Exposition by Max A Forsythe
Today we begin a new eight chapter section in Isaiah's prophecy. This group of chapters is often called "The Book of Zion". The reason for this calling is that primarily to this point, the focus of judgments has been upon the nations. In this entire section, except for the brief chapter judgment on Samaria the entire burden of judgment falls on Zion's shoulders. Another similarity to an earlier sequence should also be noted. In chapter five's vineyard scene, six woes were well listed. As we remember from last week, another whole chapter was devoted to the vineyard picture. Then in six of the following chapters similar woes are expanded to whole chapter lengths. Those who live in Zion are distinctly informed that like the worldly they too will be called to account, even as the foundation for their salvation is noted.
As we consider the implications of this message in chapter twenty-eight, we may see a fivefold division to take us step by step to understanding what the Lord is doing. In verses one to four, Isaiah identifies the first city of Ephraim and predicts it's final falling. In verses five to eight, Isaiah charges the leaders of Jerusalem with the same sins practiced by their kin in Samaria. In verses nine to thirteen God speaks directly to the errant leadership about their childish understanding and failure to comprehend the terms of His covenant. In verses fourteen to twenty-two God's elect are promised a foundational stone for the future, which will eventually divide the tares and the wheat one from another. Finally in verses twenty-three to twenty-nine, Isaiah explains and illustrates the content of his message in a way that the elect may understand.
Let us work through these five sections one by one. Dr Young informs us that things have improved somewhat in Judah with the ascent of Hezekiah to the throne. However, as we shall see in the following chapters, the Egyptian lobby is still very powerful within Judah's government. It will be to Egypt that the petty states will appeal for protection from Assyria. Given the description here in these few opening verses we must note that the drunken atmosphere in Samaria clouds the councils of state. Would the leaders of Ephraim sober up enough to consider the power and might of Israel's true God? Obviously not! Drunkenness has caused the loss of more than one war in history.
Once when there were three hundred and fifty Germanys instead of one, a certain Duke declared war on a Margrave and invaded his country. The small invading army captured a bordering village, lost three casualties and raided the village tavern. There the invasion stopped and the Duke was forced to sue for peace and even had to pay heavily for the emptied wine cellar. Then in colonial times, the villagers of Piqua, Ohio were upset about not being selected as the county seat. So the local militia after being fortified for the task, gathered up a leftover 1812 cannon and began marching to settle accounts with the village that won. They stopped at a halfway house, spent the night and woke up the next morning wondering why on earth they were fifteen miles from home with a heavy cannon to pull all they way back home!
This faded flower of Samaria, Isaiah tells us, is ripe for the picking and may easily be swallowed up whole! As we move on to the next section of verses we may well ask if the Judeans will listen to this prophecy of Isaiah? Here Isaiah contrasts the drunken crown of Ephraim with the glorious crown appointed over God's elect. May we see a difference in churches here between the worldly Ephraim and the elect Judea? Even so, God's elect may well suffer from the same sins as the worldly ,Isaiah would have us to know. When I was in the worldly church, I was required on at least one occasion to attend a meeting in a cheap bar in Dayton. I was already in trouble with the liberals, so I did not object as I probably should have. Now as one of my commentators observes, we do not see here a complete banning of the fruit of the vine. Instead what he intends to reveal here is that just as secular leaders ought to be clear headed in any crisis, more so ought the spiritual leaders set a better example.
We may well wonder as we hear the question in verse nine as we move into the third section! Are these children, Isaiah asks? Look at the attitude towards God and His prophets in verse ten. Here the very law of God and the regulative principles of the Kingdom are mocked. The first phrase hints that the words of the prophet are mere petty annoyances.
The second phrase suggests that the holy law is merely a deluge of irritating precepts. The third phrase indicates that the spirit of the law was missed in the piecemeal approach to applying it to daily life. In other words, because they focused on insignificant details, they failed to grasp the righteousness of the whole! Remember what Jesus said to the Pharisees who swallowed a camel to strain out a gnat? This is the idea here. So God says very well, let them hear my words through the lips and tongues of Assyrian troops. If they cannot hear and understand the implications of the righteous revelations of the law and the prophets, they will never comprehend something greater than the prophets when Jesus arrives!
In the fourth section in verses fourteen through twenty-two Isaiah addresses the baby boomers of Isaiah's time, the once thirty-somethings who are finally having to face the reality of middle age aches and pains. See how immortal were their feelings in verse fifteen? Sounds a lot like those in our time who would insure their medical salvation even as they fiddle with their spiritual needs. But God has not abandoned his people; Isaiah shows us the promise of the Messiah here in the wonderful revelation verses here before us. "See, I lay a stone in Zion ..." By God's own initiative, by His own eternal plan, "See, I lay a stone in Zion ..." The nature of this tested stone, this cornerstone is that by it all men will finally be measured. Even though wave after wave of troubles will come across God's people and by these testings some will fall away, still the elect will remain held up by the certain foundation of Jesus Christ.
More immediately here, we may note in spite of the difficulties of the text in verse eighteen that the overflowing and trampling force is destined for Jerusalem sooner or later. Would the Judeans understand Isaiah perfectly, they would tremble in terror. Would they truly understand their situation they would not envy their beds of ease. Years ago, when I was in the Army, one of the common practical jokes was to short sheet a newcomers bed. This was done by folding up the top sheet and fooling the person into thinking that all was normal. One drunk came back to the barracks late and since his sheets were well worn simply shoved his feet right through and fell asleep in spite of the practical joke! Would the Judeans of Isaiah's time even notice that their beds were too short and their blankets too narrow?
Even so, the Lord would continue with His eternal plan even though that plan may seem strange and alien. What is strange here is that God is about to undo the theocracy of Israel which He had promised to establish. Verse twenty-two begins with the words "And now" which introduce the conclusion of this section. Judah must learn the truth that an end is coming to the theocratic nation.
This coming end is not a change in God's policy, but something determined long ago. Well should the scoffers stop their mocking, or else their chains will be heavier as the decreed destruction comes closer. Repent and live, we might better phrase the invitation in our day. However the attention of the listener is gotten, our last section encourages the elect to listen and hear God's voice, as Isaiah explains by means of an agricultural scene. Last week we plowed the two acres behind the house. This week, we borrowed a tractor and disk to break up the soil for the next step of harrowing and planting. As much fun as it was to bounce over the plowed ground hour by hour, it is not a pleasant enough experience to do over and over and over as Isaiah observes here.
Notice the care and arrangement of the crops in verse twenty-five. Each crop carefully sown in its appointed place. The spelt is even planted in a border around the other crops. Dr Young observes that there appears to be no reason for this placement. Now I am not certain, but just as there was always a purpose in sowing marigolds around the garden to keep certain bugs away, so may we understand that the farmers of Isaiah's time had a known purpose to their strategy! Given that understanding, Isaiah would have us know that the Lord knows what He is doing as well! Just as the farmer would not take a sledge to harvest caraway seeds, so too will the Lord use appropriate force to accomplish His eternal will.
On that fact may we learn to count day by day until He returns. May we like Isaiah learn to appreciate the ways and wisdom of our God in heaven. "All this also comes from the Lord Almighty, wonderful in Counsel and magnificent in wisdom."
Resources Used:
Ellis, Charles..
The Wells of Salvation.
Thomas, Derek..
Welwyn Commentary Series: God Delivers.
Young, Edward J.
The Book of Isaiah.
The Holy Bible.
New International Version (1984 Edition)
NOTE: I am not able to automatically
recommend any future editions.
Christ Covenant Reformed (Presbyterian Church in America) -
Box 13926 - Columbus, OH 43213
(c) 2001
24 April 1994
Permission granted to redistribute unedited versions with this notice.