Isaiah Chapter 28 - Drunk Priests vs A Sure Foundation

Isaiah Chapter 28 - Drunk Priests vs A Sure Foundation

Isaiah chapter 28 directs the word of the Lord to the Northern Kingdom, Ephraim being the prominent tribe. The Lord calls them out for their excessive use of alcohol - Isreal had a drinking problem!

Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower which is at the head of the verdant valleys, to those who are overcome with wine! Behold, the Lord has a mighty and strong one, like a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, like a flood of mighty waters overflowing, who will bring them down to the earth with His hand. The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, will be trampled underfoot; and the glorious beauty is a fading flower which is at the head of the verdant valley, like the first fruit before the summer, which an observer sees; he eats it up while it is still in his hand. (Isaiah 28:1-4)

Some people think the bible prohibits the use of alcohol - it doesn’t. Jesus made wine (John 2:1-10), drank wine (Mark 14:22-26), and was even unjustly accused of being a drunkard (Matthew 11:19). Paul recommended Timothy take a little wine to help his ailing stomach (1 Timothy 5:23). The Bible regards drink, moderately used, as a gift from God (Psalm 104:15).

However, while the Bible allows the moderate use of alcohol, it strictly condemns drunkenness.

But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. (1 Corinthians 5:11)

Proverbs 31 teaches:

Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those who are bitter of heart. (Prov 31:6)

One of my favorite commentators, Jon Courson, notes that this isn’t just talking about people who are sick or dying, but people who don’t have the Lord, as they truly have no hope!

Alcohol is one of many things that, in moderation, can be a gift, but abused, will bring huge problems. Food is a blessing, and needed to live, but overeating brings a whole slew of problems (by some estimates, 60% of our healthcare costs are caused by people being overweight).  Indeed, alcohol abuse has especially destructive results.

But they also have erred through wine, and through intoxicating drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through intoxicating drink, they are swallowed up by wine, they are out of the way through intoxicating drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. For all tables are full of vomit and filth; no place is clean. (Isaiah 28:7-8)

Alcohol abuse, and substance abuse in general, are symptoms of a “I want to feel good now” attitude. Isaiah writes "like the first fruit before the summer, which an observer sees; he eats it up while it is still in his hand.” He’s describing the person that eats the fruit before it’s ready. Addict mentality wants instant gratification, regardless of the consequences.

Alcohol is also a depressant, which is why the drunk makes poor decisions - their judgment is clouded, every area of life is eventually affected.

Extended abuse brings a person far down, leading to a general degradation of every area of life. “Skid Row” in downtown Los Angeles is a perfect example of this degradation. Its the end of the line where chronic alcoholics and addicts end up. The sidewalks are lined with cardboard boxes, tents, and shopping carts. It is a filthy place that represents the final outcome of substance abuse.

"the priest and the prophet have erred through intoxicating drink” - Surprisingly the priests and the prophets, the men who were responsible for leading Israel spiritually, were part of the problem!

The bible calls not only priests, but all of His people to be sharp and Holy Spirit led, not alcohol inhibited. (1 Peter 1:13, Ephesians 5:18). When we are led by His Spirit, our way is sure, our path is clear.

“Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts? For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.” For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, to whom He said, “This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest,” and, “This is the refreshing”; yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was to them, “Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little,”  (Isaiah 28:9-13)

Isaiah is noting how the drunk, ungodly prophets and priests mock Isaiah’s teaching; "precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little." But in their mocking of Isaiah’s message, they actually pay him a great compliment!

It is a beautiful thing for God’s truth to be presented precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little. When the word of God is presented in this way, there is something for for everyone - the new believer, and the mature saint!

Isaiah 28 also contains a Messianic prophecy:

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily.  (Isaiah 28:16)

Jesus confirmed this in Matthew 21:

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?  “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” (Matthew 21:42-44)

Paul wrote to the church in Rome...

...but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, and whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” (Romans 9:31-33)

In ancient times the cornerstone was the stone at the corner of two walls that united them. It was the first stone laid. It was the visible corner of the foundation of the building and the starting point of all future building above the foundation. It was the most costly stone because of its beauty and strength. It was also the largest, most solid and carefully constructed stone.

Saint, Jesus is our Rock, our Cornerstone, our sure Foundation! When we make Jesus the cornerstone of our life, everything that is built upon Him will stand. From the moment Christ becomes the center of our life, our future is secure, we are on a sure foundation!

Pastor Clay