Fear God and Head His Word
September 16, 2019
Commentary
This passage predicts the fall of Israel and Syria to Assyria, which actually fell in 732 BC and 722 BC (vv. 1-4). On a large scroll Isaiah recorded the name of his son to be born. His name, Maher-Shadol-Hash-Baz, is the longest personal name in the Bible (v. 1). This name meant swift to spoil, which actually pointed to the impending doom of Israel and Syria.When Damascus and Samaria fell, Judah should have turned to God as Isaiah had told them to do. Unfortunately, Uriah, one of the two witnesses (v. 2) followed Ahaz’s orders and changed the temple worship to conform with the pagan worship practiced at Damascus. Because Judah rejected god’s kindness and chose to seek help from other nations, God would punish them (vv. 3-4). We see two distinct attributes of God in this passage His love and His wrath. To ignore His love and guidance results in sin which brings God’s wrath (vv 5-8).We must recognize the consequences of our choices.
Isaiah and most of the prophets were viewed as traitors because they did not support Judah’s national policies (vv. 9-15). Isaiah asked the people to commit themselves first to God, and then to the king. He even predicted the overthrow of the government. “Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples” (v. 16) suggests that the words would be written down and preserved for the generations to come. Because some people have faithfully passed on these words from generation to generation we have the book of Isaiah today. Likewise, we need to be determined to pass on God’s word to our children and grandchildren and to future generations.
Isaiah decided to wait for the Lord, even though many of the prophecies God gave woud not come true for several hundred years (vv 17-18). The people would consult mediums and wizards instead of consulting the living God (vv. 19-20). After rejecting God people would blame Him (vv. 21-22).
Application
After rejecting God’s plan for them, the people of Judah blame God for their trials. Instead of blaming Him I need to look for ways to grow spiritually through my failures.
Isaiah 8:1– 22 (NET)
1 The Lord told me, “Take a large tablet and inscribe these words on it with an ordinary stylus: ‘Maher Shalal Hash Baz.’ 2 Then I will summon as my reliable witnesses Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah.” 3 I then approached the prophetess for marital relations; she conceived and gave birth to a son. The Lord told me, “Name him Maher Shalal Hash Baz, 4 for before the child knows how to cry out ‘My father’ or ‘My mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria.”
5 The Lord spoke to me again: 6 “These people have rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah and melt in fear over Rezin and the son of Remaliah. 7 So look, the Lord is bringing up against them the turbulent and mighty waters of the Euphrates River —the king of Assyria and all his majestic power. It will reach flood stage and overflow its banks. 8 It will spill into Judah, flooding and engulfing, as it reaches to the necks of its victims. He will spread his wings out over your entire land, O Immanuel.”
9 You will be broken, O nations; you will be shattered! Pay attention, all you distant lands of the earth. Get ready for battle, and you will be shattered! Get ready for battle, and you will be shattered!
10 Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted. Issue your orders, but they will not be executed! For God is with us!
11 Indeed this is what the Lord told me quite forcefully. He warned me not to act like these people:
12 “Do not say, ‘Conspiracy,’ every time these people say the word. Don’t be afraid of what scares them; don’t be terrified.
13 You must recognize the authority of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. He is the one you must respect; he is the one you must fear.
14 He will become a sanctuary, but a stone that makes a person trip, and a rock that makes one stumble— to the two houses of Israel. He will become a trap and a snare to the residents of Jerusalem.
15 Many will stumble over the stone and the rock, and will fall and be seriously injured, and will be ensnared and captured.”
16 Tie up the scroll as legal evidence, seal the official record of God’s instructions and give it to my followers.
17 I will wait patiently for the Lord, who has rejected the family of Jacob; I will wait for him.
18 Look, I and the sons whom the Lord has given me are reminders and object lessons in Israel, sent from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who lives on Mount Zion.
19 They will say to you, “Seek oracles at the pits used to conjure up underworld spirits, from the magicians who chirp and mutter incantations. Should people not seek oracles from their gods, by asking the dead about the destiny of the living?” 20 Then you must recall the Lord’s instructions and the prophetic testimony of what would happen. Certainly they say such things because their minds are spiritually darkened. 21 They will pass through the land destitute and starving. Their hunger will make them angry, and they will curse their king and their God as they look upward. 22 When one looks out over the land, he sees distress and darkness, gloom and anxiety, darkness and people forced from the land.
Illustration: Failing to Warn of Yorkshire Flood Disaster
On the night of the great Holmfirth (Yorkshire) flood, which caused such disaster some years ago, a man on the reservoir saw the water rise to a dangerous height. He paced up and down for twenty minutes watching, hesitating, and asking himself the question, “Shall I give the alarm?” The fatal moment came; the warning had not been given. The waters rushed over the banks and spread destruction on every hand. A decision twenty minutes before would have saved many lives and thousands of dollars’ worth of property. (Encyclopedia of Illustrations – #10067).