To get the full impact of this verse, we must read the whole of Chapter Eight.  God had instructed Isaiah to give his new son a name that will be a strong and prophetic statement for the people of Israel.  That name is   Mahershalalhashbaz.  The name is of such significance that God tells it to Isaiah two times, once before the child is conceived and then again after his birth.  Much of the beginning of chapter eight is a retelling of the meaning of the name, "Make speed to the spoil, he hasteneth the prey."  It is the message that God’s judgment is sure.  God is the One in control.  Through the prophets, the Lord had warned Israel of judgment and chastisement if they did not turn from their sins.  The people of Israel had refused to heed God’s warnings.  It had not mattered if the warning had come with the thunder of            Refused the waters of Shiloh that went softly in their midst and rejoiced in the evil of men (verse 6) The warning is given "Now, therefore, behold the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many..." (verse 7) the strong and mighty nation of Assyria would come in like a flooding river, overflowing and spreading out over the land. Envision the picture of devastation, the overwhelming flood in front of which there is no natural defense. All is overtaken, it will fill the "breadth of [the] land" Yet note the calm and direct name God gives to this land - "O Immanuel" Not a name from human perspective - Israel, Judah, but Immanuel - "with us, with man, is The God!" In the midst of the turmoil, in the presence of punishment, yet, even then - with us is the God - His promises, His presence, His person - steadfastly remains. Though all seemed to be swept away in the flood, yet He was still there. What an assurance, so subtly tucked away, found for our soul’s instruction only through diligent study - in the midst of this chapter of warning - O Immanuel - with us is the God. Perhaps trouble and trial surround you, perhaps the floods of illness sweep over you, sorrow descends over your formerly peaceful valley, God is still there, He has not forsaken you. In your mind’s eye - view a placid softly flowing stream - winding its way through a pleasant, fruitful valley. The hills around softly roll into the sun lit sky. The hearth fires in the cottage arm the happy family - and then in the space of hours the dark clouds mass on the horizon, blotting out the sun, and the river starts to flow more swiftly. Soon debris is seen passing by - then the torrent increases, the waters flood their banks and the land is consumed. Yet in the midst of disaster - we are not forsaken. Even if we did not heed the warning of the clouds, did not the sun was not destroyed, only temporarily blurred from our vision. When all seemed to fall apart, the sun was still operating - its gravitational pull and energy quotients were still the same - God was still there. Take heart, no matter what may be flooding in on your soul today - claim the name "O Immanuel" with you still, the God" ever present, the God of His word, true to His name, the name of our Savior at His birth Immanuel. Jesus said - I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5b

Note on bottom of page - "overwhelming flood of apostasy"

All around the land of Israel, people were "associating" themselves, girding themselves, taking counsel together, amking a confederacy...and God warned Isaiah: [do] not walk in the way of this people...neither fear he their fea, nor be afraid" (verses 11-12) No matter what the trouble, your deliverance is not in the way of worldly man, your strength is not to be found in human reasoning, your defense will not be in the temporary power of an enemy, our battle is of the Lord. The ways of the world will be "broken in pieces," "come to naught," "will not stand" because "God is with us!" (verses 9-10) A repeat of the title of verse eight, so subtly hidden there - not cried aloud with a loud shout - "Our God is with us!" God gives the warning to the people of Isaiah’s day...so true to us individually today - do not give heed to the false ways of man. In the face of great and present danger, do not let fear or confusion force you to align with the councils and confederacies of the world - stand firm - "sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let Him be your fear."

1) Sanctify (research original word) here "Honor God" Ps.29:2, Isaiah 25:1, Ps 49:12a - man abideth not

2) LORD the strength and power of the name in capitals!

3) of hosts - over all- the army was coming - God is over all!

4) Himself! - personal - ever present

Fear - reverence, awe inspiring... Him - not man or circumstance, not the flood or the danger - side notes 10 consecrate, dedicate, set apart, honor...20 Jehovah, the existing One - fear Him - God’s prime directive for Israel - Deuteronomy 10:2 - quote - It is what is required of us. When we properly obey; we can walk in His ways, truly love Him and joyfully serve Him. Note the word dread - to us it pictures fear and trembling, overwhelming, numbing apprehension - how do we reconcile this to "let us come boldly to the throne of God to find mercy to help?" (look up word) - Have you ever dreaded anything - we laughingly say "I dread that household task" but in the true sense of the word have you ever dreaded - the medical test, the surgery, the life situation, the danger - in each case we feel helpless in and of ourselves to do anything, we are truly numbed to our own ability - so it needs to be in our soul’s great needs - we are helpless of ourselves, it is only Himself to whom we can flee for help! And the promise is given: "and He shall be for a sanctuary!" verse 14 sanctuary - Holy place - hide in the temple of the most High research dread : to inspire (fill with) awe, terrify, very strong word.

(look for Him in all you do, in all your places, in all the quiet answers to prayer - look for Him today) (maybe meant to be at end?)

Wait - not impatient, not fleeing, not going off in our own way, but waiting

It was because he had bound up the testimony and sealed the law upon himself and his disciples (verse 16) - he was absolutely secure and established in God, therefore, he could wait. When a young girl told a soldier before he shipped off to war, "I will wait for you." The sincerity of her love, her whole hearted commitment insured that indeed she would wait. She wouldn’t be easily swayed by another, give up hope, believe false rumors or selfishly go off to do her own thing - she would wait. No matter how long it takes before the Lord comes again, or before He acts on His promises to you - will you wait on the Lord, not be swayed, not give up or fall by the wayside. the girl of sterling character waited for her man - she was there when the ship docked again. Think of his joy, his admiration and devotion. But sadly on the same ship, there would be those who had expected their sweetheart, yet would scan the faces only to realize - she wasn’t there. She had not been faithful to her promise - she hadn’t waited. Think of what that waiting meant - perhaps nights alone at home writing a letter to her sweetheart instead of partying on the town. Saying no to offers of dates with others, not listening to idle talk, making him the priority of her thoughts. So we must do likewise of we are to be faithfully waiting. Passing up nights of ease and worldly pleasure to be in His house, occupying our thoughts with Him and not being enticed by the things of the world to be drawn away will not be that hard if we think of Christ coming for His own and the joy He has in honoring us for our faithfulness. When He calls for you, will you be found faithfully waiting?

2nd concept - waiting upon God - Psalm 62:5 - My soul, wait thou only upon God ; for my expectation is from Him. In Psalm 123:2 - it compares our waiting upon God to the eyes of a servant who is constantly attuned to the desires of her mistress - she was a lady in waiting - ever available to do the will of her mistress. So we should be to the Lord. Hosea 12:6 - turn thou to God...wait on thy God continually. and the most well known of the "waiting on God" verses - Isaiah 40:31 - our waiting will cause our strength to be renewed! We will not faint or fall by the wayside - we must wait upon Him for service, wait for His return, wait for Him to act, instead of trying to solve problems ourselves - His timing is always perfect, don’t interfere with His perfect plan by refusing to wait upon Him!

Isaiah 8:18

the children - look up

Isaiah - salvation of Jehovah

Shearhasjub (7:3)

Mahershalalhashbaz (8:3)

Immanuel - name given

Our children are for signs and wonders to the world! A testimony of God’s righteous grace - Our families are testimonies

Paul Lawal - names of children

As born again Christians, we are the children of God - we should never take lightly the responsibility to be used of Him for "signs and wonders" to those around us.

The people - Israel (but aren’t we the Israel of God in a spiritual sense - we, too, were in darkness)

That walked - our former conversation of life

in darkness - we must realize that there was no light in that darkness - nothing of itself that could redeem or lead us or lighten our way - too often we cling to the idea that in our former life there were redeeming qualities (heritage, education, position, good works, etc.) but they were all darkness.

have seen a great light - suddenly, bursting on the horizon - a great and glorious light. (picture Israel shrouded in darkness - a great mass of people moving across the darkened plain - no purpose of driection and suddenly above the mountains a light breaks as the rising of the sun after a moonless night. All faces raise to greet the dawn of that new day.

"they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death." - we were in the great ominous shadow of death (Ephesians 2:1-8 !!)

upon them - upon US hath the light shined! hath reviews tense of verb

the light shined - out from itself - out of His own glory, He shined

Isaiah 9:2

We must realize that before salvation we truly walked in darkness (there is no light we can claim from our former life) If we were handed a small beautiful painting, carefully framed, we would hold it up to the light and turn it every which way until we caught all the colors, all the intricate detail. We would not immediately carry it into a darkened closet, walk in and shut the door to view it! Though the picture would still be there, we would have no knowledge of its beauty, be unacquainted with its detail. So it is with salvation. God has painted an intricate, brightly hued painting of our life in Christ. He entrusts that painting to us at salvation. We then have a choice to make - whether to hold it up to the light of His Word and love or run into the closet of worldly life to stare at that which will only appear as a shadowy form. Imagine yourself before salvation walking around a darkened land. Ahead is a great light. You are lost, as indeed you were, in the darkness of sin, the Light is Christ. Only a wild animal will run from the light, a human has the natural tendency to turn towards that light (testimony about Kayla - her ultrasound) Before Christ, we were in the shadow of death and God shined His great light of truth upon us! Praise be to His name.

The nation of Israel was in the sentence and warning of spiritual darkness and death - yet God would send unto them the Messiah - Even in the time of Isaiah - His Word shone as a light, a beacon in a dark shadowy land. Come into the Light.

Should we do 9:6 (see notes further on) thoughts - this is not an illusionary verse - the child is born - physically born. He is the son of promise - given unto us. The ruler ship plus the whole body of government is to be fully upon his shoulders. His full responsibility - think of the priest of old who wore the stones upon his shoulders - very Jewish in meaning. Why did they not know His name - why would it be called? Because His name was a mystery!

Wonderful - full of wonder, unique

Counsellor - all we need for direction

The Mighty God - of calour - our Creator - unchangeable, protector*, * great in context

The Everlasting Father - eternal, only with the Father (you have seen me - total unity)

Prince of Peace - Captain, head, Superior, reconciliation remover of strife

Peace - fellowship, unity, total satisfaction

The true God was not like the idols of old - given to one primary characteristic (the god of war, the god of the harvest, etc.) He is our totality!

Isaiah 9:6 see before -

is born - physical birth

a son - the one of promise

is given uniquely God’s gift (almost the idea of adoption) a son made available - God adopts us in salvation - He presents the son as a gift as a child is presented to the childless couple - fulfilling their need and emptiness - uniquely we are presented with Christ - to fill our need and emptiness.

look up "government"

upon His shoulders - as the priest of Israel carried the symbols of the nation on his shoulders.

Naming - because of character - Some American Indian tribes gave names in succession of the revelation of character - one name at birth, another in childhood, the last as young adulthood was reached. at reach stage a statement of the person -

birth 1) promise

childhood 2) potential

adulthood 3) personal character revealed

In Christ, His all is constantly revealed in His names

Wonderful - full of wonder, unique

Counsellor - all we need for direction

The Mighty God - of Valour - our Captain - unchangeable, potentate

The Everlasting Father - eternal one with the Father

The Prince of Peace - Captain, head, superior, reconcilator, Peace - fellowship, unity, total satisfaction

notice all the absolute and eternal words used in these verses: (6) Everlasting (7) no end, forever

also tie in 9:8 The Lord sent word unto Jacob and it hath shined upon Israel -

amazing Messianic prophecy oft neglected - The Word - Christ perhaps

This little verse is the impetus behind all the familiar passages of John in the New Testament. God sent forth the Word, His Son, Christ Jesus ! unto His chosen people (Jacob chosen above Esau - the Prince with God - the human name here, not the changed divinely given name (Israel) but unto Jacob - the natural man - but one full of potential when touched by the hand of God! SO are we all Jacobs before we allow Christ to come unto us! That Word, that Christ - lighted upon Israel- illumined them!

2nd obvious and immediate meaning - The message Word of God was sent by God to Jacob (Israel) it warned them - gave them all they needed to know. Think of it, god Himself communicated with man! How unlike the idols of the invaders! who had mouths but did not speak and even in their legends - never to man as a whole. He sent - divinely originated action - an action of care, concern, personal power - condescending to touch lives. Like the general of the advance force sending word by messenger across hostile territory to the troops still behind the line of victory. Look up phrase "it hath lighted upon Israel" Word - dabar - word, commandments, matter, speaking thing.  Strongs - to fall down - to cause to fall - mood perfect. Look up Matthew 24:35

Note - God’s Word sure - I think is to previous verse - but surely God’s Word was sure in all respects.

Read on - " and all the people shall know...Verse 9 Even those who in their pride thought they did not need God - they will know His message was true - but they will also know "for all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still." His judgment is sure, but so is His person He is the Lord - He is personal, He is real.