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The Church in the Old Testament - Part II
The Precious Corner Stone & Sure Foundation
Copyright © Tim Warner


Isaiah 28 concerns a prophecy about the Jews' "covenant with death:" the league they made with the Romans to put Jesus to death. It also refers to the pitiful condition of the Jewish leadership at the time of Christ. It prophesies God's judgment on Israel which occurred in AD70. It also includes the prophecy of  "tongues" which first occurred on Pentecost. It refers to Jesus as the foundation stone of the Church. It also refers to the Church as those who put their trust in Him.

A. The Condition of the Jewish leadership
Isaiah 28 mentions the "scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem" (vs. 14). These were the scribes and Pharisees, along with the chief priests. Isaiah paints a picture of  the Jewish leadership as drunken priests who "have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way. ... they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean."  (vss. 7-8).

B. The Judgment of God on Israel
This prophecy also predicts the judgment of God on Israel because of their league with the Romans to put Jesus to death. "Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves" (vs. 15).  The Jewish leaders sought to appease the Romans by crucifying the King of the Jews. But, in the end, it was the Romans who destroyed Jerusalem and put an end to the priesthood. Their sacrificing Jesus to keep peace with the Romans failed them in AD70 (John 11:49-53). "Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it" (vss. 17-18).

C. "Tongues" as the Sign of God's Impending Judgment on Unbelieving Israel
Interestingly enough, the manifestation of  "tongues" among Christians, from the Day of Pentecost until AD70, was the sign of God's impending judgment. "For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken" (vss. 11-13). Paul quoted this passage in 1 Cor. 14 when explaining the purpose of tongues as a gift of the Spirit. Paul wrote, "In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe" (1 Cor. 14:21-22). By citing this passage Paul was explaining that Isaiah's prophecy of tongues, as the sign of God's impending judgment on unbelieving Israel, was being displayed in the churches. It was a sign to the unbelievers of Israel that their judgment was coming.

Isaiah even prophesied what believers would say in these foreign languages. Acts records that the Jews in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost heard "the wonderful works of God" in all these foreign tongues. What were these wonderful works of God? Isaiah tells us. "For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear." On Pentecost, the disciples spoke in the foreign languages known to the Jews of the Diaspora who had gathered for the feast of Pentecost. Peter and the others speaking in tongues said, "This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest;" and "this is the refreshing." What "rest?" What "refreshing?" The Gospel, of course. Jesus said:

Matt 11:28-30
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
(KJV)

D. The Foundation Stone of the Church
In this prophecy, Isaiah also described the manner in which Jesus taught the Jewish people during His ministry. "But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken" (vs. 13). It may seem odd that the Word of the Lord being delivered line upon line, and precept upon precept, would be for the purpose of their falling backward, and being "broken, and snared, and taken." But, that is exactly what Jesus said was the reason He spoke to the Jewish nation in parables, "that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them" (Mark 4:12). Israel was partially blinded so that the crucifixion could occur. But, a remnant of Israel trusted in Him. Isaiah wrote, "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"  (vs. 16).

New Testament Quotations

The Precious Corner Stone - The Sure Foundation of the Church
Isa 28:4-18
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,
6 And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.
7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.
8 For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.
9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
14 Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.
15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
16 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.
17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
(KJV)

Isaiah 8:14
14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
(KJV)

Psalm 118:21-23
21 I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
23 This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
(KJV)
 

1 Cor 14:21-22 
21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
(KJV)

Rom 9:30-33
30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
(KJV)

Rom 10:9-13
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
(KJV)

1 Cor 3:11
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
(KJV)

Eph 2:19-20
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
(KJV)

1 Peter 2:4-8
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
(KJV)

In Rom. 9:33, Paul combined Isaiah 28:16 & Isaiah 8:14 into a single sentence. Peter also cited both passages in 1 Pet. 2:4-8. We will develop Isaiah 8 more thoroughly in part III.

Isaiah 28 speaks of Israel in two ways. There is the unbelieving majority including the rebellious leadership. And there is the remnant. Verse 5 calls them "the residue of his people." While judgment was coming on the rebellious nation, the Lord would be "a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty" for the remnant of Israel. The New Testament teaches that this remnant is the Church, as we will see later in this series.

Once again we see the New Testament writers freely applying to the Church Old Testament prophecy given specifically to Israel. The above passages deal particularly with the birth of Jesus' Church in the midst of unbelieving Israel, with the core of the Church consisting of the remnant of Israel who put their trust in "the precious corner stone." The rest of Israel was headed for judgment through the agency of the very ones with whom they made their league - the Romans.

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