“therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’” Isaiah 28:16 ESV
Reflection: how would you describe the “house of God”?
We understand the importance of laying a foundation when building any structure, whether it is a house, a bridge or a skyscraper. Without a properly engineered foundation, the entire structure above the foundation is at risk. It might stand for some time, but with extreme weather or shaky ground, the whole structure will most likely collapse. And, interestingly, that is not only true for physical structures and buildings; the same principle applies to our relationships, our marriages, and especially our spiritual lives. That was exactly the case for the mega church we looked at yesterday, which “house” fell as they had placed focus on the pastors and the music, creating an emotional experience. It was more about satisfying the flesh, as opposed to learning how to walk in the Spirit. The right foundation of Christ was missing.
This was exactly the problem of the house of Israel, that Isaiah wrote about in chapter 28. The priests and prophets had lost their way, and built the “spiritual house” not on God. We read “Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scoffers, who rule this people in Jerusalem! Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have an agreement, when the overwhelming whip passes through it will not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge, and in falsehood we have taken shelter”;” Isaiah 28:14-15 ESV. They had made a “covenant with death”, even proclaiming that. Wow, that is very scary. In our modern day language, they would probably say that they had made “a deal with the devil”. And we do actually hear such language from people today who want fame and fortune, such as various music and entertainment “stars”. While they might have a few minutes of fame and fortune, their “house” will eventually fall, something we also see all the time.
In our focus verse today, we read “therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’” Isaiah 28:16 ESV. This foundation, this tested cornerstone of the Lord, we see referred to multiple times throughout the Bible. Let’s start with where this reference to a foundation shows up first. “Thus was accomplished all the work of Solomon from the day the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid until it was finished. So the house of the Lord was completed.” 2 Chronicles 8:16 ESV. The specific purpose of this “foundation” was for the temple Solomon built, also referred to as “the house of the Lord”. This temple was built exactly as God had instructed. And, the physical temple was clearly a picture of the true temple, the true house of God that was to be built, with
the foundation, the cornerstone being Christ Jesus.
This is not a house built by human hands. We read as Jesus spoke to the priests at his time, “Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them.” Matthew 21:42-45 ESV.
After Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension, we read a story of a miracle involving the disciples. And, they were challenged by the same religious leaders who challenged and crucified Jesus.,“On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”” Acts 4:5-12 ESV
While the disciples were fearful before, we now see the fear being gone. They were unshakable, speaking boldly to the same people who crucified Jesus, because they had a solid foundation built on Christ. Not their own works, and therefore fulfilled what Isaiah wrote ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’” Isaiah 28:16b ESV. As Peter later wrote in his letter “As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”” 1 Peter 2:4-6 ESV