To Us A Child Is Born
Isaiah 8:19-9:7 Christmas 2010 Preparation
Key verse 9:6 Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF 12-12-10
(Adapted from a message delivered in Chicago UBF 12/5/10 by Kevin Albright)
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Merry Christmas! Last week we thought about Jesus, who is Immanuel--God with us. Today, we want to marvel and wonder more about Jesus. Jesus is the Great Light who dispels all of our darkness. Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. May you discover who Jesus is to you! May Jesus reign in all our hearts now and all year!
Part l: God’s Hope For His Suffering People (8:19-9:1)
First, Jesus is the Great Light. Isaiah the prophet lived in dark times. Two immediate neighbors to the north, Syria and Northern Israel, were threatening Judah. The brutal empire of Assyria was planning to conquer and pillage them all. The hearts of Ahaz, king of Judah and of his people were shaken with fear, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind (7:2). Though all the people were shaken by fear, the LORD warned Isaiah not to follow the way of this people. He said, "Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread." (8:12-13)
The devil uses fear of people and of circumstances to enslave and paralyze people and keep them in darkness. This was true for the people of Judah and for us today. Americans became more fearful after the terrorist attacks of Sep.11, 2001. These days the unstable economy has made many people fearful. Out of fear, people seek answers in strange ways: like asking a psychic, reading horoscopes or even following the advice from fortune cookies. They buy lottery tickets with a vague hope for a miracle to happen. By seeking answers apart from God, they can never find the way but rather plunge themselves into greater darkness.
Let’s discover God’s way of coming out darkness. Look at verses 19-20. "When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn." God wants us to seek the answers in prayer through his word. Guides, who do not speak according to God's word, have no light of dawn. Following such blind guides leads us into idolatry, more distress, deeper darkness and fearful gloom (8:22). But following the word of God leads us into the light of God.
In those dark times, Isaiah saw God’s light instead. Look at chapter 9:1-2. Isaiah wrote, "Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress....The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." (9:1a, 2) Isaiah saw the light of God breaking through the gloom and dispelling the darkness. This light would enlarge the nation and increase their joy, like people rejoicing at harvest time or after a military victory.
Isaiah remembered another dark time in Israel's history when the light of God broke through to deliver them (Jdg 6-7). Look at verse 4. "As in the day of Midian's defeat you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor." The Midianites were powerful oppressors of Israel. At that time, the Israelites cried out to the Lord. God's word to Gideon was, "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior." Gideon replied, "...if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?...the Lord has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian." God's message to Gideon was, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?...I will be with you..." In the middle of the dark night, Gideon and 300 men blew trumpets, smashed clay jars and shouted out loud. The light of their torches broke through the dark of night. The Lord caused the Midianites to turn on each other. The Lord brought about a great victory for his people. Isaiah foresaw another great victory from God. Military clothing would be burned as fuel. There would be a time of peace. This happened under King Hezekiah's reign in battle against the Assyrians.
It happened in a more global and spiritual way some 700 years later. Matthew quoted these verses from Isaiah in his gospel. Just after Jesus was baptized and tempted by the devil, Jesus went and lived in Galilee, by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali. This fulfilled what Isaiah wrote: "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles--the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." (Mt 4:12-17)
The light of the world is Jesus. He guides us, even in a world full of darkness. Once Jesus and his disciples saw a man blind from birth. The disciples asked Jesus, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus replied, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (Jn 9:1-4) Then Jesus spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. "Go," he told him, "wash in the pool of Siloam." So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. (Jn 9:6-7) This man was brought from the darkness of blindness to the light of new life by Jesus. Jesus’ disciples, who may have despaired about their inability to do the work of God, suddenly were illuminated with the knowledge that all they needed was mud and spit and faith to do the work of God. Jesus' critics, however, remained in darkness. They accused Jesus of being a sinner because he did this healing on the Sabbath. The blind man testified boldly in defense of Jesus, "I was blind but now I see!" (Jn 9:25b)
We know the modern story of a missionary to Egypt. Growing up in Sudan, he grew to hate Muslims. But through Bible study, he heard Jesus' words on the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Then he began to love and pray for Muslims in Egypt. He loved and prayed for those who mocked him and called him, "monkey." The light of Jesus brought him out of the darkness of hatred into the light of God’s love.
Once an adulterous woman was brought to Jesus (Jn 8:3-11). She was caught in the act of her dark lifestyle. The Jewish law required that she be stoned to death. When Jesus was interrogated and forced to take a stand regarding this woman's fate, Jesus said, "Any of you who is without sin, throw the first stone." They all walked away, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left. Then Jesus asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." Jesus brings us out of the darkness of condemnation into the light of his forgiveness and new life.
Without the light of Jesus we are all walking in darkness. But this does not have to be. John 3:21 says, "But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." One young man was trapped in the darkness of a hedonistic and lustful lifestyle. Another young person was stuck in the darkness of despair and fatalism until he even lost the will to live. But through the word of God and the grace of Jesus, the light shined upon them. Jesus is the Great Light, the true light that gives light to every person (Jn 1:9). Jesus said in John 8:12, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
What else did Isaiah say about this light? Look at verse 6a. "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders." The light of God would drive out the darkness through the birth of a child. Jesus is that child. God sent his Son to be born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. At Jesus' birth the glory of the Lord shone upon Bethlehem shepherds, and they were terrified. But the angel of the Lord said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." (Lk 2:10-14)
Isaiah prophesied, "and the government will be on his shoulders." The government of God--the rule of heaven, would rest upon Jesus' shoulders. But he is not a selfish, power-hungry tyrant like so many in world history. Isaiah described his reign more fully in verse 7, "Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever." This government would grow forever. This peace would never end. This King would establish and uphold his kingdom with justice and righteousness from then until forever. How would this happen? Isaiah wrote, "The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this."
Part ll: To Us A Child Is Born (9:3-7)
Isaiah described the marvelous character of this coming king. What is he like? Look at verses 6-7, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” First, Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor. We all need advice, counsel and wisdom. We need a good, reliable coach and cheerleader, who tells, us not necessarily what we want to hear, but what we need to hear. We need someone who guides us in the best way. What is it worth to have such a counselor? Many people will pay $50 an hour to go and tell a professional all their problems, but they are limited in how much they can help others. We all have decisions to make which determine the direction of our lives. Decisions as to when to get up in the morning and what we will do that day must be made. There are major life decisions to make: What shall I do with my life? Whom shall I marry? Where shall I go to school and what shall I study? What jobs shall I apply for or take? Shall I go out as a missionary or stay where I am to serve God? The most important life decision is, "Shall I accept Jesus as my Savior and Lord and commit my life to him? Shall I believe the Bible as the word of God?" For all these and more, we need the Wonderful Counselor's wisdom and help. And so who is the counselor we so desperately need?
Jesus gives us the best counsel. Jeremiah 29:11-12 says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." The Bible calls the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus, the Counselor (Jn 14:16). We need this Wonderful Counselor to guide and direct us. When we pray and ask him for wisdom, he will give us wisdom. James 1:5 "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." And his counsel is with each of us, 24/7, never stopping as God counsels our hearts through his word and spirit. And the best part of it, is that it is free.
Second, Jesus is our Mighty God. Jesus is not just our shepherd and friend, he is the mighty God. Through him all things were made. He sustains all things by his powerful word. By his mighty word, "Be clean," lepers were healed. By his word, "Ephphatha!" a deaf man could hear. By his word, "Talitha koum!" a dead girl came to life. By his word, "Quiet! Come out of him!" and "Go!" demons fled. By his word, "Quiet! Be still!" a stormy sea subsided. By his word, "Lazarus, come out!" and the dead man walked out of his tomb. Is anything too hard for Jesus?
There was a man who was known as a troublemaker who hurt many people. So he was chained. But he broke the chains and moved into a graveyard. People were afraid of him because he looked crazy and harmful. One day Jesus met him and asked, "What is your name?" "Legion," the man replied, "for we are many." Today, this man would either be ignored or put in a mental hospital or locked up in prison. But Jesus helped him. Jesus commanded the evil spirits in him: "Come out of him!" Jesus set him free from the torment of demons. From that time on, he became a blessing by telling many people what Jesus, the Mighty God had done for him. (Mtt 5:1-20) Nothing is impossible for Jesus, the Mighty God. He created all things. He created you and me. He is the Owner of our lives. The Mighty God stooped to save helpless sinners. When we worship Jesus, the Mighty God, his power works in and through us.
Fourth, Jesus is our Everlasting Father. A good father loves, protects, trains and provides for his children. With a loving father, children grow up well n their humanity. But there are many children whose fathers are not present in their lives for one reason or another. Most juvenile delinquents are missing a positive father-figure in their lives. Some of them turn to gangs or to mischievous friends in an attempt to fill the void of a loving, caring father. However, even the best of human fathers have faults and cannot be there all the time for their children. Ultimately we all need an Everlasting Father. Jesus is an Everlasting Father to us. He will not abandon or leave us. Dr. William Altobar of the Philippines has three children of his own. He also has a father's heart for needy children; so he adopted three more children. Even a good human father like Dr. William cannot be there for his children forever. Only Jesus can be our Father Forever. Jesus promised in John 14:18, "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." He promised to be with us forever in Matthew 28:20, "Surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
I thank God that I can be a father to my five children. I try my best to be a faithful father who teaches and lives by the truth, who provides, who protects and who is in “the mix”. But even though I try my best I have many flaws. I get angry. I expect the worst. I loose my patience. I criticize and blurt out biting hurtful words. I become blind to the good things. My sins make me unable to fulfill all of my duties as a godly father. But though I have many sins and flaws, my children are prospering and growing. It is not be cause of me. It is all because they have an Everlasting Father, Jesus, who is with them always. He is with each of them to protect and provide and train and guide. He is with me in the Holy Spirit to convict them of sin, to remind them of his words of promises and commands. Jesus is our Everlasting Father, who cares about all his children. He gave his life to rescue his children from the power of the evil one. Jesus is full of love. His heart is always turned toward his children. He said, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." (Mt 19:14) He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is our Father who will love us forever. We are safe in his arms. No one can snatch us out of his hands. Praise Jesus for his fatherly love.
Fifth, Jesus is the Prince of Peace. The Jewish people have a great word for peace. It's Shalom. Shalom is not the absence of conflict. It is a state of contentment, safeness, satisfaction, completeness, health and blessing. Isaiah had a beautiful vision of the peace that God would bring in Isaiah 11. Even the lion and the lamb, natural enemies, would be friends: "They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea." (Isaiah 11:9)
Why don't we live in peace? This peace was lost due to sin. Sin broke the relationship between God and people. Sin also broke the relationship between people and people. War continues between nations, between tribes and between individuals. There is interpersonal conflict between spouses, neighbors and colleagues. Everyone wants peace. We want peace in our world and peace in our hearts. People seek inner peace in so many ways. Some seek peace through a vacation, through drugs, alcohol or immorality. Others try to forget their troubles through parties, sports, video or computer games, or music or sleeping in or some other hobby. These things may give an illusion of peace, but troubles soon come back. Dark clouds of depression and anxiety rob their joy. People have heavy hearts, weighed down by anxiety about grades, marriage, jobs, children, and an uncertain future. Where can we find peace?
Isaiah wrote in 26:3, "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!" (NLT) God promises peace to those whose minds are stayed on him. The Prince of Peace gives us peace. Jesus, the Prince of Peace promised in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
Then how is Jesus the Prince of Peace? How did he bring peace to people on earth? The peace starts God’s work in our own hearts. Romans 5:1 says, "...since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Paul declares that sinners have peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus brought this peace to us through his blood shed on the cross. This peace is given to those who accept the sacrifice of Jesus on their behalf and commit their lives to him. Paul used a word to describe this reunion of God to man and man to man. The word is "reconciliation" and it means to "get back together" (Ro 5:10-11). Through Jesus, the Prince of Peace we are brought back into a right relationship with God through the forgiveness of sin. Through Jesus, we have peace with God.
There was an angry man who hated others because he thought he was right and all others were wrong. His goal was to destroy people who didn't agree with him. To his great surprise, one day he heard a voice calling his name, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" He replied, "Who are you, Lord?" The voice replied, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting." (Acts 9:1-18) The enemy of Christ was not destroyed. Instead he was forgiven and called. From that time on, Saul, who became better known as Paul, gave his whole heart and life to proclaim Jesus as the Christ and Son of God. Paul pleaded with people to repent and believe in Jesus and be saved. In the past he worked hard to destroy Christians. But through Jesus, the Prince of Peace, and by his grace, he worked hard to save others by proclaiming in Jesus the forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life. Paul became a man of love and peace since he knew the Lord of Love and Prince of Peace.
May Jesus, the Great Light, our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace come and dwell in our hearts, throughout our nation and the world at this Christmas time and forever.
Part l: God’s Hope For His Suffering People (8:19-9:1)
1. In a dark time, what hope did Isaiah see for his suffering people? (8:19-1a) How had God disciplined them in the past? (1b; 2Ki 15:29b) How would he honor them in the future? (1c) Read verse 2. How did Jesus fulfill this? (Mt 4:15–16)
Part ll: To Us A Child Is Born (9:3-7)
2. What good news for the nation was the prophet Isaiah bringing his people? (3–5) What lesson was learned from Midian’s defeat? (Jdg 7:19-21)How is the sign of Immanuel fulfilled? (6; 7:14) How does the birth of the child reveal God’s humility? (Php 2:5)
3. Read verse 6. Think about the meaning of each title here and how Jesus fulfills each one. (“Wonderful Counselor”: Jn 15:26; 4:1–26; “Mighty God”: Mk 4:41; Heb 1:3; Col 1:15; “Everlasting Father”: Mt 28:20; Jn 14:18; “Prince of Peace”: Jn 14:27; Lk 2:14)
4. Read verse 7. How did Jesus’ coming fulfill God’s promises to David? (2Sa7:13) Think about the characteristics of his reign: increasing, peace, justice and righteousness. How is all this accomplished? (Ro 5:1; 8:1; 2 Cor 5:18; Mt 5:44; [2 Sam 5:2; Jn 10:10; Mt 2:6] Mt 11:28-30)
5. Which of the titles of Jesus in verse 6 are especially meaningful to you at this Christmas season?
Showing posts with label Isaiah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Isaiah. Show all posts
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Isaiah 7:1-8:22
Immanuel: God’s Sign
Isaiah 7:1-8:22 NIU UBF 12/5/2010 Shp Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF
Key verse 7:14 Adapted from Chicago UBF delivered 11/28/10
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."
It’s coming! Christmastime 2010! This year were going to celebrate Jesus' birth with the theme, "Immanuel." This is one of the names of Jesus which means "God with us." Although the concept of "God with us" is pervasive throughout the Bible, the word "Immanuel" appears only three times, two of which are in this passage. This is where it originated, as a sign given to the people of Judah in very difficult times. It was a sign that inspired hope and faith in God, and gave clear spiritual direction during those hard times. Let us consider what "Immanuel" means to us today.
Part I: The Lord Gives The Sign Of Immanuel To Ahaz (7:1-25)
The year was 734 B.C. During this time King Ahaz ruled Judah. In contrast to his father Jotham, and his son, Hezekiah, Ahaz was an evil king. He worshiped idols, as northern Israel's kings had done. He even offered his own sons in the fire to false gods. This evil influence spread throughout Judah. Because of this idol worship, the Lord punished Judah by letting the king of Aram defeat her in battle (2 Chr 28:5). A stinging defeat should have led Ahaz to repent and seek the Lord with all his heart. However, he did not. Then Ephraim, that is northern Israel, allied with Aram. When King Ahaz heard this, his heart was shaken like trees of the forest are shaken by the wind (2). He felt that his reign would end. All of Judah became shaken with him. Fear inundated the land. People imagined defeat, devastation and enslavement. They were totally defeated, even before the fighting. This is the fruit of idolatry. When people turn from God to idols they become harassed by their enemies and fearful. Fearful people become irrational and helpless. However, at this time, God came to the people of Judah. God was with them when they were too fearful to come to God. Let's see how the Lord helped them.
First, the Lord's promise in a crisis (1-12). One day, Ahaz went out to the aqueduct of the Upper Pool (1). Perhaps he was inspecting Jerusalem's water supply, counting the days until people would die of thirst. Ahaz had made no attempt to meet the Lord. But the Lord took the initiative and went to Ahaz. It was God's grace. The Lord spoke through Isaiah, giving a message of comfort: "Be careful, keep calm and don't be afraid." (4a) The Lord spoke kindly and tenderly to calm his fear. The Lord called his enemies "two smoldering stubs of firewood." (4b)Though they were fierce and mighty in Ahaz's eyes, they were small in the sight of God. Their power was nearly extinguished. God knew that their great boasts were nothing but empty words.
Then the Lord made a promise. Look at verses 7-9a. "Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says: 'It will not take place, it will not happen, for the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is only Rezin...The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah's son.'" Rezin was an idol worshiper from Aram. Pekah was merely Remaliah's son. Remaluah, his father had taken the throne in Samaria, in a bloody coup. He was like any worldly ruler. Despite their boasts, the fact was that Rezin and Pekah were mere ungodly men. God was not with them.
In contrast, the Lord is the Sovereign Ruler of nations. The Lord raises human rulers and deposes them. The Lord had revealed this clearly in Israel's history. Verses 2,13 refer to the "house of David." The Lord had raised David as a shepherd king of his people to be a model for all future kings. Those who shared David's faith were blessed by God. The Lord had promised David that one of his descendants would sit on his throne forever and reign in justice and righteousness (2 Sam 7:12-13). This was part of God's world salvation plan. The Lord is in control of history; not men like Rezin and Pekah. God had allowed Judah to become weak, for he was punishing Ahaz's idol worship. But he would preserve the nation and the line of David for his own salvation purpose. And so the Lord would not allow Judah to disappear. God is faithful. God keeps his promises. God is Almighty. God rules heaven and earth by his power and wisdom. God would carry out his plan of salvation without fail. Though Ahaz had sinned greatly, the Lord wanted him to repent and live by faith and experience God's victory.
It is very important to keep our faith in God Almighty. We should see nations of the world through the lens of God's sovereign rule. The Sovereign Lord established America through our forefathers' Bible-believing faith to be "a city on a hill," "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." When we examine some historical documents, we can find that early Americans made covenants with God in establishing their governments, beginning with the Mayflower Compact. American forefathers invited God to dwell with them and rule over them. The Lord used America as a missionary sending nation. We have a history full of God's blessing. However, in recent decades, America has turned to other gods…the gods of money, pleasure, sex, military power, and so on. Consequently, many people are fearful, anticipating national economic collapse, sudden terrorist attacks, Islamic world domination, more broken families, and random acts of violence, among other things.
In so many ways, our Lord has been disciplining us. We should not see our problems from a human point of view. In the midst of it all, we should see the Lord, the Sovereign Ruler, who wants to bring us back to him. He promised us that when we humble ourselves, pray and turn from our wicked ways, he will hear our prayers and heal our land. (2 Chron 17: 14-16) The Sovereign Lord can help us. We must have faith in God and stand by faith in times of trial.
The Lord gave a wonderful message of comfort and encouragement to Ahaz. All Ahaz needed to do was accept it with faith. But there is no record of a response from Ahaz. In fact, he ignored the Lord. Whenever kings ignored God's prophets, it brought about tragedy (1 Sam 15:26; 16:14). However, the Lord was patient. Verse 10 says, "Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz." This time the Lord invited Ahaz to ask for a sign to confirm the promise. He could ask anything, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights. The Lord humbled himself to make this offer. However, using biblical language and sounding very holy, Ahaz rejected God's offer. It was foolish.
As Isaiah spoke to Ahaz, his son Shear-Jashub was with him as the Lord had directed. The boy a part of the message from God. "Shear-Jashub" means "a remnant will return." This name reveals a characteristic of God's history. God always preserves a remnant of people who are faithful to him, even during times of spiritual and moral decline. Paul said, "So, too, at the present time, there is a remnant chosen by grace" (Ro 11:5). We should realize that the Lord has his remnant in our time, too. This remnant reveals that God is working in our times to fulfill his world salvation purpose. There are many remnant people among us. We can believe that there is a remnant among college students today who will accept God's gracious promise with faith and follow Christ.
Second, the Lord gives a sign (13-25). The Lord did not leave Ahaz alone. The Lord rebuked his unbelief and gave him a sign. Look at verse 14. "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." The Lord gave Ahaz a sign despite his refusal. The Lord is Sovereign Ruler. He rules human history, and especially his chosen people, despite all their mistakes, sins, rebellion and unbelief. God is with his people to the end. We cannot refuse to respond to God.
The Lord's sign was the birth of a child to a virgin. The boy would be called "Immanuel," which means, "God with us." Like many signs, this one was two-fold. It would be fulfilled immediately, and also in the future. In Isaiah's time, it supported God's promise of deliverance from their enemies. The baby boy was like a time piece. When he reached a certain age, Aram and Ephraim would vanish, laid waste by Assyria (15-16). Whenever their enemies made noise, all the people had to do was look at the little baby boy who was growing and playing. This would remind them of God's promise of deliverance. God's sign gave them peace and hope in the midst of troubles. What God really wants his people to believe is that he is with us.
If the narrative stopped here, it would be good news for Ahaz. But it does not. Ahaz's stubborn unbelief had tried God's patience. So God added to his original prophecy a punishment for Ahaz. In verse 17, the Lord foretold that the king of Assyria would attack Ahaz and Judah. It would be worse than anything Judah had experienced since Ephraim broke away from Judah. Isaiah described Judah's shameful and humiliating defeat by comparing it to having an enemy shave one's head and legs and beards (20). The land would be so devastated that only briars and thorns would grow there (23-25). Their economy would be devastated. Their wealth would be lost (23). Due to Ahaz's idol worship, unbelief and rebellion, Judah was nearly devastated.
What was Ahaz's problem? Ahaz rejected the Lord's help because he wanted to get help from Assyria (2 Chr 28:16-21). Ahaz was so eager to do this that he gave temple furnishings, to the king of Assyria as presents. These furnishings had been dedicated to the holy God. He could not trust in God because he trusted in Assyria. Practically speaking, he worshiped the king of Assyria. What happened? 2 Chronicles 28:20 says: "Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came to him, but he gave him trouble instead of help." The Lord had warned him, "If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all" (9b). When Ahaz did not receive the sign of Immanuel with faith, it became a message of impending judgment. The only way to salvation is to firmly trust in the Lord, who alone can save us from all our trials and troubles. If we trust in anything else--be it money, science, technology, or military power, we will be defeated and humiliated, perhaps by the very thing we trusted in.
Part ll: Sign Of Immanuel Given To Isaiah. Accepted With Faith (8:1-22)
Isaiah is contrasted to Ahaz in this passage, for Isaiah accepted the sign of Immanuel with faith. Let's see how it affected him, his family, and his people. First, the Lord blessed and used Isaiah's family (1-4;18). Verses 1-4 tell us that the promised sign was immediately fulfilled through Isaiah and his family. They, in turn, would be signs to Judah (18). Look at verse 1. Isaiah wrote the name "Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz" on a large scroll. He had it notarized by credible witnesses. (Like a public notary today). Their signatures and the date would testify that God had given Isaiah his prophecy in advance. This would ultimately teach the people of Judah to trust God's word more than powerful nations around them. For the next step in fulfilling the sign, a virgin needed to bear a child. Apparently, Isaiah perceived that he needed to fulfill this prophecy personally. So he went to the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. This prophetess must have been a virgin. Scholars speculate that Isaiah's first wife, the mother of "Shear-Jashub," had died and Isaiah married a second time. So the virgin conceived and bore a child. This child was not conceived by the Holy Spirit, but by a human father, Isaiah. Still, the virgin gave birth to a child. The Lord gave him the name "Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz." His name means "quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil." The Lord promised that before this boy could say, "Daddy," or "Mommy," the nations which were threatening Judah would be plundered by Assyria.
Here we should appreciate the Lord being with Isaiah's family. The Lord was deeply involved in their most intimate relationships. The Lord himself named their children. When Isaiah called out: "Shear-Jashub," "Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz," it proclaimed that God was with his people, either to bless or to punish. This kind of intimacy was possible when the family members accepted the Lord's sovereign rule and obeyed his directions by faith. The true meaning of "Immanuel" challenges us. It means that the Lord wants to invade our most intimate privacy. The Lord wants to participate in every aspect of our personal and family lives, and to dwell together with us. When the Lord is with us, it is not so that we may use him for our purpose. It is so that he may use us for his purpose. Families ruled by the Lord in love are the best testimony to his presence in a broken world.
I thank the Lord who has been with my family to dwell with us in the past year. The Lord helped me to study the Bible faithfully and to prepare Sunday messages on the Book of Revelation and even share them with 25 hospital staff members. From this hospital ministry sprouted one group Bible study and one group Bible study leader, Jenn Kallas RN. The Holy Spirit worked through Julie enabling her to help build up the publication ministry and encourage Trish, Janice and Amanda with the word of God. God has been with us in the teaching of our children the word of God and disciplining them. The Lord blessed and used my children in various ways. For example he used Jenn and Augustine to jumpstart the FCA club on their High School. Jenn teaches the Bible, 1:1 to her friend Anais. Sarah and Hope are keeping the lamp of God burning at the middle school with their Bible reading a prayer on campus. All of them are offering up their singing talents to Jesus in various ways, most recently at the Joint Thanksgiving service. Our family is a source of blessing and encouragement to DeKalb Christian Church and their open mic night and recently at the Feed ‘Em Soup community project.
God has also been with each one of our singles too. I was pondering, “What does this mean?” Some are still struggling with grades. Some are struggling financially. Some have not gotten a job after graduation. Some are still harassed by the evil spirits or the fruit of their sins. “Immanuel –God with us” ? Is that some kind of joke? What does it mean that God is with them? It does not mean that you will be successful in every human venture that you undertake. It means God is with you. He is constantly loving you, forgiving you and hoping in you. He is using all the trials of life to train and discipline you as a true son or daughter. Life experiences, as well as opportunities in ministry are there to mold us into fruitful servants of God and ambassadors of Christ. That is God’s hope and that is what will happen if we respond well. He is keeping you in his love and in faith so that you will enter into eternal life with Jesus when the time comes. He is with you and will comfort your heart and embrace you with is love. He will be with you, to work through you, to reveal Jesus and his gospel to others. He will also provide for your needs as you see first his kingdom (Mtt 6:33). This is just the tip of the iceberg on what it means that Jesus is our Immanuel God.
During this Christmas season, let's consider the spiritual condition of our lives and our families. Let's thank the Lord for dwelling with us for the past year, in spite of our sins and mistakes. Let's invite him to dwell with us intimately in the year to come.
Second, the Lord was Isaiah's sanctuary (5-15). In verses 5-8, the Lord speaks to Isaiah regarding the coming Assyrian invasion. Some of the prophecy is a repetition. But the revelation is more detailed and contains a special message of good news for Isaiah and those who believe. The Lord would bring against Aram and Ephraim the king of Assyria, who is compared to the mighty floodwaters of the Euphrates. Assyria would completely overpower them and swirl into Judah, reaching up to the neck. This foretold that only Jerusalem would remain. Its fall seemed imminent.
However, verse 8 ends with the word, "Immanuel." The Lord would be with Jerusalem in that darkest moment. He would send one of his angels to defeat the Assyrian army. The Lord delivered them from their enemies. Isaiah trusted the Lord who was with his people (9-10). He boldly invited the enemies to raise war cries and prepare for battle; he was sure that they would be thwarted. He was sure that Jerusalem would stand. It was because God was with them. When God is for us, no one can stand against us.
Though Isaiah seemed strong in faith, the Lord put his strong hand upon Isaiah to infuse him with even more inner strength. Isaiah literally felt the Mighty God upholding his inner being. It was to enable him to stand against the flooding bad influence of fear and conspiracy theories. While other people were talking about troop movements and political alliances, feeding each other's fears and anxieties, Isaiah should consider the Lord Almighty. Look at verse 13 and 14a. "The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread. And he will be a sanctuary...." Fear of the Lord is having an awesome respect for the Lord as the Almighty God, the Creator God, and the Holy God. He is so awesome. When we fear God in this way, our souls delight in his power, goodness, and love. We are sure to be kept safe. The Lord is our sanctuary. Though the world is going crazy due to fear, those who fear the Lord can experience peace, security and safety.
In verses 14b-15 the Lord tells the fate of those who do not fear the Lord or trust him. Whether they are from Judah or Israel does not matter. Those who do not trust the Lord will stumble, fall and be broken to pieces. This speaks to us. Many people in America identify as God's people because they have grown up in a Christian culture. Yet the time will come for each person to decide to live by faith in the Lord. Those who secretly worship idols in their hearts, while appearing as, and speaking like “good” Christians, will fall and be broken to pieces.
Third, the Lord used Isaiah as a Bible teacher and disciple maker (16-17). Isaiah's conclusion and spiritual direction can be seen in verses 16-17. He said, "Bind up the testimony of warning and seal up God's instructions among my disciples. I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob. I will put my trust in him." Isaiah knew that not many people would believe the word of the Lord. Still, Isaiah believed that God's word would surely be fulfilled. God would save the remnant of his people who put their trust in him. God would accomplish his world salvation plan through his people without fail. Isaiah held on to God's promise of deliverance and trusted in God alone. He also taught his disciples to do the same. They were a vast minority and rare, but they became a source of hope to future generations and the true history makers in God's redemptive work.
We can find spiritual direction here. We can learn that God being with the USA does not necessarily mean that our President, Congress and Supreme Court will be Christians. Or that the vast majority of our people will go to church on Sunday. God being with us means that God will keep his promises without fail. We believe that God has promised to raise a kingdom of priests and a holy nation among us. We believe that he will spread his kingdom in the world through shepherds and American missionaries. This does not just mean Caucasian people of European descent. Many great missionaries in America are of Korean, Indian, and Hispanic descent. The Bible assures us that the gospel will be preached to the ends of the earth, and then the end will come. That will be a glorious end for all who believe in Jesus. We should study the word of God deeply and hold on to the promises of God. We should raise disciples who believe and obey the word of God. God will work in such people and use them as his remnant.
"Immanuel" was ultimately fulfilled by Jesus. Jesus is in very nature God. But he took on human flesh and was born of a virgin to be with us. He lived among us and raised disciples, like Isaiah. Then he went to the cross and died for our sins. He removed the barrier between God and us. Now the Holy Spirit can come into our hearts and dwell through faith in Christ. The Holy Spirit protects us, guides us, assures of God's love, gives us peace and enables us to serve God boldly without fear. This makes us spiritually strong and happy. May Jesus be with each of us in this Christmas season.
Part l: The Sign Of Immanuel (7:1-25)
1. What problem did Ahaz face? (7:1–2a) What did his enemies plan? (5–6) How did Ahaz respond, and what effect did he have on his people? (2b) What did God tell Ahaz through Isaiah and his son? (3–4) What were God’s promise and warning? (7–9) As a leader, why did he need instead to stand firm in faith?
2. How did God offer to help Ahaz? (7:10–11) Why did he refuse God’s help and justify himself? (7:12; 2Ki16:5–18) How did Isaiah rebuke him? (7:13) How and why had God been patient with the house of David? (Ro2:4)
3. Despite Ahaz’s stubbornness, what sign did God himself give him? (7:14) What does “Immanuel” mean? Nevertheless, how would God use Assyria as his instrument of judgment on the land and people of Judah? (7:17–25)
4. What is the meaning of the name God asked Isaiah to write on a large scroll and name his son? (8:1–3) How was the birth of Isaiah’s second son an initial fulfillment of 7:14? What would happen while this new son was still young? (7:15–16; 8:4) Note in 8:5–10 where the word “Immanuel” is repeated. How did this word plant hope in his people?
Part ll: Do Not Fear What They Fear (8:11-22)
5. What warning did God give Isaiah? (8:11–15) Who is the one we should fear, and why? What should we do when the times around us are dark like this? (8:16–22) Note especially how God wanted to use Isaiah’s house church (8:18).
6. Read 7:14. When was this promise fulfilled, and how does this reveal God’s grace to sinners? (Mt1:23) Although kingdoms rise and fall, how does the Immanuel God reveal his sovereign reign over the world and history? Why should we put our trust and hope only in him? How has God been with us and our nation, despite our stubborn unbelief?
Isaiah 7:1-8:22 NIU UBF 12/5/2010 Shp Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF
Key verse 7:14 Adapted from Chicago UBF delivered 11/28/10
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."
It’s coming! Christmastime 2010! This year were going to celebrate Jesus' birth with the theme, "Immanuel." This is one of the names of Jesus which means "God with us." Although the concept of "God with us" is pervasive throughout the Bible, the word "Immanuel" appears only three times, two of which are in this passage. This is where it originated, as a sign given to the people of Judah in very difficult times. It was a sign that inspired hope and faith in God, and gave clear spiritual direction during those hard times. Let us consider what "Immanuel" means to us today.
Part I: The Lord Gives The Sign Of Immanuel To Ahaz (7:1-25)
The year was 734 B.C. During this time King Ahaz ruled Judah. In contrast to his father Jotham, and his son, Hezekiah, Ahaz was an evil king. He worshiped idols, as northern Israel's kings had done. He even offered his own sons in the fire to false gods. This evil influence spread throughout Judah. Because of this idol worship, the Lord punished Judah by letting the king of Aram defeat her in battle (2 Chr 28:5). A stinging defeat should have led Ahaz to repent and seek the Lord with all his heart. However, he did not. Then Ephraim, that is northern Israel, allied with Aram. When King Ahaz heard this, his heart was shaken like trees of the forest are shaken by the wind (2). He felt that his reign would end. All of Judah became shaken with him. Fear inundated the land. People imagined defeat, devastation and enslavement. They were totally defeated, even before the fighting. This is the fruit of idolatry. When people turn from God to idols they become harassed by their enemies and fearful. Fearful people become irrational and helpless. However, at this time, God came to the people of Judah. God was with them when they were too fearful to come to God. Let's see how the Lord helped them.
First, the Lord's promise in a crisis (1-12). One day, Ahaz went out to the aqueduct of the Upper Pool (1). Perhaps he was inspecting Jerusalem's water supply, counting the days until people would die of thirst. Ahaz had made no attempt to meet the Lord. But the Lord took the initiative and went to Ahaz. It was God's grace. The Lord spoke through Isaiah, giving a message of comfort: "Be careful, keep calm and don't be afraid." (4a) The Lord spoke kindly and tenderly to calm his fear. The Lord called his enemies "two smoldering stubs of firewood." (4b)Though they were fierce and mighty in Ahaz's eyes, they were small in the sight of God. Their power was nearly extinguished. God knew that their great boasts were nothing but empty words.
Then the Lord made a promise. Look at verses 7-9a. "Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says: 'It will not take place, it will not happen, for the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is only Rezin...The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah's son.'" Rezin was an idol worshiper from Aram. Pekah was merely Remaliah's son. Remaluah, his father had taken the throne in Samaria, in a bloody coup. He was like any worldly ruler. Despite their boasts, the fact was that Rezin and Pekah were mere ungodly men. God was not with them.
In contrast, the Lord is the Sovereign Ruler of nations. The Lord raises human rulers and deposes them. The Lord had revealed this clearly in Israel's history. Verses 2,13 refer to the "house of David." The Lord had raised David as a shepherd king of his people to be a model for all future kings. Those who shared David's faith were blessed by God. The Lord had promised David that one of his descendants would sit on his throne forever and reign in justice and righteousness (2 Sam 7:12-13). This was part of God's world salvation plan. The Lord is in control of history; not men like Rezin and Pekah. God had allowed Judah to become weak, for he was punishing Ahaz's idol worship. But he would preserve the nation and the line of David for his own salvation purpose. And so the Lord would not allow Judah to disappear. God is faithful. God keeps his promises. God is Almighty. God rules heaven and earth by his power and wisdom. God would carry out his plan of salvation without fail. Though Ahaz had sinned greatly, the Lord wanted him to repent and live by faith and experience God's victory.
It is very important to keep our faith in God Almighty. We should see nations of the world through the lens of God's sovereign rule. The Sovereign Lord established America through our forefathers' Bible-believing faith to be "a city on a hill," "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." When we examine some historical documents, we can find that early Americans made covenants with God in establishing their governments, beginning with the Mayflower Compact. American forefathers invited God to dwell with them and rule over them. The Lord used America as a missionary sending nation. We have a history full of God's blessing. However, in recent decades, America has turned to other gods…the gods of money, pleasure, sex, military power, and so on. Consequently, many people are fearful, anticipating national economic collapse, sudden terrorist attacks, Islamic world domination, more broken families, and random acts of violence, among other things.
In so many ways, our Lord has been disciplining us. We should not see our problems from a human point of view. In the midst of it all, we should see the Lord, the Sovereign Ruler, who wants to bring us back to him. He promised us that when we humble ourselves, pray and turn from our wicked ways, he will hear our prayers and heal our land. (2 Chron 17: 14-16) The Sovereign Lord can help us. We must have faith in God and stand by faith in times of trial.
The Lord gave a wonderful message of comfort and encouragement to Ahaz. All Ahaz needed to do was accept it with faith. But there is no record of a response from Ahaz. In fact, he ignored the Lord. Whenever kings ignored God's prophets, it brought about tragedy (1 Sam 15:26; 16:14). However, the Lord was patient. Verse 10 says, "Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz." This time the Lord invited Ahaz to ask for a sign to confirm the promise. He could ask anything, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights. The Lord humbled himself to make this offer. However, using biblical language and sounding very holy, Ahaz rejected God's offer. It was foolish.
As Isaiah spoke to Ahaz, his son Shear-Jashub was with him as the Lord had directed. The boy a part of the message from God. "Shear-Jashub" means "a remnant will return." This name reveals a characteristic of God's history. God always preserves a remnant of people who are faithful to him, even during times of spiritual and moral decline. Paul said, "So, too, at the present time, there is a remnant chosen by grace" (Ro 11:5). We should realize that the Lord has his remnant in our time, too. This remnant reveals that God is working in our times to fulfill his world salvation purpose. There are many remnant people among us. We can believe that there is a remnant among college students today who will accept God's gracious promise with faith and follow Christ.
Second, the Lord gives a sign (13-25). The Lord did not leave Ahaz alone. The Lord rebuked his unbelief and gave him a sign. Look at verse 14. "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." The Lord gave Ahaz a sign despite his refusal. The Lord is Sovereign Ruler. He rules human history, and especially his chosen people, despite all their mistakes, sins, rebellion and unbelief. God is with his people to the end. We cannot refuse to respond to God.
The Lord's sign was the birth of a child to a virgin. The boy would be called "Immanuel," which means, "God with us." Like many signs, this one was two-fold. It would be fulfilled immediately, and also in the future. In Isaiah's time, it supported God's promise of deliverance from their enemies. The baby boy was like a time piece. When he reached a certain age, Aram and Ephraim would vanish, laid waste by Assyria (15-16). Whenever their enemies made noise, all the people had to do was look at the little baby boy who was growing and playing. This would remind them of God's promise of deliverance. God's sign gave them peace and hope in the midst of troubles. What God really wants his people to believe is that he is with us.
If the narrative stopped here, it would be good news for Ahaz. But it does not. Ahaz's stubborn unbelief had tried God's patience. So God added to his original prophecy a punishment for Ahaz. In verse 17, the Lord foretold that the king of Assyria would attack Ahaz and Judah. It would be worse than anything Judah had experienced since Ephraim broke away from Judah. Isaiah described Judah's shameful and humiliating defeat by comparing it to having an enemy shave one's head and legs and beards (20). The land would be so devastated that only briars and thorns would grow there (23-25). Their economy would be devastated. Their wealth would be lost (23). Due to Ahaz's idol worship, unbelief and rebellion, Judah was nearly devastated.
What was Ahaz's problem? Ahaz rejected the Lord's help because he wanted to get help from Assyria (2 Chr 28:16-21). Ahaz was so eager to do this that he gave temple furnishings, to the king of Assyria as presents. These furnishings had been dedicated to the holy God. He could not trust in God because he trusted in Assyria. Practically speaking, he worshiped the king of Assyria. What happened? 2 Chronicles 28:20 says: "Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came to him, but he gave him trouble instead of help." The Lord had warned him, "If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all" (9b). When Ahaz did not receive the sign of Immanuel with faith, it became a message of impending judgment. The only way to salvation is to firmly trust in the Lord, who alone can save us from all our trials and troubles. If we trust in anything else--be it money, science, technology, or military power, we will be defeated and humiliated, perhaps by the very thing we trusted in.
Part ll: Sign Of Immanuel Given To Isaiah. Accepted With Faith (8:1-22)
Isaiah is contrasted to Ahaz in this passage, for Isaiah accepted the sign of Immanuel with faith. Let's see how it affected him, his family, and his people. First, the Lord blessed and used Isaiah's family (1-4;18). Verses 1-4 tell us that the promised sign was immediately fulfilled through Isaiah and his family. They, in turn, would be signs to Judah (18). Look at verse 1. Isaiah wrote the name "Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz" on a large scroll. He had it notarized by credible witnesses. (Like a public notary today). Their signatures and the date would testify that God had given Isaiah his prophecy in advance. This would ultimately teach the people of Judah to trust God's word more than powerful nations around them. For the next step in fulfilling the sign, a virgin needed to bear a child. Apparently, Isaiah perceived that he needed to fulfill this prophecy personally. So he went to the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. This prophetess must have been a virgin. Scholars speculate that Isaiah's first wife, the mother of "Shear-Jashub," had died and Isaiah married a second time. So the virgin conceived and bore a child. This child was not conceived by the Holy Spirit, but by a human father, Isaiah. Still, the virgin gave birth to a child. The Lord gave him the name "Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz." His name means "quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil." The Lord promised that before this boy could say, "Daddy," or "Mommy," the nations which were threatening Judah would be plundered by Assyria.
Here we should appreciate the Lord being with Isaiah's family. The Lord was deeply involved in their most intimate relationships. The Lord himself named their children. When Isaiah called out: "Shear-Jashub," "Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz," it proclaimed that God was with his people, either to bless or to punish. This kind of intimacy was possible when the family members accepted the Lord's sovereign rule and obeyed his directions by faith. The true meaning of "Immanuel" challenges us. It means that the Lord wants to invade our most intimate privacy. The Lord wants to participate in every aspect of our personal and family lives, and to dwell together with us. When the Lord is with us, it is not so that we may use him for our purpose. It is so that he may use us for his purpose. Families ruled by the Lord in love are the best testimony to his presence in a broken world.
I thank the Lord who has been with my family to dwell with us in the past year. The Lord helped me to study the Bible faithfully and to prepare Sunday messages on the Book of Revelation and even share them with 25 hospital staff members. From this hospital ministry sprouted one group Bible study and one group Bible study leader, Jenn Kallas RN. The Holy Spirit worked through Julie enabling her to help build up the publication ministry and encourage Trish, Janice and Amanda with the word of God. God has been with us in the teaching of our children the word of God and disciplining them. The Lord blessed and used my children in various ways. For example he used Jenn and Augustine to jumpstart the FCA club on their High School. Jenn teaches the Bible, 1:1 to her friend Anais. Sarah and Hope are keeping the lamp of God burning at the middle school with their Bible reading a prayer on campus. All of them are offering up their singing talents to Jesus in various ways, most recently at the Joint Thanksgiving service. Our family is a source of blessing and encouragement to DeKalb Christian Church and their open mic night and recently at the Feed ‘Em Soup community project.
God has also been with each one of our singles too. I was pondering, “What does this mean?” Some are still struggling with grades. Some are struggling financially. Some have not gotten a job after graduation. Some are still harassed by the evil spirits or the fruit of their sins. “Immanuel –God with us” ? Is that some kind of joke? What does it mean that God is with them? It does not mean that you will be successful in every human venture that you undertake. It means God is with you. He is constantly loving you, forgiving you and hoping in you. He is using all the trials of life to train and discipline you as a true son or daughter. Life experiences, as well as opportunities in ministry are there to mold us into fruitful servants of God and ambassadors of Christ. That is God’s hope and that is what will happen if we respond well. He is keeping you in his love and in faith so that you will enter into eternal life with Jesus when the time comes. He is with you and will comfort your heart and embrace you with is love. He will be with you, to work through you, to reveal Jesus and his gospel to others. He will also provide for your needs as you see first his kingdom (Mtt 6:33). This is just the tip of the iceberg on what it means that Jesus is our Immanuel God.
During this Christmas season, let's consider the spiritual condition of our lives and our families. Let's thank the Lord for dwelling with us for the past year, in spite of our sins and mistakes. Let's invite him to dwell with us intimately in the year to come.
Second, the Lord was Isaiah's sanctuary (5-15). In verses 5-8, the Lord speaks to Isaiah regarding the coming Assyrian invasion. Some of the prophecy is a repetition. But the revelation is more detailed and contains a special message of good news for Isaiah and those who believe. The Lord would bring against Aram and Ephraim the king of Assyria, who is compared to the mighty floodwaters of the Euphrates. Assyria would completely overpower them and swirl into Judah, reaching up to the neck. This foretold that only Jerusalem would remain. Its fall seemed imminent.
However, verse 8 ends with the word, "Immanuel." The Lord would be with Jerusalem in that darkest moment. He would send one of his angels to defeat the Assyrian army. The Lord delivered them from their enemies. Isaiah trusted the Lord who was with his people (9-10). He boldly invited the enemies to raise war cries and prepare for battle; he was sure that they would be thwarted. He was sure that Jerusalem would stand. It was because God was with them. When God is for us, no one can stand against us.
Though Isaiah seemed strong in faith, the Lord put his strong hand upon Isaiah to infuse him with even more inner strength. Isaiah literally felt the Mighty God upholding his inner being. It was to enable him to stand against the flooding bad influence of fear and conspiracy theories. While other people were talking about troop movements and political alliances, feeding each other's fears and anxieties, Isaiah should consider the Lord Almighty. Look at verse 13 and 14a. "The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread. And he will be a sanctuary...." Fear of the Lord is having an awesome respect for the Lord as the Almighty God, the Creator God, and the Holy God. He is so awesome. When we fear God in this way, our souls delight in his power, goodness, and love. We are sure to be kept safe. The Lord is our sanctuary. Though the world is going crazy due to fear, those who fear the Lord can experience peace, security and safety.
In verses 14b-15 the Lord tells the fate of those who do not fear the Lord or trust him. Whether they are from Judah or Israel does not matter. Those who do not trust the Lord will stumble, fall and be broken to pieces. This speaks to us. Many people in America identify as God's people because they have grown up in a Christian culture. Yet the time will come for each person to decide to live by faith in the Lord. Those who secretly worship idols in their hearts, while appearing as, and speaking like “good” Christians, will fall and be broken to pieces.
Third, the Lord used Isaiah as a Bible teacher and disciple maker (16-17). Isaiah's conclusion and spiritual direction can be seen in verses 16-17. He said, "Bind up the testimony of warning and seal up God's instructions among my disciples. I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob. I will put my trust in him." Isaiah knew that not many people would believe the word of the Lord. Still, Isaiah believed that God's word would surely be fulfilled. God would save the remnant of his people who put their trust in him. God would accomplish his world salvation plan through his people without fail. Isaiah held on to God's promise of deliverance and trusted in God alone. He also taught his disciples to do the same. They were a vast minority and rare, but they became a source of hope to future generations and the true history makers in God's redemptive work.
We can find spiritual direction here. We can learn that God being with the USA does not necessarily mean that our President, Congress and Supreme Court will be Christians. Or that the vast majority of our people will go to church on Sunday. God being with us means that God will keep his promises without fail. We believe that God has promised to raise a kingdom of priests and a holy nation among us. We believe that he will spread his kingdom in the world through shepherds and American missionaries. This does not just mean Caucasian people of European descent. Many great missionaries in America are of Korean, Indian, and Hispanic descent. The Bible assures us that the gospel will be preached to the ends of the earth, and then the end will come. That will be a glorious end for all who believe in Jesus. We should study the word of God deeply and hold on to the promises of God. We should raise disciples who believe and obey the word of God. God will work in such people and use them as his remnant.
"Immanuel" was ultimately fulfilled by Jesus. Jesus is in very nature God. But he took on human flesh and was born of a virgin to be with us. He lived among us and raised disciples, like Isaiah. Then he went to the cross and died for our sins. He removed the barrier between God and us. Now the Holy Spirit can come into our hearts and dwell through faith in Christ. The Holy Spirit protects us, guides us, assures of God's love, gives us peace and enables us to serve God boldly without fear. This makes us spiritually strong and happy. May Jesus be with each of us in this Christmas season.
Part l: The Sign Of Immanuel (7:1-25)
1. What problem did Ahaz face? (7:1–2a) What did his enemies plan? (5–6) How did Ahaz respond, and what effect did he have on his people? (2b) What did God tell Ahaz through Isaiah and his son? (3–4) What were God’s promise and warning? (7–9) As a leader, why did he need instead to stand firm in faith?
2. How did God offer to help Ahaz? (7:10–11) Why did he refuse God’s help and justify himself? (7:12; 2Ki16:5–18) How did Isaiah rebuke him? (7:13) How and why had God been patient with the house of David? (Ro2:4)
3. Despite Ahaz’s stubbornness, what sign did God himself give him? (7:14) What does “Immanuel” mean? Nevertheless, how would God use Assyria as his instrument of judgment on the land and people of Judah? (7:17–25)
4. What is the meaning of the name God asked Isaiah to write on a large scroll and name his son? (8:1–3) How was the birth of Isaiah’s second son an initial fulfillment of 7:14? What would happen while this new son was still young? (7:15–16; 8:4) Note in 8:5–10 where the word “Immanuel” is repeated. How did this word plant hope in his people?
Part ll: Do Not Fear What They Fear (8:11-22)
5. What warning did God give Isaiah? (8:11–15) Who is the one we should fear, and why? What should we do when the times around us are dark like this? (8:16–22) Note especially how God wanted to use Isaiah’s house church (8:18).
6. Read 7:14. When was this promise fulfilled, and how does this reveal God’s grace to sinners? (Mt1:23) Although kingdoms rise and fall, how does the Immanuel God reveal his sovereign reign over the world and history? Why should we put our trust and hope only in him? How has God been with us and our nation, despite our stubborn unbelief?
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