Dave Burnette's Commentary

Isaiah Chapter 28

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Isaiah
Date Penned: (700-681 BC)
Overview: To Tell of God's Salvation through the Messiah (c 1-66)
Theme: Words of Judgment (c 1-39)
Message: Prophecy Against Samaria (v 1-29)

Isaiah 28 Commentary 

(28:1) Idolatry - Ephraim, the leading tribe of the northern kingdom of Israel, represents the entire kingdom. It was ruled by a long line of evil kings. When Israel split into two kingdoms after Solomon's reign, Jerusalem remained in the southern kingdom. Leaders in the northern kingdom set up idols to keep the people from going to worship at the temple in Jerusalem (see 1 Kings 12). Thus, the people in the northern kingdom were led into idolatry. Isaiah gave this message to warn Israel that destruction was certain. It was also meant to encourage Judah to repent before being punished, as the northern kingdom would be just a few years later. 

(28:9-14) A School Teacher - These verses characterize the people's reaction to Isaiah. In effect, they were saying, "He's speaking to us like a schoolteacher speaks to small children. We don't need to be taught. We'll make up our own minds." For this attitude, Isaiah prophesied that the Assyrians would teach the people in a way they would like even less. 

(28:13) Teaching a Lesson - Like a parent teaching a stubborn child, God would need to use repetition and simple words to get his messages through to his people. Do you find that God has to teach you the same lessons over and over again? The simplicity of God's message can be a stumbling block for some (see 29:9-10), leading them to think it must have little value. We must not be too proud to hear and obey God's simple lessons. 

(28:15) Sellling Out - Judah was afraid of the Assyrians. Instead of trusting God, the Judeans turned to other sources for security. God accused them of making a covenant with death. This passage may refer to Hezekiah's alliance with King Tirhakah against Assyria (2 Kings 19:9; Isaiah 37:9). God himself would cancel this agreement--Egypt would be of no help when Assyria attacked. Often when we try to save ourselves during a difficult moment, we end up selling out to what we believe will save our skin. But is it ever worth it? God says no. If you want lasting protection, don't sell out by turning away from the only one able to deliver you from eternal death--God. 

(28:16) A Cornerstone - If you're building anything, you need a firm base. Isaiah speaks of a foundation stone, "a precious cornerstone," that would be laid in Zion. This cornerstone is the Messiah, the foundation on whom we build our lives. Is your life built on the flimsy base of your own success or dreams? Or is it set on a firm foundation (see Psalm 118:22; 1 Peter 2:8)? 

(28:21-22) Fighting Against Israel -  God fought on Joshua's side at the battle of Gibeon (Joshua 10:1-14) and on David's side at Mount Perazim (2 Samuel 5:20). But here he would fight against Israel, his own people, in these same places. 

(28:23-29) Having Compassion - Farmers use special tools to plant and harvest tender herbs so they will not destroy them. They take into account how fragile they are. Similarly, God takes all our circumstances and weaknesses into account. He deals with each person sensitively and uniquely. We should follow his example when we deal with others. Different people require different treatment. Be sensitive to the needs of those around you and the special treatment they may need.


Dave Burnette's Life Application

Rightly Dividing Scriptures

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today, we continue in the Book of Isaiah with Chapter 28. In our text today, we see Jerusalem's true and false hopes based on accurate and false interpretations of doctrine. In making application we see that Scripture taken out of context results in misguided directions. Our text reminds us that doctrine is to interpret precept upon precept to get the true meaning of the Scriptures. How about you? Do you understand how to interpret Scripture correctly? Let us learn from our text today and the example of Jerusalem to correctly interpret Scripture by doctrine by placing precept upon precept and line upon line so we will understand the Word of the Lord. 

 

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Isaiah 28

Isaiah 28

 1Woe 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!

 2Behold, 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.

 3The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:

 4And 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.

 5In 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,

 6And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.

 7But 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.

 8For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.

 9Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.

 10For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

 11For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

 12To 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.

 13But 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.

 14Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.

 15Because 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:

 16Therefore 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.

 17Judgment 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.

 18And 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.

 19From 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.

 20For 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.

 21For 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.

 22Now 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.

 23Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech.

 24Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground?

 25When 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?

 26For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.

 27For 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.

 28Bread 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.

 29This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.