Print

ISAIAH 28:20

"A SHORT BED WITH NARROW BLANKETS"

Intro: What can be said? No place to try to find rest. Man is searching for peace
       and contentment. So often looks in wrong place. Drunk under street lamp.

I. ISAIAH HAS PRONOUNCED GOD'S WOE ON EPHRAIM.
        A. Judgment is coming on them swiftly.
                1. The people are oblivious to the danger.
                        a. Their time is spent in pursuit of pleasure.
                        b. Drunkenness is everywhere.
                2. They scorn the warning of Isaiah.
                        a. Who will he teach knowledge?
                                1. He should teach babies.
                                2. He is too simple.
                                3. We're too intelligent to give heed to his
                                   message of doom.
                                4. He teaches line upon line...
                3. They have mockingly said that they have made a covenant with death,
                   and agreement with hell.
                        a. Much as those today who mock the idea that God will
                           judge the sinner.
                        b. They say I want to go to hell, all my friends are!
                        c. Isaiah warns, your covenant with death will be broken.
        B. God's promised judgment came.
                1. Within three years utterly destroyed by Assyria.
                2. They were disposed from the land.
                3. They ceased to exist as a nation.

II. THE BED WAS TOO SHORT.
        A. They had sought to find rest in prosperity. 
                1. Prophet spoke of pride of Ephraim and fatness of valleys.
                        a. Many today seeking to rest in their fortunes.
                        b. They may be worth 50 million dollars, but they can't rest.
                                1. I'm sure I could, but they can't.
                                2. The bed is too short.
        B. They sought rest in pleasure.
                1. Many today caught up in pleasure mania.
                2. Always seeking something new.
                3. Bed is too short.
        C. They tried to rest in their religion.
                1. The prophets and priests said, what does Isaiah know? We have our
                   seminary degrees.
                2. So many today being deceived by religious leaders.
                        a. They say you can rest in infant baptism.
                        b. Rest in your charitable works.
                        c. Rest in a past emotional experience.
                        d. Rest in thoughts of goodness and love.
                        e. You can only rest in an active living relationship
                           with Jesus Christ.
                        f. The rest of the beds are too short.

III. GOD'S PLACE OF REST FOR YOU, Vs. 16.
        A. It is in Jesus Christ.
                1. He who believes and trusts in Him has ceased from his
                   own labor and rests.
                2. The work of redemption was God's work. It was
                   completed on the cross.
        B. He that believeth shall not make haste.
                1. I see the people of the world racing about in the feverish
                   activities looking for rest.
                2. I see so many in various churches feverishly caught up in
                   church activities. Nervous, upset, crying. Don't get caught
                   on a short bed.