1 Moreover the LORD said unto me, “Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz.”
Isaiah was to write this name on a piece of paper. It means " Make speed to the spoil, hasten to the prey."
2 And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.
He had a couple of buddies watch him write this down so he could prove just when it happened.
3 And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, “Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz.
So nine months have gone by…
4 “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.”
Before little “Make speed to the spoil, hasten to the prey,” is old enough to say “Mamma” and “Papa” the king of Assyria will destroy Samaria and Damascus.
5 The LORD spake also unto me again, saying,
6 “Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son;
"My care for the people of Judah is like the gently flowing waters of Shiloah, but they have rejected it. They are rejoicing over what will happen to King Rezin and King Pekah.” -NLT
7 “Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river (Euphrates, the river by Assyria), strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:
8 “And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.”
The king of Assyria not only destroyed Israel and Syria, he conquered most of Judah. He never took Jerusalem, but the rest of the country was pretty much laid waste.
9 (Assyria speaking) “Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces.
"Huddle together, you nations, and be terrified. Listen, all you distant lands. Prepare for battle, but you will be crushed! Yes, prepare for battle, but you will be crushed!”
10 “Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
All planning against Assyria won’t work because God has appointed them to punish all the local nations.
11 For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,
God told Isaiah he shouldn’t be afraid of what everyone else was afraid of.
12 Say ye not, “A confederacy (“conspiracy theory!”), to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts Himself; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.
“Don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28
Yes, we are to have actual fear of God, not just reverence and respect as is commonly taught. This is the All Mighty who has the power to decide whether you will spend all of eternity dying or living.
14 And He shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
God is the God of justice and will punish all who disobey Him. He is a sanctuary for those who obey only.
15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
“I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Psalms 119:11
These are the instructions on how to be the ones who God is a sanctuary for instead of a punisher; study His word and obey.
17 And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth His face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for Him.
18 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 is literally preaching to Israel and Judah and his children’s names are messages from God Himself, they are literal signs to all around them of God and His Mercy and Justice.
19 And when they shall say unto you, "Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter:" should not a people seek unto their God? For the living to the dead?
Evidently some were holding séances and fortune telling to try to discern what would happen with all their enemies, all while little “A Multitude Shall Return” and his brother, “Make speed to the spoil, hasten to the prey” are growing up before their eyes.
20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
If they don’t get it, it’s because they are rejecting God.
21 And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.
They will blame God and the king, anyone but themselves for their punishment.
22 And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.