Isaiah 8:16-22: a reflection

16Wrap up the covenant. Seal the law among my disciples. 17I will wait for the LORD, who hides his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. 18Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of Armies, who dwells in Mount Zion. 19When they tell you, “Consult with those who have familiar spirits and with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter,” shouldn’t a people consult with their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? 20Turn to the law and to the covenant! If they don’t speak according to this word, surely there is no morning for them. 21They will pass through it, very distressed and hungry. It will happen that when they are hungry, they will worry, and curse their king and their God. They will turn their faces upward, 22then look to the earth and see distress, darkness, and the gloom of anguish. They will be driven into thick darkness.

In a time of darkness and confusion, when people were turning to mediums and those who consult the dead for guidance, Isaiah asks a pointed question: When they tell you, Consult with those who have familiar spirits and with the wizards, who chirp and mutter, shouldn't a people consult with their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? He calls them instead to turn to the law and to the testimony, to God's own word, for guidance, rather than to false and forbidden sources.

Notice the question Isaiah presses: should not a people consult their God, rather than false sources? When people sought guidance from mediums and the dead, Isaiah asked why they would consult such sources instead of the living God who was their own. It made no sense to seek guidance from the dead on behalf of the living, or from false sources, when they had God himself to consult. The right place to seek guidance was God and his word, the law and the testimony, not the false sources to which people were tempted to turn.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too can be tempted to seek guidance from sources other than God. We may not turn to mediums, but we can seek direction from many sources that are not God, trusting them over him, consulting everything but the God who is ours to consult. But Isaiah asks, should not a people consult their God? When you seek guidance, turn first to God and his word, rather than to the many other sources you might consult; should not you, who have God, consult him? Do not seek direction from sources that are not God, trusting them over him; turn to God and his word, the surest guidance, as Isaiah called the people to the law and the testimony rather than to the mediums and the dead. Consult your God, who is yours to consult, rather than the false or lesser sources to which you might be tempted to turn, for guidance is surest from the living God and his word.

Lord, in a time of darkness and confusion, when people were turning to mediums and those who consult the dead for guidance, Isaiah asked a pointed question: when they tell you, consult with those who have familiar spirits and with the wizards, shouldn't a people consult with their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? He called them instead to turn to the law and to the testimony, to your own word, rather than to false and forbidden sources. Show me the question Isaiah presses: should not a people consult their God, rather than false sources? It made no sense to seek guidance from the dead on behalf of the living, when they had you to consult. The right place to seek guidance was you and your word, not the false sources to which people were tempted to turn. Take that to my heart, for I too can be tempted to seek guidance from sources other than you. I may not turn to mediums, but I can seek direction from many sources that are not you, trusting them over you, consulting everything but the God who is mine to consult. But Isaiah asks, should not a people consult their God? When I seek guidance, help me turn first to you and your word, rather than to the many other sources I might consult. Keep me from seeking direction from sources that are not you, trusting them over you; help me turn to you and your word, Lord, the surest guidance, as Isaiah called the people to the law and the testimony. Help me consult my God, who is mine to consult.