For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying, Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
Isaiah 8:11-15
As the nation of Assyria began to rise in power to the point that it seemed it would conquer the region, many in Israel and Judah began to fear for their safety and future. The Northern Kingdom of Israel (referred to as Ephraim) joined the people of Syria in a confederacy to hopefully prevent Assyria's domination. King Pekah of Isreal and King Rezin of Syria pressured King Ahaz of Judah to join in this confederacy to stave off the Assyrian invasion. When Ahaz refused, the kings of Israel and Syria attacked. The battle that resulted is often called the Syro-Ephraimite War. The Book of 2 Chronicles relates that the King of Israel killed 120,000 troops from Judah in one day. No wonder the people of Judah and Jerusalem were afraid of the confederacy (a Hebrew word that also means a conpsiracy).
It is certain that the events of that time were enough to make everyone fear including the Prophet Isaiah. As he thought on what seemed like certain doom for the land of Judah; however, the Lord spoke. His command to the seer was to not fear what was taking place like all the folks around him were doing. "Don't let their fear be your fear nor allow their worries to be yours," was the sum of the message. The Almighty then gave his prophet sound advice for fearful times. He was to fear God more than the situations that surrounded him. "Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary..." Fear God above all else. In that condition, He will be your consecrated hiding place.
One thing is certain! God is in control of all that is going on today. He is sovereign. His power is unmatched, unapproachable, and unparalleled. He knows the end of the matter. There is nothing--NOTHING--that is currently escaping His eye.
So many today who look into prophecy and follow the news get too captivated with fear and worry. Rather than sharing a positive end to all that is going on, it comes out as a garbled message of worry. Why? Is not God greater than the situations we face? Will He not have the final say? Will His divine plan and purpose in revealing His kingdom not be accomplished. Terrible things are certain to take place but what good will it do to worry about it. Horrendous judgments are certain to surround, but those without the saving grace of God have a greater need to fear! All that is coming about reminds those paying attention that good days are ahead--King Jesus is about to return! Sanctify the LORD Himself. Let Him be your fear and your dread. Too many today have lost that important fear of the LORD. They are like Uzziah who lost His fear of God and then offered an illegal offering as He overestimated his importance. He lived the rest of his life a leper as a result. There is no one out there so high and mighty that they have a license to sin. Fear GOD!
For those looking intently on His coming to the point that the news paralyzes you, trust Him. There is still much work to be done. There are many to share the Gospel with and few who are actually working the fields. God's command to Isaiah kept the prophet keen and useful. It was that same fear that drove others to seek alternative messages than what God and His word taught. They turned from God to worldly, satanic voices and held them equal to God's revelation. Take the advice of our Lord, "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28)."
Like Isaiah, we need to remain keen to God's voice and useful in His work. We need to be aware of what is going on around us while we press forward with the sharing of the word of life. Fear God more than you fear the world and all that is going on and He will be your place of safety. Trust Him today as Jesus Christ is definitely Soon2Come!!
It is certain that the events of that time were enough to make everyone fear including the Prophet Isaiah. As he thought on what seemed like certain doom for the land of Judah; however, the Lord spoke. His command to the seer was to not fear what was taking place like all the folks around him were doing. "Don't let their fear be your fear nor allow their worries to be yours," was the sum of the message. The Almighty then gave his prophet sound advice for fearful times. He was to fear God more than the situations that surrounded him. "Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary..." Fear God above all else. In that condition, He will be your consecrated hiding place.
So many today who look into prophecy and follow the news get too captivated with fear and worry. Rather than sharing a positive end to all that is going on, it comes out as a garbled message of worry. Why? Is not God greater than the situations we face? Will He not have the final say? Will His divine plan and purpose in revealing His kingdom not be accomplished. Terrible things are certain to take place but what good will it do to worry about it. Horrendous judgments are certain to surround, but those without the saving grace of God have a greater need to fear! All that is coming about reminds those paying attention that good days are ahead--King Jesus is about to return! Sanctify the LORD Himself. Let Him be your fear and your dread. Too many today have lost that important fear of the LORD. They are like Uzziah who lost His fear of God and then offered an illegal offering as He overestimated his importance. He lived the rest of his life a leper as a result. There is no one out there so high and mighty that they have a license to sin. Fear GOD!
For those looking intently on His coming to the point that the news paralyzes you, trust Him. There is still much work to be done. There are many to share the Gospel with and few who are actually working the fields. God's command to Isaiah kept the prophet keen and useful. It was that same fear that drove others to seek alternative messages than what God and His word taught. They turned from God to worldly, satanic voices and held them equal to God's revelation. Take the advice of our Lord, "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28)."
Like Isaiah, we need to remain keen to God's voice and useful in His work. We need to be aware of what is going on around us while we press forward with the sharing of the word of life. Fear God more than you fear the world and all that is going on and He will be your place of safety. Trust Him today as Jesus Christ is definitely Soon2Come!!
And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Isaiah 8:19-20
Isaiah 8:19-20
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