OK - lets get some faith talk back in here!
I taught on this today in our morning service:
Isaiah 8:19-22
19 And when they say to you, "Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter," should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living?
20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
21 They will pass through it hard pressed and hungry; and it shall happen, when they are hungry, that they will be enraged and curse their king and their God, and look upward.
22 Then they will look to the earth, and see trouble and darkness, gloom of anguish; and they will be driven into darkness.
Vs 19 - This is a description of what the People of God were doing in Isaiah's day. Instead of inquiring of the Lord for direction - they were seeking the dark counsel of the dead.
Vs 20 - Here we see the key to faith. WE KNOW WE HAVE LIGHT IN US WHEN WE SPEAK ACCORDING TO THE WORD!
Then the prophet describes a very dark time coming for the nation of Israel. If you study the history - you find out that the King at that time was Ahaz - and he listened to this dark counsel - made some poor political alliances - which led the people to eventually be conquered by Babylon and hauled off into captivity (known as the Babylonian Captivity).
Vs 21 - The people's reaction to this captivity is to curse their king AND THEIR GOD. It wasn't God who left them - they failed to know His Word or inquire of Him but instead sought " mediums and wizards who mutter and whisper". This is typical of people - even today! WE chose our own way apart from God's. WE fail to know His Word or ask Him. WE then receive the result of our choices. THEN we blame God???
vs 22 - Chapter 8 ends with the people "driven into darkness".
BUT....
Chapter 9 dawns with a prophecy... The people in darkness have seen a great Light!
"For unto us a Child has been born, unto us a Son is given..."
Awesome!
Merry Christmas my friends. Enjoy the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!
I taught on this today in our morning service:
Isaiah 8:19-22
19 And when they say to you, "Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter," should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living?
20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
21 They will pass through it hard pressed and hungry; and it shall happen, when they are hungry, that they will be enraged and curse their king and their God, and look upward.
22 Then they will look to the earth, and see trouble and darkness, gloom of anguish; and they will be driven into darkness.
Vs 19 - This is a description of what the People of God were doing in Isaiah's day. Instead of inquiring of the Lord for direction - they were seeking the dark counsel of the dead.
Vs 20 - Here we see the key to faith. WE KNOW WE HAVE LIGHT IN US WHEN WE SPEAK ACCORDING TO THE WORD!
Then the prophet describes a very dark time coming for the nation of Israel. If you study the history - you find out that the King at that time was Ahaz - and he listened to this dark counsel - made some poor political alliances - which led the people to eventually be conquered by Babylon and hauled off into captivity (known as the Babylonian Captivity).
Vs 21 - The people's reaction to this captivity is to curse their king AND THEIR GOD. It wasn't God who left them - they failed to know His Word or inquire of Him but instead sought " mediums and wizards who mutter and whisper". This is typical of people - even today! WE chose our own way apart from God's. WE fail to know His Word or ask Him. WE then receive the result of our choices. THEN we blame God???
vs 22 - Chapter 8 ends with the people "driven into darkness".
BUT....
Chapter 9 dawns with a prophecy... The people in darkness have seen a great Light!
"For unto us a Child has been born, unto us a Son is given..."
Awesome!
Merry Christmas my friends. Enjoy the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!