Isaiah 8:16
16 Bind up [tsarar] the testimony, [ta`uwdah] seal [chatham] the law [towrah] among my disciples. [limmuwd] KJV-Interlinear
16 Bind
up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. NASB
And what more is there to
be said? Most people have already made up
their minds, and all the words in the world, even phenomenal proofs, will not
be enough to convince people to change their minds.
This was true in Isaiah’s
day. It was true in Jesus’ day. After all, Jesus performed more miracles and
wonders than the world has ever seen, ever, and still people rejected Him.
And so it is even true in
our current day. People have made up
their minds. Even massive difficulties
in a persons life or in world events, will not be enough to change the minds of
most people.
However, there are still
those who are positive, and always have been positive toward Gods word. There are even people on the edge, as it
were, who can still tilt their life towards God and truth.
But Isaiah is ordered to
bind up the words just given to him. In
other words, the scroll or material that he has been writing on, or has been
reading from, is to be rolled up, as a book is closed and put away.
And it should be obvious
that when a book is closed, there is no further reading. When it is put away, then it is generally
forgotten or disregarded.
To seal the document, is
something that is done when a legal document is closed or sealed as with a bit
of melted wax, such that it is not opened again and its contents made known,
except on special occasions. A legal document is generally prepared, then sealed,
and then opened only when there is some legal matter to be addressed.
And here, the words are
disregarded and of no use to those who are indifferent.
But in the case of Bible doctrine,
the words are not only seal within the context of the written scriptures, but
they are sealed in the souls of those who have read, or heard, or have received
instruction, and have a genuine desire to know their meaning and purpose. It is
then that Gods word is sealed within the souls of positive believers.
As to unbelievers or
negative believers, the words are of no importance. Even if they open up the Bible, and read or
hear them, they cannot figure them out.
Only people who obey Gods
process for spiritual inculcation, can come to know and understand spiritual
things.
