The Plumb line – Sarah Saenz
So this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;
the one who relies on it
will never be stricken with panic.
I will make justice the measuring line
and righteousness the plumb line;
hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie,
and water will overflow your hiding place.”
Isaiah 28: 16 – 17
Last year, my husband and I built a house. It was no small feat and we give all glory to Jesus for its completion and for the grace to enjoy it. With much prayer and deliberation, we chose for our contractor a well-respected builder and family friend. A year after moving in, we are still delighted with the craftsmanship and integrity of our home. We love to point out to visitors the straight base boards, trim, tile work, and windows. We know that these things display a spirit of excellence and great attention to detail. The carpenter’s term for this is “plumb”, or the “plumb line.”
The plumb line is a straight and level line off which a project is based. It is the deciding factor, the reference point, and the authority for many things. It is what everything else is compared to. It is what determines what is right and what is wrong in a project.
The workers trust the plumb line. They reference it over and over, from start to finish. They know without the plumb line, they could mess up and the entire project would become skewed. Without it, all they can do is guess where things are supposed to be. 🤷♀️
The Lord God tells Israel that “justice is the measuring line and righteousness is the plumb line.” Our God is the builder of this universe, and He has set the plumb line. It is His righteous revealed to us in His Word. He is the craftsman and we are His work. We must compare our actions and thoughts to the plumb line God has set for us. Without it, we have no point of reference and we are just guessing what is right.
God the Father, the Master Builder, sent His own Son into this world for our salvation. What work was He trained to do while He was here? He was a carpenter, a craftsman, and the son of a carpenter. He set the plumb line and He WAS the plumb line. Let’s look to Him as the author and finisher of our faith, without Him, we’ll never be “plumb.”