Isaiah 28--judgments on Israel (northern Kingdom, Ephraim, with Samaria as the capital). They
will miss the point because they are in legalism
Isaiah 28:7-8
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.
8For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.
He’s not railing on the common man, but on the man who is supposed to be leading spiritually.
The religious leaders got it worst!
Isaiah 28:9-11
9Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that
are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. 10For precept must be upon precept,
precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
11For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
If the religious leaders won’t teach, who will? There’s no leadership. Has to talk like he’s
dealing with kids, simplistic repetition. God needs to teach His people but no one will
understand. "sav lasav sav lasav, kav lakav kav lakav"
God’s Word is just “Yah, yah, yah, we got that” but no one will hear it. They need a special
presence of the Holy Spirit to be taught.
Isaiah 28:12-13
12To 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. 13But 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.
They could have had blessing instead they get captivity.
Isaiah 28:16-17--Judgment on southern kingdom Judah
16Therefore 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.
17Judgment 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.
The righteousness of God is the perfect standard that God will use to judge with. There is
always a link between righteousness and judgment. Salvation comes by the Messiah, the
cornerstone, faith is what makes a man secure in righteous judgment.
Isaiah 29:13-16
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with
their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is
taught by the precept of men: 14Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work
among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men
shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. 15Woe unto them that
seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say,
Who seeth us? and who knoweth us? 16Surely your turning of things upside down shall be
esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or
shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?
God calls the shots because He made us. You can fool people and sound religious but it won’t
matter to God. The more people have to jabber on about their rules and how they impress God
with their piety, you can rest assured there is awful sin going on in the background somewhere.
We’re the pot, God is the Potter, act accordingly.
You must have the Spirit and you must worship in Spirit
Isaiah 29:18,19
And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out
of obscurity, and out of darkness. 19The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and
the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
When God opens our ears and eyes we can finally discern what He’s talking about and this
leads to joy unspeakable!
Mark 7:5-9
Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition
of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? 6He answered and said unto them, Well hath
Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me. 7Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the
commandments of men. 8For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of
men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9And he said unto
them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
Pharisees have trouble with Jesus and His guys because they don’t wash their hands enough.
Jesus explains that they follow men better than they follow God! Following man is easy, they
don’t see everything! Their rules are showy and make you look good. Following God makes
you a fool!
Colossians 2:20-23
Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in
the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21(Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of
the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
Man-made rules are pointless, they are false worship of God and real worship of your flesh.
This does not mean we don’t follow commandments, Colossians 3 lists all sorts of stuff we’re
supposed to put off, stuff we’re not supposed to do because GOD SAID SO!
Titus 1:13-16
This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
14Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
15Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing
pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16They profess that they know God; but in
works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
We’re not supposed to follow man-made rules but rather to follow God. You can’t claim to
believe God if you are not listening to Him! Titus 2 goes into a whole list of things we are to do!
--Legalism is not doing what God commands. Legalism is putting yourself under the authority of
another, doing what he says, and thinking this is your righteousness. I don’t tell you what to do.
God does and He covers pretty much everything better than any person could anyway. Don’t
shackle yourself with more! Israel never got in trouble for listening to God! You won’t either!