“Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.” Isaiah 8:13 (KJV)
Isn’t it interesting how we humans think. Be friends with everybody and there will be peace. Become allies with every nation and we will be safe. That was Israel’s thinking. They had given up their trust in God, their enemies were coming, and they sought alliances with other nations. The LORD, however, instructed Isaiah to warn them of this error. Associations and bonds shall be broken (Is. 8:9). Counsels and confederacies will “come to nought” (vss. 10-12). What is Israel to do? First (v.12b), do not fear or be afraid! Second (v.13a), sanctify the Lord! The results of such action is that God will cause the enemy to fear (v.13b). The enemy may not fear Israel, but he will fear Israel’s God. The enemy may not dread to attack Israel, but he will dread facing Israel’s God.
Compromise and alliances will not create fear in the enemy. Counsel and confederation won’t either. The only alliance we need is one with God. The only counsel we need is God’s counsel. The only confederacy we need is one with God in control.
If we will only sanctify the Lord and then trust the One we have sanctified. Make the Lord holy to us. Set the Lord up on the throne of our life. Make God our partner-in-life; our ally; our confederate. Listen only to his counsel. By forming an alliance with God, our enemy will always fear.
The enemy may rage but he dreads our God and those who trust in God.
Dear Father, thank you for your alliance with us through Jesus Christ. Empower us with non-fearing trust. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today in your alliance with God,