Isaiah 28:7-13: a reflection

7They also reel with wine, and stagger with strong drink. The priest and the prophet reel with strong drink. They are swallowed up by wine. They stagger with strong drink. They err in vision. They stumble in judgment. 8For all tables are completely full of filthy vomit and filthiness. 9Whom will he teach knowledge? To whom will he explain the message? Those who are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts? 10For it is precept on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, there a little. 11But he will speak to this nation with stammering lips and in another language, 12to whom he said, “This is the resting place. Give rest to the weary,” and “This is the refreshing;” yet they would not hear. 13Therefore the LORD’s word will be to them precept on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, there a little; that they may go, fall backward, be broken, be snared, and be taken.

In a passage rebuking the leaders of Israel for their heedlessness, God recalls the invitation he had given them, an invitation they refused. This is the resting place, he had said; give rest to the weary; this is the place of repose. God had offered his people rest and refreshing; but, the passage says, they would not hear. The rest was there for the taking, and they turned away from it.

Notice what God offered, and what the people did with it: he offered rest, and they would not hear. God's way for his people was a place of rest and refreshing, a resting place for the weary; but they refused it, insisting on their own way instead. The rest was not withheld from them; they would not receive it. There is a tragedy in this, of a rest freely offered and stubbornly refused.

That refusal has its echo in every heart that turns from the rest God offers. God still offers rest to the weary, above all in Christ, who said, Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. The rest is there for the taking; but we can refuse it, as this people did, insisting on carrying our own burdens, going our own way, striving in our own strength, rather than receiving the rest God offers. Do not refuse the rest God holds out to you. When you are weary and burdened, do not stubbornly carry on in your own strength; come to Christ, who offers rest to the weary. The rest is freely given; do not be like those who would not hear, but receive the rest God offers, and find in him the repose your weary soul needs.

Lord, in this passage you recalled the rest you had offered your people, saying, this is the resting place; give rest to the weary; yet they would not hear, refusing the rest freely offered. Speak to me through their refusal. You still offer rest to the weary, above all in Christ, who said, come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. The rest is there for the taking; but I can refuse it, as this people did, insisting on carrying my own burdens, going my own way, striving in my own strength, rather than receiving the rest you offer. Keep me from refusing the rest you hold out to me. When I am weary and burdened, keep me from stubbornly carrying on in my own strength; help me come to Christ, who offers rest to the weary. The rest is freely given; help me not be like those who would not hear, but to receive the rest you offer, and find in you the repose my weary soul needs. Give me your rest, Lord.