# Overview Isaiah Chapter 28 begins with a prophetic warning to the northern kingdom of #Israel, specifically addressing the tribes of #Ephraim. The chapter opens with a vivid depiction of the pride and self-indulgence of the leaders and the people, symbolized by the fading crown of #Samaria, which is likened to a wreath of beauty soon to wither. The Lord pronounces judgment upon them for their drunkenness and arrogance, declaring that He will send a strong and mighty one to bring about their destruction. This imagery serves as a warning that God’s judgment is imminent and unavoidable, emphasizing the need for humility and repentance. The chapter contrasts the fleeting glory of Ephraim with the eternal strength and beauty of the #Lord, who will be a crown of glory and a diadem for the remnant of His people. The latter part of the chapter shifts focus to #Jerusalem, warning its inhabitants of the impending judgment due to their reliance on falsehoods and misguided covenants. The people are accused of mocking the prophet’s message, treating it as simplistic and irrelevant. However, God promises to establish a sure foundation, a cornerstone in #Zion, which points to the coming #Messiah, as a symbol of true security and righteousness. This cornerstone signifies a new beginning, offering hope amidst the pronouncements of judgment. The chapter ends with a parable about a farmer, illustrating that just as a farmer uses different methods for different purposes, so God uses various means to instruct and correct His people. This serves as a reminder of God’s wisdom and sovereignty in His dealings with humanity. ## Theological Insights Isaiah 28 offers profound theological insights into God’s justice, sovereignty, and the promise of renewal. This chapter addresses the judgment against #Ephraim and #Jerusalem, revealing God’s displeasure with their pride and disobedience. The imagery of the fading wreath symbolizes the fleeting nature of human glory and the inevitable consequence of turning away from God. The chapter begins with a woe pronounced upon the drunkards of #Ephraim (verses 1-4), indicating the spiritual intoxication and pride that lead to downfall. This serves as a reminder of the #Proverbs 16:18 principle that pride precedes destruction. The #Lord, however, is depicted as a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty for the remnant of His people (verse 5), highlighting the theme of divine reversal where God Himself becomes the source of true honor and strength. The concept of divine instruction is central as the chapter progresses (verses 9-13). The people’s refusal to listen to God’s straightforward and simple teaching results in spiritual blindness and confusion. This echoes the prophetic motif found in [[Isaiah/Isaiah Chapter 6]], where the message intended to bring clarity is instead a tool of judgment because of the people's hard hearts. Verses 14-22 introduce the cornerstone motif, where God announces the laying of a precious cornerstone in #Zion, a sure foundation (verse 16). This cornerstone is later identified as #Christ in the New Testament, notably in [[1 Peter/1 Peter Chapter 2]], emphasizing the reliability and salvation found in Jesus. Therefore, this passage not only points to immediate historical events but also to the eschatological hope fulfilled in the #Messiah. God's sovereignty and justice are further underscored as He promises to annul the covenant with death and refutes the false security the leaders of Jerusalem have placed in their own wisdom and agreements (verses 18-19). This is a powerful reminder of God's ultimate authority over life and death, and the futility of relying on human alliances instead of divine protection. Finally, the agricultural imagery in verses 23-29 illustrates God's wisdom in His dealings with people. Just as a farmer knows the right time and method for planting and harvesting, so God applies His perfect wisdom and understanding in administering justice and mercy. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God's providence and meticulous care for His creation, seen throughout scripture from [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 1]] to [[Revelation/Revelation Chapter 22]]. Isaiah 28, therefore, calls believers to trust in God's plans and purposes, acknowledging His righteous judgment while holding onto the hope of redemption through the promised cornerstone, #Christ. ## Thematic Connections ### The Sovereignty of God and Divine Judgment In Isaiah 28, the theme of God's sovereignty is evident through His pronouncement of judgment upon the leaders of #Israel and #Judah. This theme is consistent with other passages where God asserts His authority over nations, like [[Jeremiah/Jeremiah Chapter 18]], where God is depicted as the potter with control over the clay. The judgment pronounced in Isaiah 28 reflects God's righteous standards and His ability to bring about justice, as seen in the judgment of #Sodom and #Gomorrah in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 19]]. ### The Foundation of Righteousness The chapter highlights the theme of a firm foundation, with the prophecy of laying a "precious cornerstone" in #Zion, as referenced in Isaiah 28:16. This cornerstone is later identified as Christ in the New Testament, specifically in [[Ephesians/Ephesians Chapter 2|Ephesians 2:20-22]], where Jesus is described as the chief cornerstone of the church. This thematic connection emphasizes the necessity of a solid spiritual foundation rooted in righteousness and faith. ### The Folly of Human Wisdom Isaiah 28 presents a critique of the leaders' reliance on their wisdom and strategies, contrasting them with God's wisdom. This theme resonates with passages like [[Proverbs/Proverbs Chapter 3|Proverbs 3:5-7]], which admonishes trust in the Lord rather than one's understanding. Similar warnings against human wisdom are found in [[1 Corinthians/1 Corinthians Chapter 1]], where Paul discusses the foolishness of human wisdom compared to God's wisdom. ### The Promise of Restoration Despite the imminent judgment, Isaiah 28 also contains a promise of restoration and hope. This theme of restoration is present throughout the Scriptures, such as in [[Jeremiah/Jeremiah Chapter 31]], where God promises a new covenant with His people. The promise of restoration serves as a reminder of God's mercy and faithfulness, even amidst judgment. ### The Role of Prophetic Revelation The chapter underscores the importance of prophetic revelation as a means of divine communication. Isaiah 28 highlights the people's failure to heed prophetic warnings, a theme consistent with other prophetic books like [[Ezekiel/Ezekiel Chapter 3]], where the prophet is called to speak God's words whether the people listen or not. This connection stresses the critical role of prophecy in guiding and correcting God's people. ## Prophetic Fulfillments ### The Foundation Stone in Zion In [[Isaiah/Isaiah Chapter 28|Isaiah 28:16]], the prophet speaks of a "tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation," laid by the Lord in #Zion. This prophecy is fulfilled in the New Testament, as the Apostle #Peter cites this verse in relation to [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]] in [[1 Peter/1 Peter Chapter 2|1 Peter 2:6]]. Jesus is identified as the cornerstone, the essential foundation of faith, upon which believers build their lives. This cornerstone symbolizes stability, truth, and divine assurance, pointing to Jesus as the foundation of God’s redemptive plan. ### The Rejection of the Word of the Lord Isaiah 28 highlights the people's rejection of God’s word (Isaiah 28:12-13), which foreshadows how many would later reject Jesus’ teachings. This theme of rejection is echoed in the New Testament, where Jesus is often met with disbelief and opposition, as seen in passages like [[John/John Chapter 1|John 1:11]] and [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 21|Matthew 21:42]]. These fulfillments show a consistent pattern of resistance against God’s messengers, culminating in the rejection of Jesus Himself, the ultimate revelation of God’s word. ### Judgment and Salvation The chapter also contains themes of judgment and salvation, where God’s justice is outlined alongside His promise of deliverance for those who trust in Him. This dual theme is fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus, who embodies both judgment against sin and the means of salvation, as explained in passages like [[John/John Chapter 3|John 3:16-18]] and [[Romans/Romans Chapter 5|Romans 5:8-9]]. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection fulfill the prophetic vision of a divine intervention that brings both justice and mercy. ## Verses - **Isaiah 28:1** - "What sorrow awaits the proud city of Samaria— the glorious crown of the drunks of Israel. It sits at the head of a fertile valley, but its glorious beauty will fade like a flower." - **Isaiah 28:2** - "For the Lord will send a mighty army against it. Like a mighty hailstorm and a torrential rain, they will burst upon it like a surging flood and smash it to the ground." - **Isaiah 28:3** - "The proud city of Samaria— the glorious crown of the drunks of Israel— will be trampled beneath its enemies’ feet." - **Isaiah 28:4** - "It sits at the head of a fertile valley, but its glorious beauty will fade like a flower. Whoever sees it will snatch it up, as an early fig is quickly picked and eaten." - **Isaiah 28:5** - "Then at last the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will himself be Israel’s glorious crown. He will be the pride and joy of the remnant of his people." - **Isaiah 28:6** - "He will give a spirit of justice to the one who sits in judgment and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate." - **Isaiah 28:7** - "However, Israel is led by drunks who reel with wine and stagger with alcohol. The priests and prophets stagger with alcohol and lose themselves in wine. They reel when they see visions and stagger as they render decisions." - **Isaiah 28:8** - "Their tables are covered with vomit; filth is everywhere." - **Isaiah 28:9** - "‘Who does the Lord think we are?’ they ask. ‘Why does he speak to us like this? Are we little children, just recently weaned?’" - **Isaiah 28:10** - "He tells us everything over and over— one line at a time, one line at a time, a little here, and a little there!" - **Isaiah 28:11** - "So now God will have to speak to his people through foreign oppressors who speak a strange language!" - **Isaiah 28:12** - "God has told his people, ‘Here is a place of rest; let the weary rest here. This is a place of quiet rest.’ But they would not listen." - **Isaiah 28:13** - "So the Lord will spell out his message for them again, one line at a time, one line at a time, a little here, and a little there, so that they will stumble and fall. They will be injured, trapped, and captured." - **Isaiah 28:14** - "Therefore, listen to this message from the Lord, you scoffing rulers in Jerusalem." - **Isaiah 28:15** - "You boast, ‘We have struck a bargain to cheat death and have made a deal to dodge the grave. The coming destruction can never touch us, for we have built a strong refuge made of lies and deception.’" - **Isaiah 28:16** - "Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.’" - Note: This cornerstone prophecy is fulfilled in [[Psalms/Psalms Chapter 118]], [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 21]], [[1 Peter/1 Peter Chapter 2]] - **Isaiah 28:17** - "I will test you with the measuring line of justice and the plumb line of righteousness. Since your refuge is made of lies, a hailstorm will knock it down. Since it is made of deception, a flood will sweep it away." - **Isaiah 28:18** - "I will cancel the bargain you made to cheat death, and I will overturn your deal to dodge the grave. When the terrible enemy sweeps through, you will be trampled into the ground." - **Isaiah 28:19** - "Again and again that flood will come, morning after morning, day and night, until you are carried away. This message will bring terror to your people." - **Isaiah 28:20** - "The bed you have made is too short to lie on. The blankets are too narrow to cover you." - **Isaiah 28:21** - "The Lord will come as he did against the Philistines at Mount Perazim and against the Amorites at Gibeon. He will come to do a strange thing; he will come to do an unusual deed." - Note: Reference to [[2 Samuel/2 Samuel Chapter 5]], [[Joshua/Joshua Chapter 10]] - **Isaiah 28:22** - "For the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, has plainly said that he is determined to crush the whole land. So scoff no more, or your punishment will be even greater." - **Isaiah 28:23** - "Listen to me; listen, and pay close attention." - **Isaiah 28:24** - "Does a farmer always plow and never sow? Is he forever cultivating the soil and never planting?" - **Isaiah 28:25** - "Does he not finally plant his seeds— black cumin, cumin, wheat, barley, and emmer wheat— each in its proper way, and each in its proper place?" - **Isaiah 28:26** - "The farmer knows just what to do, for God has given him understanding." - **Isaiah 28:27** - "A heavy sledge is never used to thresh black cumin; rather, it is beaten with a light stick. A threshing wheel is never rolled on cumin; instead, it is beaten lightly with a flail." - **Isaiah 28:28** - "Grain for bread is easily crushed, so he doesn’t keep on pounding it. He threshes it under the wheels of a cart, but he doesn’t pulverize it." - **Isaiah 28:29** - "The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is a wonderful teacher, and he gives the farmer great wisdom."