epcblog

Devotional thoughts (Monday through Thursday mornings) from the pastor of Exeter Presbyterian Church in Exeter, NH // Sunday Worship 10:30am // 73 Winter Street

Monday, October 22, 2007

Isaiah 28

Remember that the Old Testament nation of Israel was split into two lands after the reign of Solomon. The northern kingdom was still called Israel, but was sometimes referred to by the name of one of her leading tribes, the tribe of Ephraim. This northern area was conquered by Assyria in 722 BC. This fall was the occasion for the oracle contained in Isaiah 28.

Wine is a mocker. The proud man thinks that he is valued when he drinks. He forgets the danger that is all around him, and his senses are dulled – senses that would be important for his safety. Israel is said to be a drunkard in these verses, but she is also called a fading flower. She is well past her prime, and there is a strong adversary who will soon overcome her defenses. This adversary, Assyria, is coming as an agent of the Lord. It will all happen so quickly in her final days, and she will be gone.

Even Israel will have a remnant of those who are kept by God. This holy remnant will turn to the Lord Almighty and they will find Him to be beautiful and glorious. But the drunken priest and prophet will have no help from the God that they claim to represent. They will still claim to bring a word from God, a prophetic vision, a judgment of justice from on high, but their lives will be covered with filth, and who will believe that they actually represent a holy Lord?

Who will pay attention to the prophet and the priest who will not follow the God he claims to represent. He would give training to the young, but who will listen to such a man. Since God will not train His people through men who make a pretense of holiness, He will speak to them through those men from far-off nations, men who speak with a foreign tongue. God himself will teach foreigners of a new way of rest and security, and they will come back and speak to His people the Israelites, but many will refuse to hear. They will be offended when they hear a true message from foreign lips. Instead of growing little by little in the way of righteousness as should be the way for those who are the children of God, little by little they will fall backward and will eventually be utterly broken.

This prophecy is an exact description of the struggles of the first century church. The way of rest had been revealed in Christ. Yet He was rejected by so many of His countrymen. When Gentiles were brought into the household of faith, and some would even be elders and pastors, this would be an intolerable offense for many Jews, who would themselves become hardened against both the message of the Old Testament and the good news of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Isaiah speaks of Israel (the northern land) not learning the message of God, but lest the southern land of Judah and her capital Jerusalem think that the way would be smooth for her, or that she would be an example of faithfulness as opposed to her wayward sister, the prophet reveals that the people of Jerusalem will be scoffers. Her leaders would be a grave disappointment. They would take false confidence in their spiritist pacts that they imagined would protect them from death and from the grave, but they would be sadly mistaken. They would place their confidence in lies and falsehood, rather than listening to the word of truth. Because of this they would stumble over the One who would be God’s cornerstone in His Kingdom, the Lord Jesus Christ.

This cornerstone who would one day come, though rejected by men, would be precious in God’s eyes. He would be the key stone in the foundation of God’s holy spiritual temple coming in the New Testament era. His life would be one of unfailing righteousness, and his death for us would be life for us, since he would bear the burden of our disobedience. In His perfect holiness He is not impressed with the lies of men, no matter how good they may sound to those who consider their words very spiritual and praiseworthy. Rather than being safe from death and the grave, many of the Jews would be overcome by the kingdom of darkness. They would reject the Messiah and face God’s own decree of destruction against His nation. The only way to escape this sentence is to hear the word of the Lord and give attention to His speech and to surrender to Him. The Lord is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom. There is no better plan for us than to consider His Word with care and to follow Him with serious attention. Christ the cornerstone of the church will show us the way to go if we will hear His good word.

posted by Pastor Magee @ 7:00 AM

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