Isaiah 8 Study Notes

8:11 God spoke to Isaiah (me) so he would not conform to the people’s beliefs.

8:12 The conspiracy may refer to the alliance between Syria and the northern kingdom of Israel against Judah or perhaps an inner-Judean alliance against the pro-Assyrian party of Ahaz. Whatever the exact alliance in view, the point was that Isaiah must not be afraid like the people were.

8:13 The fear of God overshadows all other fears (Lk 12:5). The reason Isaiah and others must not fear threatening alliances is because God is the only one who should be feared. There is a difference in the quality of the two fears described in these verses. The fear of human beings may be described as terror (v. 12), while the fear of God is described as awe.

8:14-15 The sanctuary image highlights God’s holiness and suggests that he protects his people, but because they have rejected him, the Judeans will experience him as a stumbling stone. Verse 14 is quoted in Rm 9:33 and 1Pt 2:8.

8:16 The testimony, also called the instruction, refers to the words of God that have come to Isaiah. These are to be kept safely (bind up . . . seal up) by Isaiah’s disciples. They will keep the pronouncements of God secure until the events prove them true.

8:17 Because of their sin, God will withdraw his saving presence (hiding his face) from his people (the house of Jacob). The faithful, represented by Isaiah, will wait for his certain return.

8:18 The children who are signs and wonders are Shear-jashub (7:3) and Maher-shal-al-hash-baz (8:1).

8:19-20 The people wanted Isaiah to engage in necromancy as did the witch of En-dor (1Sm 28). Such divination was strictly prohibited in the OT (Dt 18:9-14). They should put their trust in God and seek only his guidance through his word.