Isaiah 28:16

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD,.... In order to show what is the true foundation of hope and trust for security from death and hell, and to convince men of their vain and false confidence, as well

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.

Therefore: the coherence is something obscure and difficult. It may be made either, 1. Thus, Therefore I will bring most terrible judgments upon you; which are fully expressed, . But before he comes to the commination, to which therefore properly belongs, he first propoundeth a comfortable promise concerning the sending of the Messiah, partly for the support of believers, who are apt to tremble at God’ s word, and might otherwise be apt to despond at the prediction of such dreadful things; and partly to aggravate their misery, by comparing it with the safety and happiness which the godly and believing Jews, whom they despised and mocked, should find in Zion; and by signifying that that blessed and sure Foundation laid in Zion should yield them no support nor benefit, nor secure them from the vengeance of God. Or, 2. Thus, Because your refuges are so mean, and vain, and deceitful; therefore I will direct you to a better and surer Refuge, which will never fail those that trust to it, which God hath made in Zion. But if you shall despise and reject that Refuge, which I now offer to you all, if you will believe, then know that I will lay judgment to the line, &c., as it follows, . And this seems to me to be the most natural and easy connexion. I lay; I have purposed and promised it, and will, in the fulness of time, actually perform it. In Zion in my church, which is commonly called Zion; and in Jerusalem, where this Stone shall be first laid, which afterwards spread further, and filled the whole earth, as it is said of it, . For a Foundation, upon which I will build my church, consisting both of Jews and Gentiles, the Foundation of all the hopes, and comfort, and happiness of my people; the Foundation of my covenant made with my church, and of all my promises. A Stone; not Hezekiah, but the Messiah, as appears, 1. From those Scriptures of the Old Testament, in which Christ is called a Stone, as ,35,45 Zechariah 3:9. 2. From the New Testament, where this text is directly expounded of Christ, as ,33 . 3. From the last clause, wherein he requires faith in this Stone, which is not to be given to any mere man, ; and wherein he implies that this Stone was not yet come, nor to come speedily, into the world; whereas Hezekiah was king at the time of this prophecy. 4. From the usual practice of the prophets, and especially of this prophet, which is to comfort and fortify God’ s people against the dread of approaching calamities by that great and fundamental promise of the Messiah, in whom alone all other promises are yea and amen; whereof we have seen some instances already, and shall see more hereafter. A tried Stone; which I have tried, and approved as every way sufficient to be a Corner-stone, and a Foundation-stone.

Isaiah 28:16 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.Ver. 16. Therefore thus saith the Lord God.] This is purposely prefaced for the support of the faithful, when they should hear the ensuing dreadful denunciations, and see them executed. We cannot beat the dogs, but the children will be ready to cry. For a foundation a stone.] Firm and fast, opposed here to the fickle stays and vain fastnesses of wicked worldlings. This foundation stone is Christ, not Hezekiah, as the Jews would have it; or Peter, as the Papists. See Peter to the contrary, and Paul. He that believeth shall not make haste,] viz., To help himself as he can, since God defers his help; as did faithless Saul, Ahaz, these Jews, those Bethulians, that set him a time, and sent for him by a post as it were. David stayed God’ s leisure for the kingdom; those in Esther for deliverance; and those other in the Hebrews for the accomplishment of the promises. Hold out faith and patience. We know not what we lose by making haste, and not holding up our hand, as Moses did to the going down of the sun.

(16) Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation . . .—We have first to deal with the imagery, then with the interpretation. The former connects itself with the importance which attached, in ancient as in modern architecture, to the foundation stone of a building (1 Kings 5:17). So in Zion the foundation stone was laid, as witnessed in the Arabic name of the Mosque of Omar (Kubhet-es-Sakhra),(i.e., “dome of the rock”), on the solid rock. In the stone which was made “the head of the corner” (Psalms 118:22) we have a like thought. From the prophet’s stand-point this was identical with the manifestation of Jehovah’s righteousness in and through the Temple in its higher spiritual aspect. Christian interpreters have rightly found the true fulfilment of the words in the person of the Christ (Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:6-7). The “corner stone,” the lapis angularis of the Vulg. is that upon which two walls at right angles to each other rest and are bonded together. The “tried stone” (literally, stone of proof) may be one (1) which stands every test, or (2) one which tries those who come in contact with it, becoming an asylum, or a “stone of stumbling,” according to their character. (Comp. Luke 2:34-35; Luke 20:18.) He that believeth shall not make haste.—The LXX. and some other versions give “shall not be ashamed,” which is a paraphrase rather than a translation. The English Version, following the Vulgate, represents the meaning of the Hebrew, haste and hurry being regarded in their contrast to the calm temper of a steadfast faith. (Comp. Isaiah 5:19.)

Verse 16. Behold, I lay in Zion] See the notes on the parallel places in the margin (Genesis 49:32; Psalms 118:22; Matthew 21:42; Acts 4:11; Romans 9:33; Romans 10:11; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:6-8). Kimchi understands this of Hezekiah; but it most undoubtedly belongs to Jesus Christ alone; and his application of it to himself, even the Jews could not contest. See the margin as above.

16. There is but one true ground of confidence—Jehovah’s revealed purpose with regard to Zion. Behold, I lay] Strictly: Behold, I am he that hath laid (for the Hebr. construction cf. ch. Isaiah 29:14, Isaiah 38:5). The figure of the verse requires little explanation; it is illustrated by the massive and “costly” stones which formed the foundations of Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 5:17). And the general idea is that Jehovah’s relation to Israel is the stable and permanent, though invisible, foundation of all God’s work in the world. Beyond this it is hardly necessary to go in seeking an answer to the question, Of what is the stone an emblem? It is not Jehovah Himself, since it is Jehovah who lays it; it is not the Temple, nor Mount Zion, nor the Davidic dynasty, for these are at most but visible symbols of a spiritual fact disclosed to the prophet’s faith. The foundation stone represents the one element in human history which is indestructible, viz., the purpose of God, and that purpose as historically realised in the relation which He has established between Himself and the people of Israel. a sure foundation] Transl. with R.V. of sure foundation. he that believeth shall not make haste] The LXX. reads “shall not be ashamed” (yηbτsh for yβḥ ?ξsh). Cheyne and others propose a slight emendation (yβmϋsh) which gives the sense “shall not give way.” This is the second great passage in which Isaiah emphasises faith as the primary condition of salvation (ch. Isaiah 7:9). The image of the verse recurs in Psalms 118:22; and is applied to the Messiah in Romans 9:33; Romans 10:11; 1 Peter 2:6-8 (following the LXX. text).

Therefore thus saith the Lord - God. This verse is introductory to the solemn threatening which follows. Its design seems to be this. The prophet was about to utter an awful threatening of the judgment of God upon the nation.

16. Therefore — To the evil ones a terrible threatening follows, to the good a glorious promise.