Isaiah-Chapter 28
[Isaiah 28:1] WOE TO THE CROWN OF PRIDE, TO THE DRUNKARDS OF EPHRAIM,
WHOSE GLORIOUS BEAUTY IS A FADING FLOWER, WHICH ARE ON THE HEAD OF THE FAT
VALLEYS OF THEM THAT ARE OVERCOME WITH WINE!
“THE DRUNKARDS OF EPHRAIM” the British drink a lot, Australians drink more
thananybody else except Russians, North Americans drink a lot. Jews (from
Judah) are not usually great drinkers but alcohol is freely available at
Jewish functions and in religious ceremonies etc. Jewish alcoholics exist
but on the whole Jews have an exceptional tolerance for alcohol: Everything
is relative. WINE can mean any alcoholic beverage. Perhaps by “DRUNKARDS”
drug and other addicts are included?
Amos Chacham understands DRUNKARDS OF EPHRAIM to be also figurative and connoting drunk with richness and power.
On the one hand we say that physically the Tribe of Ephraim is more amongst
the British than the Americans who are more dominated by descendants of Menasseh.
Even so on the other hand many from Ephraim are in America. “Ephraim” in
Prophecy also connotes the Lost Ten Tribes in general. In this sense we can
understand the rebuke directed at Ephraim to apply at least in equal measure
to Israelite descendants in America.
[Isaiah 28:2] BEHOLD, THE LORD HATH A MIGHTY AND STRONG ONE, WHICH
AS A TEMPEST OF HAIL AND A DESTROYING STORM, AS A FLOOD OF MIGHTY WATERS
OVERFLOWING, SHALL CAST DOWN TO THE EARTH WITH THE HAND.
The enemy shall overcome Ephraim and cast him down like pouring rain in a
thunder storm, a hurricane-like destructive wind, and an overflowing flood
of waters. Ephraim shall be overcome and brought down.
[Isaiah 28:3] THE CROWN OF PRIDE, THE DRUNKARDS OF EPHRAIM, SHALL BE TRODDEN UNDER FEET:
“THE CROWN OF PRIDE, THE DRUNKARDS OF EPHRAIM” physiologically alcohol reduces
inhibtions and can enhance self-esteem. In practice someone who is drunk
often demeans himself and is treated with contempt by others. Nevertheless
drunkeness and pride are linked and an overduly proud person can act as if
he were drunk and vice-versa.
[Isaiah 28:4] AND THE GLORIOUS BEAUTY, WHICH IS ON THE HEAD OF THE
FAT VALLEY, SHALL BE A FADING FLOWER, AND AS THE HASTY FRUIT BEFORE THE SUMMER;
WHICH WHEN HE THAT LOOKETH UPON IT SEETH, WHILE IT IS YET IN HIS HAND HE
EATETH IT UP.
“AS THE HASTY FRUIT BEFORE THE SUMMER” referring to the fruit of the fig
which gives forth individudal first fruits that fully ripen before most of
the others. These are usually purple in color and ooze with natural fruit
sugar. Someone who plucks them just cannot resist swallowing them up on the
spot. So too when the enemy comes he will devor the riches of Ephraim. One
can picture hordes and hordes of deprived poverty-stricked foreign peoples
swarming over our cities taking whatever they can like locusts. The Germans
were not poverty-stricked but in Eastern Europe in the Second World War they
would often take away everything they could possibly have any use of leaving
the conquered peoples with less than they needed to ensure survival. The
Russians in their turn in some cases acted similarly. They and most other
peoples would all do the same thing to us if they only could. Let there
be no delusions on that score. Even the most cultured people cannot always
resist taking advantage of vulnerability in others, especially when they
feel they can get away with it.
In most cases, If you run away from an aggressive dog the dog will probably
run after you whereas if you stand up to it it will probably go away or at
least back off. It depends. In some exceptional cases you should run: “He
who fights and runs away lives to fight another day”.
[Isaiah 28:5] IN THAT DAY SHALL THE LORD OF HOSTS BE FOR A CROWN OF
GLORY, AND FOR A DIADEM OF BEAUTY, UNTO THE RESIDUE OF HIS PEOPLE,
But those who remain will be saved and guided by the Almighty.
[Isaiah 28:6] AND FOR A SPIRIT OF JUDGMENT TO HIM THAT SITTETH IN JUDGMENT,
AND FOR STRENGTH TO THEM THAT TURN THE BATTLE TO THE GATE.
Ephraim will make a comeback and drive the enemy out to the gate. “Ephraim”
(LTTs) will also succeed out of nothing to re-institute a rule of justice
and righteousness amongst those who remain of his own peoples. The course
of battle will be turned around. When things look most black then we will
repent and immediately things will change as we could not have thought possible.
[Isaiah 28:7] BUT THEY ALSO HAVE ERRED THROUGH WINE, AND THROUGH STRONG
DRINK ARE OUT OF THE WAY; THE PRIEST AND THE PROPHET HAVE ERRED THROUGH STRONG
DRINK, THEY ARE SWALLOWED UP OF WINE, THEY ARE OUT OF THE WAY THROUGH STRONG
DRINK; THEY ERR IN VISION, THEY STUMBLE IN JUDGMENT.
Before the return even those who should lead us will be found wanting just like we are.
[Isaiah 28:8] FOR ALL TABLES ARE FULL OF VOMIT AND FILTHINESS, SO THAT THERE IS NO PLACE CLEAN.
Throughout the Bible there is a theme that unrighteous behvior often brings
its own punishment in its trail without God having to intervene.
[Isaiah 28:9] WHOM SHALL HE TEACH KNOWLEDGE? AND WHOM SHALL HE MAKE
TO UNDERSTAND DOCTRINE? THEM THAT ARE WEANED FROM THE MILK, AND DRAWN FROM
THE BREASTS.
“WEANED FROM THE MILK” Instruction should be given and Leadership should
be chosen from amongst those who exhibit some restraint, maturity,
and self-denial when necessary.
[Isaiah 28:10] FOR PRECEPT MUST BE UPON PRECEPT, PRECEPT UPON PRECEPT;
LINE UPON LINE, LINE UPON LINE; HERE A LITTLE, AND THERE A LITTLE:
[Isaiah 28:11] FOR WITH STAMMERING LIPS AND ANOTHER TONGUE WILL HE SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE.
“ANOTHER TONGUE” Most Israelites will not know Hebrew at that time.
Isaiah-28
Part 2.
[Isaiah 28:12] TO WHOM HE SAID, THIS IS THE REST WHEREWITH YE MAY CAUSE
THE WEARY TO REST; AND THIS IS THE REFRESHING: YET THEY WOULD NOT HEAR.
[Isaiah 28:13] BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD WAS UNTO THEM PRECEPT UPON
PRECEPT, PRECEPT UPON PRECEPT; LINE UPON LINE, LINE UPON LINE; HERE A LITTLE,
AND THERE A LITTLE; THAT THEY MIGHT GO, AND FALL BACKWARD, AND BE BROKEN,
AND SNARED, AND TAKEN.
The message is there. The word of God, the answer to our questions is written
down, somewhere in the Torah meaning somewhere in the body of revealed knowledge
and written Scripture. Even so unless we persevere and try to gain
merit we will not find the answers which are hidden in the open.
[Isaiah 28:14] WHEREFORE HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD, YE SCORNFUL MEN,
THAT RULE THIS PEOPLE WHICH IS IN JERUSALEM.
[Isaiah 28:15] BECAUSE YE HAVE SAID, WE HAVE MADE A COVENANT WITH DEATH,
AND WITH HELL ARE WE AT AGREEMENT; WHEN THE OVERFLOWING SCOURGE SHALL PASS
THROUGH, IT SHALL NOT COME UNTO US: FOR WE HAVE MADE LIES OUR REFUGE, AND
UNDER FALSEHOOD HAVE WE HID OURSELVES:
“A COVENANT WITH DEATH, AND WITH HELL ARE WE AT AGREEMENT” Some say that this hints at Cannanite pagan theological concepts.
When the State of Israel tried to make agreements with the PLO the same thing
happened. It was an invitation for the PLO-Nazi beasts to try and murder
us and our children. All these peace agreements are just lies and delusions,
we are relying on the word of people who sometimes do us the courtesy of
lieing to us before they slit our throat. We let ourselves be led astray
out of wishful thinking and hope that through sophisticated double-thinking
we can change reality. Not all the peace-mongers but a lot of them sympathize
with homosexuals and the murder of innocent human foetuses and other abominations.
Some of those most active in the peace movements are unashamedly guilty of
such crimes. It is as if they subconsciously want to bring on themselves
their own punishment. The only trouble is they wish to see everybody else
in the same boat (they are trying to sink) with them.
[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.
Salvation lies in Zion.
[Isaiah 28:17] JUDGMENT ALSO WILL I LAY TO THE LINE, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS
TO THE PLUMMET: AND THE HAIL SHALL SWEEP AWAY THE REFUGE OF LIES, AND THE
WATERS SHALL OVERFLOW THE HIDING PLACE.
[Isaiah 28:18] AND YOUR COVENANT WITH DEATH SHALL BE ANNULLED, AND
YOUR AGREEMENT WITH HELL SHALL NOT STAND; WHEN THE OVERFLOWING SCOURGE SHALL
PASS THROUGH, THEN YE SHALL BE TRODDEN DOWN BY IT.
[Isaiah 28:19] FROM THE TIME THAT IT GOETH FORTH IT SHALL TAKE YOU:
FOR MORNING BY MORNING SHALL IT PASS OVER, BY DAY AND BY NIGHT: AND IT SHALL
BE A VEXATION ONLY TO UNDERSTAND THE REPORT.
[Isaiah 28:20] FOR THE BED IS SHORTER THAN THAT A MAN CAN STRETCH HIMSELF
ON IT: AND THE COVERING NARROWER THAN THAT HE CAN WRAP HIMSELF IN IT.
All their deceits and lies and double-talk will not be enough to account for the terrbile reality when it comes.
[Isaiah 28:21] FOR THE LORD SHALL RISE UP AS IN MOUNT PERAZIM, HE SHALL
BE WROTH AS IN THE VALLEY OF GIBEON, THAT HE MAY DO HIS WORK, HIS STRANGE
WORK; AND BRING TO PASS HIS ACT, HIS STRANGE ACT.
LORD SHALL RISE UP in Hebrew “yirgaz” from the root “ragaz” which can connote an earthquake.
“AS IN MOUNT PERAZIM” “PERAZIM” can mean “breaching” (bursting open): David experienced a deliverance at Perazim:
“AND DAVID ENQUIRED OF THE LORD, SAYING, SHALL I GO UP TO THE PHILISTINES?
WILT THOU DELIVER THEM INTO MINE HAND? AND THE LORD SAID UNTO DAVID, GO UP:
FOR I WILL DOUBTLESS DELIVER THE PHILISTINES INTO THINE HAND.
AND DAVID CAME TO BAAL-PERAZIM, AND DAVID SMOTE THEM THERE, AND SAID, “THE
LORD HATH BROKEN FORTH UPON MINE ENEMIES BEFORE ME, AS THE BREACH OF WATERS.
THEREFORE HE CALLED THE NAME OF THAT PLACE BAAL-PERAZIM. (2-SAMUEL 5:19-20).
David called the place “Baal-Perazim” because it was like the “Breach of
waters”.
Isaiah above has been using the simile of a breach of flooding waters. I
repeat theprinciples I mentioned previously: Isaiah was speaking to people
who were not so literate but had developed prodigious memories. The story
of David and the association of Perazim and breach of waters and its link
with what Isaiah was saying would all be obvious to them. First comes punishment
(caused by the wicked) like a flood of waters then comes salvation (to the
righteous remant) also like a flood of waters. The victory at Perazzim according
to the traditions of the time had been due to Divine intervention including
earthquakes. So too was the salvation at Gibeon inititially due to an earthquake
according to popular tradition -says Amos Chacham. Later due due to
Divine Intervention greater miracles occurred but these were connected with
destroying the fleeing host after the initial victory had taken place:
“AND THE LORD DISCOMFITED THEM BEFORE ISRAEL, AND SLEW THEM WITH A GREAT
SLAUGHTER AT GIBEON, AND CHASED THEM ALONG THE WAY THAT GOETH UP TO BETHHORON,
AND SMOTE THEM TO AZEKAH, AND UNTO MAKKEDAH.
“ AND IT CAME TO PASS, AS THEY FLED FROM BEFORE ISRAEL, AND WERE IN THE GOING
DOWN TO BETHHORON, THAT THE LORD CAST DOWN GREAT STONES FROM HEAVEN UPON
THEM UNTO AZEKAH, AND THEY DIED: THEY WERE MORE WHICH DIED WITH HAILSTONES
THAN THEYWHOM THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SLEW WITH THE SWORD.
“ THEN SPAKE JOSHUA TO THE LORD IN THE DAY WHEN THE LORD DELIVERED UP THE
AMORITES BEFORE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND HE SAID IN THE SIGHT OF ISRAEL,
SUN, STAND THOU STILL UPON GIBEON; AND THOU, MOON, IN THE VALLEY OF
AJALON.
“ AND THE SUN STOOD STILL, AND THE MOON STAYED, UNTIL THE PEOPLE HAD
AVENGED THEMSELVES UPON THEIR ENEMIES. IS NOT THIS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF
JASHER? SO THE SUN STOOD STILL IN THE MIDST OF HEAVEN, AND HASTED NOT
TO GO DOWN ABOUT A WHOLE DAY.
“ AND THERE WAS NO DAY LIKE THAT BEFORE IT OR AFTER IT, THAT THE LORD
HEARKENED UNTO THE VOICE OF A MAN: FOR THE LORD FOUGHT FOR ISRAEL”
(Joshua 10:10-14).
.
Returning to Isaiah:-
[Isaiah 28:22] NOW THEREFORE BE YE NOT MOCKERS, LEST YOUR BANDS BE MADE STRONG:
FOR I HAVE HEARD FROM THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS A CONSUMPTION, EVEN DETERMINED
UPON THE WHOLE EARTH.
[Isaiah 28:23] GIVE YE EAR, AND HEAR MY VOICE; HEARKEN, AND HEAR MY SPEECH.
[Isaiah 28:24] DOTH THE PLOWMAN PLOW ALL DAY TO SOW? DOTH HE OPEN AND BREAK THE CLODS OF HIS GROUND?
“BREAK THE CLODS” in Hebrew “Yisadad” from the root “sedad” renderable in
some constructions as “sod”. In English a clump of earth is “sod”. This is
Hebrew like a nit insiginficant number of Anglo-Saxon words.
[Isaiah 28:25] WHEN HE HATH MADE PLAIN THE FACE THEREOF, DOTH HE NOT
CAST ABROAD THE FITCHES, AND SCATTER THE CUMMIN, AND CAST IN THE PRINCIPAL
WHEAT AND THE APPOINTED BARLEY AND THE RIE IN THEIR PLACE?
[Isaiah 28:26] FOR HIS GOD DOTH INSTRUCT HIM TO DISCRETION, AND DOTH TEACH HIM.
[Isaiah 28:27] FOR THE FITCHES ARE NOT THRESHED WITH A THRESHING INSTRUMENT,
NEITHER IS A CART WHEEL TURNED ABOUT UPON THE CUMMIN; BUT THE FITCHES ARE
BEATEN OUT WITH A STAFF, AND THE CUMMIN WITH A ROD.
[Isaiah 28:28] BREAD CORN IS BRUISED; BECAUSE HE WILL NOT EVER BE THRESHING
IT, NOR BREAK IT WITH THE WHEEL OF HIS CART, NOR BRUISE IT WITH HIS HORSEMEN.
[Isaiah 28:29] THIS ALSO COMETH FORTH FROM THE LORD OF HOSTS, WHICH
IS WONDERFUL IN COUNSEL, AND EXCELLENT IN WORKING.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
HOme