Isaiah 28:16-22 - Homilies By W. Clarkson

The judgments of God.

When human folly has gone to so great a length ( Isaiah 28:15 ), it may look out for the coming of Divine judgment; for this cannot be long delayed. And when we look we find—

I. THE SEVERITY OF GOD 'S VISITATION .

1. It will correspond closely with man ' s guilt , as if measured with line and plummet ( Isaiah 28:17 ); it will be broad as its breadth, deep as its depth, enlarged to its magnitude; more severe as men's guilt is more wanton, most severe as it is most aggravated and inexcusable.

2. It will be literally destructive , sweeping away the false refuge ( Isaiah 28:18 ), tearing up the unholy contract ( Isaiah 28:19 ), causing consternation as it proceeds on its desolating path ( Isaiah 28:19 ), compelling those who try to make shift with earthly succor to know the utter insufficiency of their measures ( Isaiah 28:20 ), constituting a very "consumption" of all that had been possessed and rejoiced in ( Isaiah 28:22 ). When "the day of the Lord" comes it is often found to be a very terrible time indeed, stripping the rich and strong of his wealth and power, humbling the society or the nation to the very dust, causing lamentation, shame, death.

II. THE APPARENT SUDDENNESS OF IT . ( Isaiah 28:21 .) As, in the person of David, the Lord" broke forth like a breach of waters" upon the enemy ( 2 Samuel 5:20 ), so suddenly will he appear in judgment against those who break his laws and reject his Son. The waters have been long collecting, the banks have been long loosening, but in a few minutes, at the last, the dam is broken, and the rushing streams are down the valley-side, carrying destruction in their path. So is it with the accumulating wrath of God: this is " treasured " up by sin after sin, year after year (Ram. Isaiah 2:5 ); but at some point in the career it "breaks forth" like David's army, like the descending waters, and behold everything is gone—treasure, reputation, health, prospects, life itself.

III. GOD 'S INDISPOSITION TO SMITE . It is a strange work, a strange act, to God ( Isaiah 28:21 ). To confer and to sustain life, to impart blessing, to multiply riches, to enlarge the mind, to strengthen and sanctify the soul, to fill with hope and joy,—this is the work which is natural, congenial, pleasant to him whose Name is love. But to visit with penalty, to smite rather than to spare, to inflict sorrow and humiliation,—this is strange, ungenial, joyless to the heavenly Father. "As I live," saith God, "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked." He delighteth in mercy, but he is constrained to punish.

IV. THE PURPOSE OF MERCY THAT RUNS THROUGH THE DIVINE JUDGMENT . ( Isaiah 28:16 .) In the midst of a passage where we should expect to find nothing but holy indignation, we meet with the intention to bless. Notwithstanding all that provokes to wrath and deserves destruction, there is to be laid the precious Cornerstone which nothing can remove, and which will uphold the most majestic fabric of prosperity and joy. God visits with correction—severe, continuous, complete; yet he has a redemptive purpose on his mind, and out of all the strife and discord a glorious temple of truth and piety will arise. We learn that the faithful have no need to fear . "He that believeth shall not make haste."