Isaiah 28:1,4

Isaiah 28 goes back to judging northern Israel (Ephraim) and Judah (Jerusalem), after just enlightening them with the prospect of their restoration (Isaiah 27). The lesson we can take out of this chapter resides again in the description of the cause of this judgment.

‘Woe 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!...

And the glorious beauty is a fading flower
Which is at the head of the valley,
Like the first fruit before the summer,
Which an observer sees;
He eats it up while it is still in his hand.’ (Isaiah 28:1,4)

Isaiah focuses on the ‘passing beauty’ of Ephraim. The temporal goodness but long-lasting dissatisfaction. He is saying that although they do things that seem good or fun at the time, they are useless and have no eternal benefits. Like a piece of good-looking fruit. Someone comes to pick it but because it looks so good, he eats it straight away. Like that it is gone. It is of no more significance.

Today, let’s not focus on temporal things. Although fun and exciting at the time, they don’t serve any real purpose. Focus on eternal things.