Isaiah 8

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:10

Take counsel together ; literally, devise a device ; i.e. form some plan, even the cleverest possible, against God's people, and the result will be utter failure. It shall not stand (comp. Isaiah 7:7 ). For God is with us. In the Hebrew, ki 'immanu-El , "for with us (is) God" words declarative of the true meaning of the name which God had made a sign to his people ( Isaiah 7:14 ). It was his being "with them" that could alone save them from their enemies. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:11

For the Lord. Mr. Cheyne regards this passage as "a short oracle, complete in itself," and entirely unconnected with what has preceded. But the initial ki , "for," is in that case inexplicable. Spake thus to me with a strong hand ; literally, with strength of hand—i.e. laying a strong grasp upon him; and, as it were, constraining him to attend (comp. Ezekiel 1:3 ; Ezekiel 3:14 , Ezekiel 3:22 , etc.). That I should not walk in the way of this people . Isaiah was bidden not to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:11-15

Our personal relation to God. It is clearly insufficient to know that we are on the same side as that of the majority of the good. The voice of God's people is not always his voice; their way not always his way ( Isaiah 8:11 ). They may call for "a confederacy" when he disapproves of it. They may cry "peace" when he sees only present confusion and future disaster. They may be shaken with fear when they ought to be calm and trustful ( Isaiah 8:12 ). They may be full of complacency when... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:11-16

THE GROUNDS OF ISAIAH 'S CONFIDENCE . Having declared his absolute confidence, not only that the attack of Pekah and Rezin will fail ( Isaiah 8:1-4 ), but that Assyria also ( Isaiah 8:8 ), nay, that all the nations of the earth ( Isaiah 8:9 ) will fail, and bring destruction upon themselves, if they "devise devices" against God's true people, the prophet explains the ground of his confidence by relating a special "instruction" which he had received from God some time... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:12

Say ye not . The transition from the singular to the plural is noticeable. It implies that Isaiah did not stand alone, but had followers—a "little flock," it may be—but still enough to give him the support of sympathy (comp. verse 16). A confederacy ; rather, treason , or conspiracy (see 2 Samuel 15:12 ; 1 Kings 16:20 ; 2 Kings 11:12 ; 2 Kings 12:20 ; Jeremiah 11:9 ; Ezekiel 22:25 , etc.). The command is, not to call a course of conduct treasonable simply because the people... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:12-13

The fear of man and the fear of God contrasted. These two fears may be compared I. IN THEIR GROUNDS . Our fear of man rests upon our apprehension of the power of man to do us hurt. Men may injure us A certain fear of the supreme civil power in the state under which we live is natural and proper; it is one of the elements which bind society together, and could not cease to exist without disadvantage. Malefactors are restrained by it ( Romans 13:4 ); and even the mass of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:13

Sanctify the Lord of hosts. God was sanctified by being believed in ( Numbers 20:12 ). They who feared Rezin and Pekah, despite of God's assurances that their design should fail, did not believe in him, and so did not "sanctify" him. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:14

He shall be for a Sanctuary (comp. Ezekiel 11:16 , "Yet will I be to them as a little Sanctuary"). A sanctuary is "a refuge" ( Psalms 90:1 ; Psalms 91:9 ), and something more. It is a holy refuge, a place which is a refuge because of its holiness. Its material counterpart in the Mosaic system is, not "the city of refuge," but the altar ( 1 Kings 1:50 ; 1 Kings 2:28 ). Both the houses of Israel ; i.e. "the two reigning houses of Samaria and Judaea," both of which were Israelite.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:14

God's twofold relations with men. To some, a "Sanctuary;" to others. a "Rock of offense." For the Christian form of the same truth, comp. 2 Corinthians 2:1 , 2 Corinthians 2:6 . "To the one we are the savor of death unto death, and to the other the savor of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?" God is to men as men are to him (see Psalms 18:25 , Psalms 18:26 ), But is this saying anything strange? Surely it is the secret of good motherhood and fatherhood. They who... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:15

Many among them (so the Vulgate, Ewald, Delitzsch, and Knobel). But most others translate, "Many shall stumble thereon," i.e. on the stone and the rock (Rosenmüller, Gesenius, Vance Smith, Kay, Cheyne). Fall, and be broken. The effect of stumbling against a stone ( Matthew 21:44 ; Luke 20:18 ). Be snared, and be taken. The effect of being caught in a gin ( Psalms 9:15 , Psalms 9:16 ). read more

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