Isaiah 8&9

by Katrina

LINK: Isaiah 8-9

BACKGROUND
Isaiah married the virgin, and she conceived a son. The Lord told Isaiah to name the child Maher-shalal-hash-baz. Don't you just love how that name rolls off the tongue? ;) The name literally means "quick to plunder, swift to the spoil." This child was a sign to the nation that before the child could speak sentences (about age two), Assyria would conquer Syria and invade Israel. In 732 B.C., about two years after Isaiah's son was born, Rezin king of Syria and Pekah king of Israel were dead, Assyria had conquered Syria, and Assyria had begun to invade Israel. The Assyrian army was "quick to plunder and swift to the spoil."

In verses 5-22, Isaiah demonstrates Israel's folly of trusting Assyria instead of the Lord. There are three object lessons.

• Verses 5-10 - They rejected the gently flowing waters of the Lord and chose the rushing river of Assyria, the Euphrates. Instead of trusting in the Lord, they were trusting in their alliance with Assyria to protect them. They rejoiced when Assyria conquered Syria but didn't realize that they were next. Assyria would soon overpower them like a flood.
• Verses 11-15 - Anyone who did not support the alliance with Assyria was considered a conspirator against the nation. Isaiah pointed out that they should fear only the Lord. In fearing the Lord, the Lord would become their sanctuary, protecting them from enemies. But since they chose to trust in Assyria, they would not receive help from the Lord.
  
• Verses 16-22 - Here Isaiah describes their choice as shutting out the light and choosing to live in darkness instead.

Chapter 9 begins with a promise of light! God won't leave His people in darkness forever. Here is a prophecy of Jesus, one we are familiar with. Verse six refers to Jesus's birth then goes on to describe His reign in the millennial kingdom.

The rest of the chapter describes the judgment coming to Israel. God chastises His people, but when they refuse to repent, His chastisement turns to judgment and He unleashes His fury.

REFLECTION
"And you are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it. It is the Lord of hosts whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, and He shall be your dread. Then He shall become a sanctuary." (Isaiah 8:12b-14a)

APPLICATION
Examine your own heart. Whom or what do you fear? Do you fear financial problems? Job loss? Difficult relationships? Government problems? Certain people in your life? Fear of man or of circumstances are snares to us. They trap us into trusting ourselves, other people, government, or organizations to take care of us. On the other hand, if we truly trust in God, He becomes our sanctuary, our place of safety. He is the One who has power over all those other things and people. He is the only one we should fear.

PRAYER
Lord, teach us to trust fully in You, for You are holy and completely worthy of our trust. Help us learn not to rely on ourselves, other people, or organizations and not to fear what they will do when we break off our alliance with them. You are our refuge, our sanctuary, our protection. Amen.