Isaiah 8:1-8: a reflection

1The LORD said to me, “Take a large tablet, and write on it with a man’s pen, ‘For Maher Shalal Hash Baz’; 2and I will take for myself faithful witnesses to testify: Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.” 3I went to the prophetess, and she conceived, and bore a son. Then the LORD said to me, “Call his name ‘Maher Shalal Hash Baz.’ 4For before the child knows how to say, ‘My father’ and ‘My mother,’ the riches of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried away by the king of Assyria.” 5The LORD spoke to me yet again, saying, 6“Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah’s son; 7now therefore, behold, the Lord brings upon them the mighty flood waters of the River: the king of Assyria and all his glory. It will come up over all its channels, and go over all its banks. 8It will sweep onward into Judah. It will overflow and pass through. It will reach even to the neck. The stretching out of its wings will fill the width of your land, O Immanuel.

God pronounces judgment on his people through a striking image. Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoiced in other things, he says, the Lord brings upon them the flood waters of the great River, the king of Assyria. The waters of Shiloah were the quiet, gentle stream that flowed into Jerusalem; and they stand for God's quiet, gentle way, which the people despised, preferring what seemed grander. And so, having rejected the gentle waters, they would be overwhelmed by the flood: the very grandeur they preferred would sweep over them.

Notice what the people despised, and what came in its place. They refused the quiet, gentle waters of Shiloah, God's quiet way, preferring something that seemed grander and more impressive. But in despising God's gentle provision, they did not gain something better; they brought upon themselves the overwhelming flood. The gentle waters they scorned would have sustained them; the grander thing they preferred would overwhelm them. To despise God's quiet, gentle way for something seemingly grander was folly, bringing not blessing but flood.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too can despise God's quiet, gentle ways, preferring what seems grander and more impressive. God often works quietly, gently, in ways that do not seem grand or dramatic; and we can despise these quiet ways, longing for something more impressive, more spectacular. But the quiet waters of Shiloah were God's provision, and to scorn them for something grander was folly. Do not despise God's quiet, gentle ways of working in your life, preferring something more dramatic or impressive; his quiet provision is better than the grander thing you might prefer. Value the gentle waters of Shiloah, God's quiet way, rather than scorning it for something that seems grander, as the people scorned the gentle waters and were overwhelmed by the flood; for God's quiet, gentle provision sustains, while the grander thing we might prefer over it can overwhelm us.

Lord, you pronounce judgment on your people through a striking image. Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoiced in other things, you say, the Lord brings upon them the flood waters of the great River. The waters of Shiloah were the quiet, gentle stream that flowed into Jerusalem; and they stand for your quiet, gentle way, which the people despised, preferring what seemed grander. And so, having rejected the gentle waters, they would be overwhelmed by the flood. Show me what the people despised, and what came in its place. They refused the quiet, gentle waters, your quiet way, preferring something that seemed grander. But in despising your gentle provision, they did not gain something better; they brought upon themselves the overwhelming flood. To despise your quiet, gentle way for something seemingly grander was folly. Take that to my heart, for I too can despise your quiet, gentle ways, preferring what seems grander and more impressive. You often work quietly, gently, in ways that do not seem grand or dramatic; and I can despise these quiet ways, longing for something more spectacular. But the quiet waters of Shiloah were your provision, and to scorn them was folly. Keep me from despising your quiet, gentle ways of working in my life, preferring something more dramatic; your quiet provision is better than the grander thing I might prefer. Help me value the gentle waters of Shiloah, your quiet way, Lord, rather than scorning it for something that seems grander.