Isaiah 28
SIBIsaiah 28:1-4
The proud state and drunken nation of the Israelites shall quickly be robbed of their present transitory power and honour. The Assyrians, furiously invading their country, shall irresistibly, easily, and suddenly, reduce them to debasement and misery, lay desolate their country, and seize on their wealth. 5, 6. But the kingdom of Judah shall be marvellously preserved and continued in their relation to God; their magistrates shall be endowed with wisdom and prudence, and their armies with courage and valour to pursue the enemy
Isaiah 28:7-13
But they too, their priests and prophets not excepted, are so stupified with drunkenness, error, and superstition, that there is no possibility of instructing them, however frequently the same things be repeated to them; therefore God shall send among them the Assyrians, Chaldeans, and Romans, who shall instruct them by repeated and ruinous strokes. And, since they have refused to hearken to God’s promises, and the offers of his Son and salvation, as the only sure and effectual means of comfort and happiness, their refractory despising of his repeated invitations shall issue in their ruin. 14, 15. And because you, rulers of Judah, deride God’s threatenings, and boast that, by confederacies and other political devices, you have secured yourselves and your nation from danger: 16. Behold God exhibits and offers to you his precious Christ, as the sole foundation of solid hope, and the only sure refuge in time of trouble, on whom whosoever believeth need take no unlawful means to escape or get out of trouble 17—22. But such of you as reject him shall have all your vain hopes frustrated. The Assyrians shall certainly ravage the country; nor shall your confederacies and carnal politics in the least protect you from their fury. They shall quickly involve you in misery; nay, the very rumour of their approach shall fill you with consternation and anguish. None of your devices, to which you have trusted, will secure you while, contrary to his usual method, God shall employ his almighty power for the destruction of a great part of his professed people; and, if ye despise his threatenings, ye shall be enslaved by the Assyrians and others; for he has determined to accomplish, by sword, famine, pestilence, and captivity, the utter destruction of the Israelites, and of a great part of the kingdom of Judah. 27, 28. In the eastern countries wheat was beaten out from the husk by drawing a kind of drag with iron wheels over it
REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XXVIII—Pride and drunkenness render men a compound of beasts and devils; abominations to God, and plagues and monsters on earth. But whatever sinners are proud of is but fading. And nothing bids fairer to lurl men quickly into the depths of disgrace, poverty, and damnation, than pride and drunkenness. God sovereignly honours and blesses one nation, while he disgraces and destroys another. But thrice happy are those to whom Jesus Christ, and God in him, are their glory and crown. Base corruptions often continue, even amidst the most candid and zealous attempts towards reformation. But it is shameful and ill-boding when priests and prophets are partners in stupidity, and ringleaders in superstition and wickedness. What multitudes obstinately live in ignorance or rejection of God’s truth! But, if they refuse to hear his word, he will make them feel his rod: and none shall feel it more certainly than proud scorners and obstinate refusers of Jesus Christ. How rich is the grace of God, in exhibiting Jesus as a Saviour to men when they have eminently ripened themselves for his vengeance! Eternally safe are they who trust in him, when all other refuges fail, when all carnal projects and self-righteousness prove lies in their right hand;—But what sovereignty, wisdom, holiness, and equity, does God manifest in forming and timing every judgment which he indicts!