Dear RTB’ers,
Today we have God turning His judgment away from the “nations” and toward Ephraim/Israel (the first thirteen verses) and Judah (the next nine verses). God’s word to Ephraim is the harsher of the two; today’s “that day” (v. 5) seems to be the very near current times – they will be taken captive (Isaiah 28:13). Judah is only being warned.
Isaiah rails against drunkards in Israel, even the priest and the prophet (v. 7), and scoffers in Judah (Isaiah 28:14,22) who have made a “covenant with death/Sheol”. Is this covenant truly an expectation of their death, or is Isaiah referring to Judah’s attempts to raise neighboring allies against the Assyrian invasion? It’s interesting that, in spite of the peoples’ wrongdoings, God is still in the midst of both nations (Isaiah 28:5-6, 16-18). And that’s as true today as it was back then. I am troubled by sin and wickedness in the world today, especially in our own USA (and in my own heart!), but I know that our God is a loving, forgiving, merciful God. And as I’ve mentioned a number of times in the past few days, He will do what He will do.
Blessings!