Isaiah 28:1-8 – God’s People Are Rebuked
In the first couple of verses, we see that God kindly, graciously promises Israel grace and protection when Assyria comes running in. When the time is needed, He will give them wisdom for judgment, as we see there in verse 6. We also see that God gives them courage for the battle. This implies that there will be times when they’re at a loss at what to do. So, God will have to give them wisdom, and there will be warlike, scary times, but God will give them courage for it. A time of judgment was coming upon them.
Despite all the blessing that God gives to them, the remnant, too, are in great sin, as we see in verses 7-8. Is this the only sin they had? Probably not, but it was the leading one that doubtless led to many others. It infected even the leaders of the people, the religious leaders. It’s horrific when it’s the religious leaders who had the greater responsibility before God of leading the people in holiness. But they led them in sin. Their sin was repulsive to God and very extensive. God hates this in the wicked, but He lets them go on the way they wish. He often brings upon them temporal punishment, which is a little foretaste of that which they shall have forever and without relief in all its strength in hell. With the sin of believers, God hates it, but He will not stand for it to be in His people, for He loves them too much, loves them to the point of having given His only begotten Son. He will do all that He must, though no more, not a bit more than that, but everything He needs to do to get their attention and to get them out of their sin. So it is that here we find rebuke for them. They are acting just like the hypocrites, though their hearts are different. Well, they shall receive much of the same at God’s hand in this life as the hypocrites, though to a different end. For the wicked it is leading them off to hell. For the godly it is leading them off unto heaven. Ultimately, He enabled the godly here to flee from sin. Let us give thanks that He has promised that if we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
Questions
- What does God promise His people?
- How does God deal with sin in His people?
Prayer Points
- Give thanks that God loves you too much to let you continue in sin.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.