Justin Houtz

Hi. I’m Justin. I write code and things but enough about that…

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  • Daily Bible Study

    Isaiah 8-10; Hebrews 8

    DateVersionReading Plan
    July 11, 2026ESV (2016)ESV Life Journal Plan – 2026

    Isaiah 8-10

    Observation & Interpretation

    The LORD told Isaiah to write on a large tablet common characters, “Belonging to Maher-shalal-hash-baz.” The Believer’s Bible Commentary explains, “The Lord instructs Isaiah to write “Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz” on a tablet in clear letters, and to have two witnesses, Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah, who will later attest the message. The name means “speed the spoil, hasten the booty,” and points to the destruction of Syria and Israel by Assyria.” (BBC). The LORD spoke to Isaiah again and told him that Assyria would come against Syria and Israel, however, “The pronouncement states that such rejoicing might be premature since the Assyrian threat would come to its doorstep as well.” (CSB Notes).

    The LORD warned Isaiah not to walk in the way of the people, to not call conspiracy what they call conspiracy and not fear what they fear (Is. 8:12). Rather, Isaiah was to honor God alone as holy and let God be his fear (Is. 8:13). “Isaiah is instructed by Jehovah not to join this people in their fear of the conspiracy formed against them, but to trust the Lord alone. He will be as a sanctuary to all who rely on Him, but a stone of stumbling to all others.” (BBC). Isaiah instructs that the testimony is to be bound up and sealed “until history records its fulfillment.” (BBC). He warns against inquiring of mediums and necromancers, telling them that they should instead inquire of God (Is. 8:19). The misguided will pass through the land greatly distressed and hungry, enraged and speaking contemptuously against their king and God, turning their faces upward. They will look to the earth but only find distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish, and be thrust into thick darkness (Is. 8:21-22).

    Isaiah pivots to speaking about the Messiah to come. “The northern territory of Israel, called the land of Naphtali, which had been brought into contempt by the invaders, will be made glorious. (Galilee of the Gentiles was the Savior’s boyhood home and the scene of part of His public ministry.) Christ’s First Advent brought light to Galilee. His Second Coming will bring joy to the nation and put an end to slavery and war.” (BBC). Isaiah describes Jesus First Advent, that to them a child is born and Son is given. “The first clause speaks of His humanity, the second of His deity. The next part of the verse points forward to the Second Advent” (BBC). Isaiah provides the names by which He will be referred: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6). Of His government and peace, there will be no end. He will establish and uphold the throne of David with justice and righteousness forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this (Is. 9:7).

    Isaiah speaks of how the LORD sent a word against Jacob and that it will fall on Israel (Is. 9:8). The people would boast in pride and arrogance of their own ability to rebuild, not fearing loss of “what they have because they believe they will be able to replace it with something better and grander.” (FSB). But the LORD would raise enemies against them; Rezin, the Syrians on the east and the Philistines on the west (Is. 9:11-12). The LORD would cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed in one day (Is. 9:14). “Because ungodliness prevails, the Lord’s anger is not turned away and His hand is stretched out still—in judgment, not in mercy.” (BBC). In sinful response to the LORD’s wrath, the people act in wickedness toward each other, like fuel for the fire, no one spares another (Is. 9:19). For all this, the LORD’s anger has not turned away and His hand is stretched out still (Is. 9:21).

    Isaiah declares woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees and the writers who continue writing oppression (Is. 10:1). It is “pronounced on those rulers who rob the needy, oppress the poor, and write unjust decrees. When the judgment of God falls, they will lose all the wealth they gained through graft and extortion.” (BBC). God through Isaiah then turns His attention to Assyria and declares woe on them (Is. 10:5). “God will use Assyria to punish Judah. But the Assyrian has bigger plans than that!” (BBC). When the LORD had finished all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, He would punish the speech of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria (Is. 10:12). “A terrible disaster will strike Assyria’s stout warriors, who are also called his glory and the glory of his forest and of his fruitful field. The light of Israel is the Lord, and His thorns and His briers are the Assyrian troops. The survivors of those troops will be so few … that a child will be able to count them.” (BBC).

    In that day, the remnant of Israel and the house of Jacob would no longer lean on him who struck them, but will lean instead on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth (Is. 10:20). Even though many people comprised the nation of Israel, only a remnant of them would return (Is. 10:22). The LORD through Isaiah told the people not to be afraid because after a little while His fury would come to an end and His anger will be redirected toward the destruction of their enemies (Is. 10:25). “Though the Assyrian king will march against Jerusalem from the north, the people of Judah need not be afraid, because the Lord of hosts will intervene, as He did against Midian and Egypt, and Judah will be freed from the fear of Assyrian domination.” (BBC).

    Application

    Because of their sin and wickedness, God would use the Assyrians to bring punishment upon His people. However, He assured them through Isaiah that this would not go on forever. There would come a day in which His anger would shift from them toward their oppressors and there would be left a remnant among them faithful to the LORD. By this we see the purposefulness of God’s punitive hand. For His children, it is corrective chastisement in order to bring about rightful, wholehearted devotion to Him. This is not to diminish the difficulty of such trying times, but to understand that His aim is to magnify His glory and bring about our sanctification. May we in response be grateful that our Father would discipline us in this way that we should be transformed into the same image of the Son from one degree of glory to another.

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