The LORD Almighty Will Be Our Sanctuary (Isaiah 8:1–22)

 

The LORD Almighty Will Be Our Sanctuary (Isaiah 8:1–22)

Where is our refuge? Where can we find rest and peace? Certainly not in this world. No matter how attractive, beautiful, or delicious things may be, they’re only temporary. This world is perishing, corrupt, and fading. How could we be satisfied with something that fades away? How could we settle for anything less than what is eternal?

Our true refuge is the kingdom of heaven. The place God has prepared for us is eternal—it doesn’t perish, spoil, or fade. God's kingdom is invisible, yet He has revealed the way for His people to draw near to Him—through a tabernacle where His presence dwells.

This doesn’t mean that God is confined to physical space of the tabernacle, but rather, it serves as a way to teach His people how to draw closer to Him. This is how God shows us that He is true refuge.

Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz – "Quick to the Plunder"

1 The Lord said to me, “Take a large scroll and write on it with an ordinary pen: Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.”  2 So I called in Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah as reliable witnesses for me. 3 Then I made love to the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. And the Lord said to me, “Name him Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. 4 For before the boy knows how to say ‘My father’ or ‘My mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria.” (Isaiah 8:1–4)

The name Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz means “swift is the plunder, speedy is the spoil.” God often revealed His message of judgment through people’s names.

For instance, Isiah means “Jehovah has saved”, Uriah, “Jehovah is my light(flame)”, “Jehovah remembers”, Jeberekiah, and “Jehovah blesses.”

Isaiah obeyed God and wrote on a large scroll. His son’s name was a prophetic sign: before the child could even say “father” or “mother,” Israel and Aram would fall to Assyria. This was fulfilled around 722 BC:

"22 The Israelites persisted in all the sins of Jeroboam and did not turn away from them 23 until the LORD removed them from His presence, as He had warned through all His servants the prophets. So the people of Israel were taken from their homeland into exile in Assyria—and they are still there." (2 Kings 17:22–23)

Why did this happen? Because the Israelites abandoned the LORD and worshiped idols (2 Kings 17:7–8). They didn’t come to the true refuge, but turned instead to things that could never save them. Trusting in idols leads to destruction. Wealth and success can’t save us. Only worshiping and fearing the Lord Almighty brings salvation.

They Rejected the Gently Flowing Waters of Shiloah

5 The Lord spoke to me again: 6 “Because this people has rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah and rejoices over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, 7 therefore the Lord is about to bring against them the mighty floodwaters of the Euphrates—the king of Assyria with all his pomp. It will overflow all its channels, run over all its banks 8 and sweep on into Judah, swirling over it, passing through it and reaching up to the neck. Its outspread wings will cover the breadth of your land, Immanuel!” (Isaiah 8:5–8)

Shiloah’s waters flowed gently, but they were Jerusalem’s source of life—symbolizing God’s provision and protection. Jesus later told the man born blind to wash in the Pool of Siloam (John 9:11), and the man was healed.

But Israel didn’t trust in the Lord. Instead, they took joy in Rezin and Pekah, the kings of Aram and Israel. They made an alliance to fight Judah. When Judah refused to join, they attacked. In desperation, King Ahaz of Judah turned not to God, but to Assyria for help (2 Kings 16:7), even paying tribute to them. Ahaz didn’t seek a sign from God. He relied on a pagan power for salvation, dishonoring the One who could truly save.

The Wings of Immanuel Will Cover the Land

Though Israel faced judgment for their rebellion, God didn’t completely hand Judah over. The waters of Assyria rose as high as Judah’s neck, but didn’t drown it—because Immanuel, God with us, protected His people. Israel, however, was given into the hands of their enemies.

When Rezin and Pekah plotted against Judah, their threat made King Ahaz and his people tremble like trees swaying in the wind (Isaiah 7:2). But God told them not to fear. They were like two smoldering stubs of firewood (Isaiah 7:4). Judah’s safety didn’t come from political alliances—but from God’s faithful promise to protect under His wings.

Even when God’s people are stubborn and disobedient, He remains faithful to His covenant. Despite their rebellion and disobedience, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, in fulfillment of the promise given to the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Son, Jesus, obeyed the will of the Father and took on human flesh, humbling Himself in the form of a servant.

Immanuel – God With Us

Immanuel—God with us—was with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Abraham suffered the loss of his wife Sarah to the King of Egypt. Isaac was harassed and had his wells taken by Abimelech. Jacob was deceived and enslaved by his uncle Laban for twenty years. But God was their protector, their deliverer, and their guide—transforming them through every hardship into men of faith, refined like pure gold.

God showed He was with His people, by a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night, sending manna from heaven and water from the rock, keeping their clothes and shoes from wearing out, protecting them from enemies and diseases, parting the Red Sea and Jordan River, and destroying the walls of Jericho at the sound of the trumpet call.

And He is still with us today. The proof? Most importantly, the blood of Christ, which redeems us. He forgives us, so that we can draw nearer to Him. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7) God also gives us sunshine and rain, food to eat, clothes to wear, a roof over our heads, and protection from the evil one.

All these blessings remind us to trust and obey the LORD. When God is with us, we are safe under His wings—no matter where we are or what we face. But those who reject His invitation with stubborn hearts will face the righteous judgement. God, in sorrow and love, calls us to return. Let’s not turn away.

“31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32)

The Plans of the Nations Will Not Succeed

9 Raise the war cry, you nations, and be shattered! Listen, all you distant lands. Prepare for battle, and be shattered! Prepare for battle, and be shattered! 10 Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand, for God is with us. (Isaiah 8:9-10)

Even if Assyria comes roaring in like a lion, in the end, they will fall. No matter how strong their army or how witting and cunning their strategies, they will ultimately fail—because the Lord Almighty is with His people.

Aram tried to conquer Judah, but God allowed Assyria to overtake Aram. Assyria didn’t know they were just a tool in God’s hand, and in their pride, they were later conquered by Babylon. And Babylon? The same fate awaited them. God raises up kingdoms, and He brings them down (Daniel 2:21).

Even though Babylon captured Judah and took its nobles into exile, the Lord, through the prophet Jeremiah, promised that after seventy years, His people would return to the land of Canaan.

When the nations of this world overpower God’s people, it’s not because they are stronger or more righteous—it’s only because God allowed it. That’s why every human plan ultimately fails, but the will and purpose of the Lord Almighty always prevails.

Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, saying, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” As followers of Christ, we believe and pray earnestly that the Lord’s will be done on earth every day.

God Will Be a Holy Place (Refuge)

11 This is what the Lord says to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people: 12 “Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls a conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it.13 The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread.14 He will be a holy place; for both Israel and Judah he will be a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare.15 Many of them will stumble; they will fall and be broken, they will be snared and captured.” (Isaiah 8:11-15)

God told Isaiah not to walk in the ways of the people around him—their ways were unjust and evil. Isaiah faced heavy opposition and persecution from these hard-hearted people who accused him of conspiracy and turned against him. But God told him not to fear them.

Isaiah had only One he should fear: the Lord Almighty. He is holy, awesome, and eternal, clothed in glory and majesty. The Creator of all things—He alone deserves our reverent fear.
True fear is not rooted in our circumstances, but in a right understanding of who God is—the sovereign Lord of all things.

To those who fear Him and listen to Him, God becomes a sanctuary—a place of refuge. God told Moses to build a tabernacle on earth based on the pattern of the heavenly one. So, people brought offerings to God’s sanctuary and found forgiveness and peace through the blood of the sacrifice. In that sacred space, they had divine fellowship and enjoyed God’s love, peace, and joy.

Today, we approach God's throne of grace through the blood of Christ. Through this spiritual fellowship, we can participate in God’s divine nature—love, joy, and peace.

But for those who reject the Lord and live in rebellion, He becomes a stone that trips them up. This points forward to Jesus Christ—the Savior God sent (see Matthew 21:44, Luke 18:18).

As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.” (Romans 9:33).

Because of their hardened hearts and rebellion, Israel and Judah rejected Christ and fell into darkness, caught in traps of their own making. They didn’t know the Father and refused to believe in the Son.

Bind Up The Testimony And Seal The Law Among My Disciples

“16 Bind up this testimony of warning and seal up God’s instruction among my disciples.17 I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob. I will put my trust in him.18 Here am I, and the children the Lord has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the Lord Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion.” (Isaiah 8:16-18)

God hid His face from Jacob’s descendants—that’s His judgment against their rebellion. He allowed them to walk in their pride and sin (Romans 1:24, 26, 28). In that moment, Isaiah chose to wait on the Lord. He treasured God's word in his heart and stayed faithful. Even when the king and people rejected him, he fixed his eyes on the Almighty and put his hope in Him.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)

Isaiah saw his two sons—Shear-Jashub (“a remnant will return”) and Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz (“quick to plunder, swift to spoil”)—as living signs from God to the people.

Likewise, God gave us a sign—Immanuel. And just as He promised, He sent Jesus Christ about 2,000 years ago. Now we await His return—this time not as a humble servant, but as Judge and King of all. We cherish God’s promises in our hearts and wait in hope for our Lord’s return.

Follow God's Word, Not The World's Darkness

“19 When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? 20 Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. 21 Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God. 22 Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness.” (Isaiah 8:19-22)

Going to psychics, spiritists, or false teachers is like asking the dead for advice about the living—it’s totally wrong. We should be seeking the living God, who gave us His word. Anyone who speaks contrary to Scripture has no light in them—they’re in darkness.

Those who follow false ways will wander, suffering, and starving spiritually. They’ll blame God and curse Him. But whether they look up or down, all they’ll find is darkness, despair, and anguish—utter darkness. And in the end, they’ll be cast into deep darkness.

This world is not our refuge, nor can it be. It remains under the influence of elemental spiritual forces, under the sway of the devil. At one time, we were all enslaved to these powers of darkness. As Scripture says, “So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world.” (Galatians 4:3)

But now, we have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ Jesus. Because Jesus Christ our Lord became the man of sorrows, bearing all our pain, sin, shame, and guilt in our place. He took upon Himself the role of the suffering servant, offering His life for our transgressions and iniquities.

“4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isiah 53:4-5)

Therefore, we are no longer under the power of evil but have been set free to serve the Lord alone. In the Lord Jesus Christ, we are truly free, because the truth set us free. We found our true refuge, Jesus Christ the Lord. Where there is freedom, there is rest and peace. Now, in this freedom, we joyfully and willingly serve the Lord, obeying His commandment to love another.

April 13, 2025
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Scripture quotes are from the NIV.