the Decay of an Intemperate People Isa 28:1-13 A new series of prophecies begins here and extends to Isa 32:20 . Samaria is described as a faded crown or garland on the nation’s head because it was disgraced by the national drunkenness. See Amo 4:1 . So corrupted was she by strong drink and its attendant evils that the Assyrian invader would plunder her as a man gathers ripe figs. But to Judah, that is, the remnant , the Lord would be a crown or garland, not of pride but of glory. His beauty would not be as a fading flower, but a lasting diadem. What wine is to the sensuous man, that God is to the spiritual. See Eph 5:18 . You that have to form right judgments, and you that have to turn the battle from the gate, will find all your need in Him. In Isa 28:7-8 we have a terrible picture of widespread effects of strong drink; and in Isa 28:9-10 the prophet recites the ribald remarks addressed to himself by the roisterers of those evil days. He replies that God would Himself answer them by the stern accents of the Assyrian tongue, which would sound like stammering, Isa 28:11 ; and this would befall them because they would not need the wooing accents of His love, Isa 28:12 .