It was Isaiah the Prophet who proclaimed, invited attention to … “Behold, I and the CHILDREN whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.” Isaiah 8:18
Yes, he used his two sons (especially their “names”) in his preaching! As bidden by the Lord!
“Shearjashub” was mentioned in back Isaiah 7:3. Translated from Hebrew: “A Remnant shall Return!” Hope, even for sinning (and suffering) Israel! As in: “God will spare ‘some’ of you, a ‘few’ anyway!”
But today we study the Prophet’s other boy, “Mahershalalhashbaz!” (Best I can tell, this is the longest name in all the Bible!)
Here’s our Text this morning: “Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man’s pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz. And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah. And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz. For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.” From Isaiah 8, verses 1-4.
Wow!
A SERMON in a SON!
(God has a Son too, His Only Begotten! And “JESUS” has been the Essence of many a Sermon too! Countless Messages, in fact!)
Verse 1 of our Text indicates an “official” document is being created. God Himself to Isaiah … “Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man’s pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz. And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record …”
The verb ( a command) “write” (in Hebrew “kathab”) can mean “to engrave” as well. This is written, we would say today, in “permanent ink!”
(Of course, all the Bible is eternally inscribed! “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” Psalm 119:89 says this, King James Version.)
So apparently, based on verse 1, this lad was named prior to his conception! (So were Ishmael, Isaac, Solomon, John the Baptist and Jesus, among others!)
Wow!
The Text again, but now verse 2: “And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz.”
The “prophetess” is (I think) Isaiah’s “nick-name” or “pet-name” (clearly a term of endearment) for his Wife! Old Dr. Frank W. Boreham (one of my favorite preachers and writers) often called his Wife “the Mistress of the Manse!” (A “manse” simply being the home in which a Pastor lived.) I do not think “prophetess” means that Isaiah’s Wife was a preacher.
God sure does seem to be able to “control the womb” of any given woman! And certainly so in the Book of Isaiah, so far anyway. God in the Old Testament is said to “open” and “close” wombs at will.
Prophet and “prophetess” had a son!
Named (as already noted) before he ever saw the light of day!
“Mahershalalhashbaz” means “Haste ye, haste ye to the spoil!” (An open invitation to come “take the wealth” of a completely conquered nation!)
“Maher” is Hebrew for “speed” or “swiftness.”
“Shalal” means the “booty, plunder, spoil” of war!
And “baz” is a further word for “prey,” legalized “robbery!” (The old saying “All is fair in love and war” comes to mind!)
God is inviting the warring nations of the world (particularly Assyria) to “come and get ’em,” particularly as far as Israel (also called Ephraim or Samaria) and her wicked ally Syria (also called Damascus) are concerned!
“Haste ye, haste ye to the spoil!”
And this “fall” (this astounding “defeat”) was to occur sooner rather than later. “For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.” Isaiah 8:4
Before the little boy can “talk!”
And history says… IT HAPPENED!
Within this prescribed frame of time, too!
That quickly! (In haste!)
God keeps His Word!
And judgment against sin is sure.
— Dr. Mike Bagwell