False Hope

• 1^st – Fall of Assyria… vs. 1-10
  • 1^st – 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!
  • 2^nd – 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!
• 2^nd – Reason for Assyria… vs. 11-22
  • 1^st – 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.”
  • 2^nd – 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!”