Isa 28:14-22 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Isa 28:14-22: 28:14-22 After having pronounced judgment on Samaria (28:1-13 ), Isaiah now pronounces judgment on Jerusalem. The leaders of Judah are accused of being as blind as those in the northern kingdom of Israel.

Summary for Isa 28:14-22: 28:14-22 ^a After having pronounced judgment on Samaria (28:1-13 ^b), Isaiah now pronounces judgment on Jerusalem. The leaders of Judah are accused of being as blind as those in the northern kingdom of Israel.
28:15 ^c cheat death (literally have made a covenant with death) ... dodge the grave: There are two interpretive possibilities: (1) The people had sold themselves to the Canaanite god of death, Mot, in return for his supposed protection. (2) The prophet was being sarcastic; the people thought their various political and economic moves guaranteed their personal security, but they had actually destroyed themselves.

• lies and deception: The leaders did not think of themselves as deceptive, but they were.
28:16 ^d The Lord himself is the reliable foundation stone in Jerusalem, a precious cornerstone of the true city of God. There would be real hope in Jerusalem if the leaders and the people would only turn to him. If they would trust in God, they would be secure in the most terrible storm or the most devastating earthquake (see 8:14 ^e; Ps 118:22 ^f; Matt 7:24-27 ^g; 21:42 ^h; see the application to Jesus Christ, Rom 9:33 ⁱ; 10:11 ^j; 1 Cor 3:11 ^k; Eph 2:20 ^l; 1 Pet 2:4-7 ^m).
28:17 ⁿ The Lord judges people on their works, which reveal the presence or absence of living faith (for justice and righteousness, see 1:21-23 ^o).
28:20 ^p The bed. ... The blankets: The leaders were ill-prepared for God’s coming in judgment.
28:21 ^q as he did ... at Mount Perazim: See 2 Sam 5:20 ^r.

• God had rescued Israel through a hailstorm at Gibeon (Josh 10:10-12 ^s), but now he would turn against them.