Westhill Church - Auburn & Federal Way, WA

The WEekly Word

A Blog of Encouragement from our Pastors

weekly word – 10/16/2025

Isaiah 8:9-18

Christians are inundated daily with headlines meant to stir up their emotions regarding the latest political, religious, or cultural controversies. It was no different in the time of Isaiah. As a prophet, God used him to redirect the few genuine believers of his era away from the emotional panics of his day, back to Yahweh, the God of Israel.

First, in verses 9-10, he speaks to the Gentile nations that Israel feared—the peoples, as they are called here—warning them against boasting over God’s people, Israel, because they will one day be conquered by a future King of Israel.

9 “Be broken, O peoples, and be shattered; and give ear, all remote places of the earth.

Gird yourselves, yet be shattered; gird yourselves, yet be shattered.

10 Devise counsel, but it will be thwarted;

Speak a word, but it will not stand, for God is with us.”

Here Isaiah repeatedly taunts the nations, declaring that they cannot prepare for what God will do to them. No empire, Egypt, Assyria, or Babylon will last forever. He will shatter them, thwart their counsel, and nullify their words.

We also notice the reappearance of Immanuel from Isaiah 7:14. The last phrase of 8:10 is literally the same word in 7:14, "Immanuel", though it is translated "God is with us" here. This baby, born of a virgin, named Immanuel, will one day break the armies of the world when they try to destroy Israel. Nations shouldn’t boast, because one day the Messiah, Jesus, will settle every score as he defeats Israel’s enemies and conquers the world.

Next, in verses 11-18, Isaiah warns the people living around him that their concerns and fears are misguided. They must ignore the latest fads driving Judean culture. As scintillating as the daily gossip may be, only the word of God gives dependable, relevant insight for our lives.

11 For thus Yahweh spoke to me with a strong hand

and disciplined me not to walk in the way of this people, saying,

12 “You are not to say, ‘It is a conspiracy!’

In regard to all that this people call a conspiracy;

And you are not to fear what they fear, and you shall not tremble.

13 It is Yahweh of hosts whom you should regard as holy.

And He shall be your fear, and He shall be your cause of trembling.

14 Then He shall become a sanctuary;

But to both the houses of Israel,

a stone to strike and a rock to stumble over,

And a snare and a trap for the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

15 And many will stumble over them;

Then they will fall and be broken; they will even be snared and caught.”

16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.

17 And I will wait for Yahweh,

Who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob; and I will hope for Him.

18 Behold, I and the children whom Yahweh has given me

are for signs and wonders in Israel from Yahweh of hosts,

who dwells on Mount Zion.

In summary, God warns Isaiah not to live (v. 11), speak (v. 12), or fear (v. 12) like the people around him. Since they are mostly unbelievers, their source of information is fallible humanity. For these misguided Judeans who reject the word of God, He’ll always disrupt their plans. On the other hand, if someone embraces God throughout his life, He promises to be “a sanctuary” for that person, protecting him from everything others fear.

So how can Isaiah live out these instructions? Verses 16-18 form a three-part action plan for Isaiah. First, he will seal up God’s testimony among a small group of “disciples” who genuinely respect it (v. 16). Second, he will continually hope in the promises of God (v. 17), rather than hoping in another nation to save Israel. Third, he and his family will continue to allow themselves to be used by God in ministry to send Gods message to the king and the people (v. 18).

The same is true as we live for God today. Our mandate as a church is to take the focus off the daily news and fix it on God’s word, to remind ourselves of His promises, and to engage in the ministry He’s given us by testifying about Him in our church and community.

Pastor David

10/109/2025 – God's Attributes: The Immutability of God – Bryan

10/02/2025 – "A Porch Conversation" – Ed

9/25/2025 – Isaiah 8:5-8 – David

9/18/2025 – God's Attributes: The Sovereignty of God – Bryan

9/11/2025 – Are You a Follower of Christ? – Ed

9/04/2025 – Isaiah 8:1-4 – David

8/28/2025 – The Supremacy of God – Bryan

8/21/2025 – Are you connected to God? – Ed

8/14/2025 – Isaiah 7:13-25 David

8/07/2025 – The Foreknowledge of God – Bryan

7/31/2025 – "A Story of...A Glorious Beginning" – Ed