Tumultuous Times
What to do in Tumultuous Times
(Isaiah 8:11-17)
Judah was facing an invasion from both Syria and Northern Israel. God gave the prophet Isaiah a strong warning. Here’s what to do during tumultuous times:
- Fear God the Most. v13 He is the one who should make you tremble.
a) Don’t worry about what everyone is worrying about. v12 “Don’t call everything a conspiracy, like they do, and don’t live in dread of what frightens them.
There are many things that cause concern, but don’t blindly follow the crowd. Don’t fear what is outside of your control anyway. Worry itself can cause harm and the making of wrong decisions. Don’t be a lemming!
b) Focus on God. v13 …He is the one who should make you tremble.
Although Isaiah had once an awesome vision of God (Isa. 6), he was influenced by the people around him.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. We see things in a better light. God is “the LORD of Heaven’s Armies”. He is the one we should fear. Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
c) Know the benefits v14 He will keep you safe…
Psalm 91:14 “Because he loves me… I will protect him.” Psalm 23 Though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil.
d) Know the cost of not fearing God. v14 …for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare.
Judah ultimately failed, but God had a plan to bring inner change through the Gospel. If you face troubles, hang on in faith and choose to fear God the most.
- Preserve in teaching about God. v16 Preserve the teaching of God; entrust his instructions to those who follow me.
Keep the teaching of the Bible, the foundation of life.
3. Hope in the Lord. v17 I will wait for the LORD… I will put my hope in him.
Don’t rush to take actions that you will regret, that may harm you. Know that God will soon intervene.
We may live in tumultuous times. God is a sure foundation, a hope for the future, and a present help in time of need.