“To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.” (Isaiah 8:20).
There are not a ton of exclamation points in the book of Isaiah, so in this instance, I picture him shouting “in all CAPS!”. THIS PROCLAMATION WAS IMPORTANT! Why? Because at this point in time, God’s people, the Israelites, were broken up into Northern Israel and Judah. And Northern Israel was teaming up with some other nations to try and wage war on Judah (where Isaiah lived). Now, God had just told the King of Judah, Ahaz, that he need not fear because they would not overcome Judah. However, there was one condition that God gave to Ahaz: God said, “If you will not believe, you surely shall not last” (Isaiah 7:9).
And sadly, Ahaz began looking to another king for help (Assyria), who eventually turned his back on Judah and waged war on them himself.
And Isaiah had a front row seat to Ahaz’s disobedience. While chaos and war is raging all around Isaiah, while he is telling Ahaz God’s instruction for him and Judah, then watching Ahaz completely disregard it, Isaiah proclaims the importance of God’s word: “To the law and to the testimony”. He also says (“I will wait for the Lord…I will even look eagerly for Him.” (8: 17)
Isaiah displays great faith in God and His word, searching it, looking to it for hope (in 8:20 the word “dawn” is also translated as hope) and it is after his proclamation of faith and pure reverence for the Word of God that God gives him the most beautiful prophecy of the coming Messiah (Isaiah Chapter 9): “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light…..for a child will be born to us….and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”
What this time period in Isaiah’s life has shown me is just how much the Word of God is our hope in uncertain times when our world leaders may be off doing their own things and not consulting God. Isaiah did not try to control Ahaz or start a campaign to smear him….instead, he said (Heidi paraphrase here) “Get to the Word of God and see what He says!….there is your hope!”
I tell you what, I have just embarked on this in depth study of Isaiah by Kay Arthur called “Precept upon Precept”. I love it! I spend days on one chapter, reading it over and over, answering questions, and being directed to different verses in different books of the bible. One thing I’m already noticing is how studying the Word of God has stifled the noise of the world in my life and magnified the noise of how holy, powerful, loving, and seriously terrifying( if you do not believe in Him, and even sometimes if you do know Him) our God truly is. It has given me a depth of reverence, awe and wonder that I have not experienced before. And I LOVE it!
So if you find yourself shaking in your boots with fear because of how intense things are right now in our nation…follow the advice of Isaiah and get “To the law and to the testimony!” aka study your bible! There is power and peace in knowing the Word of God. Praise be to Jesus!