Trust Christ, The Sure Foundation

Isaiah 28:1-29

Introduction

Have you ever worked with someone who drinks/is drunk on the job?

It’s no fun at all - it’s a nightmare - especially when they’re driving forklifts

There’s always mistakes made, people upset, the smell

What’s even worse is working for someone who is drunk on the job

In today’s text, Isaiah is telling us about people who are drunk on the job

As you would expect, it doesn’t go well

Read Isaiah 28

This moves us into Book 3 of Isaiah (Isa. 28-35) and leads us to description of Assyria’s invasion of Judah in Isaiah 36-37

A familiar theme is the key to this section

Isaiah 31:1 “1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, And rely on horses, Who trust in chariots because they are many, And in horsemen because they are very strong, But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, Nor seek the Lord!”

The problem of relying on human schemes instead of God

Though God often repeats Himself, it is never empty repetition

There is always more for us to learn

That is an important theme of Isaiah 28 - humility to know we have more to learn

This begins a series of woes pronounced on Israel & Judah

Isaiah 28 is divided into 3 sections:

First, addressed to Ephraim (Israel/Northern)

Second, address to Jerusalem (Judah/Souther)

Third, Poem of God’s wise work

Be Humble or Be Humbled

Isaiah 28:1-13

Fierce Judgment

Assyrian Invasion

First 4 verses, especially, talk about the imminent invasion of Israel by Assyria

Just before 722 BC - Hoshea is probably King

In Jerusalem, Hezekiah is king

Political background isn’t key to our understanding message today

We’ve talked before about threat of Assyria on both Israel & Judah

Ancient Samaria is said to have been a beautiful place with fertile land

This beautiful place is going to be trodden down and decimated by Assyrians

Pride and Drunkenness

Reason for this isn’t unknown to us

Since the Kingdom divided Israel has rebelled God and worshipped other gods

Centuries of warning have fallen on deaf ears

Given a glimpse of the leadership in these dying years

They’re irresponsible, drunken mess

Not just political leaders but priests & prophets (Isa. 28:7)

In drunkenness they cannot see, recognise Word of God or make wise decisions

It’s hard to say why drunkenness has become so pervasive

Perhaps it’s an escape mechanism

Perhaps to try to squeeze every last drop of pleasure before destruction

Yet, in a time of crisis for the nation they’re drinking on the job

Drunkenness isn’t the pinnacle sin here - Pride is

Despite everything they are still clinging to thier own wisdom & rejecting God

Perhaps the drinking is to numb them in their deliberate choice of wickedness

Destruction

Sad, inevitable end is exactly what they’ve been warned about

Swift & fierce destruction

Like a mighty storm they will be swept away

Though they stood, crowning themselves in pride, God will bring them down

If ever there was a truth that needed to be widely known it is that God will not be mocked

No-one can stand in defiance of God and expect to get away with it

It may not happen in this life time but God will judge our rebellion

Crown of Glory

Isaiah 28:5-6

Hope in Darkness

As we’re getting used to seeing, Isaiah gives a glimmer of hope

Perhaps he’s put it here rather than at the end to give a complete crown picture

Crown of pride verses the crown of glory

‘In that day’ could refer to God’s work during the invasion (Isa. 28:1-4)

Seems to imply more than that & so likely directs us to future events

Including great judgment & Kingdom

While the armies of the world assualt God’s people God & His heavenly army will protect those who believe

God has made promises to them and they can find comfort in knowing God will keep them

God is Their Crown

Hope shines bright in contrast to the destruction that is about to unfold

Beautiful Samaria will fade from beauty & be trampled under foot

Those who trust God will find themselves in the beauty of God’s presence

Crown of pride is knocked off of the head of the wicked

For the believer, our crown & glory & great joy isn’t ours at all but God, Himself

For the remnant, God is their crown

Trust in God

God will strengthen His people & rule in perfection

This glimmer of hope goes to the heart of these messages

Trust God - He is mightier than every enemy

Spiritual Arrogance

Arrogant Leaders

We’ve noted the drunkenness of the spiritual leaders but we are drawn to look more closely at their spiritual arrogance

Isa. 28:9 - ‘he’ = Isaiah

Isa. 28:9-10 Israel’s spiritual leaders are mocking Isaiah

He’s not as intellegent or as sophisticated as we are

His messages are so simple they’re just for babies

Isa. 28:10 - isn’t about how to preach or teach the Bible - it’s mocking

“All Isaiah has is just bits & pieces, little bits of knowledge here and there but no real knowledge or depth”

One commentary I referred to says a literal translation might sound like “blah, blah, yada, yada, same old, same old”

Spiritual arrogance is a danger for all of us as we grow in knowledge

When we think because we know a truth or a doctrine we’ve got it

We listen to all the right online sermons and podcasts

Some things about Isaiah are hard to understand because we’re not familiar with circumstances or the prophetic nature of a statement

Real beauty of Isaiah is the simplicity of His message - Jesus saves, trust God

Ignorant Leaders

Isa. 28:11-13

Now God turns the tables on their arrogance

They were not humble so they will be humbled

Since they won’t listen to the simple words of God’s prophet God will speak to them through the babble of foreigners

God called them to rest and refreshing but they wouldn’t listen so now they will not understand

Fundamental reason for their fall

This is God’s judgment on them - God will speak and they won’t understand

Paul uses these verses to explain the gift of tongues in NT (1Cor. 14:21-22)

Part of the power of the day of Pentecost

God judged Israel by proclaiming the Gospel in languages they didn’t understand

There is a tragic truth that the more a person rejects God’s Word the harder it becomes to hear it

Hearts are hardened in our sin

Learn and Be Secure

Isaiah 28:14-22

Heed the Warning

Foolish Faith

Now attention is turned to Jerusalem (Judah)

There’s no turning back for the Northern Kingdom

Hezekiah is being encouraged to seek help from Egypt

Isaiah has told him, don’t go to Egypt trust God

Sadly, I can too easily relate to Hezekiah’s situation & you probably can too

You feel surrounded, overwhelmed, trying everything to find a way out an answer

It is hard to stop trying to fix the situation and trust God

I can imagine the immense pressure Hezekiah must feel

Torn between his personal desire for God & the adivce of leaders with so much at stake

This is a call to Judah to heed the warning of the fall of Israel

Isaiah is attributing meaning to their words

Most likely they didn’t say they made a covenant with death

Isaiah is telling them a covenant with Egypt (or any other) is an agreement of evil

It is putting your faith in foolishness

They think the scheming will save them but they are missing point of Isaiah’s message

They can’t save themselves, only God can save

Isaiah 28:18-19 God says their covenant will be meaningless

Hard Hearted

Isaiah book ends this section with 2 similar words

Isaiah 28:14 - scornful men

Isaiah 28:22 - mockers

Both carry the same meaning

Describes the people that will lead them to their demise

Bible defines the scoffer/scornful/mocker like this:

Self-assured - delight in their hardness (Prov. 1:22)

Think beyond correction (Prov. 13:1)

Arrogant & proud (Prov. 21:24)

Mock/scoff at sin & truth (Prov. 14:9; Ps. 1:1)

As the enemy lies at the door, God warns and yet they will not listen

Trust God

God has promised

Isaiah 28:16

Among the many things this speaks of is the Davidic promise

God is reminding them He has made promises to them

Unlike Egypt & others, God can & will keep His promise - He has proven it

This is a call to trust God

Hear His Word, listen to His prophet and trust God to keep His promise

It reminds us of Jesus’ Words

Matthew 7:24–27 “24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.””

By trusting in Egypt they were building on sand

To trust God is to be founded on a rock, a sure foundation

Those who trust God, believe, will not act hastily

That is, they won’t be running around back & forth in confusion & worry

Christ is Our Foundation

There can be no doubt that the fulfilment of this is Jesus Christ

Paul applies this to Jesus in Rom. 9:33 and Rom. 10:11

Romans 9:33 “33 As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.””

Romans 10:11 “11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.””

Peter uses these verses with the same intent in 1 Pet. 2:6-8

Jesus is the cornerstone on which the church is built (Eph. 2:20)

What then are we called to see in these words?

Deliverance comes by trusting in Jesus

Jesus is our rock, our sure foundation

Stop trusting in yourself, your effort, your works - Trust Jesus

Build on Christ

He is the tried & tested foundation that can be trusted

To believe Jesus, to trust Him, is to build your life on His foundation

By faith we trust Him as our sure foundation & by faith we build on that foundation

Live with the Consequences

Foolish Plans will Fail

Isaiah 28:18-19

Like building on sand, building your life on anything but Christ will crumble

Plans made in pride will be brought down

No Rest for the Wicked

Isaiah 28:20

Trusting in your own plans is like making a bed & finding it is too short

It’s like the frustration of a blanket that doesn’t cover

e.g. Like partner stealing your covers at night

What you thought would bring rest is inadequate, frustrating & unsatisfying

It’s the bed you made & now you must lie in it

God will Judge

Isaiah 28:21-22

He uses 2 examples where God miraculously delivers His people

Mount Perazim (2 Sam. 5:20) - flood

Valley of Gibeon (Josh. 10:11) - hail

God would much rather use His power for His people

Here He must turn that power against His people

A Call to Hear God’s Teaching

Isaiah 28:23-29

God Works with Purpose

Isaiah 28:23-26

God Knows What He is Doing

Here is a poem to give comfort & encouragement in God’s work

Wise farmer doesn’t keep plowing & plowing & plowing

So, with God, He doesn’t just judge & chastise

God Knows Why He is Doing It

Wise farmer knows the plowing is for a purpose

To prepare the ground for planting to gain a harvest

Farmer changes his method depending on the work needed and the crop to be planted

Like a wise farmer, a wise person will hear God’s instruction and learn

God Works with Wisdom

Isaiah 28:27-29

God Knows How to Treat His People

First part was about sowing, this is about reaping

Wise farmer knows you don’t treat every crop the same

A mill may be perfect for one harvest & completely destroy another

God knows His people, He knows what is needed to achieve the best end from each

Sometimes God must be harsh and other times gentle

Listen and Learn from God

Isaiah 28:26, 29

Both say the wise farmer has learned from wisdom of God

Israel’s problem was “they would not hear” (Isa. 28:12)

Judah’s problem was they scoffed at God’s Word (Isa. 28:14)

Isaiah’s message to all of us is - HEAR GOD

Learn from His Word and willingly obey it

Conclusion

The message Isaiah gives here is one every person here needs to listen to

We must put away our pride, arrogance and trust God

You will not find the rest of salvation by working for it in your own ways

Sadly, right now, many are using Lent as a way to gain favour with God

Jesus only is the way of salvation & deliverance

Today, you may be (or feel) surrounded looking for a way of escape

Trust God, listen to His Word and follow His wise, wonderful & excellent guidance

Trust Christ, He is a sure foundation