I have long thought Isaiah 28 ended with a beautiful little Paragraph. I’ve even tried to preach it a few times in my Ministry. It is both informative and encouraging, all the while magnifying our great God’s Wisdom, His Omniscience.

Here it is, today’s Text: “Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech. Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground? When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat and the appointed barley and the rie in their place? For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him. For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod. Bread corn is bruised; because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break it with the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it with his horsemen. This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.” Isaiah 28:23-29. It almost sounds like “Proverbs,” or at least some of the Wisdom Literature of the Bible!

Isaiah the teacher, the statesman, the sage!

The Paragraph divides itself into halves. The first focuses on plowing (then sowing) … while the other concentrates on threshing/winnowing/milling (then storing the finished product). “He will not ever be threshing it.”

Then ending each paragraph is a “lesson/moral/nugget of wisdom” … an application of a “farm parable” to the so-called “leaders” of Isaiah’s day.

Wow!

Let me show you.

Introduction: “Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech.” Verse 23, again, this sounds a lot like Solomon in Proverbs! (I never knew the Prophecy of Isaiah was this “poetic,” this “illustrative.”)

Now, first comes the plowing (but just for a while) … then the sowing (as the next goal). Isaiah’s example. “Doth the plowman plow ALL DAY to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground?” Verse 24, God has taught the planter/farmer (via creation, via common sense) that you do not rip up the ground endlessly! The “opening,” the “breaking,” is merely a temporary (but necessary) means to an end, a much better end. (Biscuits on the table, eventually!) Do not “torture” the earth, the ground “all day!” Plow … then sow!

“Sow”, as in verse 25, the right seed in the right places, by the way. More “common sense!” Look: “When he hath made plain (level, via the plowing) the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad (sow) the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat and the appointed barley and the rie in their place?”A lot of work!

Then comes the growing season! A wise farmer, but now waiting, totally dependent on the Grace (favor) of God for warm weather and bountiful rainfall!

How did he learn all this? “For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.” Verse 26, so true!

Beautiful as well!

But then Isaiah continues … to the “threshing” stage, the now ripened crop having been gathered. “For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod. Bread corn is bruised; because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break it with the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it with his horsemen.” Verses 27-28, where little seed (“fitches and cumin”) are merely tapped a few times with a rod … but the larger grain, like “bread corn,” requires more stringent thrashing (an acceptable synonym for “threshing”). (Here separating the edible grain from the non-edible husk!) Hint: do not overdo the thrashing! Make it appropriate for the specific seed involved!

Some of this “winnowing” is pretty rough! “Horsemen” and “”ox-carts!” Trampling or rolling over those stalks of wheat!

Where is this critical “art” learned?

“This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.” Verse 29, the end of the paragraph and chapter.

But WHY does Isaiah place this Unit where he does. He has not previously been talking to earth-workers, farmers!

Hint, back in verse 14: “Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.” Drunkards, liars, thieves (according to our chapter, Isaiah 28), listen up! Simple farmers “hear” God’s words and plow/plant/reap/thresh/store accordingly. Why can’t YOU hear God’s Word and lead Israel properly? Wisely?

Wow!

Moral of this Text.

God knows just how much to put on us … how much “plowing” and “threshing” is necessary … to produce good crops (fruit) in our lives! He is, after all, the real Gardener!

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Our Text today is Isaiah 28:9-13. (Yes, I am investing more time on this chapter than any so far! But it is so “typical” of Isaiah’s lucid teaching, preaching.) “Lucid” is from the Latin, where “lux” means “light” and “lucere” means “to shine!” Thus, brilliant, informative teaching and preaching!

But our Text now: “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little. For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.” Isaiah 28:9-13, let me explain.

Likely the words are a replication of an actual conversation (or confrontation) between leaders of Judah in Isaiah’s day and the Prophet. (Leaders whom we have learned are sensual drunkards, backslidden from God! Read Isaiah 28:1-4 again.

They are describing Isaiah’s teaching, mocking him: “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.” They here accuse the man of God of “baby talk!” Not “deep” enough for their astute intellectualism!

The next verse continues their attack; “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little;” which merely amplifies their belittling attitude! This repetition is like teaching the simple ABC’s, to little preschoolers! Isaiah is a simpleton! (In Hebrew this string of words, monosyllables, sounds like “sav,” “sav,” “sav,” “sav” then “qav,” qav,” “qav,” qav!” Baby babble! Isaiah is really not relevant to their world! Or so they think.)

Then Isaiah speaks!  So … they want talk that’s “gibberish,” equivalent to “nonsense?” (As in “sav, sav, qav, qav.”) That’s then what God will send them! An invasion, by an army whose language sounds unintelligible! (“Blah, blah, blah!”) The Romans coined the word “barbarian” because their attackers spoke such a foreign tongue that it sounded to their untrained ears like “bar, bar, bar, bar!” Hence, barbarians! Oh, back to my verse: “For with stammering lips and another tongue (language) will He (the Lord) speak to this people.” Through the Assyrian army!

Wow!

God had offered them peace, forgiveness, repeatedly. But they just as often refused! “To whom He (God) said, This is the REST wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the REFRESHING they would not hear.” Isaiah 28:12 … sounds just like Jesus! “Come unto Me and I will give you rest!” Matthew 11:28

So our Passage/Text ends: “But the Word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little and there a little” … (still rejecting, mocking God’s Word, despising Isaiah’s preaching!)

And the result of their foolish actions? “That they might go, AND FALL BACKWARD, AND BE BROKEN, AND SNARED, AND TAKEN.” Isaiah 28:13, cause and effect.

Scoff at Scripture … prepare for a fall!

I admire Isaiah more than ever. He remained faithful in the midst of all this ridicule!

Let us learn the Lesson as well. We may need it some day, some day soon in fact.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

By the way, this “precept upon precept and line upon line” business could also (indirectly) be a compliment to the Word of God, to Isaiah’s exposition! Though that is NOT how these erring Jews meant it. God’s Word, so practical, so down-to-earth … that even a child can understand, when properly guided!

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The chapter opens (verses 1-6) with an amazing “play” on words. It tells the story of two crowns. Let me show you the tragedy of sin.

Initially, in verses 1-4, is depicted a crown of ignominy (as opposed to the “Crown of Glory” Peter later mentions in the New Testament) reserved for the people of Ephraim, the Ten Tribes, the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

Watch: “Woe to the CROWN of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine! Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand. The CROWN of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet: and the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.” Isaiah 28:1-4, where the Lord Himself just may be a little sarcastic! But in a proper sense.

“Drunkards!”

Whom the Lord is going to scourge with an attacking enemy army (Assyria), here denoted as “a mighty and strong one.”

Invading their Land like a “hailstorm,” like a “flood of mighty waters! Hurling Ephraim to the ground “with the hand, “ literally we’d say “with one hand!” Fierce infantrymen … stomping that sinful little nation “under their feet!”

Wow, what a steep prince … the wages of sin!

THEIR CROWN OF PRIDE HAS BEEN BROKEN! INSTEAD, SHAME HAS COME!

But now to the second crown. This one reserved for the faithful “remnant” (here translated “residue”) of God’s people. And this may be where Peter got his term to begin with, “crown of glory.” The New Testament hundreds of times quotes the Old Testament, either directly or indirectly.

“In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a CROWN of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people, and for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.” Isaiah 28:5-6, where “parallelism” is beautifully employed. As in “crown of glory” then immediately (in apposition, explanation) “diadem of beauty!”

Look what God will do for His faithful people: restoring “judgment” to the judges! He gives them common sense, wisdom, Biblical understanding! (There are a lot of judges in this Country who need heavy doses of such noble qualities!) God further restores bravery to the army! God will be STRENGTH to those who defend their city at the gates! (David in Psalm 18:1 … “I will love thee, O LORD, my STRENGTH.”)

Wow!

Promises made by our loving Lord … to a people yet living in sin. But looking forward to the Day of Salvation.

Two Crowns … one of PRIDE (wicked), the other of GLORY (righteous)! One signifying sin and defeat, the other approval of God!

Sure makes me want to live right!

How about you?

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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That’s the way I’ve been looking at each new Section of Isaiah. At each new chapter! With a bit of a “thrill” in my heart. As in “What’s next!”

In fact, Isaiah is the longest Book of Scripture that I’ve ever “tackled” (attempted to “survey”) here on the Website.

And I am excited to see what it (specifically now, chapter 28) holds!

Or what new division it introduces!

All this being true, I still cannot write today’s Lesson … yet. It’s another early “travel day” and I just had to sleep some overnight!

I hope you folks understand.

Many tell me they read the Lessons later in the day anyway, and some even the next day.

Anyway, but particularly to you “early risers” … my apologies!

Tonight I preach near Columbia, South Carolina. And that entails driving through Atlanta, Georgia! Which can be a real feat!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Still eager to learn!

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The chapter ends with a note of victory! Which means this whole Section of Isaiah (chapters 24-27) does as well, pointing toward the future golden Millennium! (Isaiah 24-27 has often been called “Isaiah’s Apocalypse,” due to the nature of its material. Prophetic, largely Tribulational, to the core.)

Here’s today’s Text: “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem.” Isaiah 2:13, what a grand “finale!”

This is God’s Trumpet, which can certainly “warn” at times, but also “summon, gather” a scattered people! (Probably Numbers 10 is the great “go-to” chapter concerning God’s Trumpets!”)

Just think: a “trumpet” sounds at the Rapture. (“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the TRUMP of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first ….” 1st Thessalonians 4:16)

Now notice: a “trumpet” some day sounds, regathering Israel to her “Promised Land!” Here in our Verse today, it is even termed a “great trumpet!”

From the major nations of the world they come! From “Assyria” (northeast) and “Egypt” (southwest) God calls them “home!”

And look how the Lord describes these poor Jews, or should I say these “blessed” Jews?

Those “ready to perish!”

And the “outcasts!” (Meaning “banished, unwanted.”)

And they also (in this verse though the Miracle is not described in any detail) Israel (the Remnant) are SAVED!

How do we know this?

The last clause of our Text … “and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem.” Where “shachah” means “to bow down, to fall down and adore!” It is in Hebrew a Piel Stem verb, too … suggesting intense, emotional, heart-felt worship!

In “Jerusalem!”

At the Temple, the “Holy Hill!”

And what can any of us Gentiles say to this amazing Event … but “HALLELUJAH?”

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Isaiah sure knows how to end an “apocalypse!”

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