A Sure Foundation
In the manual: Come, Follow Me lesson 39, “A Marvellous Work and a Wonder,” on Gospel Library
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Isaiah describes a bed too short to stretch out on, with a blanket too narrow to wrap up in (Isaiah 28:20). He says that is what it feels like to trust the wrong thing when trouble comes.
Read Together
Jerusalem’s leaders were afraid of Assyria, the great army of their day. Instead of asking the Lord, they looked to Egypt for protection (Isaiah 30:1–2). Isaiah called their plan a refuge of lies (Isaiah 28:15).
16Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. 17Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
22And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. 23And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father’s house.
What It Teaches
The Lord answers their fear with a stone. It is “a tried stone,” one that has been tested, and “a precious corner stone.” Builders set the corner stone first and line up every other stone with it. The Apostle Peter quoted this verse and said the stone is Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:6–7).
In verse 17, hail sweeps away the refuge of lies. Centuries later, Helaman told his sons to build on the rock of our Redeemer, so that when the devil sends his hail and his mighty storm, they cannot fall. He called that rock “a sure foundation,” the same words Isaiah used (Helaman 5:12).
Chapter 22 gives one more picture of the Savior. The Lord gives a faithful servant named Eliakim the key of the house of David and fastens him “as a nail in a sure place.” The nail here is a strong peg driven into a wall, and verse 24 says the whole family hung its cups and jars on him. In Revelation, the risen Savior says he holds the key of David (Revelation 3:7).
Talk About It
When people are scared, what do they lean on besides the Lord, the way Jerusalem leaned on Egypt? What does it look like for our family to build on Jesus Christ?
Take to Church
Everything else we lean on comes up short, like a bed too small to stretch out on. Jesus Christ is a sure foundation.