I. Introduction
This event happens 4 to 5 years after the death of Uzziah that we read in the previous chapter. Ahaz has taken over from Jotham as the sole ruler. Pekah felt it was time to force the hand on Judah, for Judah had consistently refused to join forces to defeat the Assyrians.
Pekah partnered with the king of Aram (Syria), Rezin, in his launch against Judah. During the days of Judges, the Israelites were attracted to the gods of the Aram whose capital was Damascus. (Judges 10:6). But David fought the Arameans and subjugated them. (2 Sam 8:6).
However, after David, the Arameans were always in war with Israel. The famous stories we know are Naaman the Syrian, who was healed of leprosy by Elisha. And also how the horses and chariots of fire came to Elisha rescue when a Syrian army was sent to kill him. This was better than the Lord of the Rings! (2 Kings 5,6)
Despite being mortal enemies, The Syrians and Israel became allies against the Assyrians. And now they are at the doorsteps of Judah. Ahaz panicked. This is when one of the most beautiful prophecy about the Messiah was given through Isaiah to reassure Ahaz:
"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (7:14)
As Pastor Edmund Chan puts it, Chapter 7 deals with the unfounded fear, and chapter 8 deals with the unfounded foolishness.
a) Confrontation between belief and unbelief (1-9)
When Isaiah started writing this, it appeared that Ephraim and Syria had not yet broken through the Judean defense. It was a time when Ahaz had the opportunity to trust God, even as God gave His promises through Isaiah.
Good asked Isaiah to give assurance to Ahaz and to bring his son, Shear-jashub, along. Shear-jashub means "a remnant will return." God told Ahaz to keep calm because the enemies will not succeed. To God, they are nothing but smoldering stumps.
Despite an alarming and frightful situation, it calls Ahaz to have faith: "If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.’” (v9)
However Ahaz chose to walk by sight and not by faith. This is the root of the national crisis.
Are we able to "keep quiet" (v4), walk by faith, and let God take control when something terrible happens?
c) The sign of Immanuel (10-17)
Instead of appealing to God, he appealed to Tiglath-Pileser by giving him the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD to win his favor and protection. (2 Kings 16:7)
Ahaz's lack of faith carries a heavy toll. 2 Chronicles 28:6 recorded that 120,000 men were killed in Judah in a single day, because they had forsaken God. Instead of relying on God, they relied on themselves.
The king of Israel captured 200,000 men, women and children as captives, but sent them back to Judah at the command of the prophet Oded (2 Chronicles 28:8-15)
We know verse 14 speaks of Jesus because the Holy Spirit says so through Matthew: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” (Matthew 1:23)
d) The devastation from Assyria (18-25)
Assyria is described as a "razor" that will come to shave away the hair and beard of the people in Israel. Shaving the beard is one of the most humiliating thing for a Jew. The Assyrians are known for their cruelty. It is their practice to skin their enemies. The women are stripped naked and marched off to their cities as slaves. Many nations are afraid of the Assyrians and would pay tribute to them to appease them.
Isaiah describes a time when not enough people are left to farm the land, and even a cow and two sheep are enough to produce abundant milk and curds for the few remaining people left. The land will become unmanaged and will be occupied by briers and thorns.
No comments:
Post a Comment