BEHOLD THE SECURITY OF GOD
Isaiah 28:14-16
14 Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers,
who rule this people in Jerusalem!
15 Because you have said, “We have made a 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”;
16 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.’ 1
A few years back after the internet controversies related to whether a dress in a photograph was white with gold stripes or blue with black stripes, an audio was released that created just as much confusion.
This is the clip. Listen closely. What do you hear? The word “Yanny” or the word “Laurel?”
PLAY VIDEO – Yanny vs. Laurel
According to a survey taken by listeners, 43% of people hear “Yanny” while 57% hear “Laurel.”
Those of you who heard one or the other are now amazed that other people hear a different word altogether.
When it comes to what you hear from this little clip, the truth is it doesn’t really matter. In fact, it doesn’t matter at all. But there are things we must ensure we hear correctly or there could be problems.
As amazing as it may seem to some – God speaks clearly. He always has. He always will.
As we continue with the prophet Isaiah and the words given to him by God to give to the people, it becomes obvious that the people have not been listening to God. And hearing and listening are not the same, as every parent knows.
These chapters in this section of the book are “woe” chapters. The Hebrew word “hoy” is used here and means Ah! Alas! Ha! and Woe! This is the judgment of God.
1 Ah, the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim,
and the fading flower of its glorious beauty,
which is on the head of the rich valley of those overcome with
wine!
Behold, the Lord has one who is mighty and strong;
like a storm of hail, a destroying tempest, like a storm of mighty, overflowing waters,
he casts down to the earth with his hand.
The proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim
will be trodden underfoot;
and the fading flower of its glorious beauty,
which is on the head of the rich valley,
will be like a first-ripe fig before the summer:
when someone sees it, he swallows it as soon as it is in his hand. 2
Ephraim refers to the northern kingdom. For years the nation has been divided into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. The northern kingdom has aligned itself with pagan nations in an attempt to protect themselves from the Assyrians who are expanding their empire. In so doing, they have stepped far from God’s law and his commands. They wear the name “God’s chosen people” but they do not worship well, do not obey the law, do not revere him, and do not live generously and others-focused. They are poseurs not unlike those in our day who may attend church, wear crosses on jewelry, claim to be Christians, and maybe even decorate their homes with Jesus junk and Christian tchotchkes, but have more in common with the scribes and Pharisees of Christ’s day...
Matthew 23:27-28
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. 3
Woe. Hoy. Listen up.
It’s a word from God that is not unlike a parent who is fed up and says “Okay, you’d better listen” and suddenly the kids know it’s not just a simple frustration.
The people have their crowns – that is what Isaiah calls them. “The proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim...” They wear these proudly, but they are truly junk. They’re worthless, but they are desired. They have value temporarily, but ultimately are akin to comparing a Burger King cardboard crown with the five pound jewel-encrusted crown the Queen of England wore at her coronation.
Isaiah is in Jerusalem and looking north to the people of Israel (Ephraim.) The northern kingdom’s capital Samaria is the crown of their nation. It is situated on the “head of the rich valley” and is beautiful. It has gardens and trees and is teeming with life. They have caused life to grow in the rocky area and it is wonderful.
Samaria will fall. The crown will be crushed. It is a beautiful flower that will soon be plucked by an invading Assyrian army. This would happen in 722 BC. (Remember, King Uzziah died in 740 BC, so this coming destruction is not far off.)
This northern kingdom was experiencing some good times. The economy was good. They had aligned with other powerful nations, so they were protected they believed. They had growth. Their capital, the crown was admirable. Their religious actions were seemingly okay – good enough by worldly standards.
But they were fools. And they were not listening. We have seen this over again throughout history.
As King George sung in “Hamilton” ... “Oceans rise, empires fall” and he is right.
That kingdoms rise and kingdoms disappear. It always happens.
Ephraim, the northern kingdom will soon experience the end of their existence as the Assyrians come.
In an age where the world is mad, where wrong is declared right, where identity is confused and confusion is celebrated, where morality is situational...it is even more clear to us now that our only hope is in God. Christ is our answer. He must be. Some lament our circumstances today,
4
but today is the day that God chose to allow us to live and it is truly a good time to be living for God.
Even if you’re part of a shrinking remnant.
Back to the WOE given by God to Ephraim.
You see, the crowns of empires, of the kingdoms of this world will fade. But God has a crown that will not fade, cannot be melted down, does not bring glory to us and will never make us look foolish wearing it.
Isaiah 28:5-6
5
In that day the LORD of hosts will be a crown of glory, and a diadem of beauty, to the remnant of his people,
6
and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate. 4
and a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment,
When it all ends. When the last kingdom falls...and it will, there will be one crown left. One crown that will last for eternity. When we have come to the end of ourselves, that crown is offered and that crown is God. He is the crown of glory.
God is our treasure. At least he should be and if not now, he will be for the faithful remnant.
There are number of passages that we read and affirm, but there will come a day when we celebrate the truth that the first will be last, that the weak are strong, and the fools are wise.
The savior who is rejected will be worshiped by all and at that time we will fall to our knees in joy, in gladness, in overwhelming worship of the one who redeemed us.
And Isaiah is speaking of this moment.
But what is being heard? Maybe some hear “Yanny” while others hear “Laurel?” No, it’s not that simple. They simply DO NOT WANT TO HEAR TRUTH.
The people of Isaiah’s day have heard the truth, but they have rejected it.
Romans 10:17
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. 5
But what if you hear, but don’t believe? When this happens the heart hardens and it is harder and harder to hear the truth and eventually it is rejected.
The sinful priests of the nation openly mock the teachings of God through his prophet Isaiah by arrogantly stating that his teaching is too simple, too wordy, and worthless. A modern paraphrase of verse 10 states that they declared the words of Isaiah to be “blah, blah, blah, yada, yada, yada.”
What then comes is terrific and terrifying.
God states... “You won’t listen to me through my prophet? I’ll speak to you through a pagan nation who will destroy you.”
You will hear.
Yanny or Laurel?
This is how one person in a church service can hear a sermon and say “Wow! The Bible is so incredible it is as if God is speaking right to me
today,” and the person sitting next to them can say “This is boring. The music is bad. The pastor is droning. This is so unimpressive. Where’s lunch today?”
Same message. Different ears.
Same sermon. Different response. Same Bible. Different understanding.
When the ears to hear are not hearing, are not listening, and are not open to correction, rebuke, instruction, and loving encouragement the wonder and awe one experiences when God speaks through his Word is missed and religion becomes mundane.
Those who do not and will not hear have built their lives on shaky foundations. Empires rise. Empires fall. Crowns are melted. Lives of ease are shaken. Self-focused living is temporal. Sin reigns when selfishness is celebrated, when individuality is idolized, when virtual and literal caste systems are created in a culture that create idols of leaders, celebrities, athletes, and pastors.
But God is speaking and the righteous hear. Eventually everyone will hear.
14 Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers, who rule this people in Jerusalem!
15 Because you have said, “We have made a 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”;16 therefore thus says the Lord GOD,
“Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion,
7 a stone, a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation:
‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’ 6
Jesus is that precious cornerstone. He is the only sure foundation. His is the kingdom that will not fail. He is the crown of glory that never loses its luster.
And he makes the last first, the foolish in the world ultimately wise, and the weak very strong.
God loves sinners. He loves the dishonest, the cheaters, the weak, the empty, the foolish, the last in line. And his agape love, that unconditional, forever, and selfless love invites all into a story that matters where we can become the allies of Christ.
But...we must hear. We must listen.
Do you hear him today? Tenderly calling? You.
God speaks. Clearly. To melt away the confusion. If we would just listen and respond.
There is safety in Christ. There is security in God. There is a sure foundation in him.
Footnotes
1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Is 28:14–16). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
2 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Is 28:1–4). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
3 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Mt 23:27–28). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
4 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Is 28:5–6). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
5 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ro 10:17). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
6 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Is 28:14–16). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
