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God's people had made for themselves, "a refuge of lies" (Isa. 28: 15), but it would
be of no avail.
In contrast with the false security that Israel had achieved by entering into an
agreement with heathen nations, we read in Isa. 28: 16:
"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."
This passage is quoted by Paul in Rom. 9: 33 when dealing with the parallel failure
of Israel and the advent of the Messiah.
When Cromwell was encamped at Musselburgh in 1650, he sent a letter to the
opposing party, in which the following passage occurs:
"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ, think it possible you may be mistaken . . . . .
There may be, as well, a carnal confidence upon misunderstood and misapplied precepts,
which may be called spiritual drunkenness. There may be a covenant* made with death
and hell . . . . . I pray you read the twenty-eighth of Isaiah from the fifth to the fifteenth
verse."
(NOTE: * - A pointed reference which the Covenanters would be quick to see.).
It is interesting to find that this chapter in Isaiah has played its part in our own national
history; whether rightly or wrongly we do not here attempt to decide.
The remainder of the chapter is taken up with the parable of the bed too short for the
sleeper, an allegory referring to the false security that any alliance with Sennacherib
would achieve, and the parable of the husbandman, who does not plough for ever but
follows the ploughing with sowing. There is a definite purpose in the process of
ploughing, harrowing, threshing and grinding. Judgment with its accompanying misery
is God's "strange act" (Isa. 28: 21), but He permits the judgment to fall, so that He
may at length restore and bless.
"Is corn crushed (i.e. reduced to powder)? Nay, He will not for ever be threshing it,
nor break it . . . . . This also cometh from the Lord of hosts (i.e. the same may be expected
of Him in His treatment of His people), Which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in
working" (Isa. 28: 28, 29).
"For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as
corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth" (Amos 9: 9).
We have now considered briefly the alternation of woes and blessings so far as
Samaria is concerned. In the next chapter the prophet's attention is directed to Jerusalem,
and this we must consider in our next article.