Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"Seal the law among my disciples"
Text: Isaiah 8:16
THE STUDY OF THE SCRIPTURES
Every good and faithful servant of the LORD is committed to the study of the Scriptures. Isaiah was a prophet who had some disciples. This was his word to them.
“Bind up the testimony,
Seal the law among my disciples.
And I will wait on the LORD,
Who hides His face from the house of Jacob;
And I will hope in Him.
Here am I and the children whom the LORD has given me!
We are for signs and wonders in Israel
From the LORD of hosts,
Who dwells in Mount Zion.”
Isaiah 8:16-18
1. The words “testimony” and “the law”.
a) These were references to the written Scriptures.
b) The ancient scholars had a very reverent regard for the Scriptures.
i) The Scriptures were not to be tampered with.
ii) They are read and studied.
iii) Then they are bound and sealed.
iv) They were never careless in their regard for the holy Scriptures.
2. Responding to the Scriptures that are read:
a) Isaiah sets an example to his disciples.
b) He knew that God had hidden His face from the houses of Israel:
i) Because of their idolatry.
ii) Because of their wicked ways.
iii) Because they had abandoned their faith.
c) He determined to do the following things:
i) He will wait on the LORD.
ii) He will exercise hope in Him.
3. Further steps:
a) He committed himself and his family for the Lord’s service.
b) His children would be “signs and wonders in Israel”.
c) Shear-Jashub
i) This was the first son of Isaiah.
ii) His name means, “A remnant will return”.
iii) Isaiah expressed his faith that God would preserve a remnant
who will one day return to Israel.
d) Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz
i) This was the second son of Isaiah.
ii) This name means, “Speed the spoil, hasten the booty”.
iii) This was a reminder of how the Assyrians would speedily attack the following countries, Syria, Israel, Judah and other smaller nations that banded themselves to resist the enemy.
iv) Isaiah’s own name:
I) It points to God as his salvation.
II) He was expressing faith in God as the Redeemer/ Deliverer.
4. Consciousness of God.
a) Isaiah had a great consciousness of God as “The LORD of hosts”.
b) He believed that God dwelt among His people still.
c) The LORD was at Mount Zion, the spiritual sanctuary.