Isaiah 8:19
When men tell you to consult the spirits of the dead and the spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn't a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?
When men tell you
This phrase sets the stage for a warning against the practices that were prevalent in ancient Israel. The Hebrew word for "men" here can refer to people in general, indicating that this was a common temptation. Historically, Israel was surrounded by nations that practiced divination and necromancy, and the Israelites were often tempted to adopt these practices. This phrase serves as a reminder of the constant pressure to conform to the surrounding culture, a challenge that remains relevant for believers today.

to consult the spirits of the dead
The Hebrew term for "spirits of the dead" is "ob," which refers to necromancy or the practice of communicating with the dead. This was strictly forbidden in the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 19:31, Deuteronomy 18:10-12) as it was considered an abomination. The Israelites were called to be set apart, relying solely on God for guidance and wisdom. This phrase underscores the futility and danger of seeking guidance from sources other than God.

and the spiritists
The word "spiritists" comes from the Hebrew "yidde'oni," referring to those who claim to have knowledge of the future or hidden things through occult means. In the ancient Near East, such practices were common, but they were condemned by God. This highlights the importance of discerning the source of spiritual guidance and the need to reject any form of occultism.

who whisper and mutter
These actions describe the secretive and deceptive nature of spiritists. The Hebrew words used here suggest incantations or spells spoken in hushed tones, emphasizing the clandestine and misleading nature of these practices. This imagery contrasts with the clear and open communication God offers through His prophets and His Word.

should not a people consult their God?
This rhetorical question challenges the Israelites to consider their priorities and loyalties. The Hebrew word for "consult" implies seeking guidance or direction. The question calls the people back to their covenant relationship with God, who is the ultimate source of wisdom and truth. It serves as a reminder that God is always available to His people, ready to provide guidance and support.

Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?
This phrase highlights the absurdity of seeking life-giving guidance from the dead. The Hebrew context emphasizes the contrast between the living God and the lifelessness of idols and dead spirits. It serves as a powerful reminder of the life and hope found in God alone, encouraging believers to seek Him in all circumstances.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Isaiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament, Isaiah is the author of the book bearing his name. He served as a prophet in Judah during the reigns of several kings and is known for his messages of both judgment and hope.

2. Spiritists and Mediums
Individuals who claim to communicate with the dead or with spirits. In ancient Israel, consulting such individuals was forbidden by God, as it was seen as a form of idolatry and rebellion against Him.

3. Judah
The southern kingdom of Israel, where Isaiah primarily ministered. During Isaiah's time, Judah faced threats from surrounding nations and internal spiritual decline.

4. God
The one true God of Israel, whom Isaiah calls the people to consult instead of turning to forbidden practices.

5. The Living and the Dead
The living refers to the people of Judah, while the dead refers to the spirits that the people were wrongly consulting.
Teaching Points
Consult God First
In times of uncertainty or fear, believers are encouraged to seek guidance from God through prayer and His Word, rather than turning to worldly or forbidden sources.

Discernment in Spiritual Matters
Christians are called to exercise discernment and avoid practices that are contrary to God's commands, recognizing that not all spiritual experiences are from God.

Trust in God's Sovereignty
Trusting in God's sovereignty means believing that He has the answers and guidance we need, even when the world offers seemingly easier or more immediate solutions.

Rejecting Idolatry
Consulting mediums or spiritists is a form of idolatry, as it places trust in something other than God. Believers must guard against idolatry in all its forms.

Living by Faith, Not Fear
The temptation to seek forbidden guidance often stems from fear. Christians are called to live by faith, trusting in God's provision and protection.
Bible Study Questions
1. What are some modern equivalents of consulting mediums or spiritists, and how can Christians avoid these practices?

2. How does Isaiah 8:19 challenge us to evaluate where we seek guidance and wisdom in our daily lives?

3. In what ways can we cultivate a deeper trust in God to guide us, especially in times of uncertainty or fear?

4. How does the account of King Saul in 1 Samuel 28 serve as a warning against seeking guidance from the dead?

5. What practical steps can we take to ensure that we are consulting God first in all areas of our lives?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Deuteronomy 18:10-12
This passage explicitly forbids the Israelites from engaging in practices such as divination, sorcery, and consulting the dead, emphasizing that these practices are detestable to God.

1 Samuel 28
The account of King Saul consulting the witch of Endor, which serves as a account example of the consequences of seeking guidance from the dead rather than from God.

Leviticus 19:31
This verse warns against turning to mediums and spiritists, reinforcing the call to holiness and reliance on God alone.
The Helplessness of SuperstitionE. Johnson Isaiah 8:16-22
From Light to Darkness: from Darkness to LightHugh H. Currie, B. D.Isaiah 8:19-20
God to be Sought by NationsJ. Hill, B. D.Isaiah 8:19-20
Gripping Old Truths and Seeing New VisionsJ. Thomas, M. A.Isaiah 8:19-20
Religion and SuperstitionProf. J. Skinner, D. D.Isaiah 8:19-20
SuperstitionA. FreudIsaiah 8:19-20
The Duty of Seeking unto GodEssex Congregational RemembrancerIsaiah 8:19-20
WizardsA. B. Davidson, D. D.Isaiah 8:19-20
Wizards that Peep and MutterProf. J. Skinner, D. D.Isaiah 8:19-20
The Confession of Ungodliness, EtcW. Clarkson Isaiah 8:19-22
People
Immanuel, Isaiah, Jacob, Jeberechiah, Mahershalalhashbaz, Remaliah, Rezin, Uriah, Urijah, Zechariah
Places
Assyria, Damascus, Euphrates River, Jerusalem, Judah, Mount Zion, Samaria, Shiloah
Topics
Arts, Behalf, Bird-like, Chatter, Chirp, Consult, Control, Dead, Familiar, Ghosts, Gods, Hollow, Inquire, Mediums, Mutter, Necromancers, Peep, Request, Secret, Seek, Shouldn't, Soothsayers, Sounds, Spiritists, Spirits, Whisper, Wise, Wizards
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Isaiah 8:19

     4190   spiritism
     4195   spirits

Isaiah 8:19-20

     4155   divination
     4175   mediums
     4185   sorcery and magic
     5780   advisers
     8128   guidance, receiving

Isaiah 8:19-22

     4132   demons, malevolence
     4824   famine, spiritual
     5864   futility

Library
Shiloah and Euphrates
Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly ... the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many.' ISAIAH viii. 6, 7. The kingdom of Judah was threatened with a great danger in an alliance between Israel and Damascus. The cowardly King Ahaz, instead of listening to Isaiah's strong assurances and relying on the help of God, made what he thought a master-stroke of policy in invoking the help of the formidable Assyrian power. That ambitious military
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Search the Scriptures
I feel at this particular crisis of religious affairs, it is imperative upon the Christian minister to urge his people to hold fast the doctrines of the truth--the words of God. This seems likely to become the age of preaching, rather than the age of praying. We now see everywhere large congregations assembling in halls and abbeys to listen to the Word preached; and it is an ominous sign of the times, that these preachings are not only espoused by the orthodox, but even by those whom we have considered
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 4: 1858

Exposition of the Doctrines of Grace
? Perseverance of the Saints--"The Final Perseverance of Believers in Christ Jesus," by William O'Neill (message 5). The Rev. C. H. SPURGEON took the chair at 3 o'clock. The proceedings were commenced by singing the 21st Hymn-- Saved from the damning power of sin, The law's tremendous curse, We'll now the sacred song begin Where God began with us. We'll sing the vast unmeasured grace Which, from the days of old, Did all his chosen sons embrace, As sheep within the fold. The basis of eternal love
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 7: 1861

Prefatory Scripture Passages.
To the Law and to the Testimony; if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them.-- Isa. viii. 20. Thus saith the Lord; Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.--Jer. vi. 16. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. But
G. H. Gerberding—The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church

Of the Scriptures
Eph. ii. 20.--"And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." Believers are "the temple of the living God," in which he dwells and walks, 2 Cor. vi. 16. Every one of them is a little sanctuary and temple to his Majesty, "sanctify the Lord of hosts in your hearts." Though he be "the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity," yet he is pleased to come down to this poor cottage of a creature's heart, and dwell in it. Is not this
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Gihon, the Same with the Fountain of Siloam.
I. In 1 Kings 1:33,38, that which is, in the Hebrew, "Bring ye Solomon to Gihon: and they brought him to Gihon"; is rendered by the Chaldee, "Bring ye him to Siloam: and they brought him to Siloam." Where Kimchi thus; "Gihon is Siloam, and it is called by a double name. And David commanded, that they should anoint Solomon at Gihon for a good omen, to wit, that, as the waters of the fountain are everlasting, so might his kingdom be." So also the Jerusalem writers; "They do not anoint the king, but
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Trials of the Christian
AFFLICTION--ITS NATURE AND BENEFITS. The school of the cross is the school of light; it discovers the world's vanity, baseness, and wickedness, and lets us see more of God's mind. Out of dark afflictions comes a spiritual light. In times of affliction, we commonly meet with the sweetest experiences of the love of God. The end of affliction is the discovery of sin; and of that, to bring us to a Saviour. Doth not God ofttimes even take occasion, by the hardest of things that come upon us, to visit
John Bunyan—The Riches of Bunyan

That it is not Lawful for the Well Affected Subjects to Concur in Such an Engagement in War, and Associate with the Malignant Party.
That It Is Not Lawful For The Well Affected Subjects To Concur In Such An Engagement In War, And Associate With The Malignant Party. Some convinced of the unlawfulness of the public resolutions and proceedings, in reference to the employing of the malignant party, yet do not find such clearness and satisfaction in their own consciences as to forbid the subjects to concur in this war, and associate with the army so constituted. Therefore it is needful to speak something to this point, That it is
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Universality of Actual Grace
The gratuity of grace does not conflict with its universality. Though God distributes His graces freely, He grants them to all men without exception, because He wills all to be saved. This divine "will to save" (voluntas Dei salvifica) may be regarded in relation either to the wayfaring state or to the status termini. Regarded from the first-mentioned point of view it is a merciful will (voluntas misericordiae) and is generally called first or antecedent will (voluntas prima s. antecedens)
Joseph Pohle—Grace, Actual and Habitual

Jesus' Temporary Residence at Capernaum.
^A Matt. IV. 13-16. ^a 13 And leaving Nazareth [This expression means that Jesus now ceased to make Nazareth his home. For description of Nazareth, see page 60], he came and dwelt in Capernaum [See page 119. Capernaum means city of Nahum, or village of consolation. Its modern name, "Tel-Hum," means hill of Nahum. The word "dwelt" means that Jesus made this town his headquarters. He owned no house there (Matt. viii. 20). He may have dwelt with some of his disciples--for instance, Simon Peter--Matt.
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Of the Character of the Unregenerate.
Ephes. ii. 1, 2. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. AMONG all the various trusts which men can repose in each other, hardly any appears to be more solemn and tremendous, than the direction of their sacred time, and especially of those hours which they spend in the exercise of public devotion.
Philip Doddridge—Practical Discourses on Regeneration

To Pastors and Teachers
To Pastors and Teachers If all who laboured for the conversion of others were to introduce them immediately into Prayer and the Interior Life, and make it their main design to gain and win over the heart, numberless as well as permanent conversions would certainly ensue. On the contrary, few and transient fruits must attend that labour which is confined to outward matters; such as burdening the disciple with a thousand precepts for external exercises, instead of leaving the soul to Christ by the
Madame Guyon—A Short and Easy Method of Prayer

"But if we Walk in the Light, as He is in the Light, we have Fellowship one with Another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ His
1 John i. 7.--"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." Art is the imitation of nature, and true religion is a divine art, that consists in the imitation of God himself, the author of nature. Therefore it is a more high and transcendent thing, of a sublimer nature than all the arts and sciences among men. Those reach but to some resemblance of the wisdom of God, expressed in his works,
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Wicked Husbandmen.
"Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: and when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto
William Arnot—The Parables of Our Lord

Letter xix (A. D. 1127) to Suger, Abbot of S. Denis
To Suger, Abbot of S. Denis He praises Suger, who had unexpectedly renounced the pride and luxury of the world to give himself to the modest habits of the religious life. He blames severely the clerk who devotes himself rather to the service of princes than that of God. 1. A piece of good news has reached our district; it cannot fail to do great good to whomsoever it shall have come. For who that fear God, hearing what great things He has done for your soul, do not rejoice and wonder at the great
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

First Sunday in Lent
Text: Second Corinthians 6, 1-10. 1 And working together with him we entreat also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain 2 (for he saith, At an acceptable time I hearkened unto thee, and in a day of salvation did I succor thee: behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation): 3 giving no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our ministration be not blamed; 4 but in everything commending ourselves, as ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities,
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

Covenanting a Privilege of Believers.
Whatever attainment is made by any as distinguished from the wicked, or whatever gracious benefit is enjoyed, is a spiritual privilege. Adoption into the family of God is of this character. "He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power (margin, or, the right; or, privilege) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."[617] And every co-ordinate benefit is essentially so likewise. The evidence besides, that Covenanting
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Christ's Prophetic Office
'The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet,' &c. Deut 18:85. Having spoken of the person of Christ, we are next to speak of the offices of Christ. These are Prophetic, Priestly, and Regal. 'The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet.' Enunciatur hic locus de Christo. It is spoken of Christ.' There are several names given to Christ as a Prophet. He is called the Counsellor' in Isa 9:9. In uno Christo Angelus foederis completur [The Messenger of the Covenant appears in Christ alone].
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

A Treatise of the Fear of God;
SHOWING WHAT IT IS, AND HOW DISTINGUISHED FROM THAT WHICH IS NOT SO. ALSO, WHENCE IT COMES; WHO HAS IT; WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS; AND WHAT THE PRIVILEGES OF THOSE THAT HAVE IT IN THEIR HEARTS. London: Printed for N. Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, over against the Stocks market: 1679. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," and "a fountain of life"--the foundation on which all wisdom rests, as well as the source from whence it emanates. Upon a principle
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

That the Employing Of, and Associating with the Malignant Party, According as is Contained in the Public Resolutions, is Sinful and Unlawful.
That The Employing Of, And Associating With The Malignant Party, According As Is Contained In The Public Resolutions, Is Sinful And Unlawful. If there be in the land a malignant party of power and policy, and the exceptions contained in the Act of Levy do comprehend but few of that party, then there need be no more difficulty to prove, that the present public resolutions and proceedings do import an association and conjunction with a malignant party, than to gather a conclusion from clear premises.
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

History of the Interpretation.
1. AMONG THE JEWS. This History, as to its essential features, might, a priori, be sketched with tolerable certainty. From the nature of the case, we could scarcely expect that the Jews should have adopted views altogether erroneous as to the subject of the prophecy in question; for the Messiah appears in it, not in His humiliation, but in His glory--rich in gifts and blessings, and Pelagian self-delusion will, a priori, return an affirmative answer to the question as to whether one is
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

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