Isaiah 28:1-16

Vs. 4    When written, filled w/ prosperity “fat valleys”, which filled w/ careless attitude of pleasure seekings rather than God.  Sound familiar.  2 Tim 3 calls it perilous times when become lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God and marks the last days. Judgment hanging over heads, standing at most critical time history and they getting drunk.  And so it will be when Jesus comes. Lk 17:26-30 as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.  Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.  Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.  So, we can look at Ephraim and prophet’s warning still applies today, w/in 3 years, 722 BC Shalmaneser. 

 

Vs. 5    The glory and beauty of God lasts forever for His people.  Even now, ungodly N, a remnant.  Every tribe/tongue shall have a representative, even Sodom.  This is what Elijah needed to learn, when felt so alone during evil times (1Kg 19:18).  During spiritual reforms Asa, 2 Chr 15:9.  The remnant arose.  They are always there, even in darkest days of world, when Bible says, all the nations of the earth have become corrupted, John still hears a voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.  For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.

 

Vs. 8    Drunkenness must’ve been significant problem (mentions 8X in 8 vss).  With so much on the line…“erred through wine”, in fact, 3X mention the alcohol made “err”.  This is actually the best Biblical position on alcohol.  “Error”.  If look for strict prohibition against drinking in Bible, there isn’t. JC made wine (Jn 2:1-10), seems He drank wine (Mk 14:22-26), even unjustly accused of being drunkard (Mt 11:19). Paul recommends wine to Timothy for sickness (1 Tim 5:23). Contrary to us “tea totallers”, the Bible even regards good wine as a joyful gift from God (Ps 104:15). So, why these verses and the dozens about drunkards?  Bible strictly condemns being “overcome with wine” (Vs 1).  Hawlam (what Jael did to Sisera, Jd 5).  “To strike down”.  Whenever impairs senses, thinking, judgment, “overcome”.  Whenever compelled to drink and find difficult not drink and end even hide our drinking, we are overcome and it is sin 1Co 6:12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. (Controlling authority)  This is a very serious issue because 2 vs earlier (1 Cor 6:10) drunkards shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  Eph 5:18 tells us being drunk destroys body/soul, while Spirit builds up.  Dozens vss both OT/NT about drunkards, giving a very clear message.  Alcohol causes “Error”.  Pr 23 “see things that aren’t there and say things you don’t want to (even oblivious to being beaten or thorn in the hand (Pr 26:9)).  Rm 13:13 cause to live “loosely”, 1 Cor 11 cause irreverent.  JC specifically warns may cause to miss Him (Lk 21:34).  Here specifically condemning religious leaders who thru drunkenness “erred in vision and judgment”.  Paul told Timothy and Titus, Elders not to be “given to wine”.  This not new.  Lev 10:1-3…8-11.  This why elders do not drink in our fellowship.  God applies this to other leaders.  Pr 31:4-7  People make poor judgments when drink. 

 

Vs. 10  Can’t read w/out ABC’s?  This is the point.  Isa proclaiming basics of godliness and they mock, “Teach your ABC’s to kids.  We’re beyond childish things.”  Heb 5:12-14 (Age and wisdom travel together, but sometimes age shows up by itself).  Hebrew is monosyllabic.  Literally, tzav latzav, tzav latzav, qav laqav, qav laquav.  Closely related to what happened when Jesus came. (Jn 7) The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this Man!" Then the Pharisees answered them, "Are you also deceived? "Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed."  1 Cor 1:18  We must all be growing by the 1 Pt 2:2 pure milk of the word.  Share the simple things learning… 

 

Vs. 13  The result of faithfully presenting Word of Lord for those who reject isn’t good.  Principle behind parables Mt 13:13-15--I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.  And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: 'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.'  They filled w/ prosperity and had no interest God’s simple message and so He gave them a different  sign.  People speaking different languages (Assyria/Babylon) shall be sign of God’s judgment against their unbelief? 

Understanding this context helps understand Paul’s letter Corinth, where takes this vs and applies to Tongues.  Think about it…What marked God’s judgment on unbelieving Israel in NT?  After rejecting the Prophet and His childish message, what marked God’s grace leaving Israel, Temple’s destruction, nation’s annihilation?  Pentecost, when God proved His foolish message, the sign was in foreign tongues declaring God’s message.  Ac 2:1-12.

 Now, tongue speaking became  “central focus”/thrill at Corinth, so Paul trying to help understand the true significance of this phenomenon states, references this prophecy.  Just as tongues of invading army marked fulfillment of God’s Word to rejecting Israel, it foreshadowed the strange and unexpected miracle marking the same thing for Israel who rejects JC.  1 Cor 14:17:22a If want to know more about praying/singing in Spirit, speaking in Tongues publicly then get 1 Cor 14 teaching.

 

Vs. 15  Made pact w/ Egypt to protect.  However, Babylon wipes out Egypt at Carchemish.  Believing a lie doesn’t make it true.  They mocking prophet saying, "Hey man, don't try to scare us with destruction. We've got a contract that death won’t hurt us."  Common thinking today.  As judgment moving forward, people should begin to fear and stop placing hope in their securities, but in the Lord…

 

Vs. 16  There is a refuge that really sound, really secure and trustworthy.  1 Peter 2:6 applies directly to Messiah.  He was telling ungodly Israel to hope in coming Savior.  He is a foundation that gives stability, no matter what is about to happen.  He was tried by men and proven faithful and is precious (1 Pt 2:4).  So, it is not foolish or “hasty” to trust in Him.  Just ask Israel how things worked out for them.  What are you building your life on?  Lk 6:46-49

 

Vs. 20  No real rest!  Not prosperity, pleasure, drunkenness, not even religion.  You'll never find satisfaction in prosperity or peace in pleasure. There's only one place of real rest…

 

Vs. 21    Lord prefers pour out His mercy and grace to build men up and defend them rather than destroy them…(Zech 3:1-5)  That why considered “unusual”.  However, remember Jsh 5:13-14.

 

Vs. 29  God’s plans will prevail and are perfect (Rom 8:28).  His plowing, planting, threshing and grinding are purposeful as the farmer.  His counsel is full of wonder and His plans are well prepared.  The LORD knows the way of the righteous, The LORD knows the days of the upright, The LORD knows the thoughts of man