by
Tom Wacaster
Don't let the name scare you. Punctuation marks help us get the
right pronunciation: "Ma-her-shal-al-hash-baz." But the name meant
something: "Hastens to the prey." Here is the setting. When
Tiglath-pileser III took control of Assyria, he immediately made his bid for
world domination. His westward movement struck fear in Syria and Israel [keep
in mind that this was during the time of the divided kingdom, hence Israel, the
Northern Kingdom]. With a common enemy in mind, Israel and Syria sought
alliance, and then sought to bring Judah into that alliance. Ahaz is on the
throne in Judah and Pekah in Israel. Ahaz feigns piety and loyalty to God, but
despite the warning from the prophet Isaiah, this weak and wavering king sets
his sight, not on God, but on worldly alliance with the apostate Israel and the
heathen nation of Syria. Apparently the people love Ahaz's intentions, and so
Isaiah gives the people a sign in two parts. Before his son is ever born, the
prophet posts the words in a public location, leaving the people to read and
study for themselves. When Isaiah's son is born, he is instructed to give him
this most significant name: "Mahershalalhashbaz," the very words
publicly posted months before the child was ever born. Syria and Israel would
be destroyed, and Assyria would turn toward Judah, and the people of God would
suffer utter defeat. Assyria was "hastening to the prey." This brings
us to Isaiah 8:11, where God speaks to the prophet with a "strong
hand," and warns the prophet not to walk in the way of the people. Don't
make a confederacy (8:12), don't be afraid of their fear, sanctify God, and let
Him be your fear and dread (8:13). Herein lay the fault of the people and their
king. They would not listen to the prophets. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Elijah, faithful
proclaimers of God's word, were treated as traitors and trouble makers. Some of
these faithful prophets of old paid dearly for their faithful proclamation of
God's word. But alas, their message fell on deaf ears. Rather than fear God,
they feared the nation of Assyria. Rather than trust God, they placed their
trust in a heathen nation, and followed in the footsteps of their apostate
brethren in the Northern Kingdom.
Is there a lesson for us here? Oh, indeed there is. The Lord's
kingdom is splintered and divided. Rather than trust in God and His Word, some
have abandoned the old paths for an alliance with the denominations. Hand in
hand with spiritual heathens, they march forward toward a presumed victory that
shall only end in utter defeat. Those who still preach the old Jerusalem gospel
are pressured on every side to join them in their unholy alliance with other
religious groups to defeat the onslaught of Satan. Sadly some, under the
leadership of weak and wavering elders, capitulate. Thanks be to our God, there
are still faithful preachers and proclaimers of God's word. But as in the days
of old, the divine instructions have not been heeded, and God's people once
again find themselves in the throws of a major apostasy. Rather than listen to
the word, too many capitulate. Those who call for the old paths, are despised
and labeled as traitors and trouble makers. Edward Young has noted, "Throughout
the history of the church, those who have sought to call the church back to her
God-given mission and away from her manmade 'programs' have been treated as
troublemakers." But the message is still,
"Mahershalalhashbaz"!! There is a judgment coming, and God's wrath is
"hastening to the prey. "