第八章以賽亞更詳細的預言亞述人入侵，以賽亞用他兒子的名字──瑪黑珥沙拉勒哈施羅斯（意思為快速掠奪戰利品）來形容亞述人的入侵。猶大被毀滅，因他們不相信上帝是每日賜平安祝福和醫治的上帝，上帝說祂是溫柔、清澈、源源不斷，能滿足人的西羅亞緩流──集水在耶路撒冷南部的水池（約9：7；4：13~14；耶2：13）；猶大不要此緩流，卻轉向富有、強暴的幼發拉底河（喻表亞述王），這河要掃蕩上帝的土地，上帝成就此事目的是要毀滅祂的子民（8：6~8）。

        以賽亞警告猶大人民，要敬畏上帝，否則將被毀滅，但大部分人還是拒絕上帝，他們將被絆跌，絆人的石頭是耶穌和祂的話（羅9：33；彼前2：8；路2：34）這等人要被毀滅，而敬畏上帝的人必能找到避難所，上帝與他們同在（8：10），上帝是他們的房角石及永遠的盤石。

        以賽亞確信上帝將應驗祂的預言，上帝喚起以賽亞和他的兩個兒子，為要在以色列中行奇事（8：18；來2：13），兩個兒子名字的意思表示了希望和警告，施亞雅述（7：3）意思是餘剩之民應回轉，瑪黑珥沙拉勒哈施羅斯預表上帝的審判。

        以賽亞亦同時警告人們不要求問鬼魂和行巫術的，因上帝厭惡此等事（申18：9~20；利20：27），和邪惡有關的事物必不得見光（耶穌是真光，這光不在他們心中），他們必在黑暗中（8：19~22；林後4：4，6）。上帝聖潔的話語有能力又可靠，從其中我們可得知上帝的旨意，上帝的話亦是引導成功、祝福和聖潔生命的唯一路徑（徒20：32）。

        第九章預言彌賽亞的降生、傳道、統治、神性和主權，祂名稱為以馬內利，是上帝給人的兆預（7：14），是耶穌在加利利傳道的開端。以賽亞預言不虔敬的人走在黑暗中，將看見大光，這光就是耶穌（太4：15~16），祂是世界的光（約1：4~5，9；8：12；林後4：4，6）、祂是救贖主，是上帝向悖道之人顯示祂的愛與恩典，並將喜樂賜給相信祂的人（9：1~3）。

        喜樂之因：（1）耶穌除去壓迫祂子民的軛，像基甸做在米甸人身上的事蹟一般（9：4；士7：22~23），帶來釋放和安息（太11：28~30）；（2）戰爭之後耶穌帶來安息（千禧年），上帝燒毀一切與戰爭有關之物（9：5）；（3）最大的喜樂是耶穌成為人的樣式來到人間，是上帝送給人的禮物──有一嬰孩為我們而生，有一子賜給我們（9：6；路1：14）。

        以賽亞說明彌賽亞兼有人性和神性，祂的名字是「奇妙」，在希伯來文，意思是神蹟出於上帝；耶穌為人所生卻沒有犯罪，替我們死，又榮耀的復活，實在是「奇妙」，無人能明白上帝的奧祕，除了天父（提前3：16）。祂的名字是「策士」，啟示上帝的心懷意念，如果我們實行祂的話，將被領導走向正路，走向我們的天父（約14：6~11）。

        彌賽亞的另外兩個名字，顯示了祂的神性；祂的名字是「全能的上帝」，祂是全能永遠的得勝者；祂的名字是「永在的父」，永存的父有權能給予人永遠的生命，耶穌與父原為一（約10：30；路1：32；約1：2~3；羅9：5；約壹5：20）。彌賽亞的最後一個名字是「和平的君」，和平的國度將無止息，是上帝給大衛的應許，一個永遠的朝代，而這應許在耶穌基督身上實現（9：7；撒下7：16）；祂將帶給全地平安，在祂有安息的權柄，政權也擔在祂肩頭，我們看見一個好牧人愛祂的羊群的景象（9：6；太28：18；路15：5）。

        今天每一個相信耶穌而被赦罪的人，也能有此奇妙的平安在心中（羅5：1；弗2：13~18；西3：15；帖後3：16）。

        全能的上帝，感謝您將您的獨生子賜下，藉童女使耶穌成為人的樣式，祂是奇妙、策士、全能的上帝、永在的父、和平的君。幫助我們進入祂所預備的豐富之中。奉主耶穌聖名，阿們！

English

        In chapter eight, Isaiah gives further details about the prophecy of the coming Assyrian invasion, which is described in the meaning of his son's name, Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, "hasten [to the] booty-speed [to the] prey". The reason for their coming destruction was that they did not trust in God who daily gives peaceful blessings and healing, like the gentle, fresh, continuous, and satisfactory waters of Shiloah (or Siloam) which gather in a pool in the southern part of Jerusalem (cf. John 9:7; 4:13-14; Jer. 2:13). Instead, the people looked for help in the impressive wealth and strength of violent and strong men who are compared to the mighty flowing Euphrates River; yet this river (symbolizing the king of Assyria) would sweep through Immanuel's (God's) land, as God purposed, and would bring destruction in its path (8:6-8).

        Those who trust and fear God, however, will find that He is a sanctuary, "for God is with us" (8:10). But to the majority of people who have rejected Him, He will be a "stone of stumbling", and so Isaiah fervently warns the people to fear the Lord or else they will fall and be destroyed. This stone is a picture of Jesus and His Word (cf. Rom. 9:33; 1 Peter 2:8; Luke 2:34). Those who reject Him will fall, but the righteous find a refuge and comfort in Him — the Cornerstone and Rock of Ages.

        Isaiah resolved to trust in God and fulfill his prophetic commission. He and his two sons were raised up by the Lord "for signs and wonders in Israel" (8:18; Heb. 2:13). His son's names alone signified his message of hope and warning: Shear-Jashub (7:3), meaning "a remnant shall return", and Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, whose name predicts the coming judgment of God.

        Isaiah also warns the people to not trust in witchcraft and spiritism, something that the Lord detests (Deut. 18:9-20; Lev. 20:27). Those who get involved in such evil practices have "no light in them" (Jesus, the Light, is not in their hearts), and therefore they "will be driven into darkness" (8:19-22; cf. 2 Cor. 4:4, 6). The Lord's Holy Word is all-sufficient and authoritative, and through it we can discover the will of God. It is the sole guidebook for a successful, blessed, and sanctified life (cf. Acts 20:32).

        In chapter nine, we read of the great prophecies concerning the birth, ministry, reign, deity, and sovereignty of the Messiah. He is the same "Immanuel" who would be the sign from God (7:14), and He is none other than the Lord Jesus who began his earthly ministry in Galilee. As Isaiah prophesied, these ungodly people who walked in darkness saw a great and gracious light, and this Light was Jesus (cf. Matt. 4:15-16). He is the Light of the world (John 1:4-5, 9; 8:12; 2 Cor. 4:4, 6). He is the Redeemer who revealed God's love and grace to undeserving man and brought great joy to those who believed in Him (9:1-3).

        Some of the reasons for joy are: (1) Jesus broke the power and authority (yoke, staff, and rod) of His people's oppressors, as Gideon did to the Midianites with only a few good men (9:4; Jud. 7:22-23), thus bringing liberty and rest (Matt. 11:28-30); (2) After the bloody war, Jesus will usher in an era of peace (the Millenium), which will be initiated by the burning of everything having to do with war (9:5); (3) All these joys would not be if it were not for the greatest joy; the incarnation of Jesus, born as a human child sent from God as a divine gift: "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given" (9:6; Luke 1:14).

        In his description of the Messiah and His names, Isaiah clearly states both the Messiah's humanity and deity. His name is "Wonderful", which in the Hebrew denotes that which is miraculously accomplished by God. Jesus' conception, humble birth, life without sin, vicarious death, and glorious resurrection is truly wonderful and no one can understand this "mystery of godliness" except the Father (1 Tim. 3:16). He is also the "Counsellor", who reveals the will, mind, and heart of God, and if we follow His words we will be lead in the right way — the way to the Father (John 14:6-11).

        The next two names of the Messiah especially declare His deity: He is called "Mighty God", for He is the all-powerful, eternal Victor, and He is the "Everlasting Father", literally "Father of eternity", for truly He is the Author and Giver of eternal life, and the Father is One with the Son (John 10:30; Luke 1:32; Heb. 1:2-3; Rom. 9:5; 1 John 5:20). Lastly, He is called the "Prince of Peace", whose kingdom of peace will be without end, and thus God's promise to David concerning an everlasting dynasty is fulfilled in Jesus Christ (9:7; 2 Sam. 7:16). He will bring universal peace, having all authority over the world which rests "upon His shoulder" — a picture of the Good Shepherd's loving care for His sheep (9:6; Matt. 28:18; Luke 15:5).

        Today every person who believes in Jesus and is justified through faith in Him can have His wonderful peace (Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:13-18; Col. 3:15; 2 Thess. 3:16).

        Thank You, Almighty God, that You gave Your only begotten Son. Thank You also that through the Virgin Mary, a child was born. All glory to You for the God-man, our Lord Jesus, who is Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. Help us to fully enter into all His provision for us.