Week 27 Isaiah 28
Isaiah says that the Lord will do what he calls his unusual task and his extraordinary work (another version says a strange, unusual thing).
The Lord engages in (at least) two kinds of work-activities. First there’s the Usual and Non-Strange Work of the Lord (Isaiah doesn’t actually say that but he implies it). Then there’s another kind of work. When it comes to actually passing-judgment on people the Lord transitions to the Strange & Unusual Work he has to do.
The strange-&-unusual work of the Lord is – unfortunately – to destroy his own people. I think it’s safe to say that the Non-Strange work of the Lord doesn’t include destroying people. But his Strange work does.
Anyway Isaiah moves on in the next paragraph to add an agricultural illustration. It’s about an experienced farmer who knows his job. Knows what work there is to do and when’s the right time to do it. He also knows what work not to do and when not to do it.
If the parable of the farmer relates to the Lord’s action – which I think it does – the connection is that the Lord – like the farmer – does circumstance-specific work that needs doing when it’s time to do it. And he does different things that need doing when they need doing.
The parable explains about doing things that need doing.
But even so the Strange & Unusual Work of the Lord is still pretty sobering.
Note: quotes from Isaiah 28:1 (NASB & NLT) 21 (NLT) & 28:23-29