Welcome Immanuel, God with Us!

(Temple 12/09/2018) We are seeing the Lord through the eyes of the prophet Isaiah. This morning we considered the natures of the Messiah from . He would be a child born into this world and a Son given to the world. He would have a human nature and a divine nature.

Tonight in , we continue that prophecy of a divine child born in the Jewish nation.

Take heed, and be quiet;

Fear not, neither be fainthearted

For the two tails of these smoking firebrands,

For the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.

5Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah,

Isaiah 7:1–9 AV

And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it. And it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind. Then said the LORD unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shearjashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller’s field; And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah. Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying, Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal: Thus saith the Lord GOD, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass. For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people. And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.

Have taken evil counsel against thee, saying,

6Let us go up against Judah, and vex it,

And let us make a breach therein for us,

And set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal:

7Thus saith the Lord God,

It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.

The context of this prophecy is a time of national crisis. The king of Israel, the northern kingdom, has joined forces with the Syrian ruler, Rezin, in an effort to subjugate Judah, the southern kingdom. And their combined forces look intimidating.

8For the head of Syria is Damascus,

And the head of Damascus is Rezin;

And within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people.

9And the head of Ephraim is Samaria,

And the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son.

If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.

The context of this prophecy is a time of national crisis. The king of Israel, the northern kingdom, has joined forces with the Syrian ruler, Rezin, in an effort to subjugate Judah, the southern kingdom. And their combined forces look intimidating.

The Lord said that the “two smoking firebrands” (Rezin of Syria and Pekah of Israel) are all smoke and no fire. The army against Jerusalem may look impressive but they are no match against the Lord. In fact, no army is nowhere near a match for the Lord.

Psalm 46:6–10 AV

The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

In this backdrop, in verse 10, Isaiah called for Ahaz to believe the Word of the Lord and trust in His deliverance. Sadly, Ahaz was not a good king of Judah.

In this backdrop, in verse 10, Isaiah called for Ahaz to believe the Word of the Lord and trust in His deliverance. Sadly, Ahaz was not a good king of Judah. Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father. But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel. And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. In addition, he changed the altar for burnt offerings after the manner of an altar he saw in Damascus and he took down the giant bowl that Solomon had built and put upon four oxen statues. Third, instead of trusting in the Lord, as a casual reader might assume from verse 12 of , he formed an alliance with the Assyrians against Syria and the northern kingdom. The northern kingdom was destroyed during the reign of Pekah’s son, Hoshea, and the people were taken away to other lands. Conquered people of other lands were brought in to inhabit the northern kingdom and they formed a confused religion hodgepodge.

2 Kings 16:2–4 AV

Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father. But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel. And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father. But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel. And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. In addition, he changed the altar for burnt offerings after the manner of an altar he saw in Damascus and he took down the giant bowl that Solomon had built and put upon four oxen statues. Third, instead of trusting in the Lord, as a casual reader might assume from verse 12 of , he formed an alliance with the Assyrians against Syria and the northern kingdom. The northern kingdom was destroyed during the reign of Pekah’s son, Hoshea, and the people were taken away to other lands. Conquered people of other lands were brought in to inhabit the northern kingdom and they formed a confused religion hodgepodge.

In addition, he changed the altar for burnt offerings after the manner of an altar he saw in Damascus and he took down the giant bowl that Solomon had built and put upon four oxen statues. Third, instead of trusting in the Lord, as a casual reader might assume from verse 12 of , he formed an alliance with the Assyrians against Syria and the northern kingdom. The northern kingdom was destroyed during the reign of Pekah’s son, Hoshea, and the people were taken away to other lands. Conquered people of other lands were brought in to inhabit the northern kingdom and they formed a confused religion hodgepodge.

Under Ahaz, Judah fell away from the Lord and worshipped idols. Just like in the days of the judges, whenever God’s people got into apostasy, the Lord would send a threat and tribulation upon them so that they would repent and turn back to the Lord. In this seventh chapter of Isaiah, doom seemed certain. But God has a word for His people and a promise of hope.

Because of Ahaz’s rejection of the Lord, the kingdom was not established on a sure foundation as under previous kings. Perhaps his alliance with the Assyrians led to the great crisis during the reign of Hezekiah, the son of Ahaz when Sennacherib set his army against Jerusalem and only the direct intervention of an angel of the Lord saved the king and the city.

Take another moment and reconsider the words of the Lord through Isaiah at the end of verse 9: If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established. That is a sobering thought for kings, servants, and citizens. The CSB says, “If you do not stand firm in your faith, then you will not stand at all.”[1] What was true for Ahaz and the people of Judah thousands of years ago is still true for us today.

This backdrop for the promises to come in this chapter reminds us that, even though troubles will come, maybe even some of our own doing, the Lord still reigns and invites us to turn to Him as our deliverer, as our Hope, and as our sure foundation when all around us is sinking sand. The name of Isaiah’s son, Shear-jashub, means “a remnant shall return,” referring not only to the impending destruction of Israel, but just as significantly to the captivity of Judah. So that is a summary of the backdrop for the Lord’s words of hope and deliverance. Now let’s look at God’s promises.

Isaiah 7:10–25 AV

Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying, Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD. And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings. The LORD shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father’s house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; even the king of Assyria. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all thorns, and upon all bushes. In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, namely, by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet: and it shall also consume the beard. And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep; And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land. And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, it shall even be for briers and thorns. With arrows and with bows shall men come thither; because all the land shall become briers and thorns. And on all hills that shall be digged with the mattock, there shall not come thither the fear of briers and thorns: but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of lesser cattle.

-25 Moreover the Lord spake again unto Ahaz, saying,

Jesus is the fulfillment of

11Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God;

Ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.

12But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord. 13And he said,

Hear ye now, O house of David;

Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?

14Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign;

Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,

And shall call his name Immanuel.

15Butter and honey shall he eat,

That he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

16For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good,

The land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.

17The Lord shall bring upon thee,

And upon thy people, and upon thy father’s house,

Isaiah 7:14 AV

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Days that have not come,

From the day that Ephraim departed from Judah;

Even the king of Assyria.

18And it shall come to pass in that day,

That the Lord shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt,

And for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.

19And they shall come, and shall rest all of them

We know this is the fulfillment because Matthew, by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, wrote that it was. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. God’s Word clearly explains that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of .

In the desolate valleys, and in the holes of the rocks,

And upon all thorns, and upon all bushes.

In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired,

Namely, by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria,

The head, and the hair of the feet:

And it shall also consume the beard.

21And it shall come to pass in that day,

We know this is the fulfillment because Matthew, by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, wrote that it was.

That a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep;

22And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give he shall eat butter:

For butter and honey shall everyone eat that is left in the land.

23And it shall come to pass in that day,

That every place shall be,

Matthew 1:18–25 AV

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings,

It shall even be for briers and thorns.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. God’s Word clearly explains that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of .

24With arrows and with bows shall men come thither;

Because all the land shall become briers and thorns.

25And on all hills that shall be digged with the mattock,

God’s Word clearly explains that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of .

There shall not come thither the fear of briers and thorns:

But it shall be for the sending forth of oxen,

And for the treading of lesser cattle.

Jesus is the fulfillment of Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. We know this is the fulfillment because Matthew, by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, wrote that it was. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. God’s Word clearly explains that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of .

Just as the Passover lamb, the Rock in the wilderness, and the Lion of the tribe of Judah point to Jesus as Messiah, so this prophecy of Isaiah points to the divine nature of Christ.

Recently, we studied the book of Hosea. Hosea had several verses that are quoted in the NT.

Matthew 9:12–13 AV

But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. And But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day. God desires mercy not sacrifice is a quote from .

And

Matthew 12:6–8 AV

But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day. God desires mercy not sacrifice is a quote from .

God desires mercy not sacrifice is a quote from

.

Hosea also has this reference concerning Jesus as a young child. points to Jesus Christ. Listen to When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. Jerome Smith calls this an illustration of “the law of double reference.”[2] Had the Holy Spirit not inspired Matthew to point out Hosea’s allusion to Jesus, I never would have drawn that connection, especially considering the context of .

Hosea 6:6 AV

For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Hosea also has this reference concerning Jesus as a young child.

Hosea 11:1 AV

When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

points to Jesus Christ. Listen to

Matthew 2:14–15 AV

When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. Jerome Smith calls this an illustration of “the law of double reference.”[2] Had the Holy Spirit not inspired Matthew to point out Hosea’s allusion to Jesus, I never would have drawn that connection, especially considering the context of .

Jerome Smith calls this an illustration of “the law of double reference.”[2] Had the Holy Spirit not inspired Matthew to point out Hosea’s allusion to Jesus, I never would have drawn that connection, especially considering the context of .

The Old Testament has foreshadowings of New Testament revelations, but the verses do not have multiple meanings. Jerome Smith was careful not to say that illustrated the law of double meaning. He said double reference, not double meaning. Some heresies sprout quickly when we say this verse means one thing to me and something else to another person. The Passover lambs were literal lambs who were killed and eaten but they also referred to Christ. The sacrifice on the day of atonement also referred to Christ, whom John called “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” Biblical scholars have written books about how the tabernacle and its articles symbolize Jesus Christ.

I know this message had a lot of uncommon Jewish history in it and perhaps hard for 21st century Gentiles to take in one study. The point of this message is that we welcome Immanuel, God with us! We welcome Immanuel, God with us, as a deliverer in times of despair. Jesus came and bought salvation and deliverance from Satan, from sin, from the world, and from self. He bought deliverance with His own blood.

We welcome Immanuel, God with us, as a sign that God is great and faithful. Jesus accomplished mighty works, such as never before nor since. Jesus is mighty and He is faithful. He has promised never to leave or forsake us. He has promised that He will come again and receive His followers unto Himself so that where He is, we might be also. His works are good and His Word is good.

Welcome Jesus this season. Not only is God with us, but He is in us if we are true followers of Christ. There was no room in the inn the night Jesus was born, but may there be room in our hearts for Him. O come, o come, Immanuel!

[1] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), .

[2] Jerome H. Smith, The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge: The Most Complete Listing of Cross References Available Anywhere- Every Verse, Every Theme, Every Important Word (Nashville TN: Thomas Nelson, 1992), 973.

Welcome Immanuel, God with Us!

Welcome God with Us (7:1-25)

We Welcome God with Us (7:1-25)

As a Deliverer in Times of Despair

As a Sign of God’s Greatness and Faithfulness