79. Come to the Savior (2)

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Hymns: RHC 269 Come to the Saviour 273 Jesus I Come 281 There’s Power in the Blood

Isaiah 28:1-16

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, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand. 3 The crown of pride, 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 as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up. 5 In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people, 6 And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate. 7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. 8 For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean. 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 For with stammering lips and another tongue will 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 Wherefore 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 not make haste.

Come to the Saviour (2)

OUTLINE

  • Awaken from Pride and Drunkenness (v1-4, 7-8)
  • Hope for the Remnant (v5-6)
  • God’s Good Word spurned (v9-15)
  • Christ Remains the Unshakable Foundation for their Salvation (v16)

INTRODUCTION

The people of God in the Divided Kingdom period were described as filled with pride and drunkenness. A sin that comes with complacency, indifference and affluence. Noah was drunk after the flood. He was vigilant throughout the days of the flood. But after, in times of peace, he fell into sin.

Genesis 9:20-21 (KJV) And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: 21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.

In the New Testament, numerous admonitions are given for the people of God in the church to be sober, spiritually alert and not drunken.

The last usage was given in 1 Peter 5:8 (KJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Often to be ready for God’s judgment upon the world is at hand – 1 Peter 4:7 (KJV) But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

The mind needs to be “made ready” – 1 Peter 1:13 (KJV) Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

“Gird up” means literally, of long Eastern robes gird up, bind up; idiomatically, of preparing the mind for action, literally tie up at the waist the clothes of the mind, i.e. get mentally ready, get set to learn.

The Apostle Paul likewise exhorts the church to be spirit alert – 1 Thessalonians 5:6 (KJV) Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Putting on the spiritual armour to defend against the attack of the evil one – 1 Thessalonians 5:8 (KJV) But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

Pride renders the soul insensitive to spiritual admonition – Proverbs 16:18 (KJV) Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 11:2 (KJV) When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

Proverbs 18:12 (KJV) Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

In these dangerous times of spiritual declension, God raised the prophet Isaiah to rebuke the nations of Israel and Judah.

  • Awaken from Pride and Drunkenness (v1-4, 7-8)

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!

Ephraim is referenced to the Northern ten tribes of which Ephraim was the strongest or largest of them, the son of Joseph. Innate strength brings confidence not relying upon God’s grace. Such confidence is shaky, self-reliance is described as a fading flower. The head of fat valleys, fruitful vineyards, by the mercy of God, through fruitful seasons, is not a license for self-indulgence.

2 Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand.

Isaiah saw storm clouds coming to Jerusalem, his beloved city, the city where God swells, that the nation might turn to God in repentance.

He started his message by proclaiming the judgment of God upon Ephraim, so that it will serve as warning to them seeing the plight of their neighbour.

If Assyria will conquer Israel, Judah will be the next target. Judah will not be spared.

3 The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:

The Northern Kingdom was established as a judgment upon the nation for intermarriage and idolatry during Solomon’s reign and the hard bondage imposed upon the people in Rehoboam’s reign.

The land allotted to Israel was indeed a land filled with milk and honey. And there has been times of physical prosperity and spiritual dullness that sets in.

Revelation 3:14-17 (KJV) And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Material wealth was the Achilles heel of this church. They were secure “spiritually speaking” by virtue of their material security. Laodicea is a very wealthy city, a major banking centre, the likes of New York, Paris, Milan, Shanghai, Singapore. It was historically recorded that the city in A.D. 60 was destroyed by earthquake under Roman rule and this city single-handedly reconstructed the city again with external funds from Rome, their ruler. They recovered using their financial resources. The Laodiceans prided themselves on their self-accomplishments and financial independence. This attitude seemed to permeate into the church. So, these were a bunch of self-sufficient and complacent lot in the city, inadvertently, in the church.

They were increased in goods and have need of nothing. They are rich in the things of this world but not rich toward God. That’s how materialism gives a false sense of security and strength.

4 And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.

The prophet Isaiah sees the impending destruction of Samaria, like a fading flower. 

The early fig (the hasty fruit), that is, as soon as he sees it, he plucks it, eats it at once. He does not lay it up for future use, but as soon as he has it in his hand he devours it. So soon as the Assyrian should see Samaria he would rush upon it, and destroy it. [Barnes]

… 7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. 8 For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.

This is the historical context, the worship in the Northern Kingdom were of man’s concoction, not of the LORD – 1 Kings 12:27-33 (KJV) If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah. 28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 29 And he set the one in Beth-el, and the other put he in Dan. 30 And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan. 31 And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi. 32 And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Beth-el, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Beth-el the priests of the high places which he had made. 33 So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Beth-el the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.

No wonder, God is not there with them in their worship. A frightening state of self-desusion.

(2) Hope for the Remnant (v5-6)

5 In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,

While the kingdom of Israel should be destroyed, the kingdom of Judah would be preserved and restored.

The LORD shall reign there as its king, and He shall guard and defend the remnant of His people there.

This reign of the LORD shall be to them better than palaces, towers, walls, and fruitful fields, and shall be a more glorious ornament than the proud city of Samaria was to the kingdom of Israel.

To the kingdom of Judah, comprising the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin. This doubtless refers to the comparatively prosperous and happy times of the reign of Hezekiah who was a God-fearing, righteous king.

6 And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.

The LORD would enlighten the judges of the land so that they should understand what was right, and act righteously so that there would be justice meted out in the land.

Their enemies repelled and driven and besieged in their own cities.

(3)God’s Good Word Spurned (v9-15)

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.

The LORD’s Word came to His people through His prophet, and the words of instruction to build up their faith were spurned.

That sin was contempt of God who instructed them by the prophets, and a disregard for his communications. His instructions are for children for we are adults and we cannot hear.

10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: 11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will 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.

The LORD through His prophet has brought timely instruction for His people. They were painstakingly taught, precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little. Instructions of piety are taught through long periods of indoctrination.

There ought to have borne fruit, to cause the weary to rest and be refreshed. And yet there was no refreshing. There was no change because they would not hear.

Romans 10:17 (KJV) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 1:16 (KJV) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Colossians 1:4-6 (KJV) Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, 5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

Alas, it was not so in Israel.

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.

Instead, God’s Word came as a form of judgment for their continued disobedience and detraction from obeying the ways of God.

Isaiah 6:9-10 (KJV) And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

Nevertheless, such a ministry of warning was still necessary. We can observe there were still seasons of refreshing in Judah.

14 Wherefore 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:

Israel would not hearken to the LORD for they have made their own alliance for safety. Therefore, the judgment would certainly come upon them as predicted by the prophet.

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 not make haste.

Zion here is put for His empire, kingdom, or church in general on earth. To lay a cornerstone in Zion, means that His kingdom would be founded on a rock, and would be secure amidst all the storms that might beat upon it.

That is, I lay a firm foundation which nothing can move; I build it on a rock so that the storms and tempests of calamity cannot sweep it away.

Matthew 7:24-25 (KJV) Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

1 Peter 2:6 (KJV) 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.

A precious cornerstone – The word ‘precious’ refers to the fact that the most solid stone would be used to sustain the corner of the edifice. The principal weight of the superstructure rests on the corners, and hence, in building, the largest and firmest blocks are selected and placed there.

He that believeth – He that confides in that; he that believes that that foundation is firm, and that he is secure in trusting in that, shall not make haste.

The great doctrine of faith in the Messiah as a ground of security and salvation, on which so much stress is laid in the New Testament, is here distinctly adverted to! The sense is, that confidence in him should keep the mind firm, and preserve him that believes in safety.

The idea is derived from one who is alarmed, and flees to a place of safety. The specific thought here is that of a man on whose house the tempest beats, and who apprehends that the foundation is insecure, and leaves it to seek a more safe position. [Barnes]