MAHER-SHALAL-HASH-BAZ Isaiah 8:1. _Moreover, the Lord said unto me, Take thee a great roll, &c._ [823] [823] In the first chapter of Hosea occurs a like instance of symbolic names given by a prophet to his children, and in Habakkuk 2:2, we have mention of the practice of writing a prophecy on a tab... [ Continue Reading ]
THE STREAM REJECTED FOR THE RIVER Isaiah 8:5. _Forasmuch as this people refuseth, &c._ For “rejoice _in_ Rezim and Remaliah’s son,” read “rejoice _concerning_ Rezim and Remaliah’s son,” _i.e._, rejoice in the disaster which had befallen the allied powers who had inflicted such disasters upon Judah... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WATERS OF SHILOAH Isaiah 8:6. _Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, &c._ Reminded, I. That the peaceful blessings of the people of God appear in lovely contrast to the false and tumultuous pursuits and pleasures of the world (H. E. I. 1080–1084, 4163–4168). I... [ Continue Reading ]
THREATENED, BUT SAFE Isaiah 8:9. _Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces, &c._ This is a shout of triumphant defiance which Ahaz and his people might have raised, had they listened to Isaiah’s counsels, and turned to the Lord with full purpose of heart. Then they might... [ Continue Reading ]
“HALLOWED BE THY NAME!” Isaiah 8:13. _Sanctify the Lord of hosts Himself; and let Him be your fear, &c._ I. WHAT IS IT TO “SANCTIFY THE LORD OF HOSTS HIMSELF”? It is, 1. To fill our minds with right thoughts concerning Him [854] 2. To fill our hearts with right feelings towards Him (P. D. 1492–1... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD OUR REFUGE, OR OUR RUIN Isaiah 8:14. _And He shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling, &c._ In God “we live, and move, and have our being.” We cannot be independent of, or indifferent to, Him, as we can in regard to some of our fellow-men. There can be no neutrality between Him a... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DUTY OF TEACHERS OF TRUTH IN TIMES OF NATIONAL PERVERSION Isaiah 8:16 In Hebrews 2:13 the commencement of Isaiah 8:18 is quoted as an utterance of the Messiah. This opens up questions concerning the New Testament quotations from the Old which cannot be fully discussed in this commentary. It may... [ Continue Reading ]
WAITING ON THE LORD IN DESERTION AND GLOOM Isaiah 8:17. _And I will wait upon the Lord, &c._ I. THE CHARACTERISTIC APPELLATION OF JEHOVAH. “The God who hideth Himself” [866] [866] For details and suggestions under this division, see outline: THE HIDDEN THINGS OF GOD, chap. Isaiah 45:15. [867] Fo... [ Continue Reading ]
NECROMANCY Isaiah 8:19. _Seek unto them, &c._ As bearing upon the doctrine of necromancy, an exhaustive discussion of these verses would involve the following points: 1. Under the instigation of a prurient curiosity, or under the pressure of affliction, godless men are wont to seek knowledge and h... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAW AND THE TESTIMONY Isaiah 8:20. _To the law and to the testimony, &c._ This was one of the watchwords of the Reformation, and since then it has been a favourite text with Protestants. The noble Sixth Article of the Church of England [872] is but an expansion of it. It assumes that there is... [ Continue Reading ]
UNSANCTIFIED SUFFERING Isaiah 8:21, and Isaiah 9:13. _And they shall pass through it, &c._ I. SIN LEADS TO SUFFERING. 1. This is true of _individuals_ (H. E. I. 4603–4612). But because there is another life and a future retribution, the full results of sin are frequently not seen in this life. Na... [ Continue Reading ]