These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
- Tale of Two cities…
- As Isaiah concluded his APOCALYPSE [ἀποκάλυψις] of the nations…
- In that day [בַּיּוֹם] – when Jesus will JUDGE the whole world…
- There will be TWO kinds of CITIES [groups of men]
- FIRST – the city of God – where SALVATION [יְשׁוּעָה] is the WALLS that protect the people…
- Whose GATES are open – and the RIGHTEOUS can come TRUST in YAH [יָהּ] – who is the LORD [יְהֹוָה]
- The UPRIGHT wait there – SEEKING the judgement of God [make the world right]
- SECOND – the CITY of MEN – that will be ground into the DUST…
- Though the WICKED are shown GRACE [חָנַן] – they will NOT turn to the LORD till it is too late!
- Promises of God…
- The LORD gives PROMISES to those who CHOSE to come to the City of GOD…
- PEACE – because the LORD is the one who does all the work…
- RESURRECTION – though the RIGHTEOUS will die – they will LIVE again [first resurrection]
- REFUGE – the RIGHTEOUS will be HIDDEN during the coming JUDGEMENT!
- Fruit or fire…
- Leviathan [satan] will be JUDGED – cast into the Lake of Fire – Matthew 25:41
- Those who CHOSE to be planted in the VINEYARD of God – will be FRUITFUL…
- But those who CHOSE to stand with the ENEMY – will join him in the FIRE!
- 1st – Woe to Ephraim… vs. 1-6
- 1st – Their Pride… vs. 1
- The outline…
- The outline of the FIRST half of the book of Isaiah…
- Isaiah 1-12 – the Judgement and Hope for Judah
- Isaiah 13-23 – the ten BURDENS of the Nations
- Isaiah 24-27 – the Apocalypse [judgement of the whole world]
- Isaiah 28-35 – the six WOES – and the coming King
- Isaiah 36-39 – the proof – the fall of Assyria
- Drunk…
- Woe to the crown of pride – to the drunkards of Ephraim!
- Having given the TEN burdens concluding with the Apocalypse [final judgement]
- He turns again to His people – and gives the FIRST of SIX woes…
- WOE [הוֹי] – a Hebrew interjection that often precedes a pronouncement of JUDGMENT…
- To the CROWN of PRIDE [גֵּאוּת] – the one who rises up [self-confident]
- The EVIDENCE of the PRIDE of EPHRAIM – was them getting DRUNK!
- Fading…
- Whose glorious beauty is a fading flower which is at the head of the verdant valley.
- To those who are overcome with wine!
- Ephraim should have been the most BEAUTIFUL flower in a GREEN [fat] valley…
- But they were FADING – because they had been STRUCK [הָלַם] by WINE…
- The Northern Kingdom was in DECLINE – because of their moral decline!
- There are TWO possibilities to the TIMING of this WOE…
- Most place it before 722 B.C. – when Israel [Ephraim] fell to Assyria – II Kings 17:18
- But it is possible this was written AFTER the diaspora of Israel…
- Isaiah looking back at what happened to ISRAEL as a warning to Judah!
- Proverbs 23:31-32 – “Do not look on wine when it is red when it sparkles in the cup – it swirls around smoothly. At the last it bites like a serpent – and stings like a viper!
- Many people try and live by the POWER of alcohol – to get through the day…
- They drink to forget how terrible life is – but it makes them bitter in the end…
- Because the moment they sober up the reality of their poor choices are there to greet them…
- Too many lives – too many families – have been ruined by DRUNK decisions – Ephesians 5:18
- 2nd – The storm… vs. 2-4
- Flood… vs. 2
- Behold the Lord has a mighty and strong one – like a tempest of hail and a destroying storm.
- A flood of mighty waters overflowing who will bring them down to the earth with His hand!
- BEHOLD – the Lord [אֲדֹנָי] is going to send a MIGHTY nation against Israel [Ephraim]
- Isaiah described them STORM [three ways] – HAIL – DOWNPOUR – FLOOD…
- An ACT of God that His hand would bring upon the earth…
- Referring to the nation of Assyria that would decimate the nation of Israel!
- Ripe… vs. 3-4
- The crown of pride – the drunkards of Ephraim – will be trampled underfoot.
- And the glorious beauty is a fading flower which is at the head of the verdant valley.
- Like the first fruit before the summer which an observer sees.
- He eats it up while it is still in his hand!
- When Assyria came they would TRAMPLE [niphal] underfoot the DRUNKARDS of Ephraim…
- [Sequential] when Assyria came – they will be the one to cause their FLOWER to fade…
- Like [כְּ] the FIRST fruit that comes before SUMMER…
- Assyria would come into Israel [Ephraim] and consume all of their people!
- When I was growing up we have a RASPBERRY patch in the backyard…
- As soon as the FIRST batch would ripen – I would always eat them right away!
- When we are PRIDEFUL – living for the FUN of this world [drunk]
- BEHOLD the Lord is getting ready to send a STORM upon our lives – Matthew 7:27
- He wants to wake us up – get our attention – so that we LOOK up!
- 3rd – Better crown… vs. 5-6
- Remnant… vs. 5
- In that day the LORD of hosts will be for a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty.
- To the remnant of His people!
- In that DAY [בַּיּוֹם] – when the devastating STORM comes [Assyria]
- There will NO longer by a CROWN of PRIDE – and a DRUNKEN people…
- Instead the LORD of HOSTS [צְבָאוֹת] will be [imperfect] the CROWN…
- To the REMNANT [שְׁאָר] – the few who were left – those who were HIS people [עַמּוֹ]!
- Watch what people POST on social media – what is their CROWN…
- When life is going GREAT – they post the PARTIES [wine in hand]
- When life is FALLING apart – they post the PRAYER [looking to the Lord]!
- Result… vs. 6
- For a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment.
- And for strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate!
- There were TWO results to the people looking to the LORD as their CROWN…
- FRIST – the JUDGES [sit in judgement] were given a spirit of JUSTICE…
- SECOND – the SOLDIERS were given STRENGTH to turn away the ENEMY at the gate!
- WISDOM and STRENGTH do NOT come from the world [or alcohol]
- They are the RESULT of putting Jesus FIRST [crown] in our lives…
- Then we will know WHAT to do [wisdom] – and have the ABILITY [strength] to do it!
- 1st – Their Pride… vs. 1
- 2nd – The warning… vs. 7-13
- 1st – The leaders… vs. 7-8
- Priest and prophets… vs. 7
- But they also have erred through wine – and through intoxicating drink are out of the way.
- The priest and the prophet have erred through intoxicating drink.
- They are swallowed up by wine. They are out of the way through intoxicating drink.
- They err in vision – they stumble in judgment!
- The MORAL collapse of Israel [Ephraim] was not just the people…
- Those who should have be LEADING them – were also DRUNK [wine and hard liquor]
- The PRIESTS [כֹּהֵן] and PROPHETS [נָבִיא] were CONSUMED [niphal] by alcohol…
- As a RESULT – they had ERRED [שָׁגָה] in THREE ways:
- FRIST – they were OUT of the way [תָּעָה] – SPIRITUALLY lost…
- SECOND – they had ERRED [שָׁגָה] – and could not THINK straight…
- THIRD – they stumbled [פּוּק] – and could not STAND physically!
- Unclean… vs. 8
- For all tables are full of vomit and filth. No place is clean!
- The result of DRUNK priests and prophets – they VOMIT over everything…
- Their filth covers EVERYTHING [כֹּל] – no place is CLEAN…
- That was true PHYSICALLY – but just as true SPIRITUALLY!
- The Bible does NOT say it is wrong to drink [we CANNOT get drunk]
- The ONE exception is for PASTORS – they are NOT to drink – I Timothy 3:2
- Because a DRUNK pastor if off SPIRITUALLY – confused MENTALLY – and unable to STAND…
- The Pastor is an example to the church – therefore he is NOT to drink alcohol!
- 2nd – The complaint… vs. 9-10
- Simple… vs. 9
- Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message?
- Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts?
- The Priest and Prophets of Israel were QUESTIONING the LORD…
- Who did the LORD think He was teaching [יָרָה] – giving His message to [בִּין]
- They were NOT toddlers who had just been WEANED from MILK!
- Rules… vs. 10
- For precept must be upon precept – precept upon precept.
- Line upon line – line upon line. Here a little – there a little!
- [כִּי] because – the LORD was giving them COMMAND after COMMAND [צַו]
- LINE after LINE – boundaries they were to stay within…
- STEP by STEP – giving them just a LITTLE at a time…
- But they thought they were more MATURE – and should NOT be treated like little kids!
- Hebrews 5:12 – “By this time you ought to be teachers… [but] you have come to need milk and not solid food.”
- It is cute to bottle feed a young infant – no surprise – when they mess their diapers…
- But it is NOT cute – when a grown adult is still on the bottle – still wearing diapers!
- When we first come to Jesus – we are going to be like LITTLE children…
- We are going to make LOTS of mistakes – and will need to be guided step by step…
- But we should NOT stay that way – as we listen to His Word – we should GROW…
- Becoming MATURE in the Lord – as we exercise our FAITH – get to KNOW our God!
- 3rd – Rejected… vs. 11-13
- No rest… vs. 11-12
- For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people.
- To whom He said: This is the rest with which you may cause the weary to rest.
- And: This is the refreshing yet they would not hear!
- What was God saying – He told a WEARY people that they must [imperative] REST…
- But they would NOT [לֹא] listen and be REFRESHED…
- Israel thought they were too MATURE for MILK…
- Therefore -[כִּי] because they would NOT listen to His simple COMMAND [find rest]
- He told them He would speak [piel] to them in ANOTHER [אַחֵר] language…
- They would instead hear the commands of the ASSYRIANS in a foreign language!
- Paul quotes this verse in relation to speaking in tongues – I Corinthians 14:21
- Exhorting the church to NOT be babes – but to be MATURE!
- Broken… vs. 13
- But the word of the LORD was to them. Precept upon precept – precept upon precept.
- Line upon line – line upon line. Here a little – there a little.
- That they might go and fall backward – and be broken and snared and caught!
- [Sequential] – the reason why the WORD of the LORD seemed unnecessary to Israel…
- COMMAND after COMMAND [צַו] – LINE after LINE – STEP by STEP…
- Was so that they might [sequential] FALL – be BROKEN – CAPTURED – and TAKEN [niphal]
- We know that as Christians we should READ our Bible – come to Church…
- We might argue it is the SAME message – things we already KNOW…
- But the moment we stop loving the WORD – hearing the COMMANDS of the Lord…
- We set ourselves up for a FALL – being BROKEN – taken captive to SIN!
- Philippians 3:1 – “I never get tired of telling you these things – I do it to safeguard your faith.” [NLT]
- 1st – The leaders… vs. 7-8
- 3rd – The cornerstone… vs. 14-29
- 1st – The contrast… vs. 14-15
- The Word… vs. 14
- Therefore hear the word of the LORD.
- You scornful men who rule this people who are in Jerusalem!
- YES [כֵּן] – the leaders of JUDAH also needed [imperative] to hear this…
- The BOASTING rulers in the city of Jerusalem…
- This is where we see the focus of this WOE from Isaiah…
- Ephraim was the EXAMPLE for Judah of what happens when a people do NOT listen…
- Just as the Northern kingdom was BROKEN – so the Southern could also FALL!
- The lie… vs. 15
- Because you have said: We made a covenant with death – with Sheol we are in agreement.
- When the overflowing scourge passes through it will not come to us.
- For we have made lies our refuge and under falsehood we have hidden ourselves!
- [כִּי] – because the leaders of Judah had made a COVENANT [בְּרִית]
- A deal they thought would allow them to avoid DEATH [מָוֶת] and HELL [שְׁאוֹל]
- But they were putting their TRUST [refuge] in LIES – hiding in something that was NOT true!
- The leaders of Judah had made an agreement with Egypt – II Kings 18:21
- And they assumed Egypt was strong enough to defeat Assyria…
- But instead Isaiah tells them they have made a deal with DEATH and HELL!
- There are only TWO options as to who we LISTEN to…
- Either we listen to the LORD – and He gives us the words of LIFE…
- Or we listen to the lies of this WORLD – and we make a deal with DEATH and HELL!
- James 3:15 – “This wisdom does not descend from above but is earthly – sensual – demonic.”
- 2nd – Foundation… vs. 16
- Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation.
- A tried stone – precious cornerstone – sure foundation. Whoever believes will not act hastily!
- Therefore [כֵּן] – in contrast to the LIES of this world that lead to DEATH and HELL…
- The Lord [אֲדֹנָי] who is GOD [יְהֹוָה] – put the STONE in ZION as the [piel] only FOUNDATION [יָסַד]
- The STONE that has been TESTED [בֹּחַן] – the CORNERSTONE that is valuable [יָקָר]
- And whoever BELIEVES [hiphil] in Him [Jesus] – will NOT be ASHAMED [καταισχύνω]!
- I Peter 2:6 – “Behold I lay in Zion [Jerusalem] a chief cornerstone – elect – precious. And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
- Will NOT – [οὐ μὴ subjunctive] – the most powerful negation in Greek…
- IMPOSSIBLE for those put their trust [present] in Jesus to be disappointed…
- To those who BELIEVE in Him – He is an unshakable FOUNDATION!
- We will NEVER be disappointed when we choose to make Jesus our FOUNDATION…
- That does not mean things will always turn out the way we expect…
- But we can be certain – that whatever happens – we are UNSHAKABLE – Matthew 7:24
- 3rd – Not covered… vs. 17-20
- Measuring line… vs. 17
- Also I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plummet.
- The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies – and the waters will overflow the hiding place!
- [Sequential] – then God will show Judah the difference…
- He would make his MEASURING line justice [מִשְׁפָּט] – and His LEVEL righteousness [צְדָקָה]
- The STORM of Assyria would come – and sweep away the LIE [trust in Egypt]
- And the people would see that their FOUNDATION should be the LORD!
- Terrified… vs. 18-19
- Your covenant with death will be annulled and your agreement with Sheol will not stand.
- When the overflowing scourge passes through – then you will be trampled down by it.
- As often as it goes out it will take you. For morning by morning it will pass over.
- And by day and by night it will be a terror just to understand the report!
- The [pual] COVERING [כָּפַר] of their COVENANT [בְּרִית] with death and hell would NOT stand…
- Just as the LORD had warned them [naked Isaiah] – Egypt would NOT save them – Isaiah 20:3
- The scourge of Assyria would COME – and TRAMPLE them down…
- Again and again the Assyrians would COME – morning and night – to take them away…
- And the message of the CONQUEST of Judah would TERRIFY them!
- Too short… vs. 20
- For the bed is too short to stretch out on.
- And the covering so narrow that one cannot wrap himself in it!
- The PROBLEM with Egypt [world] – is it could NOT cover them…
- Isaiah uses the imagery of a BED and BLANKET – both too SHORT…
- When they stretched out their feet shot off the BED – and the blanket was too SMALL…
- They were left EXPOSED – not COVERED [כָּפַר] from the terror that was coming!
- People try and COVER this SIN in a lot of different ways…
- They try RELIGION – good WORKS – some even try to DENY God exists…
- The problem is all of their LIES come up SHORT – and do NOT cover [כָּפַר] their SIN…
- They are left EXPOSED to the TERROR that is coming [judgement of God]
- 4th – Act of God… vs. 21-22
- Unusual act… vs. 21
- For the LORD will rise up as at Mount Perazim. He will be angry as in the Valley of Gibeon.
- That He may do His work – His awesome work – and bring to pass His act – His unusual act!
- In contrast – the LORD gives two UNUSUAL [זוּר] examples of what He can do…
- FIRST – the LORD would rise up like at Mount PERAZIM [פְּרָצִים]
- When the Philistines attacked David shortly after becoming king – II Samuel 5:20
- He sought the Lord – and God gave to him the VICTORY…
- So David called the place Baal PERAZIM [פְּרָצִים] – the Lord broke through [פֶּרֶץ]
- SECOND – the LORD will get angry like He did in the Valley of Gibeon [גִּבְעוֹן]
- When the FIVE armies of the Amorites attacked Joshua…
- And he asked the SUN to stand still – and God rained down HAIL on them – Joshua 10:11-12
- God would likewise deliver Jerusalem from the hand of Assyria…
- He would NOT do it through military might [David] – or even NATURAL disaster [Joshua]
- Instead He would use ONE angel to wipe out there WHOLE army – Isaiah 37:36
- Do not mock… vs. 22
- Now therefore do not be mockers lest your bonds be made strong.
- I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts – a destruction determined upon the whole earth!
- Therefore PLEASE [jussive] do NOT mock the Word of God…
- [כִּי] because the Lord [אֲדֹנָי] the LORD of hosts [צְבָאוֹת]
- Has decided [niphal] to consume the WHOLE [כָּל] land [Judah]
- And if the people were NOT careful – their BONDAGE would be WORSE [stronger]!
- When students in a classroom do NOT pay attention to the teacher – they FAIL the test…
- And they end up having to REPEAT the lesson [or the whole grade]
- When God is teaching us a LESSON – we are wise to pay attention…
- We do NOT want to have to REPEAT it – because it is always harder the SECOND time!
- 5th – The Example… vs. 23-28
- Listen… vs. 23
- Give ear and hear my voice – listen and hear my speech!
- In light of the CONTRAST – the lies of this WORLD and the power of the WORD…
- We MUST [imperative] cause [hiphil] our ear to LISTEN to the voice of the LORD…
- We MUST [imperative] pay attention [hiphil] and LISTEN to His WORD!
- Planting… vs. 24-26
- Does the plowman keep plowing all day to sow? Does he [turn] his soil and [break] the clods?
- When he has leveled its surface – does he not sow the black cummin – scatter the cummin.
- Plant the wheat in rows – the barley in the appointed place – and the spelt in its place?
- For He instructs him in right judgment. His God teaches him!
- To emphasize why it is so important we LISTEN to the LORD – Isaiah gave an EXAMPLE…
- The FARMER works ALL [כֹּל] day [הַיּוֹם] long to PLOW his field…
- He works tirelessly to break [piel] up the chunks of hard soil…
- When the field is FLAT [piel] – he plants the CUMMIN [3x – only here in OT]
- He then plants the WHEAT in rows – the BARLEY in their place – and the BUCKWHEAT [spelt]
- The FARMER knows how to PLANT the various seeds because God [אֱלֹהִים] taught him [piel]!
- Harvesting… vs. 27-28
- Black cummin is not threshed with a threshing sledge. Nor is a cartwheel rolled over the cummin.
- But the black cummin is beaten out with a stick – and the cummin with a rod.
- Bread flour must be ground. Therefore he does not thresh it forever.
- Break it with his cartwheel or crush it with his horsemen!
- When it comes time to MILL the CUMMIN [קֶצַח]
- It is NOT done in the same way as the WHEAT [sledge – grinding]
- The CUMMIN is more delicate and needs a rod or staff – or else the famer will damage it…
- But the WHEAT must be crushed – if the farmer used a stick it would take forever!
- The point is subtle – but powerful – God knows how to work with His people…
- He knows how MUCH we can take – He knows how to BREAK us…
- And for those who are DELICATE [cummin] – he can be GENTLE…
- But for those who are HARD [wheat] – He knows how to GRIND us down!
- From the Lord… vs. 29
- This also comes from the LORD of hosts.
- Who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance!
- The point is the LORD of Hosts [צְבָאוֹת] is the one we should LISTEN to…
- Because He gives WONDERFUL [hiphil] advice – and EXCELLENT [hiphil] wisdom!
- We have the EXAMPLES [Ephraim – Judah – the farmer]
- But we still have to make the CHOICE – who do we LISTEN to…
- Do we run to the WORLD – to alcohol – to the LIES that cannot COVER us…
- Or do we run to the CORNERSTONE – and have wonderful and excellent life!
- 1st – The contrast… vs. 14-15