A Covenant with Death

Isaiah 28:14–15 (NKJV)

¹⁴ Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scornful men, Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem, ¹⁵ Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death, And with Sheol we are in agreement. When the overflowing scourge passes through, It will not come to us, For we have made lies our refuge, And under falsehood we have hidden ourselves.”

The rulers of Jerusalem had not actually declared that they had made a covenant with death.  Isaiah is telling them what in fact they have said by determining to make a covenant with Egypt in an attempt to keep Assyria at bay.  This is biting irony and it happens every time God's people refuse to trust Him and then fall away from obeying Him.

How often we do not obey because we do not believe.  We do not believe God has our best set before Him for us.  We do not believe that we can overcome what is before us.  We do not believe that we will walk in far more glory by walking in the light.  We do not believe that at His right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Instead, we make a covenant with death.  We enter into agreement with Sheol.  Lord, have mercy.