John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 28:18

"And your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it." — Isaiah 28:18 (ASV)

And your covenant with death shall be disannulled. Formerly, he directed his rebuke against hypocrites who obstinately mocked God and all his threats. He countered their thoughts when they imagined that they had made a covenant with death (Isaiah 28:15)—that is, by promising themselves that all their transgressions would pass unpunished, as if by jeers and laughter they could escape the arm of God.

He now threatens that when they become fully aware that they must give an account to God, they will be struck with fear and dread, whether they want to or not. For that state of ease and indifference into which they have sunk arises from a kind of lethargy or drunkenness, which hinders them from perceiving the alarming nature of their disease. But the Lord will arouse them from their sleep, however profound, and will annul their imaginary compacts.

In short, he means that the peace which the wicked enjoy while they slumber in their sins will not be perpetual. For they will be compelled, even against their will, to acknowledge that God is their judge. And when they wish to enjoy repose, and while they are careless and unprepared, they will be suddenly seized and agitated by strange terrors and anguish of mind.

Their case is similar to that of wrongdoers who, if they have broken out of prison and escaped, mock their judges and speak reproachful, bold, and insolent language against them. But when they see the officers of justice close at their heels, they suddenly tremble and find that all their joy is turned into mourning, and that their condition is far worse than if they had not broken out of prison.

Thus, the wicked enjoy some momentary gladness, which they obtain by forgetfulness of their guilt. But the Lord immediately lays his hand on them and terrifies their consciences in such a manner that they can find no rest.