8:12Isaiah 8:12

God with a strong hand charges His people not to walk in the way of this people, not to call confederacy what they call confederacy, and not to fear their fear or be afraid.Ms 40, 1890, par. 33–36+2 Instead they are to set the Lord of hosts apart as holy and let Him alone be their fear and dread, and to Him He will be a sanctuary while to the disobedient He becomes a stone of stumbling and snare.Ms 61, 1890, par. 11+2 This forbids any confederacy or alliance with unbelievers in carrying on God's work, taking the world as standard, or letting those without spiritual discernment guide, counsel, or control His instrumentalities.ST2 4.1+4 It likewise forbids forming a confederacy among believers after the world's manner by inner circles, exclusive combinations, and binding agreements that put control and mastery over brethren in human hands.Ms 61, 1890, par. 11+4 Human confederacies against God shall be broken in pieces and come to nothing, for God is with His people, so they are to stand distinct, keep His law and testimony prominent, and bear a clear-cut witness without compromise or fear of man.Ms 40, 1890, par. 33–36+4

The instruction comes with a strong hand, commanding that there be no walking in the way of this people, no calling confederacy what this people calls confederacy, and no fearing their fear or being afraid.Ms 40, 1890, par. 33–36+2 Those carrying responsibilities are not to form confederacies with unbelievers, nor are they to form confederacies among themselves after the manner and customs of the world by gathering a set group who think alike and say amen to every proposed plan.Ms 40, 1890, par. 33–36 The world is not to be the criterion, and what is needed is the heavenly anointing of the Spirit to discern sacred realities, to let the Lord work and His voice be heard, to sanctify the Lord of hosts and fear Him, and to bear the clear-cut first, second, and third angels' messages not in a tame whisper without heeding counsels to make the separating special truths less prominent.Ms 40, 1890, par. 33–36 To say a confederacy is forbidden means not echoing the people's alarm about a supposed alliance, threat, or conspiracy and not adopting their fears, talk, and outlook as one's own.ST May 28, 1894+4

Not joining in calling a threat a confederacy means not sharing the fear such talk creates, but honoring the Lord as holy and fearing Him as sanctuary amid a confederacy of evil whose plans will fail and cannot finally prevail.ST May 28, 1894 The warning forbids adopting the alliances and fears urged by those around and being afraid as they are, calling instead for fear of the Lord.Ms 45, 1903, par. 8–9+2 It forbids joining people in treating a feared alliance as cause for panic, requiring trust and obedience to God rather than acting independently of His will and providence.Ms 56, 1893, par. 3–5 It forbids echoing others' alarm about a confederacy or being ruled by the fears they promote, refusing the surrounding fearful outlook and refusing to be afraid of human threats or false teachings.Ms 48, 1903, par. 4–6 Applied to Isaiah 8:9-22, it is a warning to choose the Lord rather than follow self-directed plans that cause dissension, and it exposes the cry of confederacy when used for a powerful center claiming superiority and exclusive control.Lt 270, 1902, par. 1–2+1

Not fearing their fear means not being afraid of what others fear and not being intimidated by what they dread, but sanctifying the Lord of hosts and fearing Him, a charge given especially to those handling religious publications to keep sacred truth distinct from common material and let their work be governed by God's word.ST May 28, 1894+1 It means not joining in calling for an alliance or sharing the fear others urge, not following the way or counsel of opposers, but fearing and honoring the Lord, since wrong practices that appear right can become deception and a snare.Ms 75, 1898, par. 18–19 It means not joining the alliances and fears promoted around, not being intimidated by what others fear, but remaining confident in God because opposing counsels and plans will fail since God is with His people.Ms 149, 1907, par. 4–5 It means not adopting the wicked person's fear or being frightened by human threats, keeping trust in God rather than letting others control conscience or turn attention from Him.Lt 378, 1907, par. 20–21

A confederacy in the sense of the verse is a union of people engaged in work that lacks pure, straightforward, unwavering integrity, whose methods disobey God's Word and in whom trust should not be placed, neither joined nor feared when promoted by others.Ms 29, 1911, par. 50–51 Such a confederacy can also be formed by professed believers who unite to refuse heaven-sent light, anchoring at a fixed point of Bible truth, declaring they have all-sufficient light and need no more, and refusing to go forward.Ms 37, 1890, par. 4–5 After a message of warning is given such a confederacy forms to reject it, barricading itself and fearing that to show interest in light will let them through a trapdoor into some dangerous pit, setting stakes fast, shutting out the richest treasures of truth and the jewels and gems every mind needs, leaving those in it deceived, as nominal churches deal with the message from heaven.Ms 37, 1890, par. 4–5 This includes men in places of holy trust who reject reproof and refuse testimonies, boldly declaring that responsible men have lost faith in the messages, thereby strengthening rejecters of light in unbelief and giving them triumph and a sense of numbers and strength while men who had the light walk contrary to the light.Lt 24a, 1896, par. 5–6 A confederacy can also be a powerful center claiming superiority and exclusive control over the work, which God uproots, while unity is to be maintained through distinct territories rather than one institution controlling all.Lt 84, 1903, par. 6–8

Instead of echoing the alarm of those around them over supposed alliances and threats, God's people are to set the Lord of hosts Himself apart as holy and let Him alone be their fear and dread, refusing to be afraid of what others fear or to be governed by human threats.Ms 61, 1890, par. 11+4 They are not to adopt the fears, talk, outlook, and dreaded outcomes pressed upon them, nor to let the counsel, suggestions, plans, judgments, and fears of those who do not know the Father and the Son and lack spiritual discernment become the criterion for the work or be heard and followed, for such guidance weakens God's instrumentalities and sets aside Christ's counsel.Ms 61, 1890, par. 11+4 His working is to be given place, and His voice and orders from above are to be heard and obeyed, with the work governed by His word and sacred truth kept distinct from common material.Ms 61, 1890, par. 11+1 The same warning guards against close alliances with unbelievers that would draw believers away from God and against adopting alarm over political alliances.Lt 164, 1901, par. 18–20+1

When the Lord is feared in this way He becomes a sanctuary to the obedient, but to both houses of Israel and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem He becomes a stone of stumbling and rock of offense and a gin and snare, so that many stumble and fall and are broken and snared and taken.Lt 164, 1901, par. 18–20+3 The distinction separates those who remain loyal from professed believers who resist His will, whose false theories and worldly schemes for gain will fail as God exposes deceit and wrongdoing.RH Sep 10, 1903+1 The warning belongs with binding up the testimony and sealing the law among disciples and with judging every claim by the law and the testimony.Lt 164, 1901, par. 18–20

Both ancient and modern Israel have stumbled over that Rock because Christ in His life of self-denial and self-sacrifice, His purity, His exalted standard, and His perfect obedience to the law of God has been an offense to them.Ms 23, 1897, par. 17–18 Through satanic devices God's great standard of righteousness is turned into a rock of offense by teaching that Christ's great sacrifice to redeem man from Satan's power and the curse of the law abolished the law of God.Ms 23, 1897, par. 17–18

The verse forbids following the world's way from fear that obedience to God's commandments will bring ridicule, rejection, or want, for such fear shows lack of trust in His care.Ms 9, 1898, par. 42–43 He who provides rain and sunshine for crops can also withdraw rain or destroy supplies, and His people are to trust His care rather than be afraid of threats.Ms 9, 1898, par. 42–43

God's people are not to share the fears of the wicked nor to honor or revere what they honor, but to keep the mind fixed on God, hold fast to His strong arm, and trust His protection.CET 170.1–2+3 They are to be bold and valiant for the truth even when deceptive signs and wonders, threats, and human efforts to control conscience are used to frighten, mislead, annoy, and destroy them.CET 170.1–2+3 This steadfastness belongs to a soon-coming time of the devil's great signs and mighty wonders, when evil angels surround God's people to invent new ways against them, yet God's watchful eye is over Israel for good and His angels guard those who trust Him.EW 50.2–51.1

God's people are to form no confederacy or alliance with unbelievers, especially in carrying on God's work and in establishing institutions, and are not to join in calling for an alliance simply because others do or share the fear that drives them.ST2 4.1+4 God speaks with a strong hand to instruct His people not to walk in the way of this people, not to call confederacy what this people calls confederacy, and not to fear their fear nor be afraid, which means Christians must keep themselves distinct from unbelievers everywhere according to the standard of God's Word and need no harmony in spirit and action with the ungodly.Ms 61, 1890, par. 11+2 Instead of fearing man they are to sanctify the Lord of hosts Himself and let Him be their fear and their dread, giving place to His working and hearing and obeying His voice and orders from above.Ms 61, 1890, par. 11+2

The world is not to be the criterion or standard for God's work, and God, not the world, is to be the guide.ST2 4.1+3 The counsel, suggestions, plans, fears, and judgments of those who do not know the Father and the Son, who know not the truth, who lack spiritual discernment of God's work for this time, and who cannot discern the claims of God's law are not to be heard, followed, accepted as direction about what to do, or allowed to guide.Ms 61, 1890, par. 11+4 Such suggestions weaken the power of God's instrumentalities and set aside the counsel of Christ for the counsel of false gods.Ms 61, 1890, par. 11+2 Those bearing responsibilities need the heavenly anointing of the Spirit of God to discern sacred realities, to let the Lord work and let the Lord's voice be heard.Ms 40, 1890, par. 33–36+1

Remaining a distinct people means staying free from ties with those who cannot discern the claims of God's law and separating Christian influence and the interests of church and school from worldly interests and political strife.Ms 53, 1894, par. 1–5+2 Connection with Freemasons and other secret societies is forbidden, and binding together in secret societies to accomplish selfish purposes works out the plans of the enemy.RH Sep 10, 1903+2 This refusal belongs with pressing together and binding up with Christ, so that He shall be for a sanctuary to the obedient even while Satan comes as Christ working with all deceitfulness of unrighteousness and God for a season permits confusion and disorder before His purposes against rebellious subjects are fulfilled.RH Sep 10, 1903

Joining the trades unions and confederacies of the world is forbidden, for they are a snare to be kept out of, kept away from, and to have nothing to do with.RH Apr 14, 1903+2 Such unions formed to control others can make life perilous for those who refuse to join, and because of them a crisis is coming soon that will make it very difficult for God's institutions to carry on their work in the cities.RH Apr 14, 1903+2 No human power is to impose binding agreements, but God's people are to bind themselves to God and let His truth direct them.Ms 145, 1902, par. 3–6 True Christian influence must not be united with politics or bound up in alliance with unbelievers, for the Christian life is a precious agency for accomplishing the work God has appointed, kept pure by making God the center of attraction, and every mind worked by the Holy Spirit is satisfied with Him and does not seek strength or direction from political confederacy.FE 483.2+1

Binding together with unbelievers includes giving transgressors of God's law influence over institutions established to proclaim the last message of mercy, and binding sanitariums under one association which gives men power they should not have, for God's gifts and influence are to be used in His service.STB 245.4+1 God's messengers are to make no covenant with the world or with people who refuse to examine the Scriptures after hearing the message, while faithfully warning that God's law including the seventh-day Sabbath stands above human authority and refusing to be intimidated by their fears.RH Jun 25, 1901 Joining a confederacy of evil includes supporting the liquor traffic, as by licensing liquor selling and allowing saloon influences to enslave and ruin people.Lt 78, 1911, par. 3–7 Friendly visits and association with unbelievers to discern opposition are permitted, but association is not confederacy, unbelievers must not be preferred over fellow believers, and the work must remain grounded in truth and dependent on the Lord.Lt 107b, 1900, par. 1

The prohibition reaches inside the community of believers and forbids copying the manner and customs of the world by assembling a chosen inner circle of like-minded men who think alike, agree to everything, and say Amen to every proposed plan.Ms 61, 1890, par. 11+4 Such a circle is gathered in order to carry things by supposed wisdom while excluding others who are expected to disagree, and it is itself a forbidden confederacy.Ms 40, 1890, par. 33–36+4 It is joined to the refusal to take the world as the criterion for the work, to share the fears of the people, to fear their fear or be afraid, and to hear or follow the counsel, suggestions, and plans of those who do not know the Father and the Son and lack spiritual discernment, since those counsels weaken God's instrumentalities and set aside Christ's counsel.Ms 61, 1890, par. 11+4 Instead the Lord of hosts alone is to be sanctified, feared, and dreaded, His working given place, His voice and orders from above heard and obeyed, with the heavenly anointing of the Spirit to discern sacred realities and to bear the clear-cut first, second, and third angels' messages not in a tame whisper.Ms 61, 1890, par. 11+2

No worker is to exalt himself and carry through his own ideas without the sanction and cooperation of the people of God, and such efforts will not succeed because God will not permit it.ST2 3.1 The institutions were laid in sacrifice and belong to the people, and all who denied self and sacrificed to bring them into existence keep a special interest in them.Ms 40a, 1890, par. 40–42+2 Those who lifted the burdens when the work went hard must not lose interest or become despondent, must pray more earnestly for prosperity as the perils of the last days thicken, and must have a part and place in important councils.Ms 40a, 1890, par. 40–42+2 Counseling together is a solemn and sacred matter, to be carried on in immediate contact with Christ with the help of heavenly intelligences while laboring together with God, letting the Lord work and letting the Lord's voice be heard in obedience to orders from above.Ms 40a, 1890, par. 40–42+1 Replacing open, solemn counsel with such an exclusive combination brings great danger.Ms 40a, 1890, par. 40–42+1

The same warning forbids agreements, consolidations, and confederacies that bind people under controlling power.Ms 145, 1902, par. 3–6+3 It forbids allowing men who seek control and mastery over their brethren to direct the work and control movements, and forbids letting any human power impose binding agreements by persuasive words or by unions formed to control and oppress others.Ms 145, 1902, par. 3–6+3 God's people are not to be bound by such arrangements, are not to join the confederacies and unions formed to control others nor share the fear they inspire when refusal can make life perilous, but are to bind themselves to God and let His truth direct them.Ms 145, 1902, par. 3–6+3

The warning not to call confederacy what the people call confederacy and not to share their fear belongs with the promise that when peoples associate themselves and take counsel together they shall be broken in pieces, their counsel shall come to nothing and their word shall not stand, for God is with His people.ST May 28, 1894+3 Those who honor the Lord as holy and let Him alone be their fear and dread will find Him to be their sanctuary, while the human confederacy of evil against God and His saints will not stand and cannot finally prevail against them.ST May 28, 1894+2 Opposing counsels and plans will fail because God is with His people, and they are not to be intimidated by what others fear but to remain confident in God.Ms 149, 1907, par. 4–5

Satan will use his agencies to carry out diabolical devices to overpower the saints, as he once used the Roman power to hinder Protestantism.Ms 92, 1894, par. 14–16 He will come as Christ working with all deceitfulness of unrighteousness, binding men together to accomplish selfish purposes and in secret societies that work out the plans of the enemy.RH Sep 10, 1903 God looks on and for a season permits confusion and disorder before His purposes against rebellious subjects are fulfilled.RH Sep 10, 1903 Because Christ lives His people shall live also, so they can look calmly on the whole array of evil and meet its assaults in the same spirit in which Jesus met the prince of darkness.Ms 92, 1894, par. 14–16 The evil confederacy can advance only in the course Jesus has marked out, and every step of its advance brings the saints nearer the great white throne and the successful end of their warfare, until it is finally destroyed.Ms 92, 1894, par. 14–16

The call is for everyone to stand in his lot and place, to press together and bind up with Christ, and to stand together in Him amid the conflicts ahead.RH Sep 10, 1903+2 This holding together is required even when leaders stand in the way of the work and when there is disharmony among workers and work contrary to the Spirit of God.Ms 12, 1893, par. 1–2 The warning applies to both unbelievers and professed Christians, for Satan works among both, and a once-united company can divide into the loyal and those who resist God's will and the Spirit's warnings.Ms 149, 1907, par. 7–9 Even people with biblical knowledge, spiritual light, and positions as teachers may be ensnared and fall away, while false theories and worldly schemes for gain will fail and God will expose deceit and wrongdoing.Ms 149, 1907, par. 7–9+1 It applies to a soon-coming time when the devil's great signs and mighty wonders are designed to deceive God's people and overthrow them, and when surrounding evil angels invent new ways to annoy and destroy them, yet God's watchful eye is over Israel for good and His angels guard those who trust Him.EW 50.2–51.1

The verse requires bearing a clear-cut first, second, and third angels' message to the world, not in a tame whisper, refusing to heed counsels or follow plans that would make less prominent the special truths of vital interest that separated God's people from the world and made them what they are.Ms 40, 1890, par. 33–36+1 The world is not to be their criterion, and they need the heavenly anointing to discern sacred realities, to let the Lord work and His voice be heard, and to sanctify the Lord of hosts and fear Him.Ms 40, 1890, par. 33–36+1

The warning belongs with binding up the testimony and sealing the law among disciples, and with judging claims by the law and the testimony, for His law and testimony determine whether counsel has light.Lt 164, 1901, par. 18–20+1 God's law, including the seventh-day Sabbath, stands above human authority, and no covenant is to be made with the world or with those who refuse to examine the Scriptures.Lt 164, 1901, par. 18–20+1 It applies to those who must bear a clear witness to the binding claims of God's law rather than adopt the fears and talk of those around them, especially their alarm over political alliances.Lt 164, 1901, par. 18–20

God's people must refuse union and compromise with those who make void God's law, and must not rely on such men as counselors, cloak decided testimony to please great men, or join them and accept their plans and propositions about the course of action, because doing so gives the enemy advantage over them.Ms 75, 1898, par. 18–19+1 Wrong practices that appear right can become a deception and a snare, and the way and counsel of those who oppose God's people is not to be followed.Ms 75, 1898, par. 18–19+1 Instead they are to fear and honor the Lord.Ms 75, 1898, par. 18–19

There is to be no change in the general features of God's cause and no entering into confederacy with the world on the supposition that by such alliance more could be accomplished.8T 160.1–161.1+2 God's cause is to stand out clear and distinct as prophecy has made it, advancing on the lines God has appointed without hindrance or compromise.8T 160.1–161.1+2

In publishing work, those handling religious literature are to keep sacred truth distinct from common material and let the work be governed by God's word.7T 152.3–153.2 They are to stand firmly for the truths and principles God has given them, rather than weaken or alter their work to gain worldly support.7T 152.3–153.2+1 God's work in its many lines and the establishing of institutions is to be carried forward without outward display and without competing with worldly institutions in size or splendor, entering into no confederacy with those who do not love or fear God.6T 17.2+1

Because of unions and confederacies a crisis is coming soon that will bring such strife and confusion in the cities that those who wish to leave them will not be able, and that will make it very difficult for God's institutions to carry on their work in the cities.RH Apr 14, 1903 Therefore God's people are to keep out of the trades unions and confederacies of the world and have nothing to do with them, for they are a snare.RH Apr 14, 1903 Members are to be educated to get out of the cities into the country where they can obtain a small piece of land and make a home for themselves and their children, and no sanitariums are to be built in the cities, while restaurants must still be in the cities to reach the people and teach them the principles of right living, and meeting-houses must be occupied there for the present.RH Apr 14, 1903