Scripture Text: Isaiah 7:1-12:6
Memory Verse: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” —Isaiah 9:6
Introduction:
This portion of Isaiah opens with the prophet confronting Ahaz about the king’s lack of faith in God. The heartfelt appeal to the king is to stop fearing Samaria and Damascus to the north (Israel and Syria), and to realize that God was much more powerful than Assyria. God opens the door for Ahaz to receive a sign of confirmation concerning God’s own faithfulness, but Ahaz refuses. The irony is that he does so with a pious excuse that the Torah forbids anyone from testing God (Numbers 14:22; Deuteronomy 6:16). But the testing referred to in the Torah is not believing God’s promises—exactly what Ahaz is doing!
The king has an ulterior motive for rejecting the prophet’s message. He has already become a vassal of Assyria by sending them a huge tribute (2 Kings 16:8). Most likely he did this because of the pressure placed on him by Israel and Syria to unite with them against Assyria. But the king is instructed in Isaiah 7:4 to “be careful,” to “keep calm,” to not “be afraid,” and not to “lose heart.” The reason is that Damascus and Samaria don’t even pose a real threat. God even calls them “two stubs of smoking firebrands.” All they have is bluster, but no power.
God chooses to give Ahaz a sign anyway—the sign of Immanuel (Isaiah 7:10-25)! Matthew later identifies this sign as totally fulfilled in Christ (Matthew 1:23). It is this introductory sign and others tied to it, as given through Isaiah, that now transforms the entire book into the greatest single foreshadowing of the Messiah. Now there will be not only immediate fulfillments of divine prophecy, but ultimate, future application in Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 9:6-7 has become one of the most well-known prophecies of Messiah. Though He will come as a child in humble circumstances, He will shatter the yoke burdening God’s people without becoming a tyrant himself. In Him will be seen the fulness of God the very image of the Father among us!
Studying the Word
- In Isaiah 7, King Ahaz was trusting in his secret alliance with powerful Assyria to stand against the combined forces of Israel and Syria. In Isaiah 7:17 and 21, God warns him that the very thing the king has trusted in will be turned against him. Discuss how we can apply this same principle to modern times.
- What specific instruction did the Lord give to Isaiah personally concerning these prophetic warnings? (Isaiah 8:11-17)
- What happens when people refuse to trust and obey God? (Isaiah 8:19-22; Deuteronomy 32:5-6, 19-35)
- Is there any way to know the benefits of “God with us,” outside of allowing the Child-King of Isaiah 9:6-7 to take over government of our lives? (John 14:6; John 7:37-38; John 3:16-21)
- What encouragement does God give for the surviving remnant that will be restored after God’s cleansing judgment has fallen upon Judah? (Isaiah 10:24-34)
- What qualities will characterize Messiah’s reign? (Isaiah 11:1-5; Jeremiah 23:5-6)
- What is the natural response of the redeemed to the miraculous provision of salvation through Christ? (Isaiah 12:4-6; Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16) How well is the church today fulfilling this work of joyous evangelism? Is there any room for personal or collective improvement? What changes will we make now to further the gospel to the world?