Isaiah: His Strong Hand Upon Me

Isaiah 8

Judah lived under the threat of an alliance between Israel and Syria. Isaiah had already assured them that the coalition would fail (Isa. 7:4-17). In today’s passage, he reaffirms that promise. Additionally, two witnesses confirmed that Isaiah’s message came from God.

God instructed Isaiah to secure a large tablet, known in Hebrew as a gillayon—a sizable piece of wood or metal. Isaiah was to write, “Belonging to Maher-shalal-hash-baz” in a way that all could understand. This name means ‘speeding to the plunder, hurry to the spoil.’[1] Victorious soldiers shouted these words as they ransacked their defeated foes.  

Maher-shalal-hash-baz was the name of a son born to Isaiah and his wife. Before the child could say “mommy” and “daddy,” the Syria-Israel alliance would be destroyed. Assyria plundered both Syria and Israel in 732 BC under the rule of King Tiglath-Pileser, just as Isaiah had prophesied.

Unfortunately, after the Assyrian king helped Judah withstand an attack from the Syria-Israel alliance, Uriah, one of Isaiah’s witnesses and a priest, worked closely with Judah’s king, Ahaz, to implement pagan worship in the temple (2 Kgs. 16:1-16). What should have been a time to honor God for his protection instead ushered in more idolatry.

Isaiah 8:5-8
The Lord spoke to me again: ⁶ “Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently, and rejoice over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, ⁷ therefore, behold, the Lord is bringing up against them the waters of the River, mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory. And it will rise over all its channels and go over all its banks, ⁸ and it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, reaching even to the neck, and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.” 

“This people” refers to Israel (the northern kingdom), which refused the gentle waters in Jerusalem and allied with Syria. Because of this act, God would bring raging waters to destroy them. “The River” in verse 7 refers to the Euphrates River that flows through Assyria. The northern kingdom would be destroyed, and the Assyrians would invade the southern kingdom as well, depicted by the waters sweeping into Judah, but God was their protector. Immanuel, “God with us,” was on their side.

Notice how Isaiah depicts the downfall of the arrogant and self-reliant people who come against Judah.

Isaiah 8:9-10
Be broken, you peoples, and be shattered; give ear, all you far countries; strap on your armor and be shattered; strap on your armor and be shattered. Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; speak a word, but it will not stand, for God is with us. 

Isaiah repeats, “strap on your armor and be shattered,” for measured emphasis. God ensures that the nations planning an attack against Judah are duly warned of their impending defeat. The word “shattered” not only signifies destruction but also conveys a sense of terror. These nations will “come to nothing” and “will not stand” because “God is with [his people].” That is a promise we all need to remember. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31). Satan may come against us now, but with God, we can resist his attacks. And one day, Satan will be shattered, finally and forever! Our confidence is in the Lord of Heaven’s Armies!

Isaiah 8:11-15
For the Lord spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: ¹² “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. ¹³ But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. ¹⁴ And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. ¹⁵ And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.” 

This passage will serve as our Anchor Point for today. Let’s break down several truths found within these verses.

1.  This passage contains warnings from the Lord and “his strong hand,” which speaks of authority and strength. When God speaks, we must listen.

2.  Don’t get caught up in surface-level crises and conspiracies. Don’t “walk in the way” of people who oppose God. Don’t “fear what they fear, nor be in dread.”

3.  We are to honor the Lord of hosts—the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. We are to honor him as holy and follow him with a holy fear. He is our sanctuary—our holy place.

4.  To those who ignore God or oppose him outright, he will be a “stone of offense and a rock of stumbling” (Isa. 8:14). It is interesting how the apostle Peter identifies the Lord of hosts with Jesus. Peter confirms that Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith (1 Pet. 2:7) and acknowledges that for some Jesus would be “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense” (1 Pet. 2:8a). They will stumble, Peter says, “because they disobey the word…” (1 Pet. 2:8b). Many people in Old Testament times failed to trust God and, instead of embracing him as the Lord of hosts, stumbled over his promises. Many in New Testament times ignored God’s Word and stumbled over the work of Jesus. Remember how God told Isaiah to write a message on the tablet that everyone could understand? (Isa. 8:1) We are called to do the same in sharing and living out the message of Jesus.

In Isaiah 8:16-22, Isaiah shows the difference between those who follow God and those who don’t. Those who choose to go their way “inquire of the mediums and the [spiritists] who chirp and mutter…”(Isa. 8:19). When trouble comes, they “will be enraged and will speak contemptuously against their king and their God” all the while walking in darkness (Isa. 8:21-22). Thank God that the people walking in darkness will see a great light. We’ll consider that tomorrow. 

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Time in the Word: Read and reflect on Isaiah 8. Focus on our Anchor Point: Isaiah 8:11-15.

Talking to God: Thank God for opening your eyes to see Jesus, the Light of the world. 

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