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8:1 Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz.
8:2 And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.
8:3 And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son.
Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz.
8:4 For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.
8:5 The LORD spake also unto me again, saying, 8:6 Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son; 8:7 Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks: 8:8 And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.
8:9 Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces.
8:10 Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
8:11 For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying, 8:12 Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
8:13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
8:14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
8:15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
8:16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
8:17 And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
8:18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.
8:19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
8:21 And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.
8:22 And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.


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Everything King James Bible:Isaiah
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: Isaiah
Book: Isaiah
Chapter: 8

Overview:
Exhortations and warnings. (1-8) Comfort for those who fear
God. (9-16) Afflictions to idolaters. (17-22)

1-8 The Prophet is to write On a large Roll, or On a metal
Tablet, words which meant, "Make speed to spoil, hasten to the
prey:" pointing out that the Assyrian Army should come with
speed, and make great spoil. Very soon the riches of Damascus
and of Samaria, cities then secure and formidable, shall be
taken away By the King of Assyria. The Prophet pleads with the
promised Messiah, who should appear in that land in the Fulness
of time, and, therefore, as God, would preserve it in the mean
time. As a gentle Brook is an apt emblem of a mild government,
So an overflowing torrent represents a conqueror and tyrant. The
invader's success was also described By a Bird of prey,
stretching its wings over the whole land. Those who reject
Christ, will find that what they Call liberty is the basest
slavery. But No enemy shall pluck the believer out of Emmanuel's
Hand, or deprive him of his heavenly inheritance.

9-16 The Prophet challenges the enemies of the Jews. Their
efforts would be vain, and themselves broken to Pieces. It
concerns us, in time of trouble, to watch against all such fears
as Put us upon crooked Courses for our own security. The
believing fear of God preserves against the disquieting fear of
Man. If we thought rightly of the greatness and Glory of God, we
should see all the power of our enemies restrained. The Lord,
who will be a Sanctuary to those who trust in him, will be a
Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of Offence, to those who make the
Creature their fear and their Hope. If the things of God be an
Offence to us, they will undo us. The Apostle quotes this as to
all who persisted in unbelief of the Gospel of Christ, 1Pe
2:8. The crucified Emmanuel, who was and is a Stumbling-Stone
and Rock of Offence to unbelieving Jews, is No less So to
Thousands who are called Christians. The preaching of the Cross
is foolishness in their esteem; his doctrines and precepts
offend them.

17-22 The Prophet foresaw that the Lord would hide his Face;
but he would look for his return in favour to them again. Though
not miraculous signs, the children's names were memorials from
God, suited to excite attention. The unbelieving Jews were prone
to seek counsel in difficulties, from diviners of different
descriptions, whose foolish and sinful ceremonies are alluded
to. Would we know how we may seek to our God, and come to the
knowledge of his mind? To the Law and to the Testimony; for
there you will see what is good, and what the Lord requires. We
must speak of the things of God in the words which the Holy
Ghost teaches, and be ruled By them. To those that seek to
familiar spirits, and regard not God's Law and Testimony, there
shall be horror and misery. Those that go away from God, go out
of the way of all good; for fretfulness is a Sin that is its own
Punishment. They shall despair, and see No way of relief, when
they Curse God. And their fears will represent every thing as
frightful. Those that shut their eyes against the Light of God's
Word, will justly be left to Darkness. All the miseries that
ever were felt or witnessed On Earth, are as nothing, compared
with what will overwhelm those who leave the words of Christ, to
follow delusions.

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