Isaiah 28:14,15

The fate of Samaria (Israel) should have warned the leaders of Judah not to make the same mistake. False security is no security.

True security

v16 Now listen to what the *Lord God says. ‘See, I am laying a cornerstone in *Zion as a foundation (base). This cornerstone is a special stone that I have tested. It is a stone that is firm and solid.’ In other words, nobody who trusts God all the time will ever fall down (be ashamed). v17 God says ‘I shall make fair judgement to be the standard. And I shall make right behaviour to be the *measure.’

God says, ‘You are trusting lies and promises to protect you. But these lies and promises have no value whatever. A powerful storm will destroy your protection (that means the lies). A huge flood will carry off your shelter (that means the promises). v18 What happens will cancel your agreement with Death. It will cancel your agreement with *Sheol. A terrible flood will drown you. v19 Whenever that flood pours through the land, it will carry you off. Truly, it could pour through on any day and at any time of the day or of the night. If you really believed this warning, it would fill you with absolute terror. v20 You know what people say: “If the bed is too short, you will not fit on it. If the blanket is too narrow, you cannot wrap yourself in it.” v21 The *Lord will act as he did on the mountain called Perazim. He will fight as he did in the valley called Gibeon. His purpose is to carry out his deed, strange as the deed may seem. And to perform his work, strange as his activity may seem.’

v22 Then Isaiah spoke plainly to the leaders in *Jerusalem. ‘Do not laugh at this serious matter. If you continue to do so, your life as slaves will be even more severe. Because I have heard what my Master the *Lord has told me. He declares that his judgement is against the whole country.’