Sermon Tone Analysis

OPENING ILLUSTRATION

Signs of Salvation .. HOPE

OPENING ILLUSTRATION

We did a fair bit of travelling during our break .. travelling all over the place .. and sometimes all you have is an address

And as is the case in this day and age, maps are obsolete and SAT/NAV is all the rage .. punch the address in the device .. press GO .. and follow the ladies advice

Y’see it’s step by step .. you don’t get the overall route on display (like a map)

Sometimes Beate and I look at each other and say “Do you reckon this is right?”

.. y’know .. is this device TRUSTWORTHY .. your confidence only increases when the results are good .. you get there!

You might have heard of the expression “History is HIS STORY” ie God leading humanity step by step.

More importantly .. the Father reveals HIS story of SALVATION in the pages of the Bible .. Genesis to Revelation

It’s step by step and the challenge is to keep trusting God even when things seem HOPELESS

NOAH .. build a boat .. collect every animal .. there’s going to be a flood

ABRAHAM .. pack up and go where I direct .. no SAT/NAV .. AND … you will be the Father of nations even tho your wife is barren .. AND .. now you have a son kill him

MOSES .. challenge Pharaoh .. take my people out of slavery to the promised land .. just go .. yep through the Red sea .. through he desert

etc etc

The Father has a PLAN .. the SALVATION STORY .. it’s the story of great HOPE .. to bring us back to Himself but it’s step by step .. and we have to TRUST HIM even when things seem impossible

A Little HIStory …

This part of history sees what was the ONE nation Israel split into TWO regions .. one continued to be called Israel (10 tribes) and the other was called Judah (2 tribes) .. if you read through the books of 1 & 2 Kings you’ll get some of the history .. a few of the kings followed in the ways of David .. most of the others were wicked .. or start well enough but get sucked in the the world around them

Jerusalem was in Judah .. the house of David continued through these kings and the ministry through the temple

You can see in Ch.7 that the king in Judah is Ahaz .. the son of Uzziah …and he is facing a crisis (vv.1-2) .. the superpower of the day is ASSYRIA .. the king was Tiglath Pileser III .. Assyria was a war machine rolling over nations and adding them to their EMPIRE

Note the other personalities mentioned … in vv.1-2 Rezin .. who is king of Aram (Syria) and there is Pekah who is the king of Israel.

(see map)

The situation is that Syria and Israel want Judah to join them to fight off Assyria .. but Ahaz in more inclined to roll over and join with the strength of Assyria to save his skin .. if Judah won’t join Syria and Israel then Judah will be their enemy too and they will fight against Judah

The international scene was pretty threatening .. a bit of a powder keg when Isaiah takes up ministry in Jerusalem

If you read the first 5 chapters of Isaiah .. you see that the backdrop that’s painted is pretty grim … rather depressing really .. lotta DOOM and GLOOM there is injustice, oppression, religious hypocrisy, self-indulgence and idolatry

Where is the HOPE?

Of course Isaiah is saying TRUST GOD .. and that’s the issue before Ahaz now .. who will he trust??

Signs of the time ………….

There are two children that get a mention here in the chapter.

One is already born .. in fact it is Isaiah’s son Shear-Jashub and the other is yet to be born .. Immanuel

Shear-Jashub … means A remnant will repent (return)

The LORD tells Isaiah to meet King Ahaz .. pick it up in verse 3ff

Then the LORD said to Isaiah, “Go out, you and your son Shear-Jashub, to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Washerman’s Field.

Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid.

Do not lose heart because of these—because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah.

Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah’s son have plotted your ruin, saying, “Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it.”

Yet this is what the Sovereign LORD says:

“‘It will not take place, it will not happen, for the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is only Rezin.

Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people.

The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son.

If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.’”

Isaiah has taken his boy with him to see Ahaz .. who looks like he’s inspecting the aqueduct probably because of the coming siege

You can see the thrust of what God is saying through his prophet … don’t fear these guys .. Rezin / Pekah .. notice that God calls them two smoldering stubs of firewood (lumps of charcoal when the fire goes out) … two cigarette butts ... it’s all talk when they say they are going to tear you apart .. take over the nation … God, thro Isaiah, says .. it’s not going to happen .. TRUST ME!

God wants faithfulness to Him .. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all … ie TRUST or BUST

We have to realise it’s not just the POWER STRUGGLE .. my army is bigger than your army and we’re going to win .. Ahaz is the King of God’s people .. for Ahaz to join allegiance with Assyria it meant swearing allegiance to the pagan gods of this pagan king .. this would be ABANDONING the covenant promises made to God’s people .. reject God’s plan

God is giving Ahaz at this point the opportunity to clearly understand His will ..in fact if Ahaz was to read the history of Israel he would have read of God’s help in tougher situations than this …

God says to Ahaz .. well “ask me for a sign” .. be extravagant .. Ask me to divide the Red Sea? .. Ask for the sun to stop in the sky?.. a burning bush that is never consumed?

.. done all that before .. BUT Ahaz has already made his mind up .. cf .. Ahaz has already made a treaty with Assyria .. strictly forbidden by God !

Yahweh is all the PROTECTION Israel needs

Y’see .. Ahaz has more confidence in the might of Assyrian chariots and archers .. and trots out a pious answer .. “I couldn’t possibly do that.. and put God to the test .. no no” .. not supppose to do that sort of thing .. and yep he could have quoted : .. BUT .. the test has been of Ahaz all along .. it is no sin to seek a sign when God offers!

The decision for Ahaz is .. will he put his confidence in the MIGHT and POWER and WISDOM of God .. will he trust the promises of God?

OR

Will he join the might and power of the war machine that is Assyria?

?

Where is the HOPE of a secure future?

So you see ... really this a question of where do you put your trust and faith .. and HOPE

Ahaz .. the leader/King of Judah .. the Lord’s annointed .. and he’s shaking like a leaf .. has no confidence in God ..

He is a DUD!

He is woeful

ILLUSTRATION

If you’re an Aussie the cricket has been pretty good!

It’s funny though .. so many in the sporting world are highly SUPERSTITIOUS .. Steve Smith will never eat duck the day before a match .. though apparently he absent-mindedly did at Lords in 2015 and scored a career best score 215 .. Steve Waugh never went out to bat without his red hanky tucked in his pads .. South African Neil McKenzie had to have all the toilet seats down and lights out in the dressing room (which he checked 8 times) before removing his bat he’d taped to the ceiling and go out to the crease

But then .. people trust in all sorts of things .. people are pretty superstitious .. they still say “touch wood” and tap their head .. or say “Bless you” when you sneeze .. coz the devil could steal your soul

I remember talking to a guy who took out a cross that was hanging on a necklace .. he said “Every since I’ve had this I’ve been really lucky .. I’ve had good karma” .. So as nicely and forcibly as possible I said that was a load of rubbish .. that only God was ordering life etc

Where is our confidence?

A lot of people believe something is controlling life .. crystals and rocks, potions, rabbit’s feet, 4 leaved clover, horoscopes, the stars and planets,

More rational people trust their logic or intelligence or their money .. or their political party

… and then say trusting God is stupid?

How can we have confidence in what He says?

We’ll trust crystals and rocks, potions, rabbit’s feet, 4 leaved clover, horoscopes, the stars and planets, our own intelligence, our money .. and then say trusting God is stupid?

Application

Faith in God and His promises seems so passive .. we want to look for more spectacular solutions to our problems .. how many problems do we face and not bring them before the Lord trusting Him for guidance and direction and answers

How many times do we ignore HIS solutions to our problems .. I don’t want to TEST GOD .. I don’t want to worry Him .. I don’t want to read the Bible or ask others about solutions .. you see we’ve already got some way around it .. OUR WAY … e.g. a new job with more money BUT less time at home/church

Y’see the Father loves it when we keep coming to Him and saying “I’m really at a loss here .. BUT .. I know Lord you are trust worthy .. this seems a very impossible job, situation etc but you can help .. you can guide

God is attracted to our HUMILITY and He is opposed to our ARROGANCE and our PIOUS PRETENCES

Friends ... the Lord is delighted when we step out in FAITH and make some commitments

When we ASK !

.. like building a building .. employing a second worker ... will it be tough .. yep .. but God is SUFFICIENT .. there’s a great verse in Ephesians

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!

3:20-21

To Him be the glory .. and in all the tight situations .. study course ahead .. job .. raising kids .. handling tricky relationships etc .. and all others too really .. keep tabs with where the Lord is leading ... what He is working in us as we TRUST Him

Back to the passage Look where this goes .. Ahaz was content to put confidence in the muscle of Assyria .. a good skirt to hide behind and so what if he had to compromise his Jewish ways and Yahweh Himself

Maybe at some stage Ahaz looks down when he’s taking to Isaiah and says .. “Cute kid Isaiah .. what’s his name?”

And Isaiah thunders “His name is Shear-Jashub

Ahaz might have looked up a bit bewildered .. if he didn’t know he soon would

This name is a sign .. and it’s double edged .. it’s a warning and an encouragement

To faithlessly go after Assyria and her gods Ahaz and Judah would feel the full extent of God’s punishment .. Judah would be no more .. the rebellion would be squashed … in the end Assyria would desolate Israel .. and ultimately Babylon will completely destroy Judah and the nation will go into exile … BUT .. and here is God’s GRACE .. “a remnant would return” .. there would be no final snuffing out

The KINGDOM OF GOD IS UNSTOPPABLE .. This Jewish nation may disgrace itself with it’s spiritual prostitution .. it’s spiritual adultery but God’s promise was to bless and make them a blessing to others

Isaiah’s son’s name reminds them that some will be saved from destruction .. some would return to continue to be a blessing to others

And here’s the sign

Ahaz might not want a sign BUT God is going to give him one .. Isaiah is a bit furious at the moment .. look at v.13-14 “Hear now, you house of David!

Is it not enough to try the patience of men?

Will you try the patience of my God also?

14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Isaiah is a bit red in the face .. his patience is growing thin .. let alone God’s!

The HOUSE OF DAVID is doomed .. BUT the Lord will never finally abandon them and the sign is another child .. a son .. born to a virgin .. and his name would be IMMANUEL .. “God is with us”

Obviously for most of us .. having the background that we have ….

Christmas time .... virgin birth … Immanuel … we read back into Isaiah at this point, Jesus born to Mary etc .. which is good .. Matthew does just that as he talks of Jesus .. fulfilling this prophecy .. BUT put yourself in Ahaz’s shoes .. what were others thinking as Isaiah talks of this sign?

Nothing in the OT records a child of a virgin birth coz this sign has an immediate application too .. the word “virgin” 7:14 can equally be translated “young woman”

Did Isaiah have a particular child, son in view?

.. How is this sign going to work?

Flick over to 8:3