Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
Because you have said, 'We have made a deal with death, and we have an agreement with the grave. When the terrible disaster sweeps through, it won't touch us, because we have made lies our safe place and hidden ourselves behind deception.'
God is confronting people who think they can escape judgment by trusting in lies and false agreements instead of trusting in Him.
📚 Historical Context
Isaiah was speaking to the leaders of Jerusalem who were making political alliances with foreign nations (likely Egypt) instead of trusting God for protection against the Assyrian invasion. These leaders believed their clever diplomacy and false promises would save them from the coming judgment. Isaiah uses vivid metaphors of 'making a covenant with death' to describe how they were trusting in things that would ultimately destroy them.
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