Isaiah 7:1-8:18

“Firm in Faith or Not At All” Book of Isaiah Chapter 7-8:18 HCC December 3rd, 2023 Uniquely Human Questions What is my purpose in this world? How do I define right vs. wrong? Does God exist and what’s He like? Uniquely Human Questions Common with animals: How do I survive in a hostile world? Unique to the spiritual person: What do I do when my instincts for how to survive may be against the will of God? Today’s Message • Exposition on chapters 7-8 • Historical background • Spiritual and moral challenges faced by leaders • Application questions The Setup (7:1-2) 1 In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah the king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war against it… 2 When the house of David was told, “Syria is in league with Israel,” the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind. Italics where have simplified the text The Setup (7:1-2) 1 In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah the king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war against it… 2 When the house of David was told, “Syria is in league with Ephraim,” the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind. What’s going on: • Four countries on the brink of war (~735 B.C.) • Four kings strategizing how best to survive • King Ahaz of Judah is about to face a choice, and Isaiah is going to give God’s POV Four Countries at the Brink of War (Syria) (Ephraim) Four Kings Strategizing How to Survive or Conquer (Syria) King Rezin King Pekah King Ahaz (Ephraim) King TiglathPileser God Sends a Message (7:3-9) 3 And the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out to meet Ahaz... 4 And say to him, ‘Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands, at the fierce anger of Rezin of Syria and Pekah of Israel… 5 Because they have devised evil against you, saying, 6 “Let us go up against Judah and terrify it, and let us conquer it for ourselves…” 7 thus says the Lord God: “‘It shall not stand, and it shall not come to pass. 8 For…within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered from being a people. 9…If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.’” Italics where have simplified the text God Sends a Message (7:3-9) This shall not pass!! God Sends a Message (7:3-9) What’s going on: • Lord's message to Ahaz is reassurance, Ahaz should not be afraid • Because his enemies are already doomed, are “smoldering stumps” • Why does this God tell him this? • In 1 Kings 16 we learn that Ahaz was considering making an alliance with Assyria to protect himself from Israel and Syria • God says no need to sell the nation out to a foreign power • Vs. 9: “If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all” God’s Assurance and Warnings (7:10-12) 10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: 11 “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” God’s Assurance and Warnings (7:10-12) 10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: 11 “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” What’s going on: • God wants to reassure Ahaz with a sign, and it’s ok to receive them! • But Ahaz pretend to be pious, but it’s really his lack of faith • He’s afraid God will tell him to do something that is against what he’s already decided to do, what he already thinks makes the most sense  Haven’t we all experienced this? When His revelation offends our reason God’s Assurance and Warnings (7:12-17) 13 And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16 For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. 17 The Lord will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father's house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim (Israel) departed from Judah—the king of Assyria!” Italics where have simplified the text God’s Assurance and Warnings (7:12-17) What’s going on: • The sign of Immanuel is a marker of time: when the boy grows up, the impact of Ahaz’s refusal to obey God will come to fruition. 2 Kings 16 says that Ahaz would disobey God and align with Assyria • vs7 Ahaz sent messengers to say to Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, “I am your servant and vassal. Come up and save me out of the hand of the king of Aram and of the king of Israel, who are attacking me.” • 10 Then King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet TiglathPileser king of Assyria. He saw an altar in Damascus and sent to Uriah the priest a sketch of the altar, with detailed plans for its construction. 11 So Uriah the priest built an altar in accordance with all the plans that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus Sign of Immanuel Also Foretold Coming of Jesus What’s going on: • Isaiah is re-interpreted in Matthew 1:20-25 to prophesy the virgin birth of Jesus • 18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. • 20 …an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” • 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). • The tri-focal nature of the book of Isaiah: mixed together are prophesies regarding his present time, the future time of ~65 years later when Judah falls to Assyria, and ~700 years later with God’s Warnings of Coming Assyrian Invasion (8:1-10) 5 The Lord spoke to me again: 6 “Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently… 7 therefore, behold, the Lord is bringing up against them the waters of the River, mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory. And it will rise over all its channels and go over all its banks, 8 and it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, reaching even to the neck, and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.” Shiloah vs. Tigris and Euphrates Rivers God’s Warnings of Coming Assyrian Invasion (8:1-10) What’s going on: • Vs. 6: Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah • “The little stream of Shiloah sprung from Mount Zion on the southwesterly side of Jerusalem. It flowed as softly as oil without any murmur. Jerusalem’s existence and continuation depended on it.” • Vs. 7: therefore, behold, the Lord is bringing up against them the waters of the River, mighty and many, the king of Assyria • Assyrians had the mighty rivers called the Tigris and Euphrates • God is making a point in contrasting these rivers • “The small and gentle waters should be more highly valued by us than the large and rapid rivers of all the nations, and we ought not to envy the great power of the ungodly.” Fearing Human Powers vs. Fearing God (8:11-15) 11 For the Lord spoke thus to me…: 12 “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. 13 But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 14 And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.” Fearing Human Powers vs. Fearing God (8:11-15) What’s going on: • When we do not fear the Lord  believe in exaggerated view of human power, conspiracies, secret political forces controlling things • Conspiracy theories can take the place of confidence in the Lord • Vs 14-15 key: Lord is a sanctuary and a stone of offense....if trust you are protected, if not you will be stumbled and Back to vs. 7:9 “If ensnared you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all” How Do We Stay Firm in Faith? • Remember Immanuel • Why does the Bible refer to Jesus as Immanuel? • His incarnation as son of man • His carrying of his cross on our behalf • His own suffering and sacrifice • Therefore, in our suffering, anxiousness, insecurities, inadequacies.. • God understands • God helps and protects • God does not abandon us • Remember “God is with us” in our thoughts, prayers, fellowship • The root of sin is not trusting in God, and “taking matters into our own hands” “Firm in Faith or Not At All” Application Questions (1/2) 1. Have you tried to take matters in our own hands, and like King Ahaz, while trying to stop one problem you ended up creating more? 2. Where are you trusting in human alliances and measures rather than listening to the reassurances of God? 3. Has God given you any signs that you should listen to? Would you be willing to listen to and obey them unlike Ahaz? 4. Have you made any unholy alliances in your life? Are you submitting to bosses or partners who promote unethical behavior, and are you looking the other way in order to get what you want? “Firm in Faith or Not At All” Application Questions (2/2) 5. Where are you overly engaged in conspiracy theories and assuming too much of your life is controlled by human powers? 6. Do you overly esteem ‘powerful’ people in your workplace? In your life? 7. Are you more focused on your enemies than knowing your place with God and living in His sanctuary of protection? APPENDIX The Gospel says we are more sinful than we dared imagine, yet we are more loved than we dared to believe