Isaiah 28-33

Isaiah 28:1-8

The wreath of Ephraim is composed of prideful drunkards and will be trampled. It is a sight of the fading beauty of God’s glory.

Isaiah 28:9-15

Ephraim’s response to God’s words is annoyance, like a child who does not wish to be nagged by his parents. In truth though, God is telling Ephraim, “This is the resting place, let the weary rest”; and “This is the place of repose.” Sadly, all they hear is, “Do this, do that,” because they do not want to hear what God has to say.

Isaiah 28:16-29

1 Peter 24:4-8

- If we place our trust in the Lord, Jesus Christ, we will be saved from eternal death and will never be put to shame. God will guide us, and as long as we choose to follow, we will be protected.

- Messages of hope given in the woe to Ariel include: 1) their enemies will become like fine dust; 2) all nations that fight against Ariel will be gone.

- It is foolish to hide things from the Lord because God made us all and therefore knows everything that is going on, even private thoughts in our heads.

- The Lord says, “Can the pot say of the potter, ‘He knows nothing?’” I think this is telling us that the pot (His children) cannot hide anything from the potter (God), because the potter DID make the pot. It is thus not unthinkable that the potter would know every blemish of the pot.

Isaiah 30

Deuteronomy 7:2–6

2 Corinthians 6:14–18

According to Merriam-Webster, “obstinate” means: perversely adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion. Obstinate people therefore form alliances and carry out plans of their own purposes (as opposed to following the Word of God) without heeding any reasonable or logical thought. They form alliances based on their own wants and needs (self-centered), paying no attention to what is actually good for them.

Isaiah 30:8–17 

- This is a very powerful passage. It explicitly instructs Isaiah to write down the prophesy, for as the event comes true, the event itself would thus be “an everlasting witness.” Next, it predicts how rebellious and deceitful people would refuse to listen to the Lord’s instruction and would listen to only “pleasant things.”This thus is how obstinate people would behave. They listen to only what they want to hear in order to do what they want to do. They have little interest in doing the right thing and would ignore even the most basic common sense just to get what they want.

We should listen to… We should just LISTEN. Period.

We should open our minds and hearts to the Lord’s message and listen. We should refrain from tainting the message with our personal greed, our wants and needs. “In quietness and trust is your strength,” said the Lord. I believe this paints an inner state of mind where we are tranquil and calm because we trust the Lord and are open to His words. And only when we have such tranquility will we avoid being stirred up and overwhelmed by self-centered thoughts.

- God promised Judah that 1) it will weep no more; 2) God will answer to its cries of help; 3) it will be able to see its teachers and no longer be blind to them; 4) it will hear the Lord’s guidance; 5) it will defile its idols and do away with them for good; and 6) God will ensure prosperity of the land.

Isaiah 30:27-33

Assyria is no longer a threat to Judah because the Lord has already shattered it.

Isaiah 31–32

Exodus 12–15
Psalm 20:7

- Isaiah stresses it is futile to rely on “just” Egypt but “do not look to the Holy One of Israel” or to “seek help from God,” because “the Egyptians are men and not God; their horses are flesh and not spirit.” That is, when we need help, we need a force that is stronger than man. And the only force that is stronger than man is God. We thus should place our trust in the Lord and not in things of the world.

These reasons are significant in light of Israel’s past history because whenever God’s people chose to trust in human things/power instead of the Lord, they fail.

- Instead of relying on Egypt and risk the danger of relying on man-based things, God promises salvation, justice, and peace to those who trusts Him. God’s people will be sheltered from anything and everything.

- I do not think Isaiah is making any “accusations” about the women of his time. I think Isaiah is talking to everyone through his advice to the women: 1) Harsh times are coming, and we therefore must not be complacent (hence, “Strip off your clothes, put sackcloth around your waists); 2) until “the Spirit is poured upon us from on high,” the harsh times will not end, and so we must remain vigilant in the sense of making sure our hearts follow God (hence, Isaiah saying “My people”). Followers of God will “live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.”