Isaiah chapter 8

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1 “Moreover the Lord said to me— Take yourself a great roll [a tablet], and write in it with a man's pen, concerning Mahershalalhashbaz.

[Mahershalalhashbaz, means— hasting (as the enemy)

to the booty, swift— to the prey.]

2 And I took unto me faithful [properly built up, supportive, firm, trusting, morally true— established unto the right hand of assurance—] witnesses [giving testimony, a recorder], to record [or, duplicate and repeat, testify and stand upright]— Uriah, the priest [chief ruler, principal officer]— and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.

[Zechariah means— Yah has remembered,

and Jeberechiah— blessed of Yah]

3 And I went unto the prophetess [or, inspired woman]; and she conceived, and bore a son. Then said the LORD to me— Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz.

4 For before the child shall have knowledge to cry— ‘My father, and my mother—’ the riches [resources, virtue, strength and wealth] of Damascus (the Syrian city) and the spoil [or, prey/booty] of Samaria (the city of Palestine) —shall be taken away [or, lifted, and obtained] —before the king of Assyria.

5 The LORD [or, eternal, self-existent one] spake also unto me again, saying— 6 Forasmuch as this people refuses [or, loathes and casts away] the waters of Shiloah [a fountain in Jerusalem], that go softly— and rejoice [or delight] in Rezin and Remaliah's son;

7 Now, therefore, behold— the Lord brings upon them— the waters of the river, strong and many [abundantly] —even the king of Assyria, and all his glory [copious splendor]: and he shall come up over all his channels [beds or valleys], and go over all his banks [borders]:

8 And he shall pass [or, hasten and pierce] through Judah; he shall overflow [or, conquer and wash away] and go over [which is transition and bring forth, crossover] —he shall reach even to the neck [the binding to back of neck— where burdens are bound]; and the stretching out [expansion] of his wings [or, the extreme overspreading pinnacle— high point, wing tip, that] shall fill the breadth of your land— O Immanuel [Almighty, God with us— son of Isaiah].”

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Okay, let’s recap— God tells Isaiah to take, essentially pen, and lots of paper— and go and write in it— concerning his son, Mahershalalhashbaz (the symbolic name of his son).

And so, Isaiah takes faithful, trustworthy witnesses with him— Zechariah and Uriah— to go and write what the Lord is going to tell him.

He goes to the prophetess (an inspired by God woman, as Strong’s defines), I believe this is his wife— and she conceives, and bears a son— his son, as— ‘I went unto,’ is typically about sexual relations; God told him to name the child— Mahershalashbaz (a symbolic name).

But he tells him— “Before this child will be able to say, Mother or Father,” the riches, or prosperity, virtue, and strength of Damascus and Samaria— will be taken away, or ‘lifted,’ like a thief lifts a ‘score,’ or booty.

And the Lord continues to say to Isaiah…

“These people refuse the easy, smooth way with me that I have provided; they take the blessings I have given them for granted— and run after mischief and ‘another way,’ straight into honoring Rezin and Rmaliah’s son.”

That is symbolically, or spiritually what he is saying, when he says— “They refuse the waters of Shiloh,” as Shiloh means— ‘God’s gift;’ so, essentially— they were rejecting, and taking for granted— God’s gift, or provisions and blessings.

And instead— they were honoring Rezin and Remaliah’s son— who were rebelling against God, taking wicked counsel against Judah and Israel; these people— were in cahoots with God’s spiritual enemy, satan— and so God will shake things up.

So, once again he will speak of LITERAL things in scripture —that will show God’s disapproval and disdain for these people; but it will also have spiritual implications as well.

In physical world judgment, there is a reaping of ramifications… and with it the prosperity will be wiped away.

Now, spiritually speaking, as well as literally— he’s talking about ‘conquerors’ coming— a strong and many people, namely through the king of Assyria; and with all his copious splendor (glory) —he will come up, overtake the land, by his channels— and channels are flowing paths— and go over all the land, as he passes through Judah.

God addresses— ‘O Immanuel,’ which means— God is with us; in this case— the reaping of rebellion is how God is with these people; but it also says it’s the name of Isaiah’s son, in Strong’s— which would be his proper name; Mahershalashbaz— is his symbolic name, meaning—

‘hasting to the booty— swift, to the prey.’

And as we can see— IT’S FITTING TO HAVE THIS NAME GIVEN BY GOD— for it’s EXACTLY— what is taking place with God’s rebellious, and dishonoring people.

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9 “Associate [or align with, make good for nothing, morally bad— in evil affiliations] yourselves— O you people— and you shall be broken in pieces; and give ear [listen, and heed], all you of far countries: gird [or, belt/bind up— compass about in union] yourselves (with these people)— and you shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves (unite with them), and you shall be broken in pieces.

[Note— it was said TWICE here]

10 Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought [or, break up, violate, frustrate, cast off and asunder, be defeated and dissolved]; speak the word— and it shall not stand [or be performed or reared up]: for God [the strength of the Almighty] is with us.”

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He’s saying— If you’re going to associate yourselves with morally corrupt, good for nothing evil people— YOU, YOURSELVES— shall be destroyed too (or, broken into pieces).

So, listen up, and heed this warning of impending judgment— all y’all from far and wide, go ahead— yoke up with these people and their ways— and I will destroy everything you’ve got, to show you the error of joining my enemy, spiritually.

Go ahead, link up together, strategize and plan your evil plans, unto your evil ways— but I will break up, violate, frustrate, cast off and asunder all your endeavors, and you will be defeated and dissolved; speak your words— and it shall not stand, for God almighty is with us.

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11 “For the LORD spoke thus to me— with a strong hand [or dominion]— and instructed [chastised, and corrected] me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying— 12 Say ye not— A confederacy [or alliance of treason]— to all those to whom this people shall say [or certify] —A confederacy; neither fear [or revere, honor, nor be afraid of] their fears— nor be afraid [or dread— in awe or fright— or be shaken terribly].

13 Sanctify [make clean, ceremonially, morally— hallowed and pure in proclamation] the Lord of hosts, himself; and let him be your fear— and let him be your dread [or fearful awe].

14 And he shall be for a sanctuary [a consecrated thing/place— especially a palace sanctuary, hallowed chapel, holy place]; but for a stone of stumbling [a trip up of the foot, plaguing stumble], and for a rock [or boulder of precipitous, dangerous edge] of offense [ or obstacle, enticement, ruin and stumbling] to both the houses of Israel —and for a gin [net] and a snare [hook] —to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.”

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This gives me a renewed understanding of…

“I go to prepare a place for you; and, my Father has many mansions;” as, this verse describes SANCTUARY, as…

A HALLOWED PALACE (or mansion), and it’s related to THE TEMPLE HOLY PLACE, that God holy resides in with his very person; which— spiritually, symbolically, and literally— is our PERSON/BODY.

And Israel, symbolically means— POSTERITY— from the name of Jacob, and the root of— will rule like God; when his people are not— they will suffer judgment instead.

And Jerusalem means— founded peacefully, or in peace— which means God’s order established; but when the house is fighting amongst itself, and seeking to conquer each other— their posterity, or future success and successors, will fail— and God himself will become a stumbling block, rock of offense, net and hook— to the people.

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Let’s recap, again— the Lord was FIRMLY speaking to Isaiah, this warning, and instruction (or corrections)— “DO NOT LINK UP WITH THESE PEOPLE, NOR THEIR WAYS;” and to all the people they will want you to align with— DON’T; and don’t revere, honor or be afraid of, what they honor or are afraid of.

And he (God holy) shall be a sanctuary, or a consecrated place, a hallowed chapel— unto his obedient and reverent children; but God holy will be a stone of stumbling, or —a tripped up plague, and for a rock, or boulder of precipitous, dangerous edge of offense— obstacle, enticement, ruin and stumbling— to both of the REBELLIOUS houses of Israel —and a net trap, and a snare hook —to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

I believe he’s QUITE serious—

and it’s his love; how so??

Because if he doesn’t come in with a firm hand, and show them the error of their ways, the crop they have sown in their rebellion and lust, and unto whom they have ACTUALLY YOKED UP WITH— satan…

then they will utterly, ALL OF THEM— perish entirely; for they will all walk the paths of error and the fallen nature, and none will be saved.

God always attempts to save, ‘those who will be saved;’ and they are always a remnant of people, that he can prosper again— to grow them up again— for they were LOYAL and OBEDIENT, REVERENTLY— to, and with him.

This is the same through all generations;

and it is the same in all repeated patterns

of man’s affiliations.

Sow unto God holy, affiliated, reverent and obedient to HIM— reap an awesome harvest, or results of prospering in and with him. Sow unto satan, rebellion, carnal nature lusts and enemy ways— reap a harvest of evil proportions, for it was sown.

We get what we sow— returned back upon us.

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15 “And many among them shall stumble [or waver weakly, falter, faint, be cast down and decay feebly], and fall [or cease, die, fall away, be overthrown, overwhelmed or smited out]— and be broken [or crushed and destroyed], and snared— and be taken [or, captured].

16 Bind up the testimony— seal the law [precepts and statutes of the Pentateuch— first 5 books of the bible] among my disciples [the instructed, accustomed, learned, taught ones].”

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He says many among them shall stumble, or— waver weakly, falter, faint, and be cast down— decaying feebly— and will fall, or —cease, die, fall away, be overthrown, overwhelmed or smited out— ALL BECAUSE OF THEIR REBELLION, DISHONOR, and RUNNING AFTER LUSTFUL CARNAL PURSUITS, attempting to OVERTHROW THE KINGDOM!

Do we see this as representative of the motives and operations of SATAN— behind these people of God— to destroy them, cause a wedge between them, and an upstanding relationship with their God— and ultimately— destroy them entirely??

Because the fulfillment of that verse above ends with—

and be broken, crushed and destroyed— snared—

and taken in oppression, and CAPTURED.

He then goes on to say— Bind up the testimony— seal the law, or precepts and statutes of the Pentateuch— the first 5 books of the bible— among my disciples —the instructed, accustomed, learned, and taught ones.

Here he’s making a distinction, and SEPARATION— the people of his who are— instructed in righteousness, accustomed to it (which means, walking in it), learned and educated in this way, and are taught up, or raised up as spiritually mature children— who are called MY DISCIPLED…

Bind this up, or keep it close to heart, understanding and practice— all the precepts, statutes, and wisdom of these instructions, and from the first 5 books of scripture…

And keep it all for— THE SEPARATED ONES: Disciples.

This is very revelatory, for his children even now— in the New Covenant; because our Lord lived out the old covenant → BEING HIMSELF → a disciple of, a student of → the Father, the scriptures and the truth— in a walk of discipline, obedience, and reverence— HIMSELF.

This is the walk with the Spirit of God— this is the walk of the Upright, who walk in the paths of the Lord God holy; those who eschew evil, do not mix with it, do not walk in hyper grace— dishonoring his grace— which is his person and personal forgiveness and mercies— not FRUSTRATING THE GRACE OF GOD— but honoring him, and his mercies…

By abstaining from the image of EVIL; which is immorality, wicked living, dishonor and rebellion to → HOW GOD HOLY WALKS, and FINDS HIS BEING.

I am watching people who call themselves ‘anointed’ by God, and a leader in his ecclesia— EXCUSE, and SUPPORT— wicked living, wicked actions, and wicked teachings that are blasphemous; and it’s all because they are deceived, by deceiving spirits, and have yoked up with God’s spiritual enemy.

When we make excuses in our lives, and partake in things God himself DOES NOT PARTAKE IN— we are opening the door to satan, deceiving spirits, and are in A DANGEROUS PLACE, ‘personally;’ but worse so— if they are claiming blasphemous, erroring doctrine, unholy living, and running with spirits of error— refusing to ‘come out from among them, and be separate’...

They will also have the BLOOD of the others in Christ, on their hands— if they are claiming— “Thus says the Lord,” and it’s NOT the Lord God holy, at all— saying anything of the such.

There were many in scripture that were examples of what happens to men and women who ‘claim’ to be a PERSON OF GOD— angel, laymen, prophet, apostle, evangelist, teacher or pastor of the Lord God holy…

But they were actually walking in rebellion and were deceived— running with evil— or satanic leading.

And folks—

IT DID NOT TURN OUT WELL FOR THEM!

Examples— Lucifer, Ananias and Sapphira, Jezebel and Ahab, Saul of Tarsus, Judas, Korah, Adam and Eve, Jonah (swallowed, repented— got righted after judgment), Moses (no promise land), Israelites who died in the Wilderness…

and on, and on and on.

When we rebel against God— his person and holiness, and we dishonor him, live and do our actions against how he’s leading us, teaching us, and correcting our paths—

We have WILLINGLY YOKED WITH HIS ENEMY.

We do not remain in that place of rebellion for very long— before God will start to correct our path with sow and reap judgments— because we are actually claiming to be AN AMBASSADOR OF THE HIGH and HOLY KING— when we are in fact—

running with devils, and uphold his enemy’s kingdom.

No one pulls the wool over God’s eyes— and rebellion comes from satan— so, when one runs with him— one has become— the enemy of God; anyone fitting that description, applies— it doesn’t matter WHAT WE CLAIM, it’s— WHAT WE BE LIVE’N, TRUTHFULLY— from the HEART, folks.

I warn, now, as well my brethren do— as I am watching it take place in so-called ‘church’ operations, ministry and people;

the same actions— reap the same results.

Patterns repeated, evil or good— result in the same pattern of harvest results, reaped; and this is a warning from our Holy God— time, and time, and time again— throughout the scriptures, and the fullness of time, itself.

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17 “I will wait [adhere to, and tarry] upon the Lord, who hides [or conceals himself, secretly] his face [countenance and presence] —from the house of Jacob— and I will look [or expect and patiently wait] for him.

18 Behold— I and the children [offspring fruit] whom the Lord has given [or bestowed and placed upon] me— are for (that’s a purpose) signs [or signals, beacons, prodigies of evidence, and miracles] and for wonders [or miraculous token and signs] in Israel —from the Lord of hosts, who dwells in mount Zion.”

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Isaiah is SMART, here, as he says— “Ya know, I’m gonna wait upon the Lord,” which in Strong’s meant— ADHERE TO, and TARRY WITH; but I’d like to also include— LIKE A SERVER, serves a master.

And he continues…

“Who hides and conceals himself secretly, his face, his countenance, person and presence— from the house of Jacob; and I will look, expect and patiently wait for him.”

Smart man of God— reverencing God, serving God, exercising discipline, obedience and patience, unto God’s way— not his own way; because God is PREVENTING HIMSELF, or REMOVING HIMSELF and his PRESENCE, or AFFILIATION ON GOOD STANDING— from the house of the ‘faithful people;’ which is what the house of Jacob (or Israel), is to stand for.

It’s literally NOT, any longer— ‘the people of the faithfulness to God—’ but just the opposite; so, guess what they get from God— just the opposite of what Jacob received from God.

And Jacob received honor and blessing, and promotion from God; these people are receiving dishonor, disunion, and judgment from God.

He goes on to say…

“Look, the children of the offspring fruit of the Lord, whom the Lord has given, and bestowed upon me— as well as myself…

Are for signs, signals, beacons, prodigies of evidence, and miracles— as well for wonders, or, miraculous token and signs in Israel; and we all are fruits of, and come from —the Lord of hosts— who dwells in mount Zion.”

This is saying— The children of God, those who walk the paths of righteousness with God, and for God— in obedience to him and his statutes, conduct and leadership— will be a certain caliber man; and these children of his, are literally for to show the world, and the worldly— miracles, signs, beacons (like lighthouses in a storm) —the Living God, in SPIRIT— through a people, manifesting himself— to the Lost, and the World.

He’s LITERALLY SAYING— God isn’t just about, ‘show,’ or, ‘pomp and stance,’ for the sake of a good performance— NO; he’s doing it to WITNESS TO THE WORLD and NATIONS of people— the TRUTH, and of HOLINESS, and what happens with, and unto a people who walk in the paths of righteousness— with their Holy God.

And to prove a point— it doesn’t matter what we ‘claim—’ it matters WHAT THE TRUTH OF US IS; and it matters who’s really backing us, and what kingdom that leader hails from:

God holy and heaven— or satan, and hell/death.

God’s kids— will walk in PROOFS and FRUITS— but so will satan’s kids, or seedlings; they will walk CONTRARY TO GOD HOLY, and will be twisted, perverted from the paths of righteousness, compromised and will walk in fruits of EVIL: they will walk however they please, and make excuse for operating their person DIFFERENTLY than how God does, or said we are to.

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19 “And when they shall say to you— Seek [frequent, follow, ask or worship] unto those who have familiar spirits [necromancer ventriloquist— pratting— talking stupidly], and unto wizards [or, knowing ones— and conjuring of a ghost] who peep [or whisper], and who mutter [or murmur, ponder, meditate on, study and utter]: should not a people seek unto their God— or for the living, to the dead [destroyed]??

20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word [matter, business, commandment, deed and decree of judgment] —it is because there is no light in them.”

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Okay, he said ‘when,’ not IF they will say to you— WHEN; when they say to you that you should ask, frequent, follow or worship FAMILIAR SPIRITS, who are…

necromancer ventriloquists, pratting— stupid talking ‘spirits,’ which means— spirits called up from the dead, or death— for divining, magical purposes— WHO WILL PUPPET SOMEONE, hence— VENTRILOQUISTS)...

and WIZARDS, who are… KNOWING ONES— who are conjuring up ghosts (death spirits)…

And those who are PEEPERS, who are… WHISPERERS…

And MUTTERERS, who are… murmurers, who ponder, meditate on, study and utter things…

He says, in response to these statements of WHEN they come to you with all this….

“SHOULD NOT A PEOPLE, SEEK UNTO THEIR GOD, INSTEAD— or, should the living, seek unto the dead— which means— THE DESTROYED??”

What he’s implying is— all those who will walk those paths, with those entities— are NOT A PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEKING THE LIVING GOD— but instead are seeking— DEATH, THE KINGDOM OF HELL, that will DESTROY THEM; living people are seeking DEATH WAYS, unto and from DEATH SPIRITS— and are believing this will lead to PROSPERITY?!

That’s incredibly ignorant— unbelievably stupid, really.

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21 “And they shall pass [or transition] through it —hardly bestead [dense, severely, cruelly, fiercely, grievously] and hungry [or bitten]: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry —they shall fret [or, rage, be angered, displeased in] themselves, and curse [bring contempt to, and despise] their king and their God [supreme magistrate, great judge], and look upward.

22 And they shall look unto the earth; and behold —trouble [tightness, rival, trouble, affliction, anguish, distress and tribulation of adversary] and darkness [or misery], dimness [a covering darkly] of anguish [or distress]; and they shall be driven [or pushed off, lead to, inflicted with, thrust away] to darkness [or misfortune, gloominess, concealment— preventing something, in this instance— light, blessing and prosperity].”

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Well, those people— will PASS THROUGH that way, or those paths of unrighteousness and evil— with GREAT DIFFICULTY, or— dense, severe cruel, fierce, grievously walking that path; and they will be HUNGRY, or be BITTEN, and…

They shall fret, or rage, be angered, and displeased in themselves— and will curse themselves, bringing contempt to, and despising their king— their God— the supreme magistrate, great judge; and when they do curse him— they will look upward, and be DELIBERATE about it: that’s quite the PRIDEFUL PEOPLE.

Then, they will look around the earth, and they will see trouble, tightness (pressed on every side), rival, affliction, anguish, distress and tribulation of an adversary; they will see— darkness, or misery— with dimness, a dark covering of anguish or distress; and they shall be driven out, or pushed off, led to, inflicted with, thrust away— into darkness, here described as— misfortune, gloominess, concealment— and preventing something.

In this instance, when people walk in rebellion to God holy, in contempt of his ways, statues and person, then we are actually aligned with the realm, or kingdom of DARKNESS, satan— and we are PREVENTING— the Light, God holy, blessing and prosperity— for we have SERVED ANOTHER GOD.

This is MASKED LIVING— when one claims one thing— but lives the contrary; we are presenting ourselves one way— but in truth, we are the opposite.

It’s only when we REMOVE the MASK OF LIES and REBELLION— that we can truly repent, and reconcile with the Living God.