Safety in Immanuel

Introduction

Last week we started a section of Isaiah often referred to as the ‘Book of Immanuel’

It begins with the ‘sign of Immanuel’ - short prophecy of virgin birth

That theme & prophecy continues through this next chapter

Today, in Isaiah 8, we see the safety of Immanuel’s people

This section really extends to Isaiah 9:7

READ Isaiah 8:1-9:7

Consists of 4 messages/prophecies & 2 sections of response or contemplation

1st 3 messages & 1st response are about the darkness of judgment (Isaiah 8)

8:1-4; 8:5-10; 8:11-15; 8:16-22

Last message & reflection is about the light of salvation

9:1; 9:2-7

Today, Mother’s Day, we’re looking at the judgment section

Don’t fear, title of sermon tells you there is great hope in these prophecies

Here we really start to see the division Isaiah draws between unbelieving Israel & believing Israel (remnant)

I pray today that we will hear & heed the warning of the message where needed

I pray also, that the hope of the message will encourage God’s people

Safety of Immanuel’s People

Isaiah 8:1-10.

Sign of Mercy

Isaiah 8:1-4.

Public Plea

God has Isaiah give Judah 2 clear signs, both calling for repentance

Just as God gve Ahaz opportunity to repent in Isa. 7 here God is directing His call to Judah as a people

First sign of God’s mercy is a literal sign (like I’ve hung up here today)

Isaiah was to make a big ‘billboard’ with the word Maher-shalal-hash-baz

Means ‘quick to plunder, swift to spoil’

That is, judgment is coming quickly

Told 2 important things about this sign

It’s to be on a large sign (great roll)

Written in common, easy to understand writing

This message was to be clearly seen by everyone & able to be understood by all who read it

God wasn’t playing tricks with them - He wanted them to understand and heed

Lesson here about Bible translation too

This is still how God works in His call for us to repent

He has written His message so it can clearly by seen

Bible preserved & distrubuted throughout world in every generation

Of course, He has also made Himself know in creation

God has preserved His word through the ages in ways that everyone can understand

Second sign, is ‘the word made flesh’ - a son is born

Isaiah’s wife called prophetess

Perhaps because she is the wife of the prophet

Perhaps she spoke for God - though there is no record of that

Perhaps because she literally bore God’s word in the form of the child

Though not ‘The Immanuel’ he certainly points to & pictures the true Immanuel

Today, like then, you have the sign of God’s Word and the sign of God in the flesh calling you to repentance

Public Witness

Message was that judgment was coming soon

Probably by the time the boy was 9 months - history shows this to be accurate

Isaiah writes his message in front of 2 witnesses

Zechariah we know little about

Uriah is a ‘hostiles witness’ - he’s not on Isaiah’s side but with Ahaz

He built the altar Ahaz saw in Damascus (2 Kings 16:10-16)

That makes him a faithful witness because if it comes true, an enemy has verified it

That is the point, God is making sure that there can be no doubt when this prophecy is fulfilled

Strong Judgment

Isaiah 8:5-9.

Rejection of God

Like Ahaz, the people will reject God’s offer of mercy too

God likens Himself to the peaceful, life-giving waters of Shiloah

This river was one of the major water supplies into Jerusalem

Under Hezekiah it would feed the pool of Siloam

They refused God’s mercy, rejected His peace, safety & life

Instead they chose the strength of the Euphrates - picture of Assyria

They looked to the powerful, large waters they thought would provide safety

It wouldn’t be what they hoped for

God would cause this river to overflow it’s banks and cover Judah

Up to their necks, nearly drowning - but not

What they thought would save them would nearly destroy them

Call to War

God calls the nations to war against Judah & Israel

This, too, isn’t what they think

They think they conquor in their own might but they don’t

They too will be judged for their sin & be overrun by others

God is accomplishing His purpose in all of the world

Separation Occurring

Isaiah 8:10.

Their Plans will Fail

Assyria’s plans of world dominance will utterly fail

Their plans will fail but God’s plan will be accomplished

He will punish sin, preserve His people, keep His promise, establish His Kingdom

God’s People will be Saved

Why will their plans fail? Because of Immanuel

Nations will not have victory over God’s people because God is with His people

It’s important to understand who the ‘us’ is

This isn’t a blanket statement that Judah will have victory whether they heed God’s Word of not

No, those who reject God will experience His judgment

The ‘us’ are those who have believed God & followed Him obeying His word

The safety isn’t in their physical lineage or their outward performance

Safety is in knowing God and being known by God

That is still the case

God isn’t concerned with who you think you are or how well you sing hymns

God is concerned that you believe Him and obey Him

Strong Words of God

Isaiah 8:11-15.

Don’t Fear the Powers of this World

Isaiah 8:11-12.

Don’t Be Intimidated

Next message further emphasises the truth of who God is with

God speaks to Isaiah with a strong hand, peculiar strength

Emphasises this is an important message

This message isn’t for Isaiah alone but for his disciples also

This is a message for the faithful, believing

Don’t be intimidated by those who don’t believe

They will try to accuse you of conspiracy with enemy

They’ll try to belittle & silence trying to get you to doubt God & follow them

That is still one of Satan’s tactics - believe science not the Bible

God is a made up idea, You don’t really believe in this end times/apocalypse stuff do you

Don’t Fear What They Fear

Where does this need to intimidate rise from? Fear

8:12b = don’t fear what they fear

What did Ahaz & people fear? Kings, nations, armies, people

Strong word to His people is don’t fear people, nations, kings

Don’t fear their threats

They are the ones full of fear

Don’t fear what you see in this world

Fear surrounds us for so many different reasons

People are going to tell you to fear the wars, fear climate change, fear governments, fear, fear, fear

DO NOT FEAR WHAT THEY FEAR!

Do not be intimidated by their threats and accusations trying to convince you to fear what they fear

Fear God

Isaiah 8:13.

Worship God

Lift God up, set Him apart in your life

He is Lord of hosts so raise His banner over you

Don’t be intimidated by enemy, don’t fear what the world fears - trust God

Be devoted to Him

Fix your mind on Him and live with conviction

Stand in Awe

Fear Him - recognise that He is God!

He is not weak humanity but creator God supreme over all

Have a right view of Him

Matthew 10:28 “28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

With a strong voice God says to His people, “Don’t fear what they fear, fear me”

Fears of this world will only lead you to anxiety, trouble, destruction

To fear the Lord gives life

Proverbs 19:23 “23 The fear of the Lord leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.”

He Will Be Your Sanctuary

Isaiah 8:14-15.

Place of God’s Presence

For those that don’t believe God is like a rock in the road causing you to stumble

This is what Paul says has happened to Israel - it is the reason Paul says Israel needs the Gospel

For Gentiles God, Immanuel is foolishness

For those who believe God is a sanctuary, a refuge, our home

Rather than a rock that causes us to stumble He is a rock in which we can hide

His people are safe because ‘God is with us’ (Immanuel)

Isa. 8:10.

Place of God’s Peace

He is our place of peace, He is where we find the help & solace we need

He is the gentle, life-giving waters of Shiloah

When the world around you is ready for war in Him you have rest in your soul

When nations around you break in pieces, you will stand

Place of God’s Protection

To those who don’t believe He is the rock that will cause you to stumble, trip, break

To those who believe He is a strong refuge

Psalm 71:3 “3 Be my strong refuge, To which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my fortress.”

Immanuel isn’t just a name for Jesus because He came to earth

Immanuel is the name of promise that God is with His people always

Seek the Lord

Isaiah 8:16-22.

Listen to the Lord

Isaiah 8:16.

Meditate on His Word

This is Isaiah’s reflection on the messages

It reads as if Isaiah is talking to himself, trying to figure it out, make sense of it all

He is meditating, chewing it over, contemplating it so that he can understand

He believes God so he wants to understand God’s Word, know it so he can follow it

In his meditating he also understands the urgency

Now was the time to understand, now was the time to heed God’s Word

Maher-shalal-hash-baz — judgment is hastening near

Teach His Word

As he reflects he realises this isn’t just a personal quest

Truth of God’s Word must be passed on, taught to his disciples

He must help them understand the message of God and the urgency

If Shear-jashub (a remnant will remain) they must be taught, disciples of God must be made

In all of God’s people that task remains pre-eminent

We are called to make disciples

Teaching all that Jesus commands with urgency for the hour

Isa. 8:18 - Isaiah’s family is a testimony of God’s message

Judgment is coming (Maher-shalal-hash-baz), a remnant will return (Shear-Jashub) because Yahweh saves (Isaiah)

Hope in the Lord

Isaiah 8:17.

Trust Him

Isaiah’s hope isn’t in his ability to make disciples

His hope isn’t in his disciples to grow & pass it on

Isaiah’s hope is in the Lord

God will preserve His people, God will raise up disciples to be taught

Salvation of God’s people didn’t rest on Isaiah’s shoulders

Isaiah knew Yahweh saves, his job was to be faithful, to trust God

Look for Him

He would look for His deliverer, wait in hope

He would live believing the promise of Immanuel

Like Isaiah looked for God & His promise we also look for God and His promise

We set our mind on things above, we seek first the Kingdom of God

The rest of the world seeks answers from the darkness (Isa. 8:19, 22)

It will only plunge them deeper into darkness

Those who believe God will find light, life & protection

Conclusion

The Gospel has been presented to Judah here & to us

God has spoken openly, plainly so that all may see and understand

Judgment is on it’s way & we will be swallowed up by it if we don’t heed the warning, listen to His Word

He has shown mercy by giving us warning of impending doom for our rebellion

He has shown grace by providing escape from that judgment - trust Him

When we trust Him He will become our sanctuary, our protection, our peace

Believer, this isn’t just a message to the unbeliever

God speaks with force to us

Don’t be intimidated, don’t fear what they fear in this world

Believer, sanctify God and fear Him - Trust God

Follow Isaiah’s example and reflect on these prophecies

Understand the urgency of our time

Understand the need to make disciples, to pass on the faith

Remember the hope of our victory isn’t you or the disciples you make

The hope of our victory is God