John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 8:16

"Bind thou up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples." — Isaiah 8:16 (ASV)

Bind up the testimony. The Lord now turns His discourse to the prophet, encouraging him to carry out his office with boldness and perseverance, even as he had to contend against apostates and rebels.

This encouragement was highly necessary, for Isaiah had encountered great obstinacy in the people. If he had focused solely on their present condition—that is, the people's unbelief and his own fruitless and unsuccessful efforts—he would have certainly lost heart.

For this reason, the Lord determined to confirm and seal his calling, not only for the prophet's sake but also for the sake of all who would obey His doctrine. Even if very few people believed the prophet's words, the Lord still testifies that His doctrine has been sealed to them. Therefore, the prophet must not desist from his office of teaching, nor must believers cease to yield the obedience of faith.

Seal the law. He compares the doctrine of the word to a sealed letter, which can indeed be felt and handled by many people, but is read and understood by only a few—that is, by those to whom it is sent and addressed.

Thus, the word of God is received by few—the elect—though it is offered indiscriminately to all. The word is therefore sealed to those who gain no benefit from it, and it is sealed in such a way that the Lord unseals and opens it to His own people by the Spirit.

Some derive the verb צור (tzor) from נצר (natzar), and translate it as keep. But though this does not greatly affect the general meaning, the superiority of the rendering I have followed can still be proved from the other verb, seal. For the custom in ancient times was first to tie a thread around a letter and then to seal it.

From this, we draw a very useful doctrine: teachers and ministers of the word should constantly persevere in carrying out their office, even if it seems that all people revolt and show nothing but obstinacy and rebellion. For the Lord will reserve for Himself some disciples by whom His letter will be read with benefit, though it is closed to others.

The prophet later uses the same metaphor when he says that the word is like a closed book (Isaiah 29:11). But in that passage, he only mentions wicked people, while here he mentions disciples, for whom the doctrine of the word is not without benefit.

It may be objected: Was it then the prophet's duty to disregard the people, withdraw, and shut himself up with the disciples, among whom some good results were produced? I reply that this was not the prophet's meaning. For it was the Lord's will that Isaiah should appear in public, cry aloud, and reveal His will to all.

But since he spoke to the deaf and might be discouraged by seeing no evidence of the fruit of his labors, the Lord determined to inspire and encourage him. He was to go forward, even when matters were in a desperate condition, and, satisfied with his disciples (though their number was small), to become more courageous every day.