Grasp the Gospel — Bible Comprehension Quizzes

Isaiah 8 Devotional

Holy Fear Instead of Dread

“The LORD of Hosts is the One you shall regard as holy. Only He should be feared; only He should be dreaded.”Isaiah 8:13 (BSB)

Assyria is coming like a river in flood, rising until it reaches Judah's neck (8:7-8). The people around Isaiah see conspiracy everywhere and live in dread. God firmly tells his prophet not to share their fears. Instead, the LORD of Hosts alone is to be treated as holy and dreaded (8:12-13).

That holy fear does something surprising. The same LORD becomes a sanctuary for those who honor him and a stone that trips those who will not (8:14). Peter applies these words to believers facing hostility, urging them not to be shaken but to set Christ apart as Lord in their hearts (1 Peter 3:14-15). Isaiah chooses to wait for the LORD even while God hides his face, and he refuses to consult mediums when God has already spoken in his law and testimony (8:17-20). The fear of God is not one more anxiety added to the pile. It is the one fear large enough to crowd out the others, and it leads to refuge.

To think about: Which fear has been shaping your choices lately, and what would change if reverence for God took its place?

About Isaiah 8: The Flood of Assyria and the Stumbling Stone

Isaiah's newborn son receives a name announcing that Assyria will soon plunder Damascus and Samaria, and Judah is warned that the same empire will sweep over it like a flooding river. The LORD tells Isaiah to fear Him alone and keep His teaching, while those who turn to mediums instead of God's word end in darkness.

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