Isaiah
28:17
17 Judgment [mishpat] also will
I lay [suwm] to the line [qav], and righteousness [ts@daqah] to the plummet [mishqeleth]: and the
hail [barad] shall sweep away [ya`ah] the refuge [machaceh] of
lies [kazab], and the waters [mayim] shall overflow [shataph]
the hiding place [cether]. KJV-Interlinear
17 And I will make justice the
line, and righteousness the plumb line; and hail will sweep away the refuge of
lies, and waters will overwhelm the shelter.” ESV
Justice is the process of determining the rules or
framework of what is right and what is wrong, and by that same process
determining the correct solution in any given situation, event, or act.
And here, God states that judgment will follow the
line and the plumb line of the original plan which came from God, which plan is
truth and His divine plan as set forth in eternity past.
In construction, the line is the horizontal line wherein
the builder can lay a line between two points or objects, such that they match
up, and conform with, the original design or blueprint, or plan.
The plumb line is the process of determining the vertical
line, such that you can determine the correct point on a floor by hanging a
line with a weight on it, from a ceiling or high point, in order to determine
the same point that matches up with both ceiling and floor.
In the past string was typically used in this process,
while now days, laser beams are used to accomplish the same thing.
Both line and plumb line concepts cover all three dimensions
and thus cover the entire project.
The original blueprint comes from God, and was drawn
up, so to speak, in eternity past, which we refer to as the divine decrees, or
Gods perfect and thorough plan for all of history. This includes the body of truth, which also
defines the body of transgressions against truth, as well as the correct
solutions for those transgressions.
So, God will decide in accordance with His original
plan, and will not deviate from that plan, and will not compromise that plan.
The plan was drawn up, and finalized, and put in to
place in history, and everything in history, from the fall of the angels to the
fall of man, to the final judgment at the end of history, as it all applies to
each individual throughout history, will be measured and determined and decided
in accordance with the original design.
The hail and the waters are terminology of judgment. And just as everything will be judged in accordance
with the original plan, then so too the punishments will be executed in accordance
with the original plan.
Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ. There is no deviation from that truth.
Rejection of Christ results in the Lake of Fire. There is no deviation from that result.
Spiritual growth results by learning and growing up in
the spiritual sphere. There is no
deviation from that process.
Doing your own thing, by rejecting Gods method,
results in no spiritual growth. There is
no deviation from that rule.
Spiritual reward results from spiritual growth and
production. There is no deviation from
that rule.
No reward results when no growth and production
exist. There is no deviation from that
rule.
God makes the rules, and we are expected to abide by
them.
God sets out our obligations and responsibilities in
life, and we are expected to abide by them.
We cannot pick and choose what we will or will not do,
by conveniently agreeing or disagreeing with Gods rules. That is a right which we do not have.
Therefore, abide with Gods rules and process and
succeed in life, or reject or ignore Gods rules and process, and lose. It is just that simple.
