The only sign that maters.

When Isaiah asks is Ahaz wants a sign he acts as if he is too spiritual for that. In reality he felt he didn't need a sign because of his contract with Assyria. Perhaps he was feeling that God helps those who help themselves, but in this attitude he missed out on the hope, and grace, and freedom that comes from the only sign we need from the Lord. His Son.

Because it was obvious that the king was not going to listen, Isaiah address the rest of the next five chapters to the house of Judah. Like most of the prophecies in the Bible there was an immediate fulfillment and an impending one. Isaiah, whose first wife dies after the death of their first child was born married again. His wife had a son they names Immanuel and before he was old enough to become a man the Lord had delivered his people from the hands of Israel, Samaria and Assyria.

We see in chapter 8 that this boys other name means "quick to plunder" this is a sign for Israel that they will be destroyed but also for Judah that in the end Babylon will come and judge them as well.

Isaiah's other sons name was, "Shear-jashub" which means a remnant shall return. (see 10:20-22,11:11-12,16) It was imperative that the remnant return because God's promises still had to be fulfilled. He promised David that he would have a son that would reign on the throne forever. If God's people are completly destroyed this would be impossible. Therefore God's plan was of course to bring back a few, and through that few send one that would save the world.

This is of course the point of Chapter nine. (Note Zebulon and Naphtali= Galilee. Where Jesus focused most of his ministry and also the area most devastated in the downfall of Israel) One of the most beautiful things about 9:1-7 is that we too are waiting for it's completion. It brings us great hope not only because Jesus has come but mostly because HE IS COMING AGAIN! This is the light at the end of every dark place in your life.

Read through 9:1-7. Take it one verse at a time. First consider what the verse meant to the original audience and then think about the church today as a whole and finally yourself personally. If you need to brush up on things like "Midian's defeat" do a little digging.

Make sure when you get to verse 6 that you think about each of the child's names individually. This was not just a poetic list for the sake of literary excellence, each name is significant.

See you Thursday night. :)

Isaiah 7:1-9 Who you going to call?

Chapter seven opens during very difficult days for the kingdom of Judah. Assyria's threat was growing very strong and on top of that Judah had refused to be allies with Israel (The northern Kingdom)and Syria. Judah's king Ahaz was not looking to God for hope in this time of trial, instead he felt that if he befriended Assyria he would be safe. So he made a treaty with Assyria. (2 King 16:5-9) Ahaz was making all his decisions out of fear. He actually took a Gold offering that belonged to god and sent it to pay for security from Assyria.

Chapter seven of Isaiah is a message God gave to Isaiah to reassure Ahaz that even if what he considered was the worst (the fall of his kingdom) happened, the Lord was still in control and was working out His ultimate plan to save a remnant of His people.

In verse two God tells Ahaz to "take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted." He reminds him that the kings of Israel are but,"two smouldering stubs of fire wood" Ahaz has a choice, to trust in the Lord and find peace and rest, or follow his own path to destruction.

Isiah spoke this message to Ahaz in 734 bc. In 732 Assyria destroyed Syria, and in 722 the destroyed Israel but they NEVER destroyed Judah. In fact by 700 bc Asyria was it'self a thing of the past. They were nothing but smoldering stubs of fire wood.

David understood what it meant to trust in the Lord. How the Lord was always a stronger fortress than anything else on this earth. In psalm 33 he wrote,

"16 The king is not saved by a mighty army;
A warrior is not delivered by great strength.

17 A horse is a false hope for victory;
Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.

18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope for His loving kindness,

19 To deliver their soul from death
And to keep them alive in famine.

20 Our soul waits for the LORD;
He is our help and our shield.

21 For our heart rejoices in Him,
Because we trust in His holy name.

22 Let Your loving kindness, O LORD, be upon us,
According as we have hoped in You.

What is it that you are counting on to get you through your day? Is it your bank account, or your family, or your new haircut, or that chick-fil-a milkshake? Do you think that plans that you have so carefully laid out will save you from the fray? Unless your hope is in the Lord, all your work will be in vain. Isaiah 7: 9b"If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all."

I am not going to go on into verse 10 this week because I feel like this is a really good place to rest. What are we resting in. We are all walking, or crawling through something right now. And I guess I just want us to look carefully at each day and ask ourselves where does our hope come from?