<\/p>
INTRODUCTION <\/p>\n
Because of King Ahaz\u2019s lack of faith in Yahweh, and his trust in power politics, swift judgment is coming on Judah. Yet, Judah\u2019s defeat will not be final. God is with His people even in this, and the nations will be shattered as swiftly as they have plundered Israel. <\/p>\n
THE TEXT <\/p>\n
\u201cMoreover the LORD said to me, \u201cTake a large scroll, and write on it with a man\u2019s pen concerning Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz . . . .\u201d (Isaiah 8:1-22). <\/p>\n
STRUCTURE <\/p>\n
Isaiah 8 seems a random collection of contradictory prophesies. Assyria is coming soon (vv. 1-8), but Yahweh will shatter the nations (vv. 9-10). Those who fear Yahweh will be safe (vv. 12-13), but He will trip and trap \u201cboth the houses of Israel\u201d and \u201cthe inhabitants of Jerusalem\u201d (vv. 14-15). Yahweh rescues those who wait (v. 17), but Judah will be driven out of the land into exile (vv. 21-22). But there is no contradiction. There is a double fate for Judah because there are two Judahs \u2013 the mainline Judah that follows the lead of Ahaz, and the remnant that hears Yahweh\u2019s instruction. <\/p>\n
OVERFLOWING RIVER <\/p>\n
Children are signs throughout this passage (7:14-17; 8:3-4). Isaiah \u201cwrites\u201d a message to Judah by having a son and naming him \u201cSpeed-spoil-haste-booty\u201d (vv. 1-3). Before he has reached the age to call on his parents, the Assyrians will carry away the spoil of Damascus and Samaria. Jerusalem\u2019s water supply came from the Gihon spring through the stream of Shiloah, and here the stream symbolizes Yahweh as a spring of life for His people (v. 6). Ahaz and Jerusalem have rejected that water source, and the Lord is going to bring a water judgment: The Euphrates will overflow and flood Judah up to her neck (v. 8). Assyria will pass through like a giant bird of prey (v. 8b). Immanuel\u2019s land will be overshadowed; Immanuel too will share in the devastation. <\/p>\n
NATIONS IN AN UPROAR <\/p>\n
Immanuel is with Judah in suffering, but Immanuel is also a sign that Yahweh will not leave the nations unpunished. Drawing on the imagery of Psalm 2, Isaiah assures Judah that the nations that plot and clamor against Judah will be shattered: \u201cFor Immanuel\u201d is the only explanation (v. 9-10). Because of Immanuel, Isaiah has no fear of the conspiracies of the nations (vv. 11-12). Yahweh Himself is the dread of those who refuse to walk in the way of the people (vv. 11, 13). Yahweh is a sanctuary, the temple, but a stone of stumbling and a trap for those who don\u2019t fear Him (vv. 14-15). <\/p>\n
TO THE LAW AND TESTIMONY <\/p>\n
Judah was filled with false guides. Mediums and spiritists promised wisdom by consulting the wisdom of the dead (v. 19). Isaiah satirizes the \u201cwhispering\u201d and \u201cmuttering\u201d of the mediums, and asks why anyone would consult the dead instead of the living God of Israel. Those who fear Yahweh, who find sanctuary in Him, are those who those who are taught from the Torah (vv. 16, 20). Isaiah speaks here of disciples (v. 16) and \u201csons\u201d (v. 18), and these are probably the same group. Like Isaiah\u2019s literal son, the existence of disciples who walk according to the law of God is a \u201csign and wonder\u201d in Israel. \u201cSign and wonder\u201d is exodus language (Exodus 7:3; Deuteronomy 4:34; 6:22; 7:19); it points to the coming deliverance of the faithful remnant but also to the coming judgment on the \u201cEgyptians\u201d who live in Judah. Those who refuse to hear and obey Torah, however, will be captured and removed from the land (vv. 21), cast into outer darkness. <\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
INTRODUCTION Because of King Ahaz\u2019s lack of faith in Yahweh, and his trust in power politics, swift judgment is coming on Judah. Yet, Judah\u2019s defeat will not be final. God is with His people even in this, and the nations will be shattered as swiftly as they have plundered Israel. THE TEXT \u201cMoreover the LORD […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3021,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6318","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible-ot-isaiah"],"yoast_head":"\n