Former Glory - Current Judgment (Part 1)
 

Pastor Bill Farrow
 

Isaiah 28:1

1Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, Whose glorious beauty is a fading flower Which is at the head of the verdant valleys, To those who are overcome with wine!

This chapter comprises a new prophecy and relates to a new subject. It might be that it is to be connected with the following chapter and on to the close of Isa. 33, and that they relate to the same subject, and were delivered at the same time.

It is not improbable that this chapter and the following were delivered at the same time, and that they relate to the same general subject - the approaching calamities and wars with the Assyrians, which would terminate only in the removal of the people to a distant land, and in the destruction of the entire city and nation. But the prophecy in this chapter has not any essential connection with those which follow, and it may well be regarded as separate.

When it was uttered is not certainly known. It is clear, however, that it was before the carrying away of the ten tribes, or while the kingdom of Ephraim or Samaria was still standing. Yet it would seem that it was when that kingdom was exceedingly corrupt, and was hastening to a fall (Isa. 28:1-4). Perhaps it was in the time of Ahaz, or in the beginning of the reign of Hezekiah, when Samaria or Ephraim had entered into a league with Rezin, king of Damascus, and may therefore synchronize with (Isa. 7; 8). Whenever it was uttered, it is certain that its purpose was to predict the overthrow of Ephraim or Samaria, and the fact, that when that kingdom should be overthrown, the kingdom of Judah would still survive.

The prophecy can be divided into two parts:

  1. The overthrow of Samaria or Ephraim (Isa. 28:1-4).
  2. The fact that YAHWEH would preserve and defend a portion of his people - those who comprise the kingdom of Judah (Isa. 28:5-29). 

ISAIAH 28:1

Woe - (see the note at Isa. 18:1). The word here is used to denounce impending judgment. Woe is a word of summons (55:1), emotion (‘Ah!’; 1:24) and sympathy (1 Ki. 13:30). Possibly, throughout this present series of six ‘woes’ (29:1, 15; 30:1; 31:1; 33:1) the idea is of summons to the bar of judgment (cf. the six ‘woes’ [using the same word] in 5:8ff., the harvest of foul grapes). The identity of number here indicates that the bitter harvest continues.

To the crown of pride - What an ill use they made of their blessing. What God gave them to serve Him with they perverted, and abused, by making it the food and fuel of their lusts. They were puffed up with pride by it. The goodness with which God crowned their years, which should have been to him a crown of praise, was to them a crown of pride.

Those that are rich in the world are apt to be high-minded, (1 Tim. 6:17). Their king, who wore the crown, was proud that he ruled over so rich a country; Samaria, their royal city, was notorious for pride. Perhaps it was usual at their festivals, or revels, to wear garlands made up of flowers and ears of corn, which they wore in honor of their fruitful country. Pride was a sin that generally prevailed among them, and therefore the prophet, in his name who resists the proud, boldly proclaims a woe to the crown of pride. If those who wear crowns be proud of them, let them not think to escape this woe. What men are proud of, be it ever so mean, is to them as a crown; he that is proud thinks himself as great as a king. But woe to those who thus exalt themselves, for they shall be abased; their pride is the preface to their destruction. 

This is a Hebrew mode of expression, denoting the proud or haughty crown. There can be no doubt that it refers to the capital of the kingdom of Ephraim; that is, to Samaria. This city was built by Omri, who purchased ‘the hill Samaria’ of Shemer, for two talents of silver and built the city on the hill, and called it, after the name of Shemer, Samaria (1 Kings 16:24). Omri was king of Israel (925 B.C.), and he made this city the capital of his kingdom.

The city was built on a pleasant and fertile hill, and surrounded with a rich valley, with a circle of hills beyond; and the beauty of the hill on which the city was built suggested the idea of a wreath or chaplet of flowers, or a “crown.” After having been destroyed and reduced to an inconsiderable place, it was restored by Herod the Great, 21 B.C., who called it “Sebaste” in honor of the Emperor Augustus. It is situated on a long mount of an oval figure; having first a fruitful valley, and then a ring of hills running round it. Its situation is extremely beautiful, and strong by nature; more so, I think, than Jerusalem. It stands on a fine large insulated hill, compassed all round by a broad, deep valley. The valley is surrounded by four hills, one on each side, which are cultivated in terraces to the top, sown with grain, and planted with fig and olive trees, as is also the valley. The hill of Samaria, likewise, rises in terraces to a height equal to any of the adjoining mountains.