Isaiah with Training Wheels – chapter 28

The point of this chapter is Understanding the Word of God and what happens when we refuse it. Yet, an undercurrent is the transformative nature of the work of God, when people do NOT refuse the Holy Scriptures.

Thus, the drunkards of Ephraim are not alcoholic per se, they are spiritually asleep and unaware. They can not see things as they really are. This is explained most clearly in verse 7.

And it is this lack of understanding that will destroy them… and us.

Verse 9 asks, who is it that God would teach? The response is v. 10-13.

God would teach them “precept upon precept”, as a little child, but they refuse words of plainness. So God must speak to them with foreigners – invading armies. God offers them rest, but they are refusing it.

V. 14  Starts with “Therefore…”, showing the results of their actions. Isaiah is consistent in condemning those who rely on themselves instead of God, and who rely on what they think, instead of the Word of God. In refusing the scriptures (the word of God), they are refusing the Savior (the Word of God). In refusing the True Foundation, their own refuge will be destroyed.

The destruction in this chapter is due to refusing the Scriptures.

V. 19-22 this feels like it should be a chiasmus, but I have been unable to find a completely convincing one.

V. 20 Gileadi adds in, “Then shall come to pass the proverb”. I am not sure where this comes from, but it is what logically makes sense.

V. 21 Is the work of God ‘strange’ , because it is not what we expect? We can not expect to boil the Almighty down to our mortal expectations.

The events in this verse refer to the Old Testament story of Gideon and the utter and sudden demise of their enemies.

Notwithstanding all the destruction God brings, there is both purpose and discretion in it. A Farmer does not only plow all day, 24\7. If he did, he would be unable to plant, or irrigate, or weed or harvest. There is purpose in his actions and restraint. Delicate spices and herbs are not treated the same as wheat, in order to bring out the best in both. Nor are grown in the same conditions. There is purpose and intent behind it all.

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!

2 Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one,

[like] a tempest of hail and a destroying storm,

as a flood of mighty waters overflowing,

[he  will hurl it to the ground with his hand.

3 [And that crown, the pride of] 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 [like the first ripe fruit before the summer harvest; he who sees it, will eat it as soon as he grabs it.]

5 ¶ In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the [remnant] of his people,

6 And for a spirit of [justice] to him that sitteth in judgment, and [a source of] strength to them [who repulse the battle at the gate.]

7 ¶ But they also [stagger because of] wine,

and [reel because of] strong drink;

the priest and the prophet have erred through

strong drink,

they are [intoxicated with] wine, they [stagger because of] strong drink; they err in vision, they [blunder in making decisions].

8 For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place [without filth].

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?

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

11 [Therefore] with stammering lips and another tongue [must] he speak to this people.

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.

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.

14 ¶  [Therefore] hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.

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:

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 [be unshakable].

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

22 Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts [destruction decreed] upon the whole earth.

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

24 [Does a farmer only plow continually, in order to plant? Does he just keep on harrowing and breaking up the soil?]

25 When he hath [leveled the ground] thereof, doth he not cast abroad the [fennel] , and scatter the cummin, and [separate the wheat from the barley] and [plant] the rie in [it’s own] place?

26 For his God doth instruct him, 

and doth teach him [the correct way].

27 For the [fennel is] are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the [fennel is]  beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod.

28 [Grain for bread is ground, but not just endlessly threshed. It is crushed under a cartwheel, but not crushed by a horse. ]

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