How can Isaiah 28:15 guide us in discerning truth from deception today? Setting the Scene: What Was Happening in Isaiah 28 • Judah’s leaders turned to political alliances and pagan practices instead of trusting the LORD. • They believed their “covenant with death” would shield them from coming judgment. • Their confidence rested on “lies” and “falsehood” that felt safe but could not save. Key Verse “For you said, ‘We have made a covenant with death; we have made an agreement with Sheol. When the overwhelming flood passes through, it will not touch us, because we have made lies our refuge and falsehood our hiding place.’” Core Warning: False Security Built on Lies • Any refuge other than God’s truth is ultimately an agreement with death (Proverbs 14:12; Jeremiah 17:9). • Deception offers temporary comfort but invites disaster when “the overwhelming flood” (judgment, crisis, or temptation) arrives. • God exposes the contrast between flimsy human constructs and His unshakable foundation: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a tested stone” (Isaiah 28:16). Principles for Discerning Truth Today 1. Measure every claim against Scripture – “The sum of Your word is truth” (Psalm 119:160). – Scripture equips “for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). 2. Identify the source – Lies spring from the father of lies (John 8:44). – Truth is embodied in Christ (John 14:6). 3. Examine fruit and outcome – Truth produces righteousness and peace (James 3:17-18). – Deception promotes self-exaltation, confusion, and bondage (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). 4. Test the spirits – “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits” (1 John 4:1). 5. Stay anchored to the Cornerstone – Building on Christ prevents collapse when storms hit (Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 6:46-49). Practical Steps for Daily Discernment • Stay in the Word: Schedule consistent Bible intake—reading, memorizing, meditating. • Cultivate prayerful vigilance: Ask the Spirit to illuminate truth (John 16:13). • Seek godly counsel: Lean on mature believers who handle Scripture accurately (Proverbs 11:14). • Compare messages: News, entertainment, social media, and even religious teaching must line up with the Bible. • Guard the heart: Keep motives pure; deception often appeals to pride or fear (Hebrews 4:12). • Speak the truth in love: Confront error graciously but firmly (Ephesians 4:14-15). Encouragement to Stand on the Cornerstone Choosing God’s revealed truth over cultural lies may feel costly, yet it secures eternal safety. “Whoever believes will not be in haste” (Isaiah 28:16). Stand firm on Christ, the tested Stone, and every flood of deception will pass without sweeping you away. |
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