2 Kings 17:1-4; Isaiah 28-29; 2 Kings 17:5 – 18:12

As Isaiah continues to speak to Judah, he also pronounces woes upon Israel (and other nations) trying to turn them back to God. Mixed in with pronouncements of looming destruction are promises of the coming hope and salvation of Messiah. Yahweh always leaves a way of escape. Even when the escape we need is from death.

therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’ And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plumb line; and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters will overwhelm the shelter.” Then your covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand; when the overwhelming scourge passes through, you will be beaten down by it. As often as it passes through it will take you; for morning by morning it will pass through, by day and by night; and it will be sheer terror to understand the message.

Isaiah 28:16-19

Prophesies of destruction are frightening if you believe. Isaiah writes the profound statement that these words of warning bring terror simply by being understood. Because of sin, mankind entered into a covenant with death. Because of the rebelliousness and stubbornness of the people of Judah and Israel, they entered into a covenant with death and would lose their status among the nations of men. The destruction would be overwhelming and irresistible.

The apostle Peter quoted from this passage when he declared Jesus to be the cornerstone divinely laid in Zion. The stone rejected by many that Yahweh made the chief cornerstone of the spiritual temple of the church. Messiah would not fail because He was tested and tried and tempted, yet without sin – so He could be the Savior from sin. His sinless life provides the standard – a plumb line – for all people.

Therein lies the hope. Not that we can remain sinless in the face of temptation, for we cannot. Not in our ability to live life exactly as Jesus lived. The hope lies in the truth that in the face of the terror of destruction of the old temple and covenant, God laid a perfect replacement upon which to build a new Temple and establish a new covenant. Justice and righteousness again will be the standard. Death, however, will not be the outcome. Life, in spite of sin, will be given to us and death will no longer reign. In Jesus, the covenant we have with death will be annulled.

Consider His nature.  Consider His ways.  Strive to love Him more!