Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
Last week we began a series that we are calling, “Announcing the Messiah.”
Last week we began looking at prophecies about the coming Messiah, Jesus.
Last week we began by looking at Psalm 110, a passage that is one of the most quoted passages in the New Testament.
Today we are going to look at two passages out of Isaiah.
We are going to look at the often quoted passage, Isaiah 7:14.
And then we are going to look at another popular Messianic passage in chapter 9, verses 6 and 7.
So let’s begin by looking at Isaiah 7:14, so if you have your Bibles I want to encourage you to turn with me.
Isaiah 7:14
As we begin, let’s set the stage for this passage.
This is a prophecy that has a dual meaning.
It had a meaning for the people of the day—in this case for King Ahaz, and it is a prophecy about the coming Messiah.
For Ahaz
Let’s set the background for you.
Ahaz the son of Jotham (who was the son of Uzziah) was king—so that places the time between 735 and 715 B.C.E—because that was when Ahaz was king.
Now during his reign, the northern kingdom, Israel—in this passage called Ephraim—Perkah the son of Remaliah joined with Rezin the king of Aram (or Syria).
And their plan was to join forces and attack Jerusalem, conquer Judah and place a man named Tabeel as king over it.
This unnerved Ahaz and the people.
In fact in verse 2 we are told:
But God has a message for Judah and for King Ahaz, and he sends Isaiah and Isaiah’s son Shear-Jashub (whose name means, “a remnant will return”) to give Ahaz a message.
Isaiah is supposed to give this message as Ahaz inspects the water supply.
The Message
Be careful to stay calm!
Don’t be afraid!
Don’t lose heart
—Because of Rezin’s fierce anger
—Or because they are plotting to ruin you.
It will NOT happen!
These two are only men—God is greater than men!
Within the next 65 years Ephraim will be too shattered to even be a nation.
Stand firm in your faith—or you won’t stand at all!
The Lord offer’s Ahaz a sign!
But Ahaz is too proud to ask for a sign and refuses God’s offer.
But God says He is going to give him a sign anyway!
The Sign
The Prophesy
A virgin will be with child—a virgin is a young woman who is of childbearing age, but has never been with a man—never been sexually active.
This virgin will give birth to a son.
They will name him “Immanuel” which means, “God with us.”
He will eat curds—clabbered milk or yogurt—and honey.
This will happen when he is old enough to know right from wrong.
Before that time, the land of these two kings will be laid waste.
Fulfilled in Ahaz’s Day
Most scholars believe that this prophecy was fulfilled in 732 B.C.E.
when Tiglath-Pileser, the Assyrian king, conquered Damascus the capital of the Northern Kingdom, and then Tiglath-Pileser killed Rezin.
They see the prophecy as having two meanings.
A girl, that was a virgin at the time Isaiah made the prophecy, got married and had a son—that fulfilled the timeline and prophecy in the day of Ahaz.
But, there is a second meaning!
Messianic Prophesy
Years later, God prompted Matthew to use verse 7, to refer to Jesus’ supernatural birth by a virgin.
Turn with me to Matthew 1.
Matthew emphasizes that Mary and Joseph were not sexually active until after Jesus was born—look at verse 25.
Isaiah 9:6-7
When we come to Isaiah 9, we have a continuation, of sorts, of our story.
In verse 1 we are told that the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali were humbled—taken captive.
But in the future, he—the Messiah—would honor Galilee of the Gentiles.
This was where Jesus spent the majority of His ministry!
In typical Hebrew fashion, there is a repetition of this idea of honoring this area.
Look at verse 2.
Once again, Matthew turns to Isaiah to reinforce his message, look at Matthew 4:15-16
When we come down to the familiar part of the prophecy, we are told what kind of person the Messiah would be.
The Messiah
He would come as a child—a baby even.
He would be a son—a male child.
He would rule over God’s people.
Wonderful Counselor—wonderful means “exceptional,” “distinguished,” or “miraculous.”
Counselor means “counselor,” “advisor,” or “decree maker.”
Mighty God—Jesus is God!
As such He would do what no other person could do.
Everlasting Father—this is an idiom that describes Jesus’ relationship to time to the Trinity—He is everlasting This goes along with John 1:1.
Prince of Peace—the one who brings peace!
He will take over the throne of David!
It will be a just rule
A righteous rule
And an everlasting rule.
All of these things will be accomplished by the Zeal of the Lord—it depends on God to accomplish His purposes, not on Israel, or the church, or any human effort!
It is all done by God!
SO WHAT?
These two passages display the two extremes of Jesus.
Isaiah 7 shows Jesus as a child—a baby in a manger.
Isaiah 9 shows Jesus not only as a child, but also as the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords.
Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace!
This is the great news of Christmas!
This Jesus was the Messiah, the one the Jews were looking for, longing for, and wanting to come!
Today, this Jesus is alive and well and wants to rule our lives today.
As we celebrate Jesus this Christmas season, let’s love the Baby in the manger, but obey the King of all kings!
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