11. with a strong hand—or else, "when He grasped me with His hand" [HORSLEY]. MAURER, as English Version, "with the impetus of His hand," that is, the felt impulse of His inspiration in my mind (Jeremiah 15:17; Ezekiel 1:3; Ezekiel 3:14; Ezekiel 3:22; Ezekiel 37:1). way of . . . people—their distrust of Jehovah, and the panic which led them and Ahab to seek Assyrian aid. read more
Isaiah now passed along instruction that Yahweh had powerfully given him, warning him against following the popular reliance on human strength. God had been teaching Isaiah that He had brought the Assyrians to power. To oppose Assyria now was to oppose God. [Note: Watts, p. 120.] read more
1. Take, etc.] read ’Take thee a great tablet, and write upon it with the pen of a man, Maher-shalal-hash-baz.’ A man’s pen] i.e. such as a common man would use for writing in large characters that all might, undertsand the words. Maher-shalal-hash-baz] i.e. ’The spoil speedeth, the prey hasteth.’ The inscription intimated the speedy spoliation of Syria and Israel (Isaiah 8:4).2. And I took] RV ’And I will take,’ the speaker being Jehovah as in Isaiah 8:1. Witnesses] who would be able when the... read more
(11) For the Lord spake thus to me.—We enter on a new section, separated, probably, by a short interval of time, but dealing with the same subject. In the “strong hand” we have an anthropomorphic phrase, implying a specially high degree of the intensity of inspiration (1 Kings 18:46; 2 Kings 3:15; Ezekiel 1:3; Ezekiel 3:14; Ezekiel 3:22; Ezekiel 8:1; Ezekiel 37:1). Something had occurred which brought the prophet into a state like that of St. Paul in Acts 17:16; Acts 18:5. Indignation and zeal... read more
CHAPTER VIKING AND MESSIAH; PEOPLE AND CHURCH735-732 B.C.Isaiah 7, 8, 9:1-8THIS section of the book of Isaiah (chapters 7-9:7) consists of a number of separate prophecies uttered during a period of at least three years: 735-732 B.C. By 735 Ahaz had ascended the throne; Tiglath-pileser had been occupied in the far east for two years. Taking advantage of the weakness of the former and the distance of the later, Rezin, king of Damascus, and Pekah, king of Samaria, planned an invasion of Judah. It... read more
CHAPTER 8 Jehovah’s Word Through Isaiah and the Assyrian Announced 1. The divine instruction and Maher-shalal-hash-baz (Isaiah 8:1-4 ) 2. The Assyrian to come (Isaiah 8:5-8 ) 3. The answer of faith (Isaiah 8:9-10 ) 4. A word to the faithful remnant (Isaiah 8:11-20 ) 5. The coming great distress (Isaiah 8:21-22 ) The names are significant. Isaiah heard the word “Maher-shalal-hash-baz,” and then is told to call his newborn son by this name. The name means “swift for spoil, hasty for... read more
8:11 For the LORD spoke thus to me {m} with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,(m) To encourage me that I should not shrink for the infidelity of this people, and so neglect my office. read more
JUDAH ’S ALLIANCE WITH ASSYRIA Syria and Israel menaced Judah through Jotham’s reign but the situation has become acute now that Ahaz is on the throne (Isaiah 7:1-2 ). THE PROMISED SIGN The Lord, through Isaiah, counsels and encourages the king at a crisis (Isaiah 7:3-16 ). Notice where the prophet is to meet Ahaz (Isaiah 7:3 ): where he and his military engineers may be conferring as to the water supply during the expected siege. Notice who accompanies the prophet, and his name, which... read more
Panics and Answers Isaiah 7-8 These chapters are, for popular purposes, practically sealed books. It would be difficult to say with definiteness what they mean. The instances referred to are all of high antiquity, and the immediate local reference would be of little interest to the majority of men, even if it could be determined specifically and finally. We must, therefore, study the two chapters with the view of discovering what we may that is applicable to our own experience, that falls... read more
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Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Isaiah 8:11
Isaiah 8:11. For the Lord spake thus— In the subsequent part of this sermon; the prophet sets forth with what disposition of mind those worldly events are to be received, which threaten destruction to the church: he renews, for the comfort of the pious, the great promise of the Messiah, and denounces the most grievous judgments, spiritual and temporal, upon the impious, incredulous, and profane. We have, first, a reproof of the depraved and improper disposition of the carnal and profane men... read more