In chapter
17, Isaiah spoke to King Ahaz and warned him against making alliances with
anyone other than God. He now turns to the people and invites them to put their
trust in the Lord rather than earthly kingdoms. He prophesies of upcoming
judgments upon Syria, Israel, Assyria and also Judah. In the 1830 edition of
the Book of Mormon, these two chapter were one.
Vs. 1 - The name Maher-shalal-hash-baz
is the longest word in the Bible and means, “quick to the plunder, swift to the
spoil.” This boy is a living witness of the destruction by Assyria of Syria and
Israel and to the speed with which that destruction will be carried out. A man’s pen is referring to the engraving
tool of a man, a common writing instrument. On a great scroll may indicate that
it was to be part of an important and to be preserved record.
Vs. 2 - Isaiah follows the Dt. 17:6;
19:15 injunction to have 2 or 3 witnesses for what he is to pronounce to the
people. It is written down as a witness that the prophecy of the previous
chapter (Isaiah 17:14) is being fulfilled and that he has done as commanded.
Uriah "My Light is Jehovah" (2 Kings 16:10-16) was a prominent
priest. Zechariah's "Remember Jehovah" identify is unknown.
Vs. 3 - In fulfillment of 17:14. Parry
says that he may have also been called Immanuel. At any rate he is a type of
the Savior, not the Savior, just as his mother is a type of Mary.
Vs. 4 - The prophecy was fulfilled in
734-732 BC when Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, captured the Galilee region,
the Jezreel Valley, and the Tran Jordan, and plundered their riches.
Vs. 5-10 represent the unwillingness of
the people of Judah to accept the Savior. Isaiah contrasts the pleasant waters
of Shiloah with those of the raging and destructive waters of the Euphrates.
Vs. 5, 6 - The waters of Shiloah
(Israel’s only perennial spring-in SE Jerusalem) are a soft, slow rolling water located near
the temple mount of Jerusalem and represent the Savior. (The word Shiloh means,
“He who’s right it is") Rezin was king of Syria and Pekah, the son of
Remaliah, was king of Israel. Rather
than rejoicing in Jehovah, Judah rejoiced in the bad things happening to Syria
and Israel.
Vs. 7 - the Lord here compares the
destructive might of the Euphrates River with that of the Assyrian rulers and
tells what they will do to Judah.
Vs. 8 - Isaiah portrays the
completeness of Assyria’s destruction of Judah, but reminds the people that
they are His people for Immanuel, “God is with us.”
Vs. 9,10 - A warning to invading nations
that whatever alliances they make, they will be punished for their war against
God’s people. Wars, treaties and contracts that take people away from God will
ALWAYS be unproductive in the long run. The repitition is probably a scribal
error not duplicated in the Isaiah Scroll of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Vs. 11-15 are verses admonishing Isaiah
and those others (2nd person plural used) to not be obsessed with the war, but
to look to the Savior. Important verses for our day!
Vs. 11 - Isaiah is told that he is not
to be like the rest of his people in their sins.
Vs. 12 - Isaiah is
told not to worry about the confederacy of Israel and Syria, like he told Ahaz
not to in the previous chapter. Remember they were trying to replace Ahaz with
a puppet ruler.
Vs. 13 - Many of us fear the terrorists when we
should fear the Lord.
Vs. 14 - Jesus is often referred to as
a sanctuary or temple (see Ezek. 11:26; John 2:18-20; Rev. 21:22) also a stone
or rock or a gin, snare or trap. The message is, “Whatever you need and
deserve, he will provide and be.
Vs. 15 - a prophecy of the results of
vs. 14.
Vs. 16 - has reference in my life to a
testimony that is sure and a determination to keep the law.
Vs. 17 - I will wait for the Lord to
answer my prayers in his time even when he seems to be hiding from me, I will
maintain my hope in Christ. "I will look for him" is literally
translated "I will hope for him."
Vs. 18 - Isaiah’s family and our
families should be as signs for the Lord. Isaiah’s name means “Jehovah saves”,
Shear-jashub means “a remnant shall return” and Maher-shalal-hash-baz was a reminder
of the swift destruction and plundering of the Assyrians. What does your name
mean to people with whom you come in contact? The Jerusalem Temple stood on
Mount Zion.
Vs. 19 - We look for all the right
answers in all the wrong places. Peep=whisper or chirp like a bird. According
to J.R. Dummelow it refers to the thin and feeble voices of ghosts from Sheol
(Hell). Peep and Mutter refer to methods of people who use spirits and wizards
to communicate with spirits. Sometimes
we spend too much time and energy listening to the News and not enough
listening to Living Prophets.
Vs. 20 - an admonition to look to the
law (torah) and to the testimony (words of the prophets) and when they speak
from other sources there is no light in them.
1)Standard works, 2) Living prophets and 3) Holy Ghost
Vs. 21 - When Israel and Judah find themselves in
their deplorable condition, they will blame their leaders and their God.
Vs. 22 - When lost Israel looks for
help they look in all the wrong places. This may represent a time when no light
is to be found on earth (apostasy) or to a time when people are not looking for
it.
