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Isaiah 28:1 - 28:29
The 28th Chapter of
Isaiah begins a series of "woe" Chapters upon various peoples and
areas. Much of this "woe" prophecy is similar to the previous burden
Chapters we covered earlier in Isaiah. Our Lord continues to unfold more views of the
cause of false worship within this, which will come upon those who allow themselves to be
deceived by false messiah. Within this 28th Chapter is revealed a deeper reason why many
believers fall away from True Knowledge in God's Word. That cause of deception is strongly
in effect today, and is especially because of the lack of line by line Bible study.
Isaiah 28 is distinctively meant towards Ephraim of the
ten tribe kingdom of northern Israel (see 1 Kings 11 through 2 Kings 19). Ephraim was the
head tribe among the ten tribes of the Northern Kingdom of old Israel, as Jeroboam, an
Ephrathite of Zereda, would be setup as their first king by God's Hand, and rule over the "house
of Israel" (ten tribes). The capital city of that ten tribe kingdom of Israel
was in Samaria (1 Kings 11 forward). For our times, Isaiah 28 is also a warning upon the
areas where the majority of the ten lost tribes are today, concerning the latter day
events (see the Lost Tribes study for more on the original
split of old Israel into two separate 'houses', and where they migrated to). We now begin
this Isaiah 28 Chapter, as we ask a Word of Wisdom from our Heavenly Father Yahaveh in
Christ Jesus' Name, Amen.
Isa
28:1 Woe 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!
This woe was
originally upon the early leaders within Ephraim who ruled in the northern kingdom capital
city of Samaria (Isa.7:9). King Jeroboam of the "house of Israel"
caused the ten tribes to fall into false worship by setting up two golden calves as "gods"
for idol worship (1 Kings 12:26-29). These "fat valleys" were the very
fertile valleys surrounding old Samaria before the Assyrian removed the ten tribes from
the land, and then took them captive to Assyria (2 Kings 15:27-29; 2 Kings 17:6-18; see
also Hosea 4 forward, for how God feels about Ephraim and the "house of
Israel" falling away from Him). That blessing to Jacob that he would inherit the
fatness of the land, was one part of the Birthright blessing and it would be transferred
to his son Joseph, and then to Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh (Gen.27;
Gen.49:22-26).
Today, Ephraim is still the "head" over
the rest of the ten tribes of Israel, but they are now situated in the west. That's where
the majority of the "house of Israel" migrated to. Many of them are
spiritually drunken because they don't listen to God's Word, and thus do not really know
their God given heritage. Sadly... a lot of them don't seem to care one way or the other.
They are numbed in listening to our Heavenly Father's Word to know that He established
them where they are today, and blessed them through His Son Jesus Christ. Is it any wonder
that Ephraim's brother tribe Manasseh means 'causing to forget'? ('Manasseh';
Strongs 4519). Therefore, many of them are "overcome with wine", in the
spiritual sense.
Isa
28:2 Behold, 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.
Historically, this "mighty
and strong one" which God used to cast old Ephraim down with was the historical
Assyrian of the previous Isaiah Chapters. Back in Isaiah 8 we covered this "flood
of mighty waters overflowing" from the Assyrian as representing Satan's word of
lies for the latter days. The role of that historical Assyrian is but a 'type' for the
latter day role of the 'antichrist' (Satan). Per the Book of Revelation, that later role
will be Lucifer de facto, upon the earth, prior to our Lord Jesus Christ's second coming
(compare Rev.13:11 about that role of the "dragon" with his being cast
down to the earth per Rev.12:7-9; see Rev.12:15, for that "serpent"
enters in "as a flood" of lies). To discern this event means to realize
that just as God used the historical Assyrian, and the king of Babylon of old to punish
His children because they failed to listen to Him then, likewise, He is going to use the
antichrist to do the same in the latter days to those who also fall into false worship.
The false worship in the latter days will not be a literal worship of two golden calves as
it was in historical Samaria, but will occur by many wrongly treating the false messiah as
their Savior instead of waiting on Christ Jesus to return (2 Thessalonians 2). This event
is going to metaphorically shake the old 'deadwood' branches off of God's Tree that was
mentioned in the previous Isaiah Chapter.
For not getting into and listening to our Heavenly
Father's Word, there will be a price to pay. Some will pay dearly for not caring enough to
read God's Word and check their religious leaders out, so as to know what's coming upon
the whole world. Within this Isaiah 28 Chapter we'll discover later that even the deceived
believers on Christ who truly love our Lord but fall away, will have a consolation, though
they will still be ashamed for their illusions when Christ is revealed (1 John
2:28; Rev.16:15; Rev.3:18; 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Cor.15:34). So again, this "woe"
is especially upon the false leaders of Ephraim which do much of the misleading, when they
are responsible to God in helping to feed and guard His sheep:
Isa 28:3 The
crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under
feet:
4 And 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.
Historically, the "drunkards
of Ephraim" in the old northern Kingdom of Israel indeed were trodden down (2
Kings 17). The Assyrian came upon them and took the ten tribes out of the land, and moved
them to Assyria and the cities of the Medes. That occurred approximately 130 years prior
to the "house of Judah" being taken captive to Babylon. One of old
Assyria's political strategies in controlling a land was to remove the original dwellers,
and replace them with peoples from other lands. After the "house of Israel"
(ten tribes) was taken out of the land, Assyria brought in peoples from five different
pagan nations to dwell there instead (2 Kings 17:23-24). If you realize who the first one
in the field is "taken" by (i.e. by antichrist), then what the Assyrian
did historically represents what antichrist will spiritually do to those who intend to
'fly away' to save their souls (Ezek.13; Luke 17:33-37; Matt.24:28; Isa.8:14-15).
Recall the blessing of Genesis 27:28 which Jacob received,
that God would give him "...the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and
plenty of corn and wine:"; then this "head of the fat valley"
mentioned still represents Ephraim as the head of the ten tribes of the "house of
Israel" for today. And certainly, the western Christian nations represent the
fattest valleys upon the earth, historically producing much more than they could ever
consume.
What is this "hasty fruit" idea? Is
there a prophetic link for today with this 'hasty fruit', with the antichrist as a 'type'
for what the historical Assyrian did to the ten tribes under old Ephraim? What did our
Lord Jesus teach about summer harvest time, and the season of His coming? This "hasty
fruit" (early fig) means the first fruits of the season, prior to the main
summer harvest (common fig). Didn't our Lord teach something about this in His parable of
the fig tree?:
Mark
13:28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet
tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:
29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass,
know that it is nigh, even at the doors.
Summer is the
symbolic season of our True Lord Christ's coming. When a fruit tree begins to bring forth
leaves in the spring, then you know summer is just around the corner. Likewise it is with
the time of our Lord's return. His harvest will metaphorically be in the summer, during
the time of the common fig. That's the symbolic season of the gathering of His to Him. To
put trust in the 'hasty fruit' (early fig) of an early harvest is
symbolic of not waiting for the true time of harvest, which means the season of His
coming. Our Lord did give a symbolic warning on this, saying "But pray that your
flight be not in the winter,... ." (Matt.24:20). When speaking about the
symbolic season of Christ's return per Scripture, gathering to Him symbolically in the "winter"
would be too early, now wouldn't it? Our Lord stated that right along with the "woe
unto them that are with child" spiritual harlot analogy (Matt.24:19). Both of
those warnings are symbolic for falling away from Him to another. So who will try to bring
an early harvest, and deceive many into thinking it is the true time of our Lord Christ's
coming?:
Rev 6:12
And I beheld when He had opened the sixth seal,
and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and
the moon became as blood;
13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as
a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty
wind.
The phrase "untimely
figs" means 'unripe figs' (Strongs 3653). The sixth seal is when the
event of Revelation 12:7-9 will come to pass, with 'that old serpent' and his
angels being cast down to earth (per the loosing of Rev.9:15). Those who worship that
false one will put their trust in "hasty fruit", not waiting for the
true summer harvest when our Lord Jesus returns. For those deceived, it will be like this
Isaiah 28:4 verse declares, when they look at the early fruit in their hand, that false
one (the Assyrian historically, but the antichrist for the latter days) is going to eat it
all up. This is also why the five foolish virgins of Matthew 25 will be shunned by our
Lord when He finally does appear (Matt.25:10-12). Those five foolish virgins didn't bring
a separate vessel of 'Oil' for their spiritual lamps in preparation to meet The Bridegroom
(Jesus Christ). Their lamps burned out of Oil (God's Truth in His Word), just when they
needed It most.
Isa 28:5
In 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,
6 And for a spirit of judgment to Him That sitteth in judgment, and for
strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.
Our Lord Christ
returning upon a white steed is written in Revelation 19:12, where upon His head are
beautiful crowns (diadem). So far, all this should be enough Scripture evidence to know
this Isaiah Scripture still holds a prophecy for the future time of Christ's return (see
also Isaiah 62).
This "residue of His people" represents
those who stay on Him in His Word, and don't allow themselves to be deceived by the false
one. Those who stay true to Christ Jesus are given to "turn the battle to the
gate". That means to take the battle to the enemy (antichrist and his). Per
Ephesians 6, believers are told how to do that in order to make a 'stand' in the "evil
day" (i.e., first tribulation by Satan). We are to withstand all the "fiery
darts" of the wicked (Eph.6). That is not done with weapons of man, but by God's Word
with faith on Him through His Son Jesus Christ. To understand more on 'how' we are
expected to make that 'stand' per God's Word, study the Babylon captivity events in the
Book of Daniel, specifically of the cause for which Daniel and his brethren were delivered
up to the king of Babylon.
Isa 28:7 But
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.
Who are these "they"
who have also erred through wine? Recall back to Isaiah 7 when Ephraim and Syria were
historically together against the "house of Judah" which dwelt at
Jerusalem. God had told Ahaz, the king of Judah at that time, not to be concerned about
Ephraim's false alliance with Syria, for Ephraim (Northern Kingdom of Israel of the ten
tribes) would cease from being a kingdom once the Assyrian got done with it. That's when
the "house of Israel" soon began to be "trodden down"
and taken captive to the land of the Medes. Not long thereafter, the "house of
Judah" also began falling away from our Lord into false worship. Around 130 years
later, it would become the 'house of Judah's turn to be trodden down by false ones, and
taken captive to the land of Babylon (Jer.3: 2 Kings 23:27; Jer.7:11:15; Jer.25;
Jer.52:27).
This Message of having "erred through wine, and
through strong drink" is in relation to the crown of pride idea which Isaiah
28:1 pointed out. It is to many from both 'houses' of Israel. That Message was covered
back at Isaiah 8:13-14 of both 'houses' who stumble at God's Word, and He becomes "a
rock of offense" to them. Our Lord Jesus Christ has become a 'Rock of offense'
to many who stumble by still refusing Him as The Saviour (Luke 2:27-35; Rom.9:31-32;
Rom.11; 1 Peter 2:6-8). Those who miss our Lord's Message for our times, which is to wait
for Him, are stumbling at His Word.
One might be asking, "Well how has Jesus become a
stone of stumbling to many among the house of Israel (ten tribes) also?" Simply by
not realizing that God's Word teaches to wait on our Lord Christ's true summer harvest
season is the reason. Because some won't heed The Word in that, they fall away into
accepting a false one who comes first, and thus take hold of "hasty fruit".
To not wait, but accept a false one in place of Christ Jesus, is... to refuse our Lord,
especially since He gave forewarning in His Word. Following the traditions of men loosely
based on The Word, and not going deeper into God's Word, will cause that sad situation for
many believers (that Message is coming up here in Isaiah 28 very soon).
When teachers in The Word begin to take hold of false
pride, a sense of false honor goes along with it. That's when the various traditions and "commandments
of men" begin to overtake God's Word in Its simplicity (Mark 7:1-7). With some
who err away from The Word it can even turn into a sideshow. Just because a teacher of The
Word can preach the Salvation and Baptism Message accurately, does not mean they can teach
all of God's Word properly. Thank The LORD that He has left us His Word to study for
ourselves, including Manuscript study, so we could know this difference. Indeed, we are
also thankful to God for all those who work to turn many to Christ Jesus The Saviour. But
for the latter days, recognizing The True Messiah Jesus Christ is very important.
Isa 28:8 For
all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.
This verse is kind of
harsh, isn't it? That's how a place looks after a room full of drunks are done with it. In
the spiritual false worship sense, these "tables" refer to the tables
of shewbread within the Sanctuary which God commanded Israel to have in place before Him
continually (Exod.25:30). Ephraim as head of the ten tribe northern kingdom of old Israel
had driven true worship away, even setting up common priests of the people when that
office was reserved at that time only to Levites. The majority of the Levites went to
Jerusalem, since no way were they going to serve two golden calf idols which Jeroboam
setup. The "tables" were made a waste in false worship by those events
Jeroboam caused (1 Kings 12:26-33; 2 Chron.11:14).
Since The Saviour Jesus Christ has already come to offer
us His New Covenant, and the Levitical priesthood is transferred to Christ, then the
Sanctuary now is His Church (Heb.7). Those tables being full of vomit and filthiness
wouldn't be acceptable to our LORD, now would they? Thus our LORD is revealing how He
feels when we turn away from His Word in understanding, and instead rely on religious
sideshows built upon spiritual drunkenness caused by false pride. That's easy to grasp for
today, because those religious sideshows are causing many to 'stumble' away into false
worship. The outward golden calf idols are missing, but the same false worship is still
occurring among those who stumble at God's Word.
If you've come this far with me in this Isaiah study, then
I shouldn't have to explain the difference between having Real Knowledge in Christ from
His Word in the 'mind' and 'heart', as compared with just having the emotions fed by
commandments of men. Only having the emotions fed fails to impart any real understanding
into the mind from God's Word. Christianity is not a religion; It is a Reality.
Isa 28:9
Whom shall He teach knowledge? and whom shall He make to understand doctrine? them
that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
This verse begins a
mocking by those who think the method of teaching and learning God's Word line by line is
for little children. These are mocking Isaiah by the way he and God's prophets taught The
Word to them. They say, "Well whom shall God teach knowledge, and who will He give to
understand His Word? Is It for them that are barely weaned off the milk as infants?"
In other words, they are saying, "You treat us just like little children, barely
weaned off the breast, like we don't know anything!" This is all said in irony and as
a mocking towards Isaiah, and thus towards God's Word, just because The Word was boring to
them line by line, like going back to elementary school reading books.
Those who have done in-depth Bible study well know how
important it is to move ever so slowly in study. Some Bible verse phrases can cover a
whole lot of territory in God's Word (Isa.61:1-2 and Rev.12:1-5 for a couple of examples).
At the same time, going deeper must be done in stages, such as keeping on the main Chapter
Message at first. Then, while doing Bible study in a different Book later, you may be led
back to that same Scripture, and more Truth will be revealed to a deeper level. It will be
the same Truth as first covered, but to a deeper level. That deeper level of understanding
can only come about by one disciplined way, and is by Chapter by Chapter, verse by verse,
and line upon line coverage. That's how our Heavenly Father wants us to do Bible study, as
He is declaring here through His prophet Isaiah.
Their mocking continues:
Isa 28:10 For
precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon
line; here a little, and there a little:
The people continue
their mocking with, "For It must be precept upon precept, ... line upon line, line
upon line, here a little, and there a little, like we're babies and know nothing!" In
the Hebrew this even has a lyrical sound of mockery.
Many miss God's Message within this verse and misinterpret
the proper method of Bible study. These who mock line upon line Bible study are actually
mocking GOD. And our LORD's answer to them:
Isa 28:11 For
with stammering lips and another tongue will He speak to this People.
This phrase "with
stammering" is Hebrew 'la'eg', which means 'a buffoon'
(Strong's 3934). This is God's answer to their mocking of His required method of Bible
study taught line by line. Who would want to listen to 'buffoons' teach His Word? The lips
of buffoons; that's what the deceived will get to hear instead of His True Word when they
heed the mockers who refuse to teach God's Word line upon line!
This "another tongue" was historically
that of the Assyrian upon the 'house of Israel', and then Nebuchadnezzar coming
upon Jerusalem. This 'tongue' upon the 'house of Judah' would
historically be that of Babylon (Chaldean) when they were also taken into captivity out of
their land. God is saying to the mockers, "If you won't listen to My Word, then you
certainly will heed the tongue of the one I'm going to bring upon you!"
For our time in the latter days, how might this apply?
Simply, those who refuse to listen to God in His Word, surely will listen to the false one
which God is sending upon them (2 Thess.2, i.e. the "son of perdition",
which is the antichrist). If they don't care enough about His Word to stay in It, even
line upon line, then it's their own fault for being deceived. And deception is the only
other recompense for not staying in God's Word line upon line. It's as simple as that.
How many Bible teachers in Sunday school class would laugh
if they were asked to begin at Genesis 1 and go all the way through? One Book within God's
Word, properly taught line by line, will cover a whole lot of The Bible, just as this
study in the Book of Isaiah helps confirm. God's Word is very rich in Power, and
incomparable to man's words.
Isa 28:12 To
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.
Jesus Christ is The
Word and our True Rest (Matt.11:28-30; John 1; Hebrews 3 & 4). Our LORD did offer His
Rest prophetically in many Old Testament Scriptures (Isa.30:15-16; Jer.6:16-17; Isa.45:22;
Isa.55; Isa.61; Ps.94:13; Ps.116:7-8; Isa.11:10). Still... they would not "hear".
How would they not 'hear'? They refuse to hear God's Word taught precept upon
precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a
little.
Isa 28:13
But 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.
When The Word of God
is being taught to someone line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, and there
a little, and It becomes boring by that method, and dull to their hearing, then God's Word
has become a 'stone of stumbling' to those. What's the result of that stumbling in The
Word? The result is to "fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and
taken." But because of whom? Who is to blame? Let me put it this way; if you
care about our Lord Jesus Christ, for He is The Living Word (John 1), then you are going
to get to the task of studying His Word in understanding for yourself, and not relying on
any man. God sends teachers of His Word as a help, but we each are still directly
responsible to Him. And line by line study is how our LORD wants us to do it.
How many studying with me have thought that I was the one
who was giving understanding in The Word of God? The Understanding does not come from me;
It comes from our Lord by His Spirit. And when His Word is covered sincerely line by line
in depth, you're gonna' get to know our Heavenly Father's Will and His Salvation through
His Son per His Word. And by this method of Bible study you will not fall backward, nor be
broken, nor snared, and definitely not taken by the false one! I love you all, and I know
most of you are here to learn The Word and how to study It. I'm also greatly indebted to
our Lord for His offer of Salvation and for His allowing me to go deeper in His Word. But
still, check me out in It for yourselves, asking The Father to bless your Bible study
through His Son Jesus Christ.
Isa 28:14
Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful
men, that rule this People which is in Jerusalem.
Now our LORD is going
to turn a bit of that mocking back upon those who would feign a proper line upon line
study in His Word. Our LORD is letting us know through His prophet Isaiah where the main "covenant
with death" is going to be, i.e. in Jerusalem. The "house of
Israel" (ten tribes) isn't just left out of this either, as many believers on
Christ which have not studied, and are being led to fall away, will also suffer this event
with the false one being setup there (2 Thess.2 again).
Isa 28:15
Because 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:"
The state of
stumbling at God's Word is exactly of those type of traits. You're either in God's Word or
you're not. Some teach that the Book of Revelation is already dead history, and even that
The Old Testament Books are all dead history, with no future prophecy. There is prophecy
in each and every Book of God's Word that still is yet future (I may let you all hold me
to that in offering proof in a separate Bible study some day).
Some think and teach that believing on God's Saviour Jesus
Christ means not having to do any work for Him during the great tribulation, and they
think to 'escape' instead. That's why these say, "when the overflowing scourge
shall pass through, it shall not come unto us". In modern English they're
saying, "when the great tribulation begins and the antichrist comes, it won't affect
us, because we won't be here; we're going to fly away! But you others, you're going to be
left behind!" Our LORD obviously has something else to say about that, and He said it
right here in Isaiah 28:15 about those deceived. Our LORD added "for we have made
lies our refuge,..." with their false deceptive words of flying away, mocking
them with their own words of delusion! (It's fair, for that's what they had to do to
confuse many into believing that false doctrine, i.e., by adding to God's Word). When the
'Left-Behind' doctrine even became a Hollywood production, that should have warned many
believers on Christ of the any moment 'fly away' deception. So make no mistake, the
doctrine of flying away, i.e. rapturing out prior to the coming of the antichrist, is a
major false doctrine as declared by our LORD (here and in Ezekiel 13:20). You do not have
to fear in speaking out against that false 'fly away' doctrine, for by this verse
especially, GOD is telling us it is false. Moreover, that false doctrine leads to a "covenant
with death"!
To not care about line by line Bible study, which gives
understanding of the warnings of events to pass as written, means to default to "a
covenant with death". If you'll recall, 'Death' is another title for
Satan (Rev.6:8). Falsehood can only belong to Satan and his, for lies cannot come from our
LORD. Again, please do not think this warning is only towards the non-believers among
Judah who have fallen away from Christ Jesus. The false teaching among some Churches today
is also from the same origins and source that has deceived many among the "house
of Judah" (both 'houses' are subject to this falling away - per Isa.8:14).
Truly, our LORD is mocking those who mock Him, by their refusing line by line study in His
Word.
Isa 28:16
Therefore 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.
The Foundation Stone
is The Cornerstone Jesus Christ Which the builders rejected (Matt.21:42; Mark 12:10-11).
Recall the "hasty fruit" back in verse 4. To believe on The Father
through His Son Jesus Christ, and stay in His Word with understanding is to stand in The
Sure Foundation Stone Which our LORD represents. It means you're not going to run to and
fro with all the various doctrines and fads of men (overflowing waters of Satan's lies).
Our Lord's joining this Message of His People that remain on The Cornerstone Jesus Christ,
and not of the "hasty fruit", reveals a line upon line study will give
you that strength of faith with Real Knowledge in Christ. You won't win any popularity
contests for staying in The Word and making a stand against false doctrine, but you
certainly won't be a "reed shaken with the wind" either (Matt.11:7 with
our Lord speaking about John the Baptist).
Isa
28:17 Judgment 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.
Amos Chapters 7 &
8 give direct parallels to this "plummet" and judgment. Our Lord's
Message in Amos also covers the historical events of Israel's falling away as linked with
the events of the Book of Revelation. God's Word is The Measuring Stick by which we all
shall be measured. This "plummet" means a plumb bob, which is used to
check an up-right structure for being on level. It means we all are going to get what we
deserve based on GOD's Rule of Measure. We all have sinned and come short of the Glory of
God (Rom.3:23). Thank GOD we have His Son Jesus Christ Who died on the cross for those who
believe, so that we might have forgiveness, and be counted as perfect before The LORD,
if... we stay on Him.
Satan's last "refuge" (place of
hiding), is through lies that overflow like flood waters do over a river bank. This "hail"
raining down from the heavens will occur when our LORD and His Heaven are revealed upon
earth (Zech.14; Rev.11; 1 Cor.15:52). Our LORD used great hailstones of judgment before,
and He will do it again in our future with hailstones weighing as much as a talent (Exodus
9:18 and Joshua 10:11 was past history; Ezekiel 38:22, Rev. 11:19,
and Rev.16:21 are still yet future. A 'talent' was the largest of Hebrew
weights, around 70 to 100 pounds). That hailstone event is coupled with the time of the "last
trump" of 1 Corinthians 15:52. If you'll recall from study there, that's when 'all'
still alive in the flesh at Christ's coming are changed into the spiritual, with the
Heavenly revealed (see the Asleep in Christ studies).
Isa 28:18 And
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.
That "covenant
with death" historically was with Ephraim and Syria making a pact with idols and
turning upon Judah at Jerusalem. God removed the ten tribes by the Assyrian's hand for
that old worship of idols. Then the "house of Judah" at Jerusalem would
later make a similar pact with death by falling into false worship also, and thus be led
into captivity to Babylon. We just read a warning in verses 14 and 15 that Jerusalem is
involved in this rebuke also, making a 'covenant with death'. For the latter days, this "covenant
with death" is of the same type working of plunging into false worship. Many
will make that false covenant with death by a pseudo messiah being setup (Matt.24:13-27;
Matt.24: Mark 13:19-23). They will think our Lord Christ has returned at that false
working; even those who are wrongly taught that the "abomination of
desolation" already happened in 70 A.D. Jerusalem.
Our Lord gave examples of His People who fall away being
like a spiritual harlot in that false worship, making a 'covenant with death' (Isa.1:21;
Jeremiah 3; Ezekiel 23). The harlot analogy includes a false spiritual marriage with the "another
Jesus" (2 Cor.11; Rev.18). Those in Christ are to 'wait' for The True Messiah
Jesus Christ, since only Jesus Christ is The True Bridegroom, and all believers are to be
spiritually 'espoused' to Him only (2 Cor.11:2; Isaiah 54:5).
When our Lord returns, the false spiritual marriage the
deceived will have made with false messiah is going to be "disannulled",
i.e. their "covenant with death" will be broken. Our Lord said in
Ezekiel 13:20 that He is against the false prophets among His People that "hunt
the souls to make them fly", and that He will tear them from the false prophet's
arms, and let the souls go, even the souls that are hunted to make them fly. So this is a
consolation even upon the deceived who love our Lord, but are 'taken' by antichrist,
because they renounce His Word in true understanding. They will be greatly ashamed when
Christ returns for not listening to His Word, because they allowed false messiah to seduce
them by Satan's own misleading through the false systems they trusted in; systems that are
mostly a result of not hearing God's Word line upon line.
Isa 28:19
From 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.
This word "vexation"
is Hebrew 'zeva'ah', meaning 'agitation, fear' (Strong's 2113). This
event, which will "be a vexation only to understand the report", is in
the sense of a trembling out of fear, and represents a state of fright deceived mockers
will experience when they finally realize the sand castles of false doctrine they put
their trust in had misled them away from The Very One they love, our Lord Jesus Christ.
When those symbolic five foolish virgins, which love our Lord Jesus, do realize they have
fallen to worship a pseudo messiah instead of waiting for The Christ, then that emotional
state is going to make them tremble. It saddens my heart to know many of them will
experience such grief when Jesus returns to destroy false messiah's flood of lies, and The
Truth is finally revealed to all. But this is our Father's Word, and He evidently has His
reasons for their being deceived (Matt.13:11 forward; John 12:37-40; Romans 11; 2
Cor.4:4). For those who realize a false messiah is coming prior to our Lord Christ's
return, well, then know there's still plenty of work in Christ to be done for today, and
all the way up to His return.
Isa 28:20
For 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.
Recall back to verse
15 where many make a 'covenant with death' and their 'refuge' is in lies and falsehoods.
That's a false covering of protection, and is definitely not our Lord's Covering of His
Word with understanding. So our Lord is giving an analogy here with a short bed and a
short blanket being symbolic of the false covering in refuge of lies. Have you ever had to
sleep on short couch, or in small child's bed as an adult? You're feet probably stuck out
a foot over the edge, and a child's blanket wouldn't even give enough cover over a
grown-up's body. That's what the pact with death and refuge in lies has to offer. That's
not much comfort friends. Actually, it would be indecent exposure for some today. Again,
how does that sad state come about upon some of God's People? Simply by not staying in His
Word line upon line, and never getting around to real Bible study with 'understanding',
but playing religion instead. Stay with The True Covering of our Heavenly Father's Word
Jesus Christ, disciplining yourself in Bible study (see the Bible
Resources page for more help). That way you won't be 'ashamed'.
Isa 28:21 For
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."
This "Perazim"
refers to "Baalperazim", an area of the Philistines which GOD delivered
into David's hand; and "Gibeon" was a place of defeat for the Amorites
through Joshua, by GOD's Hand (2 Sam.5:17 forward). In Joshua 10 our LORD even cast down "great
stones from heaven" to defeat them:
Josh 10:10
And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon,
and chased them along the way that goeth up to Beth-horon, and smote them
to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.
11 And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and
were in the going down to Beth-horon, that the LORD cast down great stones from
heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which
died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew
with the sword.
Therefore, this
Isaiah 28:21 verse is given as a comparison to those historical events in Baalperazim and
Gibeon, but... this Isaiah 28:21 verse is yet future to us even. It is a prophecy of the
time of our LORD's return with the battles of Armageddon and Hamongog, when the great
hailstones of Revelation 16:21 and Ezekiel 38:22 will occur. That will be God's wrath upon
the wicked. It is not upon those who love our Lord Jesus who also stay on Him, and are not
deceived into false worship. God's wrath is not upon His People who love Him through His
Son, and who wait for Him.
What does this "Baalperazim" mean? It
means 'lord of the breaks' (Strong's 1188; BDB defintion). It refers to
the breaking forth of God's judgment in wrath against... the false ones of Baalism, i.e.,
wicked Satan and his servants. "Gibeon" means 'hilly'
(Hebrew 'Gib'own'; Strong's 1391), which gives a link to the hill city Megiddo, which thus
refers to the place of Armageddon (Rev.16:16).
Does God reveal more with those other areas mentioned in
Joshua 10:10 above? Let's find out. "Beth-horon" means 'house of
hollowness'; "Azekah" means 'tilled or dug over';
and "Makkedah" is from Hebrew 'naqod' which means 'to
mark, spotted' (Strong's 1032; 5825; 4719 with 5348). Which ones have put their
trust in a 'house of hollowness', making a covenant with death? Recall that the
Hebrew word 'Beth' means 'house', and 'El' means GOD. A 'Beth-El' means a true 'House of
God'. And the opposite of God's House is a 'beth-aven', meaning 'house of vanity'
(Strong's 1007; see Hosea 10:5 as it is applied to false worship at Samaria by Ephraim).
Are there houses of 'hollowness' today which claim to teach God's Word, but never really
get around to it, and fall to traditions and the commandments of men instead, and even
allow leaven type of Pharisee teaching to creep in? Would naming a Church with 'Bethaven'
in its title be a sign of the types of deception by God's People today?
The Isaiah 28:21 verse is yet another way our LORD is
giving His Message of a major reason why many fall into deception; because they listen to
mockers who refuse to teach His Word precept upon precept, line upon line. Their claimed
'House of God' (Beth-El) then becomes a 'house of hollowness' (Beth-horon) and a 'house of
vanity' (Beth-aven), for not staying in God's Word to know the difference. So our LORD is
giving a strong warning within this Isaiah 28:21 verse, both to those who mock His Word,
and to those who follow the mockers. For those who won't listen and still mock, this
"work" our LORD is going to do certainly will be His strange work upon them!
Isa 28:22 Now
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.
"Don't be a
mocker, so that you'll be girded up in strength with strong bands" is what God is
saying through His prophet Isaiah to the mockers with this verse. God only can make our
'bands' strong. The girdle in armor dress held the sword, and the expression to "gird
up the loins" in the KJV means to prepare for service as a warrior, and being
girded up also for spiritual battle (1 Kings 20:11; Isa.11:5 of our Lord Christ;
Jer.13:11; Luke 12:35; 1 Peter 1:13; Isa.45:5).
Isaiah is revealing to the mockers that they'd better get
more serious, as The LORD is not playing around with His warning. The LORD did say that
He's going to once more shake not only this earth, but heaven also (Hebrews 12:26; Haggai
2; Isa.2:19; Isa.13:13; Joel 3:16). If you've understood when God first shook this ancient
earth, at Satan's rebellion, and that first shaking was enough to move earth's true
magnetic North and true geographical North apart by about 90 miles, then this next time is
going to be similar to that. Those in Christ have no need to fear physical harm in our
Lord's "strange work" in that, for it will end this flesh age and bring
us into Christ's "thousand years" reign upon earth (Rev.20; 1
Cor.15:52). Even in The Spirit, I can't help but think that event by our Heavenly Father
will certainly get everyone's attention! Just comparing the earth's fossil records with
that first shaking should give us a strong clue on this point (see also Jeremiah 4:22
forward).
Isa 28:23 Give
ye ear, and hear My voice; hearken, and hear My speech.
Our LORD is saying to
listen up! He's getting ready to reveal how to plant His Word in His People's minds.
Isa 28:24
Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his
ground?
In order to prepare
the ground to sow seed, does the farmer continually keep digging up the ground, and never
get to sowing the seed? Compare this with what Paul taught about those who were on the
'milk' teaching in God's Word, and they never got around to the "strong
meat" of God's Word (Hebrews 5). By keeping to a line by line study in God's
Word, you're going to be forced to go into the "strong meat". Many
don't want to hear It, and thus many refuse to teach It line upon line. Still, there's no
excuse for continually plowing the same ground over and over, and over, and never getting
to actually sowing the Seed of God's Truth.
Isa
28:25 When 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?
When the ground is
well plowed, isn't the next step of actually broadcasting the seed up and down into the
dug rows? After all, isn't the goal to sow seed in order to produce a bountiful crop
(fruit) blessed by our LORD? Just as with actual planting, Who gives us the early and
latter rain to water it, and then gives Light to make the seed grow? Likewise, without our
Lord's Blessing in sowing His Word, no fruit could be produced without His Blessing. It
must... be done His Way, as we can't make His Truth grow in anyone's mind. Only He can do
that Blessing when we ask Him by The Holy Spirit. So it is upright to pray to The Father
through His Son in asking a Blessing by The Holy Spirit in studying His Word, and in
petitioning Him for others to understand It also. I will even say, His servants given to
teach are even 'expected' to do that (Ezekiel 37:1-14).
Isa 28:26
For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.
GOD teaches His in
His Word as they learn to discipline themselves in It, and He also corrects them when
needed. It takes time to learn any new subject. It also takes time to grasp the many
analogies and figures of speech in God's Word, and acquire some sense of Biblical history
in order to see the connections of many of our Lord's deeper Messages. All that is like
the watering and giving Light to the seed, so our Lord can produce fruit through His 'vineyard'
(Isaiah 5). Always realizing this method of God's Portion in the growing will keep His
servants in healthy humility to our LORD, so the fruit can come forth. The Father through
His Son Jesus Christ can stop the produce, or continue to make it grow. It is not of us.
Isa 28:27
For 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.
The "fitches"
of a lighter, or smaller seed, isn't to be trampled on with a sharp tool, nor do you turn
a wagon wheel to beat down the cummin seed. But one uses a walking rod (staff) for some,
and a club (rod) with others. In other words, there are different techniques in sowing
God's Word among people. Some require a figurative anvil to get their attention, but
others are easily bruised, delicate, and can't handle much reproof.
Isa 28:28
Bread 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.
29 This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, Which is
wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.
Likewise, to achieve
a fine corn meal, it takes a longer stone ground process until it reaches the proper
consistency for making bread. That means with some, it's going to take more patience and
time with those. God did not make us all the same in our thinking. The Holy Spirit is our
Guide in knowing the right amount needed in each case. I can assure you, The Holy Spirit
will let you know when you've gone too far with one who is not properly prepared in The
Word by our LORD. Some are like sponges, and can't get enough deeper coverage in The Word,
while others need more time to decide for themselves in study.
Our Heavenly Father's Word is The Perfect Counsel, and by
the examples of the fruit produced through Christ in world history, His Working is most 'excellent'
and magnified in Glory. The LORD doesn't really need 'our' help in His Working. He is able
to offer His Counsel without the need of us. So there's no fruit produced with man trying
to latch onto our Lord's Work and claim It as his own. All who do that are going to be
brought down to the dust with the false one. The sad state of mind which the mockers of
line upon line Bible study is clearly revealed to those who do stay in God's Word for
themselves. Thus we will not be ashamed.
The next "woe" Isaiah Chapter is upon 'Ariel'
(lion of God), the city of David in Jerusalem. Isaiah 29 will continue to reveal specific
events that will occur in the latter days of our near future.
Peace to you in Christ Jesus,
Dave Ramey.
Footnotes:
All references to
"Strong's nos." are from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, PC Study Bible,
Biblesoft, 1993-1996.
All references to
"BDB" are from Brown, Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, PC Study
Bible, Biblesoft, 1993-1996.
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