Isaiah 8:14
And He will be a sanctuary--but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare.
He will be a sanctuary
The word "sanctuary" in Hebrew is "מִקְדָּשׁ" (miqdash), which signifies a holy place or a place of refuge. In the context of Isaiah, God Himself is portrayed as a sanctuary, a place of safety and holiness for those who trust in Him. This reflects the conservative Christian belief that God is a refuge and strength for His people, a theme echoed throughout Scripture. The sanctuary is not just a physical place but a spiritual refuge, emphasizing the intimate relationship between God and His faithful followers.

but to both houses of Israel
The phrase "both houses of Israel" refers to the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Historically, after the reign of Solomon, the united kingdom of Israel split into two: the northern kingdom (Israel) and the southern kingdom (Judah). This division is significant as it highlights the widespread impact of God's message and judgment. From a conservative Christian perspective, this serves as a reminder of the unity that God desires among His people, despite human divisions.

He will be a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense
The imagery of a "stone of stumbling" and a "rock of offense" is powerful and multifaceted. In Hebrew, "אֶבֶן נֶגֶף" (even negef) and "צוּר מִכְשׁוֹל" (tzur mikshol) convey the idea of an obstacle that causes people to fall. This prophetic message is fulfilled in the New Testament, where Jesus Christ is described as the cornerstone rejected by many (1 Peter 2:7-8). For conservative Christians, this underscores the reality that Christ, while being the foundation of faith for believers, is also a point of contention and rejection for those who do not accept Him.

to the dwellers of Jerusalem
"Jerusalem" holds profound historical and theological significance as the city of David and the spiritual center of Israel. It is often seen as a symbol of God's chosen people and His covenant with them. The mention of "dwellers of Jerusalem" indicates that the message is directed not only to the political and religious leaders but to all inhabitants. For conservative Christians, Jerusalem represents the heart of God's redemptive plan, culminating in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

a trap and a snare
The terms "trap" (מוֹקֵשׁ, moqesh) and "snare" (פַּח, pach) suggest entrapment and danger. In the biblical context, these words often describe the consequences of disobedience and unbelief. The imagery warns of the spiritual peril that comes from rejecting God's provision and guidance. From a conservative Christian viewpoint, this serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of ignoring God's truth and the inevitable consequences of sin. It is a call to remain vigilant and faithful, trusting in God's plan and purpose.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Isaiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament, Isaiah is the author of the book bearing his name. He prophesied during a time of great turmoil and impending judgment for Israel and Judah.

2. Houses of Israel
Refers to the divided kingdoms of Israel (the northern kingdom) and Judah (the southern kingdom). Both are recipients of Isaiah's prophecies.

3. Jerusalem
The capital city of Judah, significant in biblical history as the center of Jewish worship and the location of the Temple.

4. The Lord (He)
In this context, the Lord is both a sanctuary and a stumbling block, representing His dual role as a protector and a judge.

5. Stone of Stumbling/Rock of Offense
Metaphors used to describe how the Lord will be perceived by those who reject Him, leading to their downfall.
Teaching Points
Sanctuary and Judgment
God is a sanctuary for those who trust in Him, offering protection and peace.

For those who reject Him, He becomes a stumbling block, leading to judgment.

The Dual Nature of Christ
Jesus is both a cornerstone for believers and a stumbling block for those who reject Him.

Our response to Christ determines whether He is our sanctuary or our stumbling block.

Faith and Obedience
True faith in God requires obedience and trust, not just religious rituals.

Evaluate whether your faith is based on a relationship with God or mere tradition.

The Importance of Prophecy
Prophecies like Isaiah's are fulfilled in Christ, affirming the reliability of Scripture.

Understanding prophecy helps us see God's plan and our place within it.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the imagery of God as both a sanctuary and a stumbling block challenge your understanding of His character?

2. In what ways can Jesus be a "stone of stumbling" in today's world, and how can believers address this in their witness?

3. Reflect on a time when you experienced God as a sanctuary. How did that impact your faith journey?

4. How do the prophecies in Isaiah and their fulfillment in the New Testament strengthen your confidence in the Bible?

5. What steps can you take to ensure that your faith is rooted in a genuine relationship with God rather than in religious tradition?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 118:22
This verse speaks of the stone the builders rejected becoming the cornerstone, which is echoed in Isaiah's imagery of a stone of stumbling.

1 Peter 2:6-8
Peter references Isaiah's prophecy, explaining how Jesus is the cornerstone for believers but a stone of stumbling for those who do not believe.

Romans 9:32-33
Paul discusses how Israel stumbled over the "stumbling stone," which is Christ, due to their pursuit of righteousness by works rather than faith.
God's Twofold Relations with MenR. Tuck Isaiah 8:14
Sanctuary in GodW. M. Statham.Isaiah 8:14
God with UsE. Johnson Isaiah 8:5-15
God's Overpowering HandF. Delitzsch, D. D.Isaiah 8:11-15
Our Personal Relation to GodW. Clarkson Isaiah 8:11-15
Principle and ExpediencyProf. S. R. Driver, D. D.Isaiah 8:11-15
Warning and EncouragementProf. S. R. Driver, D. D.Isaiah 8:11-15
With Strength of HandProf. S. R. Driver, D. D.Isaiah 8:11-15
Different Kinds of FearIsaiah 8:12-14
Effects of Slavish and Inordinate FearIsaiah 8:12-14
FearIsaiah 8:12-14
Fear and It, RemedyIsaiah 8:12-14
God Should be a Sailor's Supreme RegardF. Sessions.Isaiah 8:12-14
Sanctifying the LordSir E. Strachey, Bart.Isaiah 8:12-14
The Causes of Sinful FearIsaiah 8:12-14
The Exaggerations of Guilty FearIsaiah 8:12-14
The Fear of GodJ. Vaughan.Isaiah 8:12-14
The Fear of God Delivers from the Fear of DeathIsaiah 8:12-14
The Fear of God Steadying the Soul in Worldly LossIsaiah 8:12-14
The Lord a SanctuaryW. Horwood.Isaiah 8:12-14
The Security of the Righteous Under National CalamityJames Parsons.Isaiah 8:12-14
The True Remedy Against FearJ. Scott, M. A.Isaiah 8:12-14
The True Sanctuary, and How to Get ThereJ. F. B. Tinling, B. A.Isaiah 8:12-14
The Use of Natural FearIsaiah 8:12-14
The Use of Religious FearIsaiah 8:12-14
The Use of Sinful FearIsaiah 8:12-14
True CourageSunday School ChronicleIsaiah 8:12-14
People
Immanuel, Isaiah, Jacob, Jeberechiah, Mahershalalhashbaz, Remaliah, Rezin, Uriah, Urijah, Zechariah
Places
Assyria, Damascus, Euphrates River, Jerusalem, Judah, Mount Zion, Samaria, Shiloah
Topics
Causes, Fall, Falling, Gin, Holy, Houses, Inhabitants, Jerusalem, Makes, Net, Offence, Offense, Rock, Sanctuary, Snare, Stone, Strike, Stumble, Stumbling, Trap, Trouble
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Isaiah 8:14

     1240   God, the Rock
     2018   Christ, divinity
     2203   Christ, titles of
     4366   stones
     5186   stumbling
     5589   trap
     7271   Zion, as symbol
     8023   faith, necessity

Isaiah 8:12-15

     5801   brokenness

Isaiah 8:13-15

     4354   rock

Isaiah 8:14-15

     6708   predestination

Library
Shiloah and Euphrates
Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly ... the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many.' ISAIAH viii. 6, 7. The kingdom of Judah was threatened with a great danger in an alliance between Israel and Damascus. The cowardly King Ahaz, instead of listening to Isaiah's strong assurances and relying on the help of God, made what he thought a master-stroke of policy in invoking the help of the formidable Assyrian power. That ambitious military
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Search the Scriptures
I feel at this particular crisis of religious affairs, it is imperative upon the Christian minister to urge his people to hold fast the doctrines of the truth--the words of God. This seems likely to become the age of preaching, rather than the age of praying. We now see everywhere large congregations assembling in halls and abbeys to listen to the Word preached; and it is an ominous sign of the times, that these preachings are not only espoused by the orthodox, but even by those whom we have considered
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 4: 1858

Exposition of the Doctrines of Grace
? Perseverance of the Saints--"The Final Perseverance of Believers in Christ Jesus," by William O'Neill (message 5). The Rev. C. H. SPURGEON took the chair at 3 o'clock. The proceedings were commenced by singing the 21st Hymn-- Saved from the damning power of sin, The law's tremendous curse, We'll now the sacred song begin Where God began with us. We'll sing the vast unmeasured grace Which, from the days of old, Did all his chosen sons embrace, As sheep within the fold. The basis of eternal love
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 7: 1861

Prefatory Scripture Passages.
To the Law and to the Testimony; if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them.-- Isa. viii. 20. Thus saith the Lord; Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.--Jer. vi. 16. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. But
G. H. Gerberding—The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church

Of the Scriptures
Eph. ii. 20.--"And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." Believers are "the temple of the living God," in which he dwells and walks, 2 Cor. vi. 16. Every one of them is a little sanctuary and temple to his Majesty, "sanctify the Lord of hosts in your hearts." Though he be "the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity," yet he is pleased to come down to this poor cottage of a creature's heart, and dwell in it. Is not this
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Gihon, the Same with the Fountain of Siloam.
I. In 1 Kings 1:33,38, that which is, in the Hebrew, "Bring ye Solomon to Gihon: and they brought him to Gihon"; is rendered by the Chaldee, "Bring ye him to Siloam: and they brought him to Siloam." Where Kimchi thus; "Gihon is Siloam, and it is called by a double name. And David commanded, that they should anoint Solomon at Gihon for a good omen, to wit, that, as the waters of the fountain are everlasting, so might his kingdom be." So also the Jerusalem writers; "They do not anoint the king, but
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Trials of the Christian
AFFLICTION--ITS NATURE AND BENEFITS. The school of the cross is the school of light; it discovers the world's vanity, baseness, and wickedness, and lets us see more of God's mind. Out of dark afflictions comes a spiritual light. In times of affliction, we commonly meet with the sweetest experiences of the love of God. The end of affliction is the discovery of sin; and of that, to bring us to a Saviour. Doth not God ofttimes even take occasion, by the hardest of things that come upon us, to visit
John Bunyan—The Riches of Bunyan

That it is not Lawful for the Well Affected Subjects to Concur in Such an Engagement in War, and Associate with the Malignant Party.
That It Is Not Lawful For The Well Affected Subjects To Concur In Such An Engagement In War, And Associate With The Malignant Party. Some convinced of the unlawfulness of the public resolutions and proceedings, in reference to the employing of the malignant party, yet do not find such clearness and satisfaction in their own consciences as to forbid the subjects to concur in this war, and associate with the army so constituted. Therefore it is needful to speak something to this point, That it is
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Universality of Actual Grace
The gratuity of grace does not conflict with its universality. Though God distributes His graces freely, He grants them to all men without exception, because He wills all to be saved. This divine "will to save" (voluntas Dei salvifica) may be regarded in relation either to the wayfaring state or to the status termini. Regarded from the first-mentioned point of view it is a merciful will (voluntas misericordiae) and is generally called first or antecedent will (voluntas prima s. antecedens)
Joseph Pohle—Grace, Actual and Habitual

Jesus' Temporary Residence at Capernaum.
^A Matt. IV. 13-16. ^a 13 And leaving Nazareth [This expression means that Jesus now ceased to make Nazareth his home. For description of Nazareth, see page 60], he came and dwelt in Capernaum [See page 119. Capernaum means city of Nahum, or village of consolation. Its modern name, "Tel-Hum," means hill of Nahum. The word "dwelt" means that Jesus made this town his headquarters. He owned no house there (Matt. viii. 20). He may have dwelt with some of his disciples--for instance, Simon Peter--Matt.
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Of the Character of the Unregenerate.
Ephes. ii. 1, 2. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. AMONG all the various trusts which men can repose in each other, hardly any appears to be more solemn and tremendous, than the direction of their sacred time, and especially of those hours which they spend in the exercise of public devotion.
Philip Doddridge—Practical Discourses on Regeneration

To Pastors and Teachers
To Pastors and Teachers If all who laboured for the conversion of others were to introduce them immediately into Prayer and the Interior Life, and make it their main design to gain and win over the heart, numberless as well as permanent conversions would certainly ensue. On the contrary, few and transient fruits must attend that labour which is confined to outward matters; such as burdening the disciple with a thousand precepts for external exercises, instead of leaving the soul to Christ by the
Madame Guyon—A Short and Easy Method of Prayer

"But if we Walk in the Light, as He is in the Light, we have Fellowship one with Another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ His
1 John i. 7.--"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." Art is the imitation of nature, and true religion is a divine art, that consists in the imitation of God himself, the author of nature. Therefore it is a more high and transcendent thing, of a sublimer nature than all the arts and sciences among men. Those reach but to some resemblance of the wisdom of God, expressed in his works,
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Wicked Husbandmen.
"Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: and when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto
William Arnot—The Parables of Our Lord

Letter xix (A. D. 1127) to Suger, Abbot of S. Denis
To Suger, Abbot of S. Denis He praises Suger, who had unexpectedly renounced the pride and luxury of the world to give himself to the modest habits of the religious life. He blames severely the clerk who devotes himself rather to the service of princes than that of God. 1. A piece of good news has reached our district; it cannot fail to do great good to whomsoever it shall have come. For who that fear God, hearing what great things He has done for your soul, do not rejoice and wonder at the great
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

First Sunday in Lent
Text: Second Corinthians 6, 1-10. 1 And working together with him we entreat also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain 2 (for he saith, At an acceptable time I hearkened unto thee, and in a day of salvation did I succor thee: behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation): 3 giving no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our ministration be not blamed; 4 but in everything commending ourselves, as ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities,
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

Covenanting a Privilege of Believers.
Whatever attainment is made by any as distinguished from the wicked, or whatever gracious benefit is enjoyed, is a spiritual privilege. Adoption into the family of God is of this character. "He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power (margin, or, the right; or, privilege) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."[617] And every co-ordinate benefit is essentially so likewise. The evidence besides, that Covenanting
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Christ's Prophetic Office
'The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet,' &c. Deut 18:85. Having spoken of the person of Christ, we are next to speak of the offices of Christ. These are Prophetic, Priestly, and Regal. 'The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet.' Enunciatur hic locus de Christo. It is spoken of Christ.' There are several names given to Christ as a Prophet. He is called the Counsellor' in Isa 9:9. In uno Christo Angelus foederis completur [The Messenger of the Covenant appears in Christ alone].
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

A Treatise of the Fear of God;
SHOWING WHAT IT IS, AND HOW DISTINGUISHED FROM THAT WHICH IS NOT SO. ALSO, WHENCE IT COMES; WHO HAS IT; WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS; AND WHAT THE PRIVILEGES OF THOSE THAT HAVE IT IN THEIR HEARTS. London: Printed for N. Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, over against the Stocks market: 1679. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," and "a fountain of life"--the foundation on which all wisdom rests, as well as the source from whence it emanates. Upon a principle
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

That the Employing Of, and Associating with the Malignant Party, According as is Contained in the Public Resolutions, is Sinful and Unlawful.
That The Employing Of, And Associating With The Malignant Party, According As Is Contained In The Public Resolutions, Is Sinful And Unlawful. If there be in the land a malignant party of power and policy, and the exceptions contained in the Act of Levy do comprehend but few of that party, then there need be no more difficulty to prove, that the present public resolutions and proceedings do import an association and conjunction with a malignant party, than to gather a conclusion from clear premises.
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

History of the Interpretation.
1. AMONG THE JEWS. This History, as to its essential features, might, a priori, be sketched with tolerable certainty. From the nature of the case, we could scarcely expect that the Jews should have adopted views altogether erroneous as to the subject of the prophecy in question; for the Messiah appears in it, not in His humiliation, but in His glory--rich in gifts and blessings, and Pelagian self-delusion will, a priori, return an affirmative answer to the question as to whether one is
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

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