spiritual battle, Do Not Consult the Dead (Is.8)

The Israelites were not relying on God, and although forbidden and warned, they were still relying on other things, including diviners and enchanters.  And so, the Lord of Hosts was not going to protect them from the Babylonians, but allow them to go into Babylonian captivity...

(Isaiah 3:1-3)  For behold, the Lord God of hosts is going to remove from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support, the whole supply of bread
And the whole supply of water; 2  the mighty man and the warrior, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder, 3  the captain of fifty and the honorable man, the counselor and the expert artisan, and the skillful enchanter...

Within the words that the Lord spoke to Isaiah, he was told that no matter what the others do, he was to fear the Lord of hosts and seek consultation from Him.  Even the mediums and spiritists - if they were honest - would say, "Why consult the dead on behalf of the living, when one can consult God, Himself?"...

(Isaiah 8:11-22)  For thus the Lord spoke to me with mighty power and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying,

12 “You are not to say, ‘It is a conspiracy!’ in regard to all that this people call a conspiracy, and you are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it.
13 “It is the Lord of hosts whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, and He shall be your dread.
14 “Then He shall become a sanctuary; but to both the houses of Israel, a stone to strike and a rock to stumble over, and a snare and a trap for the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15 “Many will stumble over them, then they will fall and be broken; they will even be snared and caught.”

16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. 17 And I will wait for the Lord who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob; I will even look eagerly for Him. 18 Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has given me are for signs and wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.

19 When they say to you, “Consult the mediums and the spiritists who whisper and mutter,” should not a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? 20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn. 21 They will pass through the land hard-pressed and famished, and it will turn out that when they are hungry, they will be enraged and curse their king and their God as they face upward. 22 Then they will look to the earth, and behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish; and they will be driven away into darkness.

From this we see:
- diviners, enchanters, mediums and spirits consult "the dead" for people who believe this will help them in some way, but most of it is fake, and if it is real, the words received would be from demons
- engaging in the world of enchanters, mediums and spirits only leads to darkness
- demons cannot shed any light and  do not speak truth, only God's word is truth and is the only absolute and trustworthy standard as the final authority (Is.8:20)
- we are to fear the Lord of hosts who is all-knowing and all-powerful, and is enthroned over all angels and demons

Personal experience:  over the years, I have met a few people who have admitted to being witches.  A few of these believed and claimed that they were GOOD witches.  Yet there was still a darkness that hung over them. 

How can one use evil and curses and spells in order to bring about good?  These are just very dark attempts to manipulate situations and other people.  And the "goodness" that they are trying to conjure up (or out) is what?  And to what end?  To what purpose?  It is all self-serving and self-appointed.

Today's takeaway:  even God does not manipulate!  With God's love, there is patience and kindness and selflessness and goodness...

(Romans 5:6-11)  For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

(James 1:16-17)  Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

(Psalm 31:19)  How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You, which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You, before the sons of men!