16 “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.’ – What does ‘not be in haste’ mean? Other translations translate this as meaning ‘to make the wrong decision ie be confused; or be ashamed because you have made the wrong decision!’
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.” – v16&17 These set ‘plumb line’ standards are for immediate application and also a Messianic promise as to what God will judge against when the Messiah (Jesus) returns!
18 Then your covenant with death will be annulled,
and your agreement with Sheol will not stand;
when the overwhelming scourge passes through,
you will be beaten down by it. –
19 As often as it passes through it will take you;
for morning by morning it will pass through,
by day and by night;
and it will be sheer terror to understand the message. – God says, ‘Make as many alternative covenants as you like with other agencies, but there is no protection from my judgement!’ And this comes not just once but will keep on being repeated! v19 Makes it very clear about what God will do, if necessary, repetitively!
20 For the bed is too short to stretch oneself on,
and the covering too narrow to wrap oneself in. – You can try and pull the blanket over your head and hide under it, but it won’t work!
21 For the LORD will rise up as on Mount Perazim; – this mountain is the place recorded in 2 Samuel 5: 20 where David had a great victory and said “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.”
as in the Valley of Gibeon he will be roused;
to do his deed—strange is his deed!
and to work his work—alien is his work! – Joshua chs 9&10 tell of the trickery of the inhabitants of Gibeon against the people of Israel as they were entering Canaan, and God miraculously causing the sun to stand still and fought for the Israelis to give them a decisive victory!
22 Now therefore do not scoff,
lest your bonds be made strong;
for I have heard a decree of destruction
from the Lord GOD of hosts against the whole land.
23 Give ear, and hear my voice;
give attention, and hear my speech. – At the end the Prophet speaks pleading with God’s people, who are also his people, to listen to and hear what God is saying!
Joshua 10: 13-14 – And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day.There has been no day like it before or since, when the LORD heeded the voice of a man, for the LORD fought for Israel.
Prayer: Help me to realize how much You always do for us and with us, behind the scenes – but only sometimes spectacularly.
As I read it! 