Isaiah 8-10

Thoughts

Isaiah 8

God tells Isaiah to write a name on a large tablet: Maher-shalal-hash-baz מַהֵר שָׁלָל חָשׁ בַּז
מַהֵר (mahēr) swift / quick

שָׁלָל (shalāl) spoil, plunder

חָשׁ (ḥāsh) hurry

בַּז (baz) prey, loot
“Quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil.”

Isaiah’s son receives this name. Before the child can speak, Assyria will plunder Israel and Syria

God compares Assyria to a flooding river. Judah rejected God’s provision (“waters of Shiloah”)

Nations may plan and threaten. Their plans will fail

• “God is with us” (Immanuel) is repeated

God warns Isaiah not to think like the people

• Judah fears conspiracies and enemies
• God says: fear Him instead
• Quoted in the New Testament (Romans 9:33; 1 Peter 2:8)

Isaiah commits to God’s message. His family speaks for God. 

Isaiah 9

Northern regions were hit first by Assyria

• God promises one day restoration starting with them. 

New Testament connection

• Matthew 4 applies this to Jesus’ ministry

A child will be born who will rule justly

• The Messiah will bring joy
• He will have victory over the enemies 
• His kingdom will last forever
• Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Verses 9:8 – 10:4 are often read as one unit. It is made up of four sections that end in “For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still”

• Israel is disciplined but refuses to change

Specific failures

• Pride 
• Corrupt leadership
• Social injustice
• Exploitation of the vulnerable

Isaiah 10

God calls Assyria “the rod of My anger”

• Assyria is used to discipline nations although their motives are pride and conquest. 

Assyria boasts about its power

• God responds:
  • They are only a tool
  • Tools do not boast against the one who uses them

A faithful group survives THE REMNANT 

• They truly rely on the LORD
• Ties back to Isaiah 6 (“holy seed”)

Judah is told not to fear Assyria. Oppression will end

Assyria’s march toward Jerusalem is described step by step. Suddenly, God cuts them down

Questions

Application

Isaiah 8-10 shows how people respond when fear takes over. Judah faces real threats, but instead of trusting God’s word, they trust in other forms of security.  God calls His people to fear Him rather than the circumstances around them. Isaiah 9 points forward to hope through a ruler who is nothing like the leaders Judah has known. Isaiah 10 reassures that oppression will not last forever.  God takes care of His people.