Isaiah 28

CHAPTER 28THEME: The immediate invasion of Ephraim by Assyria is a picture of the future and a warning to Jerusalem.This chapter brings us to an entirely new section. The prophecies which were totally future are included in chapters 24-27 inclusively. From chapters 28-35 we have prophecies which have a local and past fulfillment, and also there are those that reach into the future and cover the same period as in the previous section. This new section is identified by six woes, and it culminates in the great War of Armageddon in chapter 34, followed by the millennial benefits brought to the earth in chapter 35. Now the chapter before us is a fine illustration of the combination of the near and far view, the past and future events, the local and immediate and the general and far distant prophecies. We will see that which has been fulfilled and that which is yet to be fulfilled. The northern kingdom of Israel, designated here by the term Ephraim, was soon to go into Assyrian captivity. This was a preview of the coming future day, but it was to be a warning to the southern kingdom of Judah. The first part was fulfilled when Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, invaded Ephraim in 721 B.C., overthrew the northern kingdom, and took the people into captivity.

Isaiah 28:1

THE IMMEDIATE CAPTIVITY OF EPHRAIMThe first woe is against the northern kingdom. Ephraim and Israel are synonymous terms for the ten northern tribes, also called Samaria. The picture here of drunkards is both literal and spiritual. They were in a stupor as far as spiritual understanding was concerned. To be spiritually drunk is to be filled with pride.

Isaiah 28:2

The Assyrian is designated here as a strong one, a destroying storm, and a flood of mighty waters.

Isaiah 28:3

Maybe you don’t like this, but God does not apologize for it; He simply tells us that this is what He did. The prophet picks up the future of the drunkard here. A high level of civilization had been developed in the northern kingdom with its comforts and outward beauty expressed in homes and gardens and trees. All you have to do to confirm this is go to the hill of Samaria and see the palace built by Omri and Ahab. This is the place where Ahab and Jezebel lived. It seems that the Lord always gives the wicked and the rich the best places to live, and I think it is poetic justice.

It is not going to be so good for the wicked and rich in the next world; so they have it pretty good here. The hill of Samaria is one of the most beautiful spots in the land. When I stood there I could see the Mediterranean Sea, the Jordan valley, Mount Hermon in the north covered with snow, and the walls of Jerusalem in the south. My friend, you could not ask for a more beautiful place to live. If a real estate man develops that hill and sells lots, I hope I can buy one and build a house there. It’s a great place, but God judged these people in the northern kingdom, and He brought down their high civilization.

Isaiah 28:5

THE FAR DISTANT JUDGMENTNow the prophet begins to move into the future. The expression “in that day” refers to the Day of the Lord, which begins with the Great Tribulation and extends on through the Millennium. This looks into the future to the millennial Kingdom which is coming. The thing that caused the downfall of Ephraim, the northern kingdom, was their pridethey wore a crown of pride. But in that future day when God brings them back to the land, it will be a crown of glory.

Isaiah 28:6

A businessman recently told me some of the things that go on in big business. I don’t suppose there is a day that goes by that he doesn’t make deals with men who make big investments for large profits. He told me about one of these men who was beginning to indulge in sin. He was not faithful to his wife, and he was drinking heavily. He has recently made certain judgments about investments that have caused this businessman to withhold loaning money to him. He told me that when a man begins to drink and indulge in sin he loses his sharpness in business. He said, “Because I am a Christian I may be biased, but I have found over the long haul, over a period of years, that this is factual. I have learned it through bitter experiences.” Now God is making this same observation regarding the northern kingdom: “they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.”

Isaiah 28:13

Sections like this have caused some expositors of the past to call Isaiah “the prophet of the commonplace.” Teaching is a slow, patient, and continuous work. This is the way that even spiritual truth is imparted. God does not impart it in a flash to a lazy and lethargic soul. As the people lapse into apostasy in any age, it becomes increasingly difficult to impart spiritual truth. There are many Christians today who are not satisfied with their Christian lives. To be brutally frank, they are ignorant of the Word of God. Then they hear about a wonderful two-week course that will give them the answers to all their problems. They will learn how to handle their marital problems, how to get along with their mother-in-law, how to guide their children aright, and how to become model employees. My friend, let me say this to you very candidly. Neither a little course nor some great emotional experience will solve your problems.

There is no shortcut to success in the Christian life. There is only one way to grow as a Christian, and it is so commonplace and ordinary that I hesitate to say it. The Word of the Lord was given unto Israel precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, and there a little. It was the daily grind of getting into God’s Word. What happened? Israel did not follow through.

They fell backward; that is, they were in a backslidden state. There are many Christians in the same condition today. It is not that they are weaker than anybody else; it is simply that they do not spend enough time in the Word of God. I realize that this method is not very exciting, but line upon line and precept upon precept is the only way you are going to grow in the Christian life.

Isaiah 28:14

THE WARNING TO JUDAHThe judgment coming to Israel in the north should be a warning to Judah in the south. Ephraim speaks to Jerusalem, Jerusalem speaks to us today, and the Word of God speaks to all of us. It looks as if God wrote this Book, not yesterday, but tomorrow. In fact, it is way ahead of tomorrow’s newspaper.

Isaiah 28:15

What is this covenant with death and Sheol? Daniel tells us about a future covenant which Israel will make with the Antichrist, the prince who is coming, the Man of Sin, the godless man, the willful king, the beast out of the sea and the beast out of the land, the one who is controlled by Satan (see Dan_9:27).

Isaiah 28:16

What is the answer today to the falsehood in the lives of people and the deception that is abroad which will continue to snowball right on down into the Great Tribulation period? Well, God has already put that answer down. It is a foundation; it is a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation. One who believes in it doesn’t need to be in a hurry. He can rest in Him. 1Pe_2:6-8 speaks of Him: “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.” Simon Peter makes it very clear that this stone is Christ.

Isaiah 28:17

Judgment for these people is going to come gradually. I think it comes that way today. Sometimes it comes suddenly. But gradual judgment is worse than sudden judgment, for usually the process is so slow that you don’t detect it.

Isaiah 28:20

Have you ever gone to a hotel or a motel and found that the covers on the bed were not quite long enough? They don’t come up to your neck, and if you pull them up, then your feet stick out. Have you ever slept in a short bed, where your feet hang over the edge, or you have to prop your head up, or you have to sleep at an angle? That’s not so good, is it? God says to these people, “I am giving you a short bed. The cover won’t be quite long enough.” From then on the judgment of God will come. It didn’t come to Judah for about one hundred years, but it finally came.

Isaiah 28:25

THE FINAL JUDGMENT OF GOD UPON HIS PEOPLEThe remainder of this chapter is almost the parable of the wheat and the tares. He talks about the different kinds of grain, the hard grains and the soft grains, and the different methods of threshing it. The grains are “fitches” (sometimes translated fennel or dill), “cummin, wheat, barley, and rie.”

Isaiah 28:27

A farmer has to be careful about the way he harvests soft grains. Each grain is different. Now he says that this is the way God judges. Judgment is spoken of as the harvest. The individual or nation actually determines the character of the judgment which is to fall upon them. In other words, if you are hard and resist God, you are a hard grain. You are a hard nut to crack, and the judgment is going to be severe for you. A man came to me and told me that he had lost his wife and two children before he came to himself. He said, “God had to knock me downthree times because I was such a hardened sinner.” God will thresh you; and, if you are hard, the judgment will be hard. The Lord Jesus put it like this in Mat_13:30, “Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” In Mat_13:41 the Lord goes on to say, “The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offfend, and them which do iniquity.” How tremendous this is! We ourselves determine our own judgment. If we only will listen to Him, He will put us over where the wheat is and spare us the severity of His judgment.