Isaiah 28:20-29 – Harvest
In verse 21, we read that the Lord will rise up, as on Mount Perazim. That’s looking toward people who were Canaanites. He’ll be angry, as in the valley of Gibeon. That’s looking toward people who were around Philistia. These who claimed to be His people had become just like the Canaanites of old, or the Philistines in their wickedness. They try to cover themselves just like somebody getting on a bed (verse 20). Here the bed is too short, and the blanket’s too narrow to get wrapped up in. They’re exposed to the cold wrath of God.
Why is God’s work described as strange or alien in verse 21? Because God does not delight in doing this. God delights to bless, to be gracious, to be kindly, to be loving. God delights to save sinners. God is not divided by any means. And He determined long ago, because of His holiness, His justice, His righteousness, that He will indeed destroy the wicked because they are setting themselves apart from and in opposition to His holy will. But He reveals to men that He is happy to save them if they will come. God delights in mercy.
Verses 23-29 are a sort of a parable. Here we have a picture of a farmer going out to his field. He plants, and the crop grows, and then it comes to be harvest time. It’s similar in some ways to Jesus’ parable of the wheat and the tares. God is the farmer here. He plants and nurtures, but that’s not the only thing that He does. For eventually harvest must come, and then the grain is brought in. Then it is that judgment comes to the weeds as well. There are different sorts of crops or grain here. And each one must be treated differently. Some, so that it may be useful for Him, some, so that it can bring out all His glory, must be run over or must be beaten. But each one receives a different treatment. The point is that, for the people of God, they are brought through different difficulties, not at random, but specially designed for them, and not in wrath, but because God is purifying them from the chaff and is bringing them out, so they will be fit for His use. All is done here to God’s glory. And it is done well. So it is with all affliction upon nations and upon the church of Jesus Christ. All is done well to get this people free from the sin which clings to them, to get them safe from the weeds, and to bring the wicked and the hypocrite to an end.
Question
- What does God delight to do?
- What is the purpose of our afflictions?
Prayer Points
- Pray for the preaching and hearing of God’s Word tomorrow.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.