Persevere In Faith, For Salvation Will Come (Isaiah 8:11-9:7)
I don’t quite know how to describe it, but it just feels like the darkness is growing in our day. We visibly see wickedness running rampant. And we also see the attitude toward the faith from those in our society getting angrier and angrier.
I believe that this attitude toward the faith will only get worse during my lifetime and probably our children’s as well. And that is why this message is so very important for us to consider right now. We need to persevere in our faith trusting that salvation will one day come.
The people of Israel were about to face tumultuous times, God’s discipline was about to fall upon them in the form of an Assyrian invasion. The people of Israel were currently seeing the growth of Assyria and attempting to find salvation outside of the Lord. And as they looked for help in everyone but the Lord, God spoke. Things would get better, just not immediately. Deep darkness was going to fall upon the land. But one day salvation would come, and they were to trust the Lord and persevere until that day.
You see, the Christian life is not one of ease. It’s one of perseverance. And as the darkness grows in our own land the message for us should become clearer and clearer. We must persevere in faith, for salvation will come.
Fear The Lord, Not The World (Isaiah 8:11-15)
The people were rejecting the Lord and our text today opens with God’s command to Isaiah not to follow the same route (Isaiah 8:11). In a day of deep darkness this is a command that we all need to hear. Don’t walk in the darkness that everyone else is walking. Everyone else may reject the Lord and His ways, but you do not. It’s something we are going to have to hear over and over as times get darker. Don’t walk in the way of the wicked.
I believe the situation is one that we can relate to for another reason. The people were given to panic and fear. Because of this they looked for help in all sorts of places that were not prescribed by the Lord. And if you don’t think that resembles our day very much, the people’s panic led them to chase conspiracies. This is the description of a society in the middle of a panic. I’m sure it’s easy for you to imagine what that would be like, considering our own country has been in the middle of one big panic after another for a long time now.
God commanded Isaiah to not fear or dread what everyone else feared and dreaded. The things that brought panic to the rest of society was not to bring panic to him. Rather than being given to panic and fear, Isaiah was to honor the Lord as holy (Isaiah 8:13). Assyria was growing in power and things were growing dim along the borders of Israel. And rather than fearing this world power or anything else in this world, Isaiah is told that he is to honor the Lord as holy instead. And Isaiah would do this by letting the Lord be his fear and his dread (Isaiah 8:13). He was to sanctify the Lord in His heart by understanding God’s proper place as King, Ruler, Savior, and God over all.
For the people of Israel, God would become one of two things. Those who sanctified God in their heart would find God to be their sanctuary (Isaiah 8:14). While those who did not do so and continued to place their trust in the things of this world, would find God Himself to be a “stone of offence”, a “rock of stumbling”, “a trap and a snare” (Isaiah 8:14 ESV). Those who stumbled over this Rock would find their selves destroyed (Isaiah 8:15).
Hard times were coming, and the people knew it. The people were in a panic. I believe we are there as a society. The people feel something bad in the air. Like animals that scurry before a storm, we are headed for safety wherever we think it will be found.
People blame 24-hour news networks and political talk radio for a lot of our country’s problems. But that’s putting the cart before the horse. The reason for 24-hour news cycles is that people began to believe that they could find salvation in the politics of our day. This happens in a few ways. Some people are looking for their hope and help in politics and in government. They want to hand the Federal Government a lot of power and let them be a political savior. And some people are attempting to find their safety in political figures. Whatever the case may be, they are looking for help, not from the Lord but from political power.
Some people are looking for the remaking of our society in education. It is believed that if only our children were educated a certain way, that a Utopian society would emerge. Usually, we see this in educating children toward activism, that is teaching them what they are to think and be angry about rather than teaching them how to think. Many today believe this will be how America is saved.
There are any number of things that could be said at this point because our society is in a mass panic about everything. News organizations don’t help at all with this because panic gets eyeballs and eyeballs get money. But this constant mass hysteria leaves us constantly feeling as if we need to retreat to our place of safety. And it is there that we retreat. We ally ourselves with groups and organizations that we think will bring us the comfort and safety we long for.
And here is the message that God gave Isaiah. Don’t fear the world, fear the Lord. Trust in Him. Sanctify Him as holy by seeing Him as King and Ruler of all things. It is Him that you need to ally yourself with. It is Him that you need to seek as your sanctuary. It is Him that you should follow. It is Him that you should fear.
“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28 ESV)
“But the LORD of hosts, Him you shall honor as holy. Let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.” (Isaiah 8:13 ESV)
Do not fear Democrats or Republicans. Do not fear liberals or conservatives. Do not fear the people or powers of this world. Do not fear big government. Do not fear the persecution that may come. Do not fear government propaganda. Fear the Lord. “Let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.” There are things in this life to be concerned about, but when the fear of the Lord takes its proper place in our hearts, everything is balanced the way it ought to be.
When the Lord is our sanctuary because we have sanctified Him in our hearts, we find those other things to be much smaller than we would otherwise believe. The Lord is King and ruler over all, “Let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.”
Follow The Word, Not The World (Isaiah 8:16-22)
This all leads us to how Isaiah is to respond. How is he to fear the Lord in a society fraught with fear and panic? How is he to honor the Lord as holy in that time? For that matter, how are we to honor the Lord in a time fraught with fear and panic?
“Bind up the testimony; seal the teaching among my disciples.” (Isaiah 8:16 ESV)
The testimony and teaching would be two things here. Revelation of what God would do was being given to Isaiah here. And this revelation was to be sealed upon the hearts of the disciples, or those who are following Isaiah. This would also include the Word of God already given. All of these horrible things are going on in Israel and the command that God gives is to “bind up” and “seal” God’s Word in them.
God’s Word was to be precious to them. It was to be treasured. It was to be obeyed. It was to be followed.
At this time, when God was bringing discipline upon His people, His kindness was not felt by them. And in this time of worry, panic, and fear Isaiah would “wait for the LORD” (Isaiah 8:17 ESV). Waiting on the Lord is not just sitting around and waiting for God to do something. It is doing God’s will, which is found in God’s Word when it seems as if the Lord is not there. As God punishes His people, Isaiah and the faithful disciples are to devote their selves to God’s Word and hope in the Lord.
There is an incredible sign of hope for Isaiah that lets him know that he has not been abandoned by God. There is a sign of continued love and care of Israel, and it is Isaiah’s children (Isaiah 8:18). We are not sure who these children are because there aren’t many details given, but the likely answer is that these are the disciples of Isaiah 8:16 and not his physical children. Either way, the children here are a sign to Isaiah that the Lord has not abandoned Israel. The Lord is still with His people and so, they should seek the Lord.
It makes a lot of sense at this point to say that God’s people should follow His Word. But that is not what was happening here. Rather than going to the Lord they were seeking answers from “mediums and the necromancers” (Isaiah 8:19).
Imagine the thought process here. Rather than going to the Living God for help, the people turn to the dead for answers. Why would they turn to the dead rather than the Lord? Why would they seek answers from the dead rather than what God has already revealed in His Word.
“To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.” (Isaiah 8:20 ESV)
That is a piercing command when one understands that the people were seeking answers from the dead rather than the testimony of the Lord. And those who reject the Lord, do not wait on the Lord, do not turn to His Word, and therefore seek help apart from the Lord will find themselves in great distress.
God here promises that “thick darkness” would fall upon all those who reject the Lord and His testimony (Isaiah 8:22). Their suffering will not be short. Their rejection of the Lord and His Word will result in a deep, deep darkness.
Think about our current position. We are called to be faithful amid growing darkness. Things seem to be going off the rails in our day, and it is in our day that we are called to be faithful.
For all those who reject God, and His testimony thick darkness will grow. This can happen societally as well, as the culture at large rejects the Lord and His Word. Their blindness in this world will be seen in the decisions made and stances taken on moral issues, which is obvious when one thinks about the arguments people make for abortion or any number of other moral issues. And, because it is still in the testimony of Scripture, we still believe that all who do not believe will find their selves in utter darkness in the place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. And those who reject God’s Word “have no dawn”, they have no light breaking through the darkness (Isaiah 8:20 ESV).
Scripture tells us what God’s will for our lives is. He has delivered that to us in His Word. We don’t need to go outside of that to understand what God desires of us. And we don’t need to go outside of His Word to figure out what we should be doing in this distressing time.
We see in God’s Word how we are to behave toward the government, both good and evil.
We see in God’s Word how we are to handle the many hardships that come to us.
We see in God’s Word how we are to raise our children. We see what we are to teach them and how we are to raise them up.
We are to be people of God’s Word. Yes, we are living in a time of increasing darkness. Evil seems to be everywhere, but God has not left us without a guide. He has not left us without light.
So we hear that cry of Isaiah’s “to the teaching and to the testimony!” and we find ourselves diving into the depths of God’s Word as darkness closes in (Isaiah 8:20 ESV). It is in the teaching and testimony of God’s Word that we find our reason for hope. In this testimony we find the courage to continue to faithfully follow the Lord.
And here we begin to understand that there is a specific person that the people of Israel were to be hoping in and trusting. Amid the darkness they were to live in hope and faith in the coming Savior.
Fear The Lord And Follow His Word Because The Savior Is Coming (Isaiah 9:1-7)
The sorrow and darkness would one day break. And the light would shine in a most glorious way in those places most devastated in days past.
This is easier seen if you look at a map. If you have maps in the back of your Bible that will work as well. Just look for the map that has a heading about the 12 Tribes of Israel or Israel in Joshua’s Day and you will get the picture. As you look at the map and think through the locations listed: “Zebulun”, “Naphtali”, “the way by the sea”, “the land beyond the Jordan”, “Galilee of the nations”, all describe those places most affected by the Assyrian invaders (Isaiah 9:1-2). Their sorrows would be deep, but their joy would also one day be deep (Isaiah 9:3).
One day God would release them from their burden. And He would do this like He did in the days of Gideon. Midian was overthrown quickly with Gideon’s very small army by the power of the Lord (Judges 6-8). And the victory that God would bring about would be complete. It would be so complete that even the accoutrements of war would be fed to the fire (Isaiah 9:5). Even the boot of the warrior is no longer needed. That is incredible peace!
Today when we think of peace, we think of peace through strength. The only peace that we have experienced is peace that is brought about through military might. Here in America, we are safe because of the sacrifices of men and women overseas. But that is different than the peace foretold here. In the age foretold here, there would be no need for military equipment. Like the stacks of rugs in our shed, they are only good for being thrown into the fire.
God will bring this about, not by an event by a person. This message of Isaiah’s that is to be bound up and sealed upon the hearts of the disciples is found here.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;” (Isaiah 9:6 ESV)
A child would be born and this child would be the light that the people who walked in darkness see. He would bring tremendous joy. He would break the burden of the oppressor as Gideon once did. And He would bring that time of tremendous peace that we look and long for.
And this child would one day rule and reign in a glorious way.
“and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.” (Isaiah 9:6b-7a ESV)
He will rule and reign in such a way that He will be seen as a “Wonder”. The wording here insinuates that people will stand amazed at His counsel as King. The glory of His counsel will be great and will cause people to stand in amazement and wonder.
He will rule in might. He will be called “Mighty God”. The phrase used here is “el gabbor”. “El” signifies deity. Jewish people today argue that this phrase was sometimes used to describe someone who was the greatest of all warriors in his day, but here, with all the other names listed, it does seem more reasonable to say that this is “Mighty God”. And this brings us to say that, along with “Everlasting Father”, it is not likely that Isaiah understood exactly what he was prophesying here. He certainly would not have understood the Doctrine of the Trinity as we understand it from the New Testament, but this was a word from the Lord that He was giving here. He didn’t have to understand every last detail of what was to come.
This one who would come would also be called “Everlasting Father”. Another way of interpreting this would be “Eternal Father”. Even though Isaiah may not have understood how the One to come would be so closely associated with God the Father, He declared that one would come so closely associated with Him that He would be called “Eternal Father”.
And this ruler would be called the “Prince of Peace”. This ruler would bring about peace like this world has not seen since the Garden of Eden. And He will sustain it forever. This peaceful reign will not end, it will only increase as He sits upon the throne of David. Forever He will sit on David’s throne, established and upheld with justice and righteousness (Isaiah 8:7).
All of this would happen because, “the zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this” (Isaiah 8:7b ESV). God will make all of this happen. Zealous describes an extremely strong desire to have or to do something. And it is the intense desire of God Almighty that would bring this about.
All of the answers to the darkness are found in a single person. In Him there is light. In Him there is joy. And in Him there is peace that knows no end. And that person is Jesus Christ.
That person is God the Son who took on human flesh and dwelt among us. He can be called “Mighty God” and “Everlasting Father” because He is God in human flesh. He came as a light to the nations and lived a perfect life. He accomplished all righteousness on behalf of those who would trust in Him. And He died on the cross for them as the substitute for sin. Three days later, He rose from the grave and completely accomplished justification for all who would believe.
And He is coming again. He already delivered the death blow to sin, death, and Satan when He died on the cross and rose from the grave. Someday He will return and bring the peace that is here promised. He will come, as we saw last week and bring peace through justice upon the Earth. All those who remain in their sins will be brought to justice and all those who are in Christ will be with Him in peace for eternity.
If you are here today and don’t know Christ, then your response should be to turn from ruling your own life and trust in the Savior. You are walking in darkness and that darkness will only grow until one day you find yourself in Hell where the darkness forever envelopes you. You have heard a message of tremendous hope that can be found only in Christ. Trust in Him. Turn to Christ and trust in the Savior.
One day the darkness that surrounds us will all be devoured by the light of Christ. All the darkness will be devoured by the light of Christ.
As Christians, we must understand that in the deep, deep darkness we trust in the Lord. We entrust with our lives. We seek Him to solve our hearts deepest struggles. And we walk faithfully in this life knowing that He is coming again to establish peace, justice, and righteousness upon the Earth.
We can have hope in this incredibly dark world because we have faith in the one who is going to make all things right.
Conclusion
The Christian life is not about having our best life now, or living peacefully upon the Earth. It is about perseverance. And as the darkness grows around us, the message becomes clear. We must persevere in the faith, for salvation will one day come.
Panic is all around us. Conspiracies abound. Places and people to place our hope in other than Christ surrounds us. But what we see here is that we must persevere in the faith, for salvation will one day come.
On October 16th, 1555 Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley were brought before a court for heresy trials. Their defiance against the Roman Church made the trials cut and dry. They would be burned at the stake. And they would burn together.
“On the evening before these two martyrs were to mingle their ashes in the same fire, Ridley sat at supper in the room of his keeper. It is told of him that “he was as cheerful as ever he had been, and invited the keeper and his wife, as well as all who were at the table with him, to his ‘marriage’ on the morrow, for thus he spoke of his burning.” He said that he hoped his sister would be there, and asked his brother, who was sitting at the table, whether he thought she could find it in her heart to come.” He answered, “Yes, I dare say, with all her heart.” To which Ridley said, “I am glad of it.”
At this the keeper’s wife wept, but Ridley comforted her, saying, “O my friend, quiet yourself, though my breakfast on the morrow shall be somewhat sharp and painful, yet I am sure my supper will be pleasant and sweet.” When they arose from the table, his brother offered to stay all night with him. But he said, “No, no, that you shall not. For I intend to go to bed, and to sleep as quietly tonight as I ever did.” On this, his brother departed, telling him to be of good cheer, and to take his cross quietly, for the reward would surely be great.”[1]
Their situation was dire. They were facing death for what they believed. They were facing death because they preached the gospel of peace brought about through the work of Christ alone. And on the following day they would be burned at the stake. And they could face it all with peace because of their deep trust in the Savior. They persevered in the faith because they knew that salvation was coming tomorrow.
Christian, today may be filled with sorrow and darkness may fill everything we see. But the light has come and accomplished salvation for us. And the Light is coming again to bring eternal peace on Earth. So, we persevere in the faith because we know that salvation is coming.
R. Dwain Minor
[1] John Foxe, “Foxe’s Christian Martyrs of the World”, Barbour and Company, 1985, Pp. 480-481