Valor Infinito, Febrero 22, 2026

Good morning church, what a blessing to be here with you all this morning, singing to he who does not fail. It's so important in the midst of difficult circumstances. We're still in our series of Isaiah, where we talk about the infinite worth of the Lord. For those of you that don't know me, my name is Alfredo Zuniga, I'm the campus pastor of Fellowship en Español here in Fellowship Bible Church. And this image from the prophet Isaiah of the glory of God, is very clearly made in chapter six. Because in chapter six he enters into the heavenly courts, and he looks clearly upon he who is seated upon the throne. And that becomes the foundation upon which Isaiah is going to do, fulfill his mission to Israel. And now he returns to his day to day circumstances to carry the message of the glory of God to Israel. And so now we'll see the glory of God, not in the clear way that we see it in the heavens, but rather his glory revealed through the disobedience of his people and his wrath poured out upon them. And many people believe that God is not involved in the circumstances and the things that happen today in the world. But if you read the book of Isaiah, you see that the hand of God is over everything that is happening. As the people of Israel had disobeyed, God revealed that he would raise up kingdoms to bring upon punishment to Israel. Be reminded that the kingdom of Israel was divided into a northern kingdom and a southern kingdom at that time. And so the nation of Assyria was going to bring judgment upon the northern kingdom. And the Babylonians were going to bring judgment upon the kingdom of the south to the kingdom of Judah. But in the prophecies prior to the message that my friend John preached, it also says that God is going to bring judgment upon the Assyrians and the Babylonians.

In the end, God is using all of these situations to bring his people into repentance. And now as we observe the glory of God, as we'll see that God reveals the insignificance of the glory of the kingdoms of humanity, the insignificance of the things in which we put our trust. And he'll show us the glory of God as he contrasts it with human glory. I'll show you human glory, and I'll show you where that will get you. And I'll show you my glory, and I'll show you where that will take you. And so as you open your Bibles to Isaiah 28, the title today is Resting in the Rock of Our Salvation. We'll see that only Christ is the rock who brings the rest that we desire. And the first thing we'll see, we'll see that Israel rejected rest in the Lord by trusting in its own glory, strength, and sin. Let's read verses one through four. The proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim, and the fading flower of its glorious beauty which is on the head of the rich valley of those overcome with wine. Behold the Lord has one who is mighty and strong like a storm of hail, a destroying tempest like a storm of mighty overflowing waters he cast down to the earth with his hand. The proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim will be trodden underfoot. And the fading flower of its glorious beauty which is on the head of the rich valley will be like a first ripe fig before the summer. When someone sees it, he swallows it as soon as it is in his hand. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we ask you this morning that you would speak to our lives, that you would reveal where our trust is placed, and that you would bring us to surrender to you. Open our minds and our hearts to receive your word. In the name of Jesus, amen. Ah, the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim. You might be asking, what is this text talking about? These first sixteen verses are talking to, the first portion of the sixteen verses is

speaking to the northern kingdom, also known as Samaria. And it talks about the head of the rich valley of those overcome with wine, its glorious beauty. And I started looking at the pictures of this region. And it made me really want to visit Israel. But it's probably not the best time right now to go visit. But Samaria is one of the highest mountains in all of Israel. And it's one of the most prosperous mounts of the region. It's renowned for its vineyards and the wine that's produced in that region. And being set in a high place, it's also a strategic location and easy to defend. Because when they build their walls, it's so difficult for any other army to attack. And so as it's talking about Ephraim or Samaria, it's Mount Gerizim in the Old Testament. And there's Mount Gerizim and there's Mount Ebal on the other side. And in Mount Gerizim is where God announced the blessings that Israel would receive if they obeyed Him. And in Mount Ebal is where they pronounced the curses that would come upon them if they disobeyed God. And as they were announcing these words from God, there's a valley in between the two mountains. And it's called the Valley of Shechem. So I want you to understand the scene of what we're talking about today. Why? Because you have to understand in this time, they were very strong and very prosperous. And one of the most difficult times for humans, humankind, to listen to the voice of God is when things are calm, peaceful, and prosperous. And not just that. That's a time when man can enter into pride most easily. It says, ah, the proud crown of Ephraim. Maybe they thought of those walls like a crown that kept them protected, thinking they could get drunk with wine each day because nothing bad could ever happen to them. And God tells them, I have raised up a kingdom that will come upon you like a storm of hail.

And it will destroy you. And your crown will be stepped upon. And the, let me see, and the fading flower, that beautiful glory, it will be, it'll be like a fig, that when they begin to harvest, it'll be like when I would go buy a mango tree, and I would go grab the ones that were just about to fall. And those would be the first ones that I would cut open and put salt and lime on. And I would eat those first. That's the thing, the same thing that's happening here in the verse. Those figs that are already ripe, that's how you will be devoured by your enemies. Do you understand what's happening here? What were they doing then? Let's look at verses five and six. In that day, the Lord of hosts will be a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty to the remnant of his people, and a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate. It says in the moment that that destruction comes, there will be a remnant of his people. remnant. And that remnant won't be characterized by all of those same things that everyone else is doing. They'll be different. It says that this remnant rejects the knocking upon the door. And it's this idea that there were people coming and going and there were people ready to steal from them. It's that when there is a decadence in this society, there are some who fall more quickly into what gets normalized. And that sin includes assault. It includes stealing. There are some cities in this country where you can steal up to $1,000 in value and they won't do anything to you. Because instead of bringing justice to the people, they elevate the level of injustice. It becomes normal. And that's where you see the TikTok videos. People going into a store. They can look at the price of things and make sure it's under $1,000 and they can just walk out nice and calm. We're not so different than what was happening in those times. But the remnant will not be like that. And so instead of the glory of Ephraim being what gets highlighted in this moment, it will be the glory of the God of hosts. Think about this. When we look at all of the things that are happening in this moment, it's probable that the remnant was the minority. Who was going to listen? What glory

did that remnant have? Powerful people had glory. Those who were drunk had glory. Those who did whatever they wanted had glory. But one day, when judgment comes and the crown of the evil ones would be stepped upon, and when there is no longer any glory in them, when they no longer have their power, what glory is it that they'll see? And what he's saying to the remnant is, it is worth it to wait in the Lord, to wait upon the glory of God. It says that for those who are seated under judgment, there will be justice. And that's something that brings us peace. When we see so much injustice, when we see murder, when we see corruption, we know that vengeance belongs to the Lord. We know that God will make things right. And he doesn't call us to be the justice makers. But to bring the message of reconciliation with God while there's still time. Look at what would happen to the leaders then. They also stumble over wine, and stumble over liquor. The priest and the prophet stumble over liquor. They are intoxicated by wine and liquor, and stumble over it. They falter in their visions, and stumble when they pronounce judgment. These also reel with wine and stagger with strong drink. The priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, and they are swallowed by wine. They stagger with strong drink. They reel in vision. They stumble in giving judgment. For all the tables are full of filthy vomit with no space left. The leaders that God had chosen, the prophets, he had chosen to speak the word of God, were participating in the same sin as the lost people. They were no longer useful to do the work of God. The priests, which were called to keep themselves pure and holy apart from all the things that were going on, go into the presence of God and represent the sinful people. They were participating in the same sins of the world, and vomiting the same as those who don't know the Lord. There's a word today that oftentimes is very rare within the church, and it's because our desire to be loving towards those that don't know Christ, is that instead of reaching them by being different from the world, the church has become like the world. They've started to watch the things that the world watches, started to listen to the things that the world listens to, and will begin to vomit the same things the world vomits.

We are called to be priests and prophets on behalf of God, and we cannot participate in the sins of our culture because God has called us to be pure. And in that way, they've rejected what only God could offer. And now the prophet is going to turn his prophecy towards the kingdom of the south. And we'll see now that Judah rejected rest in the Lord by trusting in its own wisdom and allies. We've already seen it didn't work out for the north. It didn't work out for them to put their trust in their prosperity. It didn't work for them to put their trust in their allies, that for them was Syria, and they were destroyed. And now let's look at verses 9 through 11, speaking to Judah. To whom will he teach knowledge, and to whom will he explain the message? Those who were weaned from the milk, those taken from the breast. For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little. For by people of strange lips and with a foreign tongue, the Lord will speak to this people. Now he says to the people of Judah, are you so wise? Who could teach you? And who can interpret for you the message of God? And when you say, here's another command upon command and another line upon line, here's God just bringing the same old thing, and the Lord is treating them like babies that have recently been weaned and say, oh no, I don't want that. And so the Lord says, oh, okay, you're not going to listen to my commands? Well then you're going to hear from me in a foreign tongue. And so since you didn't want to listen to me now, when Babylonia comes and takes you away as slaves, you'll be listening to commands in a language you can't understand. And that will be my judgment upon you. Because you didn't want to pay attention, because you put down my word, and because your favorite thing to say is, I already know that, God. So when you're in captivity, don't call me.

They had thought of themselves as wise in their own reasoning. And that's natural of us, church. It's not that God calls us to things that we don't know, it's that we don't do what we know. That we often, we listen to these things from the time we're little. But we think we know better to God, so we do what we want. And we continue in that same way. And the Lord says, look at what I had invited you to. Verses 12 to 13. To whom he has said, this is rest. Give rest to the weary, and this is repose. Yet they would not hear. And the word of the Lord will be to them, precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little, that they may go and fall backward and be broken and snared and taken. One of the worst judgments upon humanity is when God gives ears to the deaf. And they don't listen to the clear message that God is delivering. And it becomes gibberish, and it becomes like gibberish unto them. It becomes blah, blah, blah to them. Have you thought about this? How often do we just listen over and over to the messages that God wants us to do? And people continue still going on their same path. God had commanded them to rest in him. But they decided to do what it was that they wanted to do. This is a difficult time for the people of Israel. And in these moments, you see where our trust is really set. You know what Judah did when they were afraid about the northern kingdom and the kingdom of Assyria that they would come to attack them? When they thought Syria and the northern kingdom was going to attack them, they went and tried to make a deal with Assyria.

And the king of Assyria arrives to the capital, Jerusalem. He says, oh yes, let's make a deal. Put your trust in me, I'll defend you. But give to me all of the treasure that you have. They ransacked the temple. And he made them surrender to them as if they were slaves to the Assyrians. And that's how sin is with us. Oh would you like to have a little pleasure and a little comfort? Would you like to feel safe? Would you like for me to make you feel prosperous? Let's make a deal. But I'm going to take from you everything that you hold dear. I'll take your joy, I'll take your marriage, I'll take your children. Just give me what I want. Let's make a deal. And when things are difficult in our lives, church, where do you go? Do you turn to where there's true rest or do you turn to sin? Asking sin for peace, asking for prosperity, asking that which sin cannot give. It leaves you sunk, it leaves you empty, depressed, and destroyed. All the time there are people who tell me, Pastor, it's so hard to follow the Lord. It's hard to be obedient to the Lord. But I've never heard someone after God allows destruction in their life from sin that they say, oh, this destruction was easier than following God. Young people, listen to this. Obedience is not easier than surrendering to God. It's not easier to do what your friends pressure you to do than to follow the Lord. Look at what verses 14 and 15 say. Therefore, hear the word of the Lord, you scoffers, who rule this people in Jerusalem, because you have said. 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. Another of the things that happens in a person's life is that they have to begin to tell themselves lies. Oh, it's going to be okay, don't worry about it. Oh, God is with you. And they look for leaders to tell them the same thing. People that tell them, oh, oh, it's okay, God just wants the best for you. And they take refuge underneath lies. And when truth comes to their lives, when a true prophet like Isaiah comes to their lives, they reject it. Because they've created a world of lies. And they realize it's not working for them, that it's not bringing them peace, that it's not bringing them what they thought it would. And little by little, they're losing everything. But their hearts become hard. And they take refuge in their sin. But they begin to fear. Because when they see the consequences that come from sin, all of their bravery. There's a verse that says, if you read the whole chapter, that even when you're in bed, remember like when you were little and you would maybe be afraid in bed and you would take the covers and put them over your head? And in that moment, your bed was your safest place you could be. God says even there, there will be no peace or security for you. Lies will not protect you. And that deal that you made with death, with Sheol, because what had happened was now they went to Egypt because the Assyrians who had said they would protect them are now the ones that are going to destroy them. And they went to make a deal with death. And God's telling them, you think Egypt's going to save you?

Who else could save you from me? Even where you feel safest, there I will find you. And what's our last final point, church? It's this. His remnant finds rest by trusting in the rock of our salvation. It says in verse 16. Therefore thus says the Lord God, behold, I am the one who is laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone of a sure foundation. And whoever believes will not be in haste. He says now that you see that none of the places where you've placed your trust has worked for you, I will put a cornerstone there for you. And this cornerstone, it's been tested. Do you know what rock he's talking about? Jesus Christ. He is the strong rock. He is the rock of our salvation. And all those who believe in him, it says in Peter, will not be put to shame. All of those kingdoms that left you ashamed, people, my people, all of your sin, all it did was shame you and show your nakedness. Put your trust in the strong rock. Let's set our children upon the strong foundation. Let's put our lives on that strong foundation. Let's not look for security in anything else. Let's not look for security. Let's not become hard hearted. I know that there are some here today that you keep looking for security in those things that just leave you ashamed. That you haven't set yet your faith and your trust upon that strong rock. And that God is calling you to put your faith in him. And it says that this is a cornerstone.

The cornerstone is the place where the building began. And it's what gave direction and the foundation. In Ephesians it says that the church is built upon the rock. the rock that is Christ Jesus, but even as children of God there are times that our lives, they look like we're seeking things outside of Christ. And you can see it in your life, you can see that there's no rest in your life, there's no peace in your life. Come back to the rock of our salvation. Don't take refuge in lies. Put your trust in Christ. And so let's pray and let's sing that Christ is the rock upon which we can build our home. Thank you Lord for your word this morning. Reveal to us Lord where we're putting our confidence. And forgive us Lord for wanting to make deals with our sin, for trying to make peace with our sin, because we know what you say about our sin and we make excuses, we justify ourselves. Forgive us Lord. Only your son is the strong foundation. Only your son has the empire that will never be forgotten. God, we want to live upon that rock. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.