THE CLOSED BOOK

Isaiah paints a very vivid picture. Here is a closed book and the person who is able to read can't be bothered; it's too much trouble to open it. And the person who can't read is content to leave it like that; it's of no importance to try to find out what the book is about.  But the book in question is God's book, His Word of truth: it brings the knowledge of God; without it, all is at best surmise, at worst idle fancy and error.  How swiftly Isaiah's picture leaps over the 2,700 years since he put it on paper! He might well be living today and describing how things are all round.  

Here is a life-long churchgoer, a devout serious man (I could tell you his name), but he says, 'Never at any time in my life have I read the Bible for myself'. He can read, but can't be bothered, and tragedy of tragedies the church he attends encourages religion and ritual but not personal Bible reading.  

And here is a man talking confidently of life after death, sure that "Gran" is there, "watching over us like she always did", himself unafraid in the face of death.  He might as well not be able to read because the Bible does not matter.  

And here is a converted, committed Christian with a datable experience of accepting the Lord Jesus as Saviour, and for the sake of thirty extra minutes in bed, or because life's busyness comes crowding in, or because at the day's end tiredness makes its claim, it's suddenly too much trouble to open the closed book, not important enough to read, receive, welcome and expose mind, heart and soul to the precious Word of God.  

And here is a Christian worker, believe me, I'm not inventing but quoting: 'I'm occupied with the Bible all day so when I get to bed it's a relief to read a novel'.  

Thus we join those who honour Jesus with our lips but we have distanced our hearts from him.  No bible, no spirituality; God at arm's length.  Alec Motyer, Isaiah by the Day

For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.

And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:

And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.

Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.  Isaiah 29:10-14