A Holy Joy

Big Idea

Tension: How did Isaiah respond to God’s judgment of Israel for rejecting Immanuel?

Resolution: by not rejecting the news of Immanuel’s coming but by trusting and rejoicing in him.

Exegetical Idea: Isaiah responded to God’s judgment of Israel for rejecting Immanuel by not rejecting's coming but by trusting and rejoicing in him.

Theological Idea: When believers are surrounded by darkness, they should respond by trusting and rejoicing in Christ.

Homiletical Idea: When darkness is everywhere around us, we can trust and rejoice in the light of Christ.

Outline

Introduction

Immanuel’s Victory

God will provide victory over Samaria and Damascus (1-4)

Write a tablet - This is a long-lasting prophecy, it is far away. Isaiah is being called to trust in something that might not happen in his life time.

"Reliable witnesses” people who have positions of influence and leadership among the people

Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz - the name of his son is a certainty that God will provide victory

God prophesies that Samaria and Damascus will be carried away

This is all a portent of the Immanuel, the Messiah, teh king who is to come. The one who we saw last week in 7:14 was to be born of a virgin.

Because Israel trusts in Assyria, Assyria will devour the land of Immanuel (5-8)

If you read 2 Kings 16, you can see that indeed, Ahaz went and paid tribute to teh Assyrians and asked them to attack

But we see here in vs. 5-7 that Judah apparently “rejected” the waters that God sent. Why is that? Didn’t God tell them that Assyria was going to be victorious, so how is it that they can reject them, I mean, tehy sided with them.

Because they mistake the waters that were sent for the sender. In other words, their trust was in man not in God. Instead of letting God do his work of saving his people, they tried to get Assyria to come.

Therefore, the same waters that they trusted would wash away their enemies will “reach” evne up to their necks. You see, those things that we idolize will eventually turn on us. Our idols will eventually take life from us rather than give it.

Now here is the amazing thing, look in vs. 8, how it says, “your land, O Immanuel.” Immanuel does not only stand at a distance and say, “well, you’re getting what you deserve, but rather, he enters into their pain. Even though he does not deserve their suffering, he takes it upon himself. This is why Isaiah 53:4-6 says… In other words, this Immanuel, this Messiah that is to come, will enter into the suffering of mankind, and he will take the punishment of mankind upon himself.

Nevertheless, Immanuel will be victorious

And yet, we see here that Immanuel will be victorious. He will raise again from teh dead, and he will tramp down his enemies. The victory that we see here is the same victory that Isaiah later prophesies in Is 25:7-10… that is that Immanuel will win the victory by being resurrected

And therefore, to contineu to oppose God and his people is worthless, because what greater weapon could you muster to defeat him than death? And death itself is defeated.

Therefore, he says in 10c, “God is with us” which is literally, “Immanuel.” God is with us. THose who trust him will never be put to shame as we see in Is 25:9...

Those who reject him will walk in darkness

They do not rejoice in the salvation of God (vs. 6)

People who do not trust God are particularly prone to halftruths deception, and fear (vs. 12-13). Why is this? Because they have put their faith in idols, and deep down, they know that those idols, those objects of trust will never give them the fulfillment they so desire.

They are offended by the gospel of Christ (14-15; cf. Matt 21:42-44; 1 Cor 1:22-25)

They are so confused they seek out necromancers and astrologers

Thus they are hungry and have no satisfaction in vs. 21

They are angry, hateful, bitter, and resentful people vs. 21

They walk in darkness

Those who receive him will walk in light

They rejoice in the salvation of God, even though they can’t see him. 1 Peter 1:8-9

Faith is more than something that you know. It’s more than head knowledge. It is affection. It is heartfelt. It is longing and desire and yearning and hoping and trusting and beleiving. It’s not merely, “I know these facts are true” like I know that tehre will be potholes in the road next Spring. It’s I believe that he’s going to return and I can’t wait for it. It’s I yearn for him, I long for him. Like a dear pants for the water.

They do not walk according to the way of the world (vs. 11)

They honor God as holy (vs. 13)

THey fear God, not man (vs. 13)

They wait on teh Lord - Even in suffering (vs. 17). They are “more than conquerors” (cf. Rom 8:37)

They trust in the Word of God (vs. 20)

THey walk in “light” (vs. 20)

Conclusion: Which are you?

Closing Illustration, John 9