The Sign of Maher-shalal-hash-baz
Study note
God told Isaiah to take a large scroll and write the name Maher-shalal-hash-baz on it, then called two reliable witnesses to watch. When Isaiah's wife, called 'the prophetess,' gave birth to a son, God said to give him this name. The name means 'quick to plunder, swift to steal,' referring to how fast the Assyrian army would sweep through and defeat Damascus (Syria) and Samaria (Israel). Before the baby could even say 'mama' or 'daddy,' these kingdoms would fall.
1 The Lord told me, "Get a big scroll and write clearly on it: Maher-shalal-hash-baz." Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz.
2 I brought in two people I could trust to watch me write it — Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberechiah. And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.
3 Later, I was with the prophetess, and she became pregnant and had a son. The Lord told me, "Name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz." And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz.
4 "Before this boy can even say 'daddy' or 'mommy,' the king of Assyria will act. He will haul off the riches of Damascus and the wealth of Samaria." 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.
The Flood of Assyria
Study note
Because the people of Judah rejected the gentle waters of Shiloah, a stream that flowed quietly through Jerusalem symbolizing God's gentle care, God would bring the mighty flood waters of the Euphrates River, representing the Assyrian army. This flood would sweep through Judah and rise up to the nation's neck, meaning it would nearly drown them but would not completely destroy them. The name 'Immanuel' (God is with us) is repeated as a promise that despite the coming flood, God has not abandoned his people.
5 The Lord spoke to me again: The LORD spake also unto me again, saying,
6 "These people turned away from the gentle, flowing waters of Shiloah. Instead, they put their hope in Rezin and the son of Remaliah." Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son;
7 "I am going to send the mighty flood of the great Euphrates River rushing at them -- and that flood stands for the king of Assyria with all his power. The river will rise over its banks and burst through every channel." 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 "It will sweep right through Judah like a flood rising up to your neck. Its spreading waters will cover your entire land, O Immanuel!" 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.
9 Join forces if you want, you nations, but you will be smashed! Listen up, all you faraway lands! Get ready for war, but you will be smashed! Prepare yourselves, but you will be smashed! 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.
10 Go ahead and make your plans — they will fall apart. Give your commands — they will not stand. Because God is with us! Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
Fear God, Not People
Study note
God grabs Isaiah firmly and warns him not to follow the crowd. While everyone else is panicking about political alliances and conspiracies, Isaiah should fear only the Lord. God will be a safe place for those who trust him, but a stumbling stone for those who reject him. Isaiah is told to preserve God's teaching among his faithful followers. Even though God seems to be hiding his face from Israel, Isaiah declares that he and his children will serve as signs from God.
11 The Lord gripped me firmly and warned me not to go along with what the rest of the people were doing. He said, 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,
12 "Do not get caught up in the same fears as these people. Stop calling everything a conspiracy like they do. Do not be frightened by what scares them." Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
13 "Let the Lord who commands heaven's armies be the one you treat as holy. Let him be the one you are in awe of. Let him be the one who makes you tremble." Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
14 For those who trust him, he will be a safe shelter. But for both kingdoms of Israel, he will be a stone they trip over and a rock that causes them to fall. For the people of Jerusalem, he will be a trap that catches them. 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.
15 Many of them will stumble over him, fall, and get hurt. They will be trapped and taken prisoner. And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
16 Wrap up this testimony and seal this teaching among my followers. Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
17 I will wait for the Lord, even though he is hiding his face from Jacob's family. I will keep my hope in him. And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
18 Look at me and the children God has given me. We serve as living signs and reminders in Israel from the Lord who commands heaven's armies, who lives on Mount Zion. 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.
Do Not Seek the Dead
Study note
When people are afraid, they often turn to fortune-tellers and people who claim to speak with the dead. Isaiah warns that God's people should never do this. Instead, they should turn to God's written word and his teachings. Anyone who speaks a message that does not agree with God's word has no light in them. The chapter ends with a dark picture of people wandering through the land hungry and angry, cursing their king and their God, finding only darkness no matter which way they look.
19 People may tell you, "Go ask the fortune-tellers and the people who whisper and mutter to the dead." But you should answer, "Why would we ask dead people for answers? Should not living people ask their God instead?" 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?
20 Go back to God's teaching and his message! If someone does not speak in line with this word, it is because they have no light inside them. To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
21 They will wander through the land, miserable and starving. When hunger hits, they will fly into a rage, cursing their king and their God. They will look up toward the sky, 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.
22 and then look down at the ground. But wherever they turn, all they will find is trouble, darkness, and suffocating gloom. They will be shoved into total darkness. And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.