Isaiah 8:5-8 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

In these verses the prophet is led to speak of great things, reaching far and near. Under the figure of waters and rivers, kingdoms and empires are represented. The waters of Shiloah which are said to go softly, mean the Lord's tender dealings with his people; but sinners are looking to an arm of flesh; great names among men, like Rezin and Remaliah's son, are what they are seeking after. Hence, saith the Lord, by those very persons shall Judah's punishment come. And this was fulfilled, when, as we read in the writings of this same prophet Isaiah 36:1; Isaiah 37:1. Sennacherib besieged Judah. See the corresponding history, 2 Kings 18:1 & 2 Kings 19:1. But what I more particularly beg the Reader to remark with me, is, that part of this scripture, which hath a reference to Christ. The prophet keeping his eye, as it were, upon the map of the Holy Land, where the Lord Jesus, in after-ages, should set up his standard, beholds, in the mean time, the ravages of the Assyrian army, which the Lord would permit to come up over it, for the punishment of his people; and rapt into future times, he beholds, with the eye of faith, the glorious events to be accomplished by Jesus, and cries out, "The enemy will pass through Judah; yea, he shall fill thy land, O Immanuel!" Reader! pause over this sweet scripture, for it is most sweet; conceive how full of Christ's glory, must have been Isaiah's mind! He knew that this was the very sacred spot of the whole earth, where, in the fulness of time, Jesus would be born, and accomplish salvation by his blood and righteousness. And therefore, while under the full influence of the spirit of prophecy, he saw, and was delivering to the then church, the prediction of the ruin and overthrow the enemies of Judah and Israel would accomplish, by the Lord's appointment, as the punishment of their sins; yet the Prophet's mind, looking beyond those times, to the days of Christ, breaks out in the midst with an address to Jesus; it is as if he had said; "So great, so overwhelming will be the Lord's judgments, by the hands of enemies, over his own beloved land and people, that I see thy Zion, O Immanuel, thy beloved Jerusalem, cove red over even to the neck, by the stretching of his wings!" Reader! look at the subject also in a spiritual sense; and behold how the whole nature of man, a s well as his land, hath been overrun by the great enemy of souls,; and then think of the mercies wrought by our Immanuel, in having bound the strong man armed, even Satan, when subduing our nature, and bringing forth our souls from his captivity! Luke 11:21-22.