Isaiah 28 is a profound chapter in the Book of Isaiah, rich with prophetic imagery, divine warnings, and promises of hope. The main theme of Isaiah 28 centers around God's judgment and the necessity of true wisdom and understanding. This chapter serves as a stern warning to the leaders of Israel, particularly Ephraim (the northern kingdom) and Judah (the southern kingdom), about their pride, drunkenness, and reliance on false security. It also emphasizes the importance of listening to God's instruction and finding refuge in His truth.
In Isaiah 28, the prophet begins with a woe pronounced upon the "drunkards of Ephraim" (Isaiah 28:1, ESV). Ephraim, representing the northern kingdom of Israel, is depicted as a fading flower, symbolizing its fleeting glory and impending downfall. The leaders and people of Ephraim are chastised for their pride and indulgence in wine, which leads to poor judgment and moral decay. This imagery serves as a metaphor for their spiritual intoxication and inability to heed God's warnings.
The chapter then shifts its focus to Judah, where similar issues of pride and false security are addressed. The leaders of Judah are depicted as scoffing at God's messages, believing they are immune to disaster because of their covenant with death and agreement with Sheol (Isaiah 28:15, ESV). This false sense of security is based on their reliance on political alliances and human wisdom rather than on God's protection and guidance.
Isaiah 28:9-10 highlights the people's rejection of God's instruction, mocking the simplicity of His teachings by saying, "To whom will he teach knowledge, and to whom will he explain the message? Those who are weaned from the milk, those taken from the breast? For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little" (ESV). This sarcastic response indicates their disdain for God's word, which they perceive as childish and beneath them.
In response to their arrogance and rejection of His word, God promises to speak to them through "foreign lips and strange tongues" (Isaiah 28:11, NIV), referring to the coming invasion by Assyria. This foreign invasion serves as a form of divine judgment, intended to humble the people and turn them back to God. The message is clear: true wisdom and understanding come from God, and ignoring His instruction leads to destruction.
Amidst the warnings and judgments, Isaiah 28 also contains a message of hope and redemption. In verses 16-17, God declares, "Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: 'Whoever believes will not be in haste.' And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plumb line; and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters will overwhelm the shelter" (ESV). This cornerstone is a symbol of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who would come to establish a kingdom built on justice and righteousness. Those who place their trust in Him will find true security and salvation.
The imagery of the cornerstone is significant, as it points to the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises through Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, the apostle Peter refers to this passage in 1 Peter 2:6, affirming that Jesus is the cornerstone laid in Zion, chosen and precious, and that whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame. This connection between Isaiah's prophecy and its fulfillment in Christ underscores the continuity of God's redemptive plan throughout Scripture.
Isaiah 28 concludes with a parable about a farmer, illustrating the principles of divine wisdom and judgment. The farmer's actions in planting, threshing, and winnowing are guided by knowledge and understanding, which come from God. Just as the farmer knows the appropriate times and methods for each task, so God knows the right time and way to bring about His purposes. This parable reinforces the theme that true wisdom and understanding are found in God alone, and that His ways, though sometimes mysterious, are always just and purposeful.
In summary, the main theme of Isaiah 28 is a call to humility, repentance, and reliance on God's wisdom and instruction. It serves as a warning against pride, self-reliance, and the rejection of God's word, while also offering hope through the promise of a sure foundation in the Messiah. This chapter challenges us to examine our own lives, to seek true wisdom from God, and to build our lives on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ.
