One person sits in church and thinks, “I never knew the Bible had so much to say to me. This is so meaningful, I can’t wait until next Sunday.” Someone else hears the same gospel sermon and thinks, “This is dumb, and so out of date. Why doesn’t the Bible say something more impressive, at my level?” Same message, different impact. So when the Bible is opened, what do you hear? Are you delighted or are you annoyed? In Isaiah 28, the prophet explains why his congregation mocked his messages. They were too proud, too cynical. Their hearts were hardened against God. Yes, God saves sinners. But what is our part? We must trust Him, and that’s not always easy. Some feel it’s a bad risk. What if God lets them down? They would rather trust in what they can see and enjoy with their physical senses, all that the world values: “the fading flower of its glorious beauty” (v 1, 4). In the northern kingdom of Israel (“Ephraim”), the drunken party-goers wear “crowns” (wreaths) on their heads as they try to forget the terror facing them with the threat of Assyrian invasion. Drunkenness was a problem in Isaiah’s day, as it is in our own. Alcohol influences people to do things they would be ashamed of doing when sober. It releases inhibitions and reduces self-control. Thankfully, the LORD offers Himself to us as a more satisfying pleasure. In Him, God’s remnant finds “a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty” (v 1-6). Things were not much better in the southern kingdom of Judah, where even the priests and prophets were getting drunk. Instead of declaring the Word of God, they were sharing their own trendy ideas, which Isaiah bluntly calls “filthy vomit” (v 7-8). In their arrogance, these leaders treated the prophet with scorn, saying that his message and style were childish—listening to him was like hearing singsong baby talk (v 9-10). So God declares that if they refuse to listen to Isaiah, they will soon hear a word of judgment through “a foreign tongue,” as Assyria invades and overwhelms their land (v 11-13). Judah’s leaders thought they could secure their lives by a treaty with Egypt, but God calls it “a covenant with death.” Any shelter other than God is a refuge of lies (v 14-15). But in Jesus Christ we have a firm place to take our stand. He is our “precious cornerstone,” a “sure foundation” for our lives. Trusting in Him, we find peace and salvation (v 16). But the lies others believe will collapse upon them (v 17-19), failing to provide the rest they long for, but incurring judgment instead (v 20-22). As a farmer knows how to produce a harvest, God knows how to achieve His purposes (v 23-29). So trust HIM! For further meditation: