This Comes from the Lord

Read Isaiah 28
 
THIS chapter has several images of God’s judgment and salvation. Here are some:

1. Isaiah 28:5 In that day the Lord Almighty will be a glorious crown, a beautiful wreath for the remnant of his people. His church will worship God and worship him only.
   
2. 28:7 And these also stagger from wine and reel from beer: Priests and prophets stagger from beer… when seeing visions…when rendering decisions. Both the people and their leaders had traded God’s justice to prefer wasteful living and distorted minds.
3. 28:10 For it is: “Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule; a little here, a little there.” 11 Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people, 12 to whom he said, “This is the resting place, let the weary rest;” and, “This is the place of repose”- but they would not listen. Israel sees God’s law as a burden. So the LORD will send nations to conquer his people. God had promised rest, but they disobeyed his commands.
4. 28:16 So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed. 17 I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line. This is another promise of Jesus. He is the cornerstone of a new covenant of grace which becomes real in the church: Ephesians 2:20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
5. 28:22 Now stop your mocking, or your chains will become heavier; the Lord, the Lord Almighty, has told me of the destruction decreed against the whole land. 23 Listen and hear my voice; pay attention and hear what I say. Very plainly, the prophet preaches.

The chapter closes with the image of a farmer working through the seasons to plow, plant and harvest. This is the LORD’s pattern. He has formed the earth, created mankind and will harvest his own into eternal life. You can be sure this is true.
 
Isaiah 28:29 All this also comes from the Lord Almighty, wonderful in counsel and magnificent in wisdom.