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 ]