The Pulpit Commentary on Isaiah 29:11

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

God's Word a sealed Book.

Reference is to the prophecies of Isaiah, which were evidently circulated in writing among the people; but, by reason of prevailing hypocrisy, pride, and obstinacy, they were not understood—they were like a sealed book (compare the figure in Revelation 5:2). The connection of the text may be stated thus: "The hearers stare in astonishment at a prophecy seemingly so out of relation to facts. The prophet warns them that, if they willfully deaden their spiritual faculties, there will be no emerging afterwards from this state of blindness and stupefaction. Jehovah will judicially fix them in it. The ruling class is mainly addressed. They are spiritually asleep, with eyes closed and heads wrapped up (in Oriental fashion)."

I. GOD'S WORD IS NOT A SEALED BOOK BY DIVINE DESIGN. A curious notion has gained acceptance that the Bible could not be the Word of God if it did not contain mysteries quite beyond the possibility of man's apprehension. On the other hand, it has been well urged that God can have no need thus to "show off" his superiority; and that revelation must mean "light," "unfolding;" it can never be intended to mean "bewildering." Of this we may be sure—there is nothing in the Bible scaled from man. Whatever is there is for our understanding, for our instruction. Isaiah's prophecies, given by God's inspiration, are plain enough; he may read them who runs.

II. GOD'S WORD BECOMES A SEALED BOOK THROUGH HUMAN PERVERSITY. This may be shown:

1. In the blinding influence of prejudice. We cannot find in the Word what we do not want to find. This may be applied to national prejudice, sectarian prejudice, and personal prejudice.

2. In the closing of men's minds to the incomings and gracious illuminations and inspirations of God's Spirit. He who gives the Word gives the keys to its meanings and applications, through the guiding Spirit. It is a sealed Book if we have not the key.

3. In the judicial scaling which comes as a judgment on the perversity. This is the precise case associated with the text. These willful rulers were determined to treat Isaiah's prophecies as a sealed book: then to them it shall be a sealed book; and when they want to understand it, they shall "weary themselves to find the door." Apply to our own relations with God's Word. The openness and suggestiveness of it is a test of our spiritual state. We must never think that God has closed it; the fact can only be that we have closed ourselves to it.—R.T.

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