When a crisis is on the horizon, and we fear it is coming our way, who do we turn to for help? Do we look to the Lord for our help, or do we think that perhaps an earthly source can rescue us, possibly quicker or in a more preferred way than God can? In our Old Testament Scripture for this week, we read in the Book of Isaiah the Lord’s condemnation of His people when they made such a choice. Let’s take a look.
To understand our passage better, it is important to know the background from when the prophet Isaiah gave this message to the people. For around two hundred years, the nation of Israel had been split into the southern Kingdom of Judah, and the northern Kingdom of Israel. Then around 732 BC, the northern kingdom fell to the Assyrian empire, dispersing the people. The Assyrian army set their eyes on Judah and Jerusalem, and the people feared that the same fate which befell their sister nation would happen to them. What were they to do? Would Yahweh help them? What if He didn’t? Where would they turn? How could their relatively small country hold off the mighty empire of Assyria and their powerful war machine?
It was at this time that the politicians and leaders of Judah turned to foreign allies, such as Egypt, for help, instead of turning to God and getting their lives right with Him (vs. 14-15). The problem with this was, that not only did this show a lack of trust in Yahweh, it also was a strong temptation for the people to incorporate their foreign allies pagan gods into their own worship. For centuries whenever the people looked to foreign countries for help, they also accepted their foreign gods and goddesses. When Isaiah spoke out against the alliance Judah was making with Egypt and others at this time, he called it a covenant with death, of lies, and of falsehood.
As Isaiah’s message continues, he speaks for God, saying how the Lord will lay a sure foundation and cornerstone (vs. 16). Every building needs a good, strong foundation. Without a good foundation, the building will settle and sink, and the building will become off-kilter, walls crack, become unstable and possibly collapse. A good foundation for a building is a lot more than just digging a hole and pouring in concrete. The base must be properly compacted, the formworks properly set up, the right soil conditions and water tables checked. The cornerstone is the first stone laid down after the foundation is laid. All other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus it is important that this stone is carefully laid. If it is laid crookedly, the walls will be off, and nothing will line up properly.
In verse 16 Isaiah was speaking about the Lord Jesus Christ. When Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees, He said that He was the chief cornerstone which the builders rejected (Mark 12:10; Psalm 118:22). Both the Apostles Paul and Peter spoke of Jesus being the cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20; I Peter 2:6-8). As believers, we can have no other foundation than the Lord Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 3:11). The foundation on whom we should build our lives is Jesus, the true cornerstone. Anything or anyone else is a flimsy and faulty base.
The leaders of Judah were looking elsewhere to put their trust and hope in, rather than the sure foundation they had in God. However, He is the only perfect foundation, the one that will hold no matter any storms. The sure and true foundation and cornerstone is Jesus. We must trust in Him, rather than seeking a false refuge. Those who do will not be put to shame.
Jesus is not only the foundation and cornerstone, He is also the plummet or plumb line (vs. 17). A plumb line is used to make sure a wall or line is straight. Again, if they are not straight, the building will be off-kilter, and could likely collapse. Jesus is the standard of righteousness that we need in our life so we will stand in judgment. All who stand on Judgment Day will be measured by this Divine Line, and those who are not found as perfect and sinless through Jesus’ righteousness will be rejected.
The people of Isaiah’s day traded their sure foundation and cornerstone for a cheap substitute. They had a safe refuge in God, but instead looked elsewhere, making a covenant of death. We see the same today. This world seems to be spinning out of control, and where are people looking to for their salvation? What type of foundation are they building on? Will it withstand the storms of this world, or come collapsing down? The only sure foundation and cornerstone, the only true plumb line, is the Lord Jesus Christ.
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