Isaiah 7:1-25
Q.1. How did God use the attack from their surrounding neighbours to extend His grace to Judah? Why could the plans of Judah’s enemies not succeed? – (Isa.7:1-9)
Sadly, the northern kingdom of Israel had joined with the Arameans to the north, to try to conquer Judah (Isa.7:1). The tribes of Israel set out to destroy their tribal relatives in the south. Ahaz, king of Judah (735-715 BC) was an evil ruler, who reinstated idolatry and even child sacrifice, and trusted in an Assyrian alliance rather than God, even though he belonged – to the house of David (Isa.7:2 c.f. 2 Kgs 16:1-4). On account of David, God continually showed kindness to Judah. God ordered Isaiah and his son, Shear-Jashub (meaning – ‘a remnant will return’) to meet King Ahaz of Judah with a message of hope (Isa.7:3-4). He pointed out that the leaders of Aram and Ephraim (Israel) were mere men, and their action was not endorsed by God, and therefore could not succeed – thus says the Lord God: “It shall not stand, nor shall it come to pass (Isa.7:7). Nevertheless, He warned the king through Isaiah – … If you will not believe, you surely shall not last (Isa.7:9). God’s long-term blessing required the king to trust in God, not in alliances with the surrounding nations.
Q.2. How did God reveal that from the king down, they had left Him out of their calculations? What amazing sign was Ahaz given? Was the sign fulfilled in his days? – (Isa.7:10-16 c.f. Mt.1:22-23; Lk.1:31-37)
God called on Ahaz to express his faith in God by asking for a sign – Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven (Isa.7:11). Sadly, the king neither trusted in God nor His prophet, so responded – …I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord! (Isa.7:12). God condemned the indifference of the king and the people but gave Ahaz a sign anyway – Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel (Isa.7:14). The sign and identifying descriptions were fulfilled by the time Isaiah’s second son Maher-shalal-hash-baz (i.e. the Assyrians hasten to the spoil of Syria and Israel) was a toddler, and Israel was carried away by the Assyrians (c.f. Isa.8:1-4). However, a greater fulfilment was coming, when the Saviour would be born of the virgin Mary – God with us (Mt.1:20-23; Lk.1:31-37). This ‘law of double reference’ is a unique feature of the prophecies of the Bible. and here it was revealed that the coming Messiah would first come as a helpless Babe.
Q.3. Would Judah avoid future punishment? Who would God use to start their destruction? How severe would this judgment be? – (Isa.7:17-25)
This removal of God’s people from the Promised Land would not just be confined to the northern kingdom of Israel. Assyria would also try to invade Judah. Under the good king Hezekiah, Judah would have a reprieve. However the inevitable judgment of the nation’s wicked ways would lead to the destruction of Jerusalem, and their exile into Babylon – 17 The Lord will bring on you, on your people, and on your father’s house such days as have never come since the day that Ephraim separated from Judah, the king of Assyria … 23 And it will come about in that day, that every place where there used to be a thousand vines, valued at a thousand shekels of silver, will become briars and thorns … 25 As for all the hills which used to be cultivated with the hoe, you will not go there for fear of briars and thorns; but they will become a place for pasturing oxen and for sheep to trample (Isa.7:17,23,25). Under Kings Hezekiah and Josiah, the nation would experience some relief, because of their genuine repentance and desire to please God. However, the rejection of God by this king and his people, spelled the beginning of the end for Judah, from which she never really recovered.