befall the captives in exile (Isa.28:19-20, 22). He described how the farmer does not repeat the same tasks but follows a process to produce a harvest. He gave hope that God’s chastening would result in a positive outcome in future – This also comes from the Lord of hosts, who has made His counsel wonderful and His wisdom great (Isa.28:29 c.f. Isa.28:23-28). Isaiah delivered a significant prophecy concerning the way in which God would deliver His people – Therefore thus says the Lord God, “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 (Isa.28:16 c.f. Mt.21:42-44; Acts 4:10-12; Rom.9:30-33; 1 Pet.2:6-8). This prophecy was referred to frequently, by Jesus and the apostles.