These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
- Defeated…
- King Ahaz was the son of Jotham [good king] – grandson of Uzziah [good king]
- But he was NOT a good king – even sacrificed his children to MOLECH – II Kings 16:3
- Therefore the king of Syria [Rezin] and Israel [Pekah] defeated Judah in battle…
- Then God sent Isaiah to Ahaz – he was NOT to fear – Jerusalem would NOT fall…
- But if Ahaz did NOT believe – then God would NOT be able to save him!
- Immanuel…
- To help give him FAITH – God would send a SIGN [Ahaz refused to ask]
- A young woman [virgin] would have a SON – he would be called IMMANUEL [God with us]
- Before the boy was TWO years old – Rezin and Pekah would be defeated by ASSYRIA …
- But Ahaz put his trust in ASSYRIA rather than in the LORD…
- Therefore God would send ASSYRIA to Judge the people of Judah!
- 1st – Fall of Assyria… vs. 1-10
- 1st – The Timing… vs. 1-4
- The Sign… vs. 1-2
- Moreover the LORD said to me: Take a large scroll.
- And write on it with a man’s pen concerning Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.
- I will take for Myself faithful witnesses – Uriah the priest – Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.
- In light of Ahaz rejecting the SIGN of the LORD…
- Choosing to instead put his TRUST in the King of ASSYRIA…
- The Lord gave [sequential] a command [imperative] to ISAIAH…
- He was to take a LARGE [גָּדוֹל] scroll [huge banner] – and write these words on it…
- QUICK [מַהֵר] plunder [שָׁלָל] hurry [חוּשׁ] rob [בַּז]
- Isaiah had TWO men witness him write down the WORDS on the BANNER…
- URIAH the priest – who built a PAGAN altar for AHAZ – II Kings 16:15-16
- And Zechariah – the son of JEBERECHIAH [God blesses]
- The message was CLEAR – the King was looking to ASSYRIA to save JUDAH…
- But ASSYRIA would NOT save them – they would instead come and ROB them…
- Because the world comes to STEAL – only the Lord comes to BLESS!
- James 1:17 – “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.”
- It is SAD how people are convinced the WORLD wants to HELP…
- We need to remember that the God of this world is a THIEF – John 10:10
- If we want to be BLESSED – that can ONLY come from the LORD!
- The Son… vs. 3-4
- Then I went to the prophetess and she conceived and bore a son.
- Then the LORD said to me: Call his name Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.
- For before the child shall have knowledge to cry: My father and My mother.
- The riches of Damascus – the spoil of Samaria will be taken away before the king of Assyria!
- AFTER [sequential] making the BANNER…
- ISAIAH spent time with his WIFE – the PROPHETESS [6x in OT]
- And she bore a SON – whom the Lord told him to call [imperative] Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz…
- Because before his SON would be old enough to say – DAD [אָב] or MOM [אֵם]
- The king of ASSYRIA would take away the RICHES of Damascus [Syria] and Samaria [Israel]!
- Assuming NINE months for the baby to be born…
- And the earliest a child can say DAD [about 6 months] – it would be no more than a YEAR…
- Which is exactly what happened – both kings died in 732 B.C. [same year as the prophecy]!
- We assume that this SON – is the same as IMMANUEL – Isaiah 7:14
- He is the one who was born to the YOUNG woman [prophetess]
- Who before he was old enough to discern GOOD or BAD – Syria and Israel had fallen!
- 2nd – Rejecting God… vs. 5-6
- Impatient…
- The LORD also spoke to me again saying:
- Inasmuch as these people refused the waters of Shiloah that flow softly.
- And rejoice in Rezin and in Remaliah’s son!
- The LORD [יְהוָה] spoke [piel] to ISAIAH again…
- There was a PROBLEM – God had given AHAZ the SIGN [Immanuel]
- But rather than LISTEN and LOOK to the LORD – he led JUDAH to DESPISE [מָאַס] the LORD…
- [כִּי] They REJECTED the slow waters of SHILOAH [small stream near Jerusalem]
- AND [וּ] – instead rejoiced at the fall of REZIN [Syria] – and PEKAH [son of Remaliah]
- King AHAZ thought God was NOT moving FAST enough…
- He thought God failed him – but in truth – he had NOT listened to the Lord!
- Wrong answer…
- II Chronicles 28:22-23 – “In the time of his distress King Ahaz became increasingly unfaithful to the LORD… saying: Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them – I will sacrifice to them that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel.”
- After the fall – Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-Pileser [King of ASSYRIA]
- He liked the pagan ALTAR he saw there – and had Uriah the pries build one in Jerusalem…
- The priest were ONLY allowed to offer sacrifices on that NEW altar…
- Then AHAZ then made it HARD to worship the LORD…
- He took away the TENTS meant to give SHADE to the people – II Kings 16:18
- And when the people got used to the CHANGES – he SHUT the doors of the TEMPLE…
- There were NO riots – NO outcry – AHAZ had patiently eroded their faith in the living God!
- When we want the answer NOW – and are NOT willing to wait…
- We will end up seeking quick answers from the WORLD…
- As a RESULT – we end up with a hard heart towards Jesus…
- Yet when it backfires [it always does] – we cannot BLAME God for NOT taking care of us…
- Because it was our IMPATIENCE [not God] that got us into TROUBLE!
- 3rd – God with us… vs. 7-10
- Fall of Judah… vs. 7-8
- Now behold the Lord brings up over them the waters of the River – strong and mighty.
- The king of Assyria and all his glory – he will go up over all his channels – over all his banks.
- He will pass through Judah. He will overflow and pass over. He will reach up to the neck.
- And the stretching out of his wings will fill the breadth of Your land!
- Therefore [כֵּן] – the MASTER [אֲדֹנָי] would bring [hiphil] a RAGING river over them….
- He would bring the King of ASSYRIA – who would FLOOD all [כֹּל] of the land of JUDAH…
- [sequential] – he would pass through JUDAH [like a FLOOD]
- And having filled the LAND – he would reach up the NECK [Jerusalem]!
- AHAZ would NOT see the full extent of his FAILURE…
- The King of ASSYRIA would end up conquering ALL of JUDAH – II Kings 18:13
- Until he came to the city of JERUSALEM [the head] – during the days of HEZEKIAH [his son]
- It is sobering to realize our choices will affect our CHILDREN…
- When we REJECT the word of the Lord – they are the ones who pay the PRICE!
- But God… vs. 8-10
- O Immanuel!
- Be shattered O you people – and be broken in pieces. Give ear all you from far countries.
- Gird yourselves but be broken in pieces. Gird yourselves but be broken in pieces.
- Take counsel together but it will come to nothing. Speak the word but it will not stand.
- For God is with us!
- ASSYRIA would NOT take Jerusalem – because IMMANU [with us] EL [God]
- The ASSYRIANS would be [imperative] SHATTERED…
- Causing [hiphil] all [כָּל] of the world to hear the STORY…
- They prepared for BATTLE [gird] – but were BROKEN [2x for emphasis]
- They took COUNSEL [imperative] to destroy Jerusalem – but it came [hophal] to NOTHING…
- They spoke the WORD [piel] to attack – but it did NOT [לֹא] stand…
- Because [כִּי] – IMMANU [with us] EL [God] – God is with us!
- HEZEKIAH and ISAIAH would turn the LORD for help – II Kings 19:1
- And God would send ONE angel as His response…
- That angel would kill 185 THOUSAND soldiers in a single NIGHT – II Kings 19:35
- It can be very hard for us to see beyond our problems [army at the gates]
- The problem is we do NOT know what will happen NEXT…
- So we become discouraged – and even might want to give up…
- But when we come to the Lord – it changes our PERSPECTIVE…
- We NO longer see our problems – instead our God who is GREATER than any problem…
- We can have PEACE knowing that we do NOT stand alone – God is with us!
- II Corinthians 4:18 – “Do not look at the things which are seen – but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary – but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
- 1st – The Timing… vs. 1-4
- 2nd – Reason for Assyria… vs. 11-22
- 1st – The Choice… vs. 11-17
- Fear God… vs. 11-13
- The LORD spoke thus to me with a strong hand.
- And instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people saying:
- Do not say a conspiracy – concerning all that this people call a conspiracy.
- Nor be afraid of their threats – nor be troubled.
- The LORD of hosts – Him you shall hallow. Let Him be your fear and let Him be your dread!
- The LORD spoke again to ISAIAH – with a STRONG hand [spanking]
- To TEACH [יָסַר] him NOT to follow [go] after the PEOPLE…
- When they talked about ALLIANCES [קֶשֶׁר] with other nations [Assyria]
- Do not JOIN [קֶשֶׁר] in their FEAR [מוֹרָא] – as they looked for answers apart from GOD…
- Because if he did – he would also be [hiphil] TERRIFIED [עָרַץ]
- INSTEAD look to [אֶת] the LORD [יְהוָה] of heavens ARMIES [צְבָאוֹת] for [hiphil] the ANSWER…
- [וְ] FEAR [מוֹרָא] – and be TERRIFIED [עָרַץ] of Him!
- We need to be VERY careful who we spend time with…
- If we LISTEN to people who are focused on our PROBLEMS…
- People who then give us SOLUTIONS [alliances] apart from the LORD…
- We are going to be [hiphil] FILLED with FEAR [unsure of the outcome]
- But if we LEARN [יָסַר] to ignore the WORRYING words of a lost world..
- And instead look to the God of heavens armies – we will have NOTHING to FEAR!
- Refuge or Ruin… vs. 14-15
- He will be as a sanctuary – but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.
- To both the houses of Israel – as a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
- And many among them shall stumble. They shall fall and be broken – be snared and taken!
- Because the LORD will be a SANCTUARY for those who FEAR Him…
- But [וּ] – He will also be a STONE that causes them to STUMBLE [מִכְשׁוֹל] – Exodus 12:13
- To BOTH houses [בַּיִת] of Israel – Judah and Samaria [divided kingdom]
- Even stumbling [snare] those who live in JERUSALEM…
- Who assumed they were SAFE – because they had the TEMPLE – Acts 7:49
- And [וּ] – MANY [רַבִּים] STUMBLED – and fell – would be [niphal] BROKEN…
- They would be TRAPPED and TAKEN [diaspora] – because they did NOT fear the Lord!
- Romans 9:32 – “Because they did not seek it by faith… they stumbled at that stumbling stone.”
- There are only TWO options – find REFUGE in the LORD – or be RUINED by Him…
- If we are willing to put our TRUST in Him – He will protect us [in His time]
- But if NOT – there are NO limits to what God will allow to get our attention!
- Hope in Him… vs. 16-17
- Bind up the testimony. Seal the law among my disciples.
- And I will wait on the LORD who hides His face from the house of Jacob. I will hope in Him!
- As for Isaiah – he had made his CHOICE…
- BIND [imperative] the testimony – SEAL the LAW [תּוֹרָה] along with other DISCIPLES…
- In other words – HOLD on tight to what the WORD of God says…
- And [וּ] – LOOK [piel] to Him for the ANSWERS…
- Because the LORD [יְהוָה] hides [hiphil] His face from those who REBEL [house of Jacob]!
- A person can walk around all day in a DARK room – never finding what they are looking for…
- But the moment they turn on the light – the answer becomes obvious!
- People have a LOT of questions – they are always asking WHY…
- Why is life HARD – why do I lack MONEY – why do I STRUGGLE…
- And more often than not – there does NOT seem to be any answers…
- The reason is because they are NOT looking [piel] to the LORD [light]
- And God will NOT answer questions from those who are REBELLING [Jacob]
- But the moment we look UP – turn on the LIGHT – we will find the ANSWER!
- Ephesians 5:8 – “You were once darkness – but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.”
- 2nd – The Warning… vs. 18-20
- Signs and wonders… vs. 18
- Here am I and the children whom the LORD has given me.
- We are for signs and wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts who dwells in Mount Zion!
- Having made his CHOICE – Isaiah turned to ISRAEL…
- BEHOLD [הִנֵּה] – he was there – with his CHILDREN the LORD had given him…
- Those CHILDREN were SIGNS [אוֹת] from the LORD – Isaiah 7:14
- Shear-Jashub – a REMNANT [שְׁאָר] will RETURN [יָשׁוּב]
- Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz – QUICK [מַהֵר] plunder [שָׁלָל] hurry [חוּשׁ] rob [בַּז]
- Immanuel [perhaps the second son] – IMMANU [with us] EL [God]
- If people were willing to LISTEN – to their TESTIMONY – they would see the LORD of HOSTS!
- God is NOT silent – He is always trying to get our attention…
- The problem is we are NOT listening – we miss the SIGNS God puts all around us…
- People He sends to WARN us – ENCOURAGE us – to listen to His WORD!
- Seek God… vs. 19
- When they say to you: Seek those who are mediums and wizards who whisper and mutter.
- Should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living?
- Because [כִּי] – people say [imperfect] – you must [imperative] SEEK…
- Those who talk to GHOSTS [אוֹב] – those who KNOW [יִדְעֹנִי]
- The one who can CHIRP [piel] – make funny sounds [calling to the dead]
- And MOAN [hiphil] – [this may hint at the dead speaking through them]
- But should the LIVING seek the DEAD for counsel [it did not work out well for them]
- Should the people of GOD – not seek their GOD [better answers]!
- King Saul rejected the Word of the LORD – kill all the AMALEKITES [flesh]
- As a result the LORD rejected Saul as the KING of Israel – I Samuel 15:26
- So Saul went to seek the MEDIUM [אוֹב] at En Dor for counsel!
- The PSYCHIC who tells people things that NO one else knows…
- Or the MEDIUM who claims they are talking to the spirit of the dead…
- Are either LIARS – or something far WORSE…
- It is possible to contact SPIRITS – but what they are talking to a demon…
- A demon can disguise itself – pretend to be someone else…
- These demons having been around since the beginning – and seen many things…
- So they can tell people facts about their life – things nobody else knows…
- That is why God FORBIDS us to have anything to do with these practices – Leviticus 20:27
- Why would we want to seek DEAD people – rather than a LIVING God!
- The Test… vs. 20
- To the law and to the testimony.
- If they do not speak according to this word it is because there is no light in them!
- Here is the TEST – the LAW [תּוֹרָה] and the TESTIMONY [books of history]
- If [אִם] what someone says does NOT [לֹא] agree with these TWO things…
- Then there is NO [אִין] truth [light] in what they say!
- If we want to know if what someone says is TRUE…
- All we need to do is compare it to the WORD of God – John 17:17
- Even if what they say comes TRUE [psychic or medium]
- If what they say CONTRADICTS the WORD in any way – REJECT it!
- Deuteronomy 15:1-3 – “If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams and he gives you a sign or a wonder – and the sign or the wonder comes to pass… [but he says] let us go after other gods… you shall not listen… for the LORD your God is testing you!”
- 3rd – The End… vs. 21-22
- Rejecting God… vs. 21
- They will pass through it hard-pressed and hungry – and when they are hungry.
- They will be enraged and curse their king and their God – and look upward!
- [sequential] – therefore because Judah did NOT listen the LORD…
- They would go [niphal] through HARD times – and be HUNGRY…
- And [כִּי] – in their HUNGRY would make them [hithpael] ANGRY…
- And in their ANGER – they would curse the KING [blaming him for their hunger]
- But NOT just their KING – they would also look up – and curse their GOD [אֱלֹהִים]
- Blaming the LORD for the consequences of their poor choices!
- When God asked Adam if he has eaten the FRUIT from the TREE – Genesis 3:11
- Rather than confess his failure – he passed the blame to the woman…
- Not only did Adam blame Eve – he was blamed God – because He created the woman!
- So many times – when we fail – we want to BLAME anyone but us [even God]
- Because if we take the BLAME – then it means that we have to change…
- It is far easier to just pass the BLAME onto someone else – ANYONE else…
- But until we accept responsibility – there is NOTHING God can do to restore us!
- Darkness… vs. 22
- Then they will look to the earth and see trouble and darkness – gloom of anguish.
- And they will be driven into darkness!
- [sequential] – therefore they are forced [hiphil] to look to the EARTH for answers…
- But [וּ] – BEHOLD [הִנֵּה] – trouble and darkness is all they will find…
- Making it hard for them to SEE [dim] – only here in OT [מָעוּף]
- [וּ] – therefore they will be driven [pual] deeper into DARKNESS…
- Rather than finding the ANSWER – they become even more LOST…
- Because once the LIGHT [Word] is turned off – there is NO way to know where to go!
- Psalm 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
- If we do NOT know where we are going – and do NOT know what to do…
- If we feel like we are LOST and in the DARKNESS…
- It is time to stop looking and listening to the WORLD…
- Instead we need to turn on the LIGHT – go back the WORD…
- God is speaking – trying to get our attention – all we have to do is LISTEN!
- 1st – The Choice… vs. 11-17