Published 6/3/19
Read Isaiah 28:15-17
Because you have said, "We have made covenant with death, and with Sheol we have an agreement, when the overwhelming whip passes through it will not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge, and in falsehood we have taken shelter"; therefore thus says the Lord God, "Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: 'Whoever believes will not be in haste.' And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plumb line; and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters will overwhelm the shelter."
Reflect
• Are there sins and destructive behaviors that are holding you back? If so, what steps should you take to overcome them?
• Do you trust that Jesus loves you and forgives you regardless of your struggles?
• Do you believe that the Lord will guide us when our path seems unclear?
Isaiah warns that trouble is brewing. The prosperous capital of Samaria--perched high above a fertile valley in Israel's northern kingdom--will soon "dry up and wilt." Enemies will march through its streets and topple its walls. Why? Samaria's leaders are corrupt, and its people have grown deaf to God. Pride, drunkenness, and sensuality rule the day.
"Priests and prophets stumble because they are drunk," the prophet writes in verse 7. "Their minds are too confused to receive God's messages or give honest decisions." But he offers hope for the faithful.
Destruction follows the disobedient, while the remnant of His people will experience the Lord's favor. God declares through Isaiah that He will establish a cornerstone that will never fail--a firm foundation that can be trusted. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is that very foundation. He holds our lives together. He guides us when our path seems unclear, and He protects us as the world crumbles around us. And at the moment when we need Him most, "the Lord All-Powerful will be a glorious crown for his people" (verse 5).
Pray
Almighty God, you are just, fair, holy ... all-powerful and all-knowing. You are the immovable cornerstone and the source of all wisdom. Show me how to walk in step with you. Keep my path straight, and be the foundation of my life. In Jesus Name, Amen.