JESUS IS THE CORNERSTONE

 

Isaiah 28:16-17

 

So, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.

 

1.      Today we are talking about of namesake.  A cornerstone is a stone laid at the corner to bind two walls together and to strengthen them. It is also a symbol of strength and prominence. In the Bible, the cornerstone is often applied to rulers or leaders, and especially to Jesus Christ. Jesus is the first and most important stone in the foundation of God's kingdom, and everything finds its meaning in him.

2.      Jesus is the anchor in the storms of life.  When we secure our lives in Him and trust in Him, he can calm the storm with just a word.

3.      We are encouraged by Jesus to build the house of our lives on Him so when the gales, winds and storm of life come which they will.  Our life, marriages, and home will stand strong.  Foundation is everything.  When you build something on the sand which shifts and moves with the elements it will not stand but fall. 

4.      Through the Bible the Lord is know as a strong tower, fortification, refuge, and place of safety.  We must anchor our lives on four realties to be strong in the societal, educational, educational, cultural, media, and political pressure everyone is facing.  We need to be like Billy Graham and say, “The Bible says.” 

5.      The promise, benefits, and blessing here is that because the Lord is a sure and firm foundation two things happen.  First, you rely, depend, lean, hinge, turn, hang, and rest upon it.  It is a promise and agreement given.  Secondly, you will never stricken, troubled, affected, afflicted, struck, hit, injured, wounded or deeply affected. 

6.      Instead of fear, you will have, love, power, and a sound mind.  This is solidified, hardened and completely in the Lord. 

 

17 I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie, and water will overflow your hiding place.

 

1.      This next verse is sobering and assuring at the same time.  For those who base their lives on the Lord through Jesus Christ in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit this is a powerful promise and assurance. 

2.      Justice shall become the measuring line.  A measuring line is a tool used to measure the length of an object or the distance between two points. It is commonly used in construction, engineering, and other fields that require precise measurements.  You can measure the Lord’s justice.  You can see it. 

3.      In the Bible justice means doing what is right, what should be done, and doing it consistently, without partiality or prejudice.  Holding individuals accountable for their own wrongdoing.

Acknowledging our culpability, accepting the consequences, and attempting to correct the damage.  Fairness.  This is something only God can do with perfection because He is pure, holy, all knowing, perfect and all powerful.  That is why He tells us to let Him fight our battles and let Him settle the scores. 

4.      Righteousness will be the plumbline.  What is Righteousness?  Righteousness is an attribute that belongs to God and is manifested in His laws. It is a God-given quality imputed to man upon believing in the Son of God. Righteousness is “rectitude of the divine nature by virtue of which God is infinitely righteous in Himself”. God acts righteously when he performs saving deeds for his people and thereby in delivering them places them in a right relation to himself.

5.      A plumb line is a tool used to determine the verticality of an upright surface or the depth of water. It consists of a line with a weight attached to it, known as a plumb bob 12. When the plumb bob is suspended from the line, it hangs vertically due to gravity, and the line indicates a straight vertical line. The plumb line is used in construction, carpentry, and other fields where verticality is important. 

6.      God will give to us the ability to think, talk and live ethically and morality according to His character, essence, and nature.  You will be able to measure it.  Righteousness and justice will be shown in our lives.  You will see it how it.  Jesus said it will give us fruit and this fruit shall remain. 

7.      In Gal 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 

8.      The last two statements are a warning.  Hail will sweep away you refuge.  The lie.  If you base your life on anything else but the Lord you are living a lie, untruth, deception, and fantasy.  It will not stand.  Everything will believe, rely, and stand on will be tested.  Sooner later your resources, abilities, power, wealth, status, and popularity will run out. 

9.      Water will overflow you hiding place.  Your go to place.  It could be a thing or person.  You will be swamped sometime.  Stress, anxiety, and fear.  That safe place.  It will be overflowed than what?

That us why the Lord gave this promise and warning.