Isaiah 7-8

Uzziah good but…Jotham followed footsteps, but Ahaz...2Kg 16…During reign Rezin (Syria) and Pekah (Israel) conspire.

7:1 Historically, because Uzziah made strong, however, Jers alone withstood. 2 Chr 28 carried away a great multitude of captives (200K women, sons, and daughters)…a great slaughter (120k killed one day)

7:2 This point Ahaz nervous, and makes deal w/ Tiglath-Pileser…I am your servant and your son…Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD and sent it as a present.

7:4 Fear driving Ahaz make decisions regret. God telling calm down and be careful what doing. Fear driving away from God and his choices destroy him.

7:9 Challenged stop fearing and trust. Doesn’t. In fact, when meets new master, sends pagan altar design. Ahaz powerful and extreme example someone who reasons out an ungodly choice (2 Cor 10:5). Too unrealistic believe > 2 kingdoms. God promised, but Ahaz couldn’t believe. In end, Jerus was spared but Ahaz ultimately destroyed. 2 Chr 28:22-27 But, God doing all to reach…

7:12 Challenged to believe and offered any sign. Response seems pious, know by actions he thought all garbage. God impotent (2 Ch 28:23)! In fact already planned deal w/ Assyria. So, doesn’t need sign of God’s salvation, because doesn’t believe.

7:14 Incredibly complicated verse. The child of virgin be a sign. Before discuss, let’s finish reading what sign is.

7:16 Question at hand requires that this “sign” something Isa/Ahaz could see. To them, the sign focused on time. A virgin’s child be born, and prove God w/ them because before old enough stop eating baby food, both kings gone! Simply put, for Ahaz and Isa, God’s sign is that in few years kings of Israel/Syria crushed. Nearly identical w/ later public prophecy 8:3-4. However, the name Immanuel a direct rebuke Ahaz’s distrust. Simple enough, until realize God wrote this book and from Gen 3 up to present has clearly spoken to every living creature that He is with us and will save us. And the sign proving this jumps forward 700+ years to THE virgin giving birth to THE SON who is THE GOD with us. We know this because angel of Lord tells us…Mt 1:23. Whole debate about ‘almah’ is moot if read Mt 1. God clearly saying to everyone, “I alone can save”…Isa 43:11, just as THE Immanuel said, Jn 10:7-9, Ac 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Cry out to whatever you want, there is no other savior. What about Assyria?

7:20 Assyria not long after, turn on Judah. Alcohol not save you, drugs not, relationships not, better jobs not. Trusting in Assyria seemed clever, but God knew end…Assyria won’t save…SHAVE! Land so devastated no wine and wheat, only open range for cows and sheep. Pretty soon everyone eating “baby food”.

8:2 Throughout this, God using children to prophesy. Many believe first wife died and so this the “timeclock” child born to virgin. Clearly linked…

8:4 Two sons mentioned, two options before us. Destruction, or God’s protection. First was “offered” to Ahaz, and when rejected gave birth 2^nd. And since previous prophecy private, this one publicly witnessed. Side note on Uriah (2 Kg 16:10)…

8:8 Offered peaceful life, refused. Rejoiced in violence, so violently overthrew. Gen 6, earth filled violence, so violently overthrew it. This time flood of Assyrian army. Israel ended, Judah barely survived (up to the neck). Indeed, 2 Kg 18 describes extent Assyrian invasion. But, why last statement? Who chose these people? The land? It may seem out of control, but Dt 11:12 a land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year. Israel is God’s land and that why whole world revolves around a geographical nothing! Zech 12:3

8:10 Immanuel is great or it may be terrible. Wonderful if you love Him, but, terrible if hate. Ps 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. Even now, church longs for (2 Tim 4:8), and world dreads (Rev 19:19).

8:15 We will see results. If follow: Sanctuary, place of refuge from raging battles raging. If reject: broken and taken into captivity. God referred as Rock in Dt, Ps, Dan and Peter specifically quotes Isa and tells us that JC is THE (1 Pt 2:8) stone of stumbling and rock of offense. And JC said, Whoever falls on [this] stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder. Remember Lk 2:34…Not only clearly Messianic, but strong defense JC deity.

 

8:18 Again another prophecy. First, Isa was sign and wonder. Isaiah means, “Salvation is of the Lord.” This spoke of the attitude and hope Judah needed to have. Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz means, “Speed to the spoil, hurry to the plunder.” This spoke of the coming attack on Syria, Israel, and Judah by Assyria. Shear-Jashub means, “A Remnant Shall Return.” This spoke of the restoration God eventually bring. But, again reaches forward 700 years to another group. Heb 2:11-13…Just as much as Isaiah’s children were living witnesses of God and His Word, so are we. But many simply refuse His word…