Isaiah 8 - Printer Friendly

What does Isaiah 8 mean?

Chapter Commentary:

Isaiah 8 picks up where the previous chapter left off. The forces of Israel and Syria are threatening Judah (Isaiah 7:6). Ahaz and the people of Jerusalem are bracing for an attack (Isaiah 7:2). Isaiah, though, has revealed to King Ahaz that the attack will fail (Isaiah 7:7). In fact, it is Israel and Syria who will be wiped out (Isaiah 7:8).

As further confirmation of this, the Lord now tells Isaiah to make a large sign. He is to make it while two prominent witnesses with connections to King Ahaz watch him. On that sign, Isaiah is to write a long, complicated name: Maher-shalal-hash-baz. The words mean something like "speeding to the plunder, hurrying to the spoil." The name is a prophecy about two things: the coming birth of a son to Isaiah and the coming destruction of Israel and Syria (Isaiah 8:1–2).

The prophet soon conceives a son with a woman referred to as "the prophetess." Since a connected prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 said that a virgin would conceive, Isaiah may have taken this woman as his wife, when she had never been married before. She would also serve as a messenger of the Lord in some way (Isaiah 8:3).

God tells Isaiah to give their son the name he had written on the sign. The Lord says that before the boy is old enough to call out to his parents, the king of Assyria will plunder the wealth of Damascus, the capital of Syria. Ruin will also come to Samaria, then the capital of the ten tribes of Israel to the north (Isaiah 8:3–4).

That's the good news for Judah to the south. The bad news is that the king of Assyria will not stop with conquering Syria and Israel. The Lord poetically describes the coming judgment through Assyria as a mighty river. It overflows its banks and sweeps destruction over the land. Using the same ornate language, God says the people of Judah have rejected the gentle "waters of the Shiloah" that He would have given to them if they had just trusted in Him. Instead, they will get the raging river that is Assyria (Isaiah 8:5–8).

Then, using a section framed as overt poetry, Isaiah calls for the people of Judah to be broken and shattered despite all their preparations for war (Isaiah 8:9–10).

The Lord next gives Isaiah a strong warning not to follow the path of the people of Judah. He is not to believe in baseless conspiracies nor live in fear of both real and imagined dangers. Isaiah must honor the Lord as holy. He should choose to fear the power of the Lord to bring destruction, as well as seeing God as the source of sanctuary (Isaiah 8:11–13).

Isaiah describes the Lord as a stone of offense and stumbling. Peter will cite this metaphor in the New Testament (1 Peter 2:8). That which could have been a solid foundation is, instead, what the people trip over. Instead of trusting the Lord and finding safety in Him, both houses of Israel, north and south, including Jerusalem, will trip over the Lord and be trapped by Him. They will not escape but will be taken away by their enemies (Isaiah 8:14–15).

He declares that despite the Lord's choice to hide His face from His people in this season, he will continue to wait for God to keep His promises. He will not falter in his hope in the Lord. He and his children will be part of the faithful remnant who still trust in God and provide evidence that He has not abandoned His people entirely (Isaiah 8:16–18).

The chapter ends with Isaiah's disgust at those in Judah who go looking for answers from the dead through mediums and necromancers. These practices had been prohibited by God, and for good reason (Leviticus 19:31). Why ask the dead? Why not bring their questions to their own God? They have already been given revelation of truth through teaching and testimony. Since the people have not received the word already given by the Lord God, they will live in darkness and frustration. The daylight will not come for them (Isaiah 8:19–22).

Isaiah 8:1–10 continues the prophetic tone of Isaiah 7. The Lord tells Isaiah to write a name on a sign in front of prominent witnesses. Then Isaiah gives that name to a newborn son. Before that son is old enough to speak, Syria and Israel will be wiped out by Assyria. Assyria will then bring destruction to Judah. This is compared to a mighty river flooding over its banks. In poetry, Isaiah tells the people of Judah that their preparations for war will be meaningless and that they will be shattered.

Isaiah 8:11–22 follows the prophecy about the coming destruction from the Assyrians. It includes a strong warning from the Lord to Isaiah to not follow the sins of the rest of Judah. He must not fear real or imagined threats. Instead, Isaiah must honor God and find safety in Him. The people will reject God, leading to ruin, and being taken away. Isaiah declares he will wait on the Lord and his family will be a sign that God has not abandoned those who trust Him. Those who reject God's Word, however, will remain in darkness.

Chapter Summary:

Isaiah 8 begins with the Lord telling Isaiah to write a name on a large sign. Then Isaiah conceives a son, with a woman referred to as the "prophetess," likely his wife. The son is given the name on the sign. Before the son can speak, Judah's enemies will be wiped out by Assyria. Assyria will then bring destruction on Judah. Isaiah must not live in fear and dread as the people do. They will stumble over the stone of the Lord instead of trusting in Him. Isaiah will continue to hope in the Lord. Those who reject God's truth will live in darkness.

Chapter Context:

The prior chapter included a famous prophecy regarding the virgin birth of Jesus. Isaiah 8 continues to prophesy about the coming destruction of Judah's current enemies: Syria and Israel. Isaiah has a son whose name he has written on a sign. Before that son is old enough to talk, Assyria will destroy Judah's enemies and then bring destruction into Judah. The Lord warns Isaiah to honor God, not live in fear. The people will reject God as their foundation, falling into further sin. But Isaiah declares that he and his family will continue to point toward God's faithfulness. Those who reject God's revelation will live in and frustration and despair. This sets up additional prophecies which connect to the ministry of Christ.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).

Accessed 12/21/2024 9:03:39 AM