Isaiah 8

Soon after the last prophecy (the word ‘moreover’ implies it was very recent) God told Isaiah to obtain a scroll and to write about Mahershalalhashbaz (‘swift is booty, speedy is prey’), a future son of Isaiah. It was symbolic of Israel’s and Samaria’s coming attack on Judah, Jerusalem in particular. Thus, the son’s name was a prophecy and the little boy would be a living reminder of it. Isaiah complied and obtained a scroll, and had two witnesses to the prophecy – the priest Uriah and Zechariah. (Uriah – ‘Jehovah is my light’, but who helped build king Ahaz’s heathen altar. Zechariah – ‘Jehovah remembers’). This was given to Isaiah before his wife (a prophetess) conceived a son by that name. The child would mark a time in history when Samaria (king of Israel’s territory, northern Israel) and Ephraim would lose all their gains to Assyria. 

Verses 5-10

5. “The LORD spake also unto me again, saying,
6. Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son;
7. Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:
8. And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.
9. Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces.
10. Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.”

God told Isaiah to tell the people that they would be overwhelmed by enemies because they refused the word of God (waters of Shiloah; an aquaduct at the foot of Jerusalem). Thus, the people of Judah refused the gentle and strengthening ways of God, preferring violence and godlessness (rejoicing in their enemies ways).

Because of this sinfulness, God called on enemies (Assyria) to enter and ruin the land, like a river overflowing its banks and flooding land that gave sustenance. Note that it was GOD Who led Assyria to overcome Judah, because of its sins and its refusal to live holy lives. (“O Imanuel” refers not to Christ but to Isaiah’s son whose name was a type of Christ’s name). Those who complied with the enemies would be crushed; if they were complicit with the enemies they would come to nothing; they could join forces with the enemies but God Himself was with the few holy ones. It is well to remember that God’s power and might is not always found in force of numbers, but in strength of soul of individual believers, who do not pay regard to obvious signs and circumstances.

Verses 11-15

11. “For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,
12. Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
13. Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
14. And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15. And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.”

Isaiah was speaking directly from God, Who spoke to him in the strongest of terms. God commanded him to be apart from the general sinful mood of the people. The people were saying they would join the enemy (a confederacy), but Isaiah must not be a part of their conspiracy nor fear as they feared; joining an enemy because of fear of death is not of God. Isaiah, then, would be surrounded by voices of doom and conspiracy, but should not be afraid. Rather, he must fear God, not man, no matter how powerful the earthly signs were… he was to be fearful of the Lord, not Man. When he does this Isaiah would find help and protection in Jehovah, whereas the people of Israel and Jerusalem (“both the houses”) would stumble and fall into a trap of their own making. Many of them would fall and be overcome, but Isaiah would be safe.

Verses 16-22

16. “Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
17. And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
18. Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.
19. And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
20. To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
21. And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.
22. And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.”

Isaiah, speaking to his two witnesses, calls on them to tie a ribbon around the scroll of prophetic words and to take it to the people of Judah verbally. Meanwhile, Isaiah would keep himself separate from everyone and seek the Lord only, even though God is hiding His presence from Judah. This should always be our first response to evils, temptations, and forces outside our personal control (‘circumstances’). Isaiah’s sons were signs of God’s presence with him and his children.

It is apparent that occult evils were being done in Jerusalem itself – people with familiar spirits*, wizards*, whose wickedness leads only to death and hell: there is “no light in them” and this is why they do not speak from God or in holiness. (* A ‘familiar spirit’ is a demonic ‘guide’ who tells a possessed person what to do, say and how to live. A wizard is a male witch who looks into objects for prophecies, and mutters in whispers for satanic gain). Rather, all must seek God and do what He says. If they refuse it is proof they have no illumination from God and do not know Him.

Such will pass through it – God’s light and path – ‘bestead and hungry’… stiff-necked and hungry. God gives them food and drink but they are blind to it because they wish to sin, bringing demise upon themselves. Yet, though they are responsible for their own evils, they curse God and king as if it were their fault! Thus, they will continue in their evils, looking down to the dirt and darkness instead of upwards to the light and warmth of God.

© 01June 2025

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