Isaiah 28:17
I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the level. Hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and water will flood your hiding place.
I will make justice the measuring line
In this phrase, the Hebrew word for "justice" is "מִשְׁפָּט" (mishpat), which conveys a sense of judgment, fairness, and righteousness. In the ancient Near Eastern context, a measuring line was a tool used by builders to ensure that structures were straight and true. Here, God is declaring that His standard of justice will be the ultimate measure by which all actions and decisions are evaluated. This reflects the divine attribute of God as the ultimate judge who upholds righteousness and truth. In a world where human justice can be flawed, this assurance of divine justice provides hope and a call to align with God's standards.

and righteousness the plumb line
The term "righteousness" in Hebrew is "צְדָקָה" (tsedaqah), which implies a state of moral integrity and ethical conduct. A plumb line is a tool used to ensure vertical accuracy in construction. By using this metaphor, God emphasizes that His righteousness is the standard for uprightness and moral rectitude. This imagery suggests that just as a plumb line ensures a wall is perfectly vertical, God's righteousness ensures that His people live in alignment with His will. It is a call for believers to pursue a life that reflects God's character, striving for holiness and integrity in all aspects.

hail will sweep away your refuge of lies
The word "hail" in Hebrew is "בָּרָד" (barad), often associated with divine judgment and destruction in the Old Testament. The "refuge of lies" refers to falsehoods and deceitful practices that people rely on for security. Historically, hailstorms were seen as acts of divine intervention, often used to dismantle the false securities and idols that people trusted in. This phrase serves as a warning that any foundation built on deception will ultimately be destroyed by God's truth. It is a powerful reminder that only truth and integrity can withstand the scrutiny of divine judgment.

and water will flood your hiding place
In this context, "water" symbolizes overwhelming judgment and cleansing. The Hebrew word for "water" is "מַיִם" (mayim), which can represent both life and destruction, depending on the context. The "hiding place" signifies the false securities and secret sins that people believe are hidden from God. The imagery of water flooding these places suggests that God's judgment is inescapable and will uncover all hidden iniquities. This serves as a call to repentance, urging individuals to abandon their reliance on deceit and to seek refuge in God's truth and righteousness. It is an invitation to find true security in the Lord, who offers forgiveness and restoration.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Isaiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament, Isaiah is the author of the book bearing his name. He prophesied to the Kingdom of Judah during a time of moral and spiritual decline.

2. Judah
The southern kingdom of Israel, which was often warned by prophets like Isaiah to return to God and uphold justice and righteousness.

3. God
The speaker in this verse, declaring His standards of justice and righteousness and the consequences of failing to adhere to them.

4. Hail and Water
Symbolic elements used to describe God's judgment against falsehood and deceit.

5. Refuge of Lies
Represents the false security and deceptive practices that the people of Judah relied upon instead of trusting in God.
Teaching Points
God's Standards
Justice and righteousness are non-negotiable standards set by God. They serve as the measuring line and plumb line for our lives.

The Consequences of Deceit
Relying on falsehoods and deceitful practices will ultimately lead to destruction, as symbolized by hail and water.

Building on Truth
Just as a building must be constructed with a true plumb line, our lives must be built on the truth of God's Word.

Self-Examination
Regularly examine your life against God's standards of justice and righteousness to ensure you are not building on a refuge of lies.

Trust in God
True security comes from trusting in God and His righteous standards, not in the deceptive practices of the world.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the imagery of a measuring line and plumb line help us understand God's standards for justice and righteousness?

2. In what ways might we be tempted to build a "refuge of lies" in our own lives today?

3. How can we ensure that our lives are aligned with God's standards of justice and righteousness?

4. What are some practical steps we can take to avoid being swept away by the "hail" and "water" of God's judgment?

5. How do the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament reinforce the message of Isaiah 28:17?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Amos 7:7-8
Amos also uses the imagery of a plumb line to describe God's standard of righteousness and justice.

Matthew 7:24-27
Jesus speaks of building on a solid foundation, which parallels the idea of using justice and righteousness as a plumb line.

Ephesians 4:14-15
Paul warns against being swayed by deceitful schemes, similar to the refuge of lies mentioned in Isaiah.
God's Careful Tests of CharacterIsaiah 28:17
God's JudgmentsR. Macculloch.Isaiah 28:17
Mercy and JudgmentIsaiah 28:17
Privilege and ResponsibilityIsaiah 28:17
Refuges of LiesIsaiah 28:17
Refuges of LiesH. Grattan Guinness.Isaiah 28:17
Refuges of LiesIsaiah 28:17
Refuges of Lies and What Will Become of ThemIsaiah 28:17
The Infatuation of SinW. Clarkson Isaiah 28:14, 15, 18-20
Incongruous ScorningIsaiah 28:14-22
Isaiah's ResponseSir E. Strachey, Bart.Isaiah 28:14-22
Jehovah Pronounces JudgmentE. Johnson Isaiah 28:14-22
Refuges of LiesN. D. Hillis, D. D.Isaiah 28:14-22
ScornersIsaiah 28:14-22
Scornful RulersIsaiah 28:14-22
A Foundation of RockJ. A. Davies, B. D.Isaiah 28:16-17
A Stone of ProofJ. Parker, D. D.Isaiah 28:16-17
Building on the RockIsaiah 28:16-17
Christ the One Solid FoundationH. W. Beecher.Isaiah 28:16-17
Foundation StonesJ. A. Alexander.Isaiah 28:16-17
God's FoundationJ. T. Murrish.Isaiah 28:16-17
God's Foundation for ManProf . J. Orr, D. D.Isaiah 28:16-17
God's Foundation for the Stability of His ChurchJ. Sherman.Isaiah 28:16-17
Human Systems no Foundation for the SoulJ. A. Davies, B. D.Isaiah 28:16-17
Is This Prophecy MessianicProf. Driver, D. D.Isaiah 28:16-17
Jesus Christ a StoneNye's AnecdotesIsaiah 28:16-17
Jesus Christ the Only FoundationS. Davies, M. A.Isaiah 28:16-17
Jesus Christ the Tested FoundationProf. J. Orr, D. D.Isaiah 28:16-17
The Characteristic of Our TimesG. Calthrop, M. A.Isaiah 28:16-17
The Element of PermanencyProf. Driver, D. D.Isaiah 28:16-17
The Equanimity of FaithH. Christopherson.Isaiah 28:16-17
The Equanimity of the BelieverH. Melvill, B. D.Isaiah 28:16-17
The Establishing Power of FaithA. L. R. Foote.Isaiah 28:16-17
The Foundation of GodA. Maclaren, D. D.Isaiah 28:16-17
The Foundation Stone of the ChurchS. Warren, LL. D.Isaiah 28:16-17
The Ground of a Sinner's HopeA. Ross, M. A.Isaiah 28:16-17
The Objective Ground of FaithA. L. R. Foote.Isaiah 28:16-17
The Quieting Antidote to HasteWayland Hoyt, D. D.Isaiah 28:16-17
The Stability of Christian Faith and HopeD. Thomas, D. D.Isaiah 28:16-17
The Stone Laid in ZionProf. S. R. Driver, D. D.Isaiah 28:16-17
The Sure FoundationW. Hancock, B. D.Isaiah 28:16-17
The Sure FoundationProf . J. Orr, D. D.Isaiah 28:16-17
The Tried FoundationW. M. Bunting.Isaiah 28:16-17
The Tried StoneW. H. Hutchings, M. A.Isaiah 28:16-17
The Tried StoneH. Clare.Isaiah 28:16-17
The Well-Tested Friend of HumanityD. Thomas, D. D.Isaiah 28:16-17
True CharacterHomilistIsaiah 28:16-17
UnhastingA. Cowe, M. A.Isaiah 28:16-17
The Judgments of GodW. Clarkson Isaiah 28:16-22
People
Gibeon, Isaiah
Places
Assyria, Jerusalem, Mount Perazim, Valley of Gibeon, Zion
Topics
FALSE, Covered, Decision, Flowing, Hail, Hiding, Hiding-place, Ice-storm, Judgment, Justice, Lay, Level, Lie, Lies, Line, Measuring, Measuring-line, Overflow, Overwhelm, Plumb, Plummet, Refuge, Righteousness, Safe, Secret, Shelter, Sweep, Waters, Weight
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Isaiah 28:17

     1125   God, righteousness
     5490   refuge

Isaiah 28:16-17

     7254   plumb-line

Isaiah 28:17-18

     5942   security

Library
June 8. "Bread Corn is Bruised" (Isa. xxviii. 28).
"Bread corn is bruised" (Isa. xxviii. 28). The farmer does not gather timothy and blue grass, and break it with a heavy machine. But he takes great pains with the wheat. So God takes great pains with those who are to be of much use to Him. There is a nature in them that needs this discipline. Don't wonder if the bread corn is treated with the wise, discriminating care that will fit it for food. He knows the way He is taking, and there is infinite tenderness in the oversight He gives. He is watching
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

The Foundation of God
'Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.'--ISAIAH xxviii. 16. 'Therefore thus saith the Lord.' Then these great words are God's answer to something. And that something is the scornful defiance by the rulers of Israel of the prophet's threatenings. By their deeds, whether by their words or no, they said that they had made friends of their enemies, and that
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

God's Strange Work
'That He may do His work, His strange work; and bring to pass His act, His strange act.'--ISAIAH xxviii. 21. How the great events of one generation fall dead to another! There is something very pathetic in the oblivion that swallows up world- resounding deeds. Here the prophet selects two instances which to him are solemn and singular examples of divine judgment, and we have difficulty in finding out to what he refers. To him they seemed the most luminous illustrations he could find of the principle
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Man's Crown and God's
'In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty.'--ISAIAH xxviii. 5. 'Thou shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord.'--ISAIAH lxii 3. Connection of first prophecy--destruction of Samaria. Its situation, crowning the hill with its walls and towers, its fertile 'fat valley,' the flagrant immorality and drunkenness of its inhabitants, and its final ruin, are all presented in the highly imaginative picture of its fall as being like the trampling
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Judgment of Drunkards and Mockers
'Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine! 2. Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which, as a tempest of hail, and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand. 3. The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet: 4. And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Husbandman and his Operations
'Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech. 24. Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground! 25. When lie hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat and the appointed barley and the rie in their place? 26. For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him. 27. For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

A Crown Op Pride or a Crown of Glory
'The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet; 4. And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up. 5. In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people.'--ISAIAH xxviii. 3-5. The reference is probably to Samaria as a chief city of
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Bed and Its Covering
Now, I think it may be readily granted, that man's body is, after all, only a picture of his inner being: just what the body needs materially, that the soul needs spiritually. The soul, then, needs two things. It requires rest, which is pictured to us in sleep. The soul needs a bed upon which it may repose quietly and take its ease. And, again, the soul needs covering, for as a naked body would be both uncomfortable, unseemly, and dangerous; much more would the naked soul be unhappy, noxious to the
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859

The Extent of Messiah's Spiritual Kingdom
The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ, and He shall reign for ever and ever! T he Kingdom of our Lord in the heart, and in the world, is frequently compared to a building or house, of which He Himself is both the Foundation and the Architect (Isaiah 28:16 and 54:11, 12) . A building advances by degrees (I Corinthians 3:9; Ephesians 2:20-22) , and while it is in an unfinished state, a stranger cannot, by viewing its present appearance, form an accurate judgment
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

Of Predestination
Eph. i. 11.--"In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will."--Rom. ix. 22, 23.--"What if God, willing to show his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction, and that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy which he had afore prepared unto glory." In the creation of the world, it pleased the Lord,
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Samaria. Sychem.
"The country of Samaria lies in the middle, between Judea and Galilee. For it begins at a town called Ginea, lying in the Great plain, and ends at the Toparchy of the Acrabateni: the nature of it nothing differing from Judea," &c. [Acrabata was distant from Jerusalem, the space of a day's journey northwards.] Samaria, under the first Temple, was the name of a city,--under the second, of a country. Its metropolis at that time was Sychem; "A place destined to revenges": and which the Jews, as it seems,
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Self-Righteousness Insufficient.
1 "Where are the mourners, [1] (saith the Lord) "That wait and tremble at my word, "That walk in darkness all the day? "Come, make my name your trust and stay. 2 ["No works nor duties of your own "Can for the smallest sin atone; "The robes [2] that nature may provide "Will not your least pollutions hide. 3 "The softest couch that nature knows "Can give the conscience no repose: "Look to my righteousness, and live; "Comfort and peace are mine to give.] 4 "Ye sons of pride that kindle coals "With your
Isaac Watts—Hymns and Spiritual Songs

Letter xxxvi (Circa A. D. 1131) to the Same Hildebert, who had not yet Acknowledged the Lord Innocent as Pope.
To the Same Hildebert, Who Had Not Yet Acknowledged the Lord Innocent as Pope. He exhorts him to recognise Innocent, now an exile in France, owing to the schism of Peter Leonis, as the rightful Pontiff. To the great prelate, most exalted in renown, Hildebert, by the grace of God Archbishop of Tours, Bernard, called Abbot of Clairvaux, sends greeting, and prays that he may walk in the Spirit, and spiritually discern all things. 1. To address you in the words of the prophet, Consolation is hid from
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

Of the Scriptures
Eph. ii. 20.--"And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." Believers are "the temple of the living God," in which he dwells and walks, 2 Cor. vi. 16. Every one of them is a little sanctuary and temple to his Majesty, "sanctify the Lord of hosts in your hearts." Though he be "the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity," yet he is pleased to come down to this poor cottage of a creature's heart, and dwell in it. Is not this
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

He Does Battle for the Faith; He Restores Peace among those who were at Variance; He Takes in Hand to Build a Stone Church.
57. (32). There was a certain clerk in Lismore whose life, as it is said, was good, but his faith not so. He was a man of some knowledge in his own eyes, and dared to say that in the Eucharist there is only a sacrament and not the fact[718] of the sacrament, that is, mere sanctification and not the truth of the Body. On this subject he was often addressed by Malachy in secret, but in vain; and finally he was called before a public assembly, the laity however being excluded, in order that if it were
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh

How to Make Use of Christ for Steadfastness, in a Time when Truth is Oppressed and Borne Down.
When enemies are prevailing, and the way of truth is evil spoken of, many faint, and many turn aside, and do not plead for truth, nor stand up for the interest of Christ, in their hour and power of darkness: many are overcome with base fear, and either side with the workers of iniquity, or are not valiant for the truth, but being faint-hearted, turn back. Now the thoughts of this may put some who desire to stand fast, and to own him and his cause in a day of trial, to enquire how they shall make
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

Of Orders.
Of this sacrament the Church of Christ knows nothing; it was invented by the church of the Pope. It not only has no promise of grace, anywhere declared, but not a word is said about it in the whole of the New Testament. Now it is ridiculous to set up as a sacrament of God that which can nowhere be proved to have been instituted by God. Not that I consider that a rite practised for so many ages is to be condemned; but I would not have human inventions established in sacred things, nor should it be
Martin Luther—First Principles of the Reformation

The Knowledge that God Is, Combined with the Knowledge that He is to be Worshipped.
John iv. 24.--"God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." There are two common notions engraven on the hearts of all men by nature,--that God is, and that he must be worshipped, and these two live and die together, they are clear, or blotted together. According as the apprehension of God is clear, and distinct, and more deeply engraven on the soul, so is this notion of man's duty of worshipping God clear and imprinted on the soul, and whenever the actions
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

"Come unto Me, all Ye that Labour, and are Wearied," &C.
Matth. xi. 28.--"Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are wearied," &c. It is the great misery of Christians in this life, that they have such poor, narrow, and limited spirits, that are not fit to receive the truth of the gospel in its full comprehension; from whence manifold misapprehensions in judgment, and stumbling in practice proceed. The beauty and life of things consist in their entire union with one another, and in the conjunction of all their parts. Therefore it would not be a fit way
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

An Address to the Regenerate, Founded on the Preceding Discourses.
James I. 18. James I. 18. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. I INTEND the words which I have now been reading, only as an introduction to that address to the sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty, with which I am now to conclude these lectures; and therefore shall not enter into any critical discussion, either of them, or of the context. I hope God has made the series of these discourses, in some measure, useful to those
Philip Doddridge—Practical Discourses on Regeneration

Of the Necessity of Divine Influences to Produce Regeneration in the Soul.
Titus iii. 5, 6. Titus iii. 5, 6. Not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. IF my business were to explain and illustrate this scripture at large, it would yield an ample field for accurate criticism and useful discourse, and more especially would lead us into a variety of practical remarks, on which it would be pleasant
Philip Doddridge—Practical Discourses on Regeneration

The Justice of God
The next attribute is God's justice. All God's attributes are identical, and are the same with his essence. Though he has several attributes whereby he is made known to us, yet he has but one essence. A cedar tree may have several branches, yet it is but one cedar. So there are several attributes of God whereby we conceive of him, but only one entire essence. Well, then, concerning God's justice. Deut 32:4. Just and right is he.' Job 37:23. Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

The Mercy of God
The next attribute is God's goodness or mercy. Mercy is the result and effect of God's goodness. Psa 33:5. So then this is the next attribute, God's goodness or mercy. The most learned of the heathens thought they gave their god Jupiter two golden characters when they styled him good and great. Both these meet in God, goodness and greatness, majesty and mercy. God is essentially good in himself and relatively good to us. They are both put together in Psa 119:98. Thou art good, and doest good.' This
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

The Knowledge of God
'The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.' I Sam 2:2. Glorious things are spoken of God; he transcends our thoughts, and the praises of angels. God's glory lies chiefly in his attributes, which are the several beams by which the divine nature shines forth. Among other of his orient excellencies, this is not the least, The Lord is a God of knowledge; or as the Hebrew word is, A God of knowledges.' Through the bright mirror of his own essence, he has a full idea and cognisance
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

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