Isaiah 28:14-22 - God is our sure security

The leadership of Judah would not take the warning of God seriously. The judgment of Israel, their northern brethren, should have been an adequate warning for them. Instead of processing what had happened to their northern relatives and made the necessary alignment to trust God, they chose to trust their own supposed ingenuity. They made a covenant with Egypt in the face of the impending attack by Assyria. Here Isaiah mockingly called their covenant with Egypt a covenant of death. In choosing not to turn to God but to Egypt, Judah preferred the deception of false security. They had unwittingly chosen the path of deception, thus deluding themselves.  

To show how grave a mistake Judah had made, Isaiah said that God would establish His presence in Zion so that those who trust in Him will find true security. He would be the solid rock of security. Trusting in Him would be the only proven, tested, and sure place of security. The deception of relying on Egypt could never provide the safety or security they sought. Their actions would be weighed with precise exactness. Through justice and righteousness, their deception and falsehood would be exposed. The words of verse 16 had been applied by the New Testament writers to refer to Christ Jesus the foundation of the true church. Justice and righteousness would be the standard of Christ. Truly in Christ alone can anyone find true security.   

 

Isaiah further explained that their trust in Egypt would come to naught. Their covenant with them would be rendered ineffective. Assyria would surely come and overtake and devastate them. Since they had chosen to make their bed hard, they would have to lie on it and live with the consequence of their delusion. Illustrating with the victory Israel had over the Philistines at Mount Perazim and  Valley of Gibeon with God’s help, Isaiah now shows that God would be on the side of the enemy. Their discipline at the hand of the enemy would strangely be an act of God. Isaiah warned them not to resist Assyria, for to do so would only increase their bond and make it even worse. The prophet’s point is this: true security rests in God alone.   

 

Misplaced confidence in life is hazardous. Our confidence should always rest in God. He never fails in a single promise that He has made. To be victorious in life’s journey, we need to know that apart from God there is no secure place. He is our sure bet to victory. We must place our hope and trust only in Him. He is worthy of our trust!