Previous chapters of Isaiah have been poetic and prophetic. There was a different role for a prophet, one in which the prophet would advise the king. Isaiah was that type of a prophet, and this chapter shows that more common, less poetic function.
This chapter is about specifics of war. Isaiah is advisor to king Ahaz in Jerusalem. Two other nations, Syria and Remaliah, made an alliance and came against Jerusalem. They did not prevail, but the conflict is not over.
The Ord tells Isaiah that as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind, the persuasion of Syria is moving others to its side of the conflict. Thus, Jehovah sends Isaiah to meet with king Ahaz. It is important that Isaiah takes one of his sons, Shearjashub, to the meeting. Shearjashub’s name means “the remnant shall return.” Although the return of a remnant is hopeful, at this point the destruction and scattering have not happened. Thus, it foreshadows doom before the return of the remnant.