Reading for May 23rd

The Lord is a refuge and protection. In 28.1-29: The four units of this chapter (1-6; 7-13; 14-22; 23-29) condemn the foolishness of the leaders of both Ephraim (Israel) and Judah, who show by their drunken and mocking behavior that they neither understand their problems nor are able to remedy them. In contrast, Isaiah sets out the simple and direct meassage: "One who trusts will not panic" (v. 16). Read Isaiah 28.1-6. In 28.1-6: The Folly of Ephraim's leaders. it is surprising that the open in prophecy focuses on Ephraim, rather than Judah, which Isaiah usually addressed. Yet Ephraim suffered first, and more severly, from the depredations of Assyria, Judah should learn the necessary lesson: as a sudden rainstorm (v. 20) ruins the festival of those leaders who had already eaten and drunk toomuch, so would God's judgment wreck the complacent peace of the kingdom (Compare 9.8-10.4). A brief word of hope and relief (vv. 5-6) shows that God's judgemnt always has a way of escape for a penitent remnant. Comments or Questions..