Isaiah 28:14 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Wherefore hear, ye scornful men Who make a mock at sin, and at God's word and threatenings, and who doubt not that by your crafty counsels, and human efforts, you shall escape God's judgments; who have said In your hearts; we have made a covenant with death, &c. We are as safe from death and hell, or the grave, (as the word שׁאול here means,) as if they had entered into covenant with us, that they would not invade us. “To be in covenant with any thing, is a kind of proverbial expression to denote perfect security from evil, and mischief from it:” see Job 5:23; Hosea 2:18. When the overflowing scourge The calamity which the prophets speak of as coming; shall pass through Namely, the land: if it should pass through, which, however, we do not believe it will; it shall not come unto us We shall escape. For we have made lies our refuge, &c. These words the prophet puts into their mouths, as declarative of the real nature of their false confidence and vain hopes of safety: as if he had said, You are confident the calamity shall not come to you, because you have taken sanctuary in a refuge of lies! You depend on your vain idols, or on your riches, or strength, or crafty devices, which will all fail you. Or, you hope to secure yourselves by your arts of cunning and falsehood, but you will find yourselves disappointed.