Isaiah 28:14-22

The covenant with death overturned

14 Therefore, hear the LORD's word, you scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem.
15 You said, "We've cut a deal with death; with the underworld we made a pact. When the overflowing flood passes through, it won't reach us; for we have made lies our hiding place, and in falsehood we take shelter."
16 Therefore, the LORD God says: Look! I'm laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a valuable cornerstone, a sure foundation: the one who trusts won't tremble.
17 I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line. But hail will sweep away the hiding place of lies, and water will overflow the shelter.
18 Your deal with death will be dissolved, and your pact with the grave won't stand. The rushing flood: when it passes through, you will be annihilated by it.
19 Every time it passes through it will take you, for morning by morning it will pass, by day and by night. It will be nothing but terror to understand the message.
20 The bed is too short to stretch out, and the shroud is too narrow to cover oneself.
21 Just as on Mount Perazim, the LORD will rise up; as in the Gibeon Valley he will rage to do his deed—strange is his deed!— And to work his work—foreign is his work!
22 So now stop your scoffing, or your chains will be tightened, because destruction has been ordered—I have heard it!— by the LORD God of heavenly forces against the whole land.

Isaiah 28:14-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 28

In this chapter the ten tribes of Israel and the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, are threatened with divine judgments, because of their sins and iniquities mentioned. The ten tribes, under the name of Ephraim, for their pride and drunkenness, Isa 28:1 the means of their destruction, the Assyrian monarch, compared to a hail storm, and a flood of mighty waters, Isa 28:2 which destruction, for their sins, is repeated, and represented as sudden and swift; when they would be like a fading flower and hasty fruit, Isa 28:3,4 and then, as for the two tribes, though they had a glorious prince at the head of them, who had a spirit of wisdom and judgment for government, and of valour and courage for war, Isa 28:5,6 yet the generality of the people, led on by the example of priest and prophet, went into the same sensual gratifications as they of the ten tribes did, Isa 28:7,8 and became sottish and unteachable, and were like children just taken from the breast, and to be used as such, Isa 28:9-11 and though the doctrine proposed to be taught them was such as, if received, would be of the greatest advantage to them, for their comfort and refreshment, yet it was refused by them with the utmost contempt; which was to be their ruin, Isa 28:12,13, wherefore the rulers of Jerusalem are threatened with the judgments of God, which should come upon them night and day, the report of which would be a vexation to them; and from which they should not be screened by their covenant with death and hell, or by their shelters and coverings with lies and falsehood, in which they placed their confidence, Isa 28:14,15 Isa 28:17-22 in the midst of which account, for the comfort of the Lord's people, stands a glorious prophecy, concerning the sure foundation laid in Zion, on which all that are built are safe and happy, Isa 28:16 and the certainty of these judgments is illustrated by the method which the ploughman takes in sowing his corn, and threshing it out; for which he has instruction and direction from the Lord of hosts, Isa 28:23-29.

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