THE SIGN OF IMMANUEL ISAIAH 7:1-25

Transcription

1 1 Commentary by Ron Thomas Questions by John C. Sewell THE SIGN OF IMMANUEL ISAIAH 7:1-25

2 2 Text: Isaiah 7:1-25, The Sign of Immanuel Commentary by Ron Thomas 1. When Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem, but they could not overpower it. 2. Now the house of David was told, "Aram has allied itself with Ephraim"; so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind. 3. 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. 4. Say to him, 'Be careful, keep calm and don't be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah. 5. Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah's son have plotted your ruin, saying, 6. "Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it." 7. Yet this is what the Sovereign LORD says: " 'It will not take place, it will not happen,

3 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. 9. 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.' " 10. Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, 11. "Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights." 12. But Ahaz said, "I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test." 13. Then Isaiah said, "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? 14. Therefore 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. 15. He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right. 16. But before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. 17. The LORD will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah he will bring the king of Assyria." 18. In that day the LORD will whistle for flies from the distant streams of Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria. 19. They will all come and settle in the steep ravines and in the crevices in the rocks, on all the thornbushes and at all the water holes. 20. In that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the River the king of Assyria to shave your head and the hair of your legs, and to take off your beards also. 21. In that day, a man will keep alive a young cow and two goats.

4 And because of the abundance of the milk they give, he will have curds to eat. All who remain in the land will eat curds and honey. 23. In that day, in every place where there were a thousand vines worth a thousand silver shekels, there will be only briers and thorns. 24. Men will go there with bow and arrow, for the land will be covered with briers and thorns. 25. As for all the hills once cultivated by the hoe, you will no longer go there for fear of the briers and thorns; they will become places where cattle are turned loose and where sheep run. (NIV). Commentary Isaiah 7:1-9, When Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem, but they could not overpower it. Now the house of David was told, "Aram has allied itself with Ephraim"; so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind. 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 two smoldering stubs of firewood 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.' " (NIV)

5 5 I. The history of Israel, by this time, had them, most certainly, in a precarious situation. A. But whatever is said of Israel, it is Judah that gets the Lord s attention in this chapter. 1. Looking at 2 Kings 16 and 2 Chronicles 28, one has difficulty setting the words of Isaiah into a proper context; this is not all that surprising, however. a. 2 Kings 16:1-20, In the seventeenth year of Pekah son of Remaliah, Ahaz son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign. Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD his God. He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire, following the detestable ways of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites. He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree. Then Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem and besieged Ahaz, but they could not overpower him. At that time, Rezin king of Aram recovered Elath for Aram by driving out the men of Judah. Edomites then moved into Elath and have lived there to this day. Ahaz sent messengers to say to Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, "I am your servant and vassal. Come up and save me out of the hand of the king of Aram and of the king of Israel, who are attacking me." And Ahaz took the silver and gold found in the temple of the LORD and in the treasuries of the royal palace and

6 6 sent it as a gift to the king of Assyria. The king of Assyria complied by attacking Damascus and capturing it. He deported its inhabitants to Kir and put Rezin to death. Then King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria. He saw an altar in Damascus and sent to Uriah the priest a sketch of the altar, with detailed plans for its construction. So Uriah the priest built an altar in accordance with all the plans that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus and finished it before King Ahaz returned. When the king came back from Damascus and saw the altar, he approached it and presented offerings on it. He offered up his burnt offering and grain offering, poured out his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his fellowship offerings on the altar. The bronze altar that stood before the LORD he brought from the front of the temple from between the new altar and the temple of the LORD -and put it on the north side of the new altar. King Ahaz then gave these orders to Uriah the priest: "On the large new altar, offer the morning burnt offering and the evening grain offering, the king's burnt offering and his grain offering, and the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their grain offering and their drink offering. Sprinkle on the altar all the blood of the burnt offerings and sacrifices. But I will use the bronze altar for seeking guidance." And Uriah the priest did just as King Ahaz had ordered. King Ahaz took away the side panels and removed the basins from the movable stands. He removed the Sea from the bronze bulls that supported it and set it on a stone base. He took away the Sabbath canopy that had been built at the temple and removed the royal

7 7 entryway outside the temple of the LORD, in deference to the king of Assyria. As for the other events of the reign of Ahaz, and what he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? Ahaz rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David. And Hezekiah his son succeeded him as king. (NIV) b. 2 Chronicles 28:1-27, Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD. He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and also made cast idols for worshiping the Baals. He burned sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and sacrificed his sons in the fire, following the detestable ways of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites. He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree. Therefore the LORD his God handed him over to the king of Aram. The Arameans defeated him and took many of his people as prisoners and brought them to Damascus. He was also given into the hands of the king of Israel, who inflicted heavy casualties on him. In one day Pekah son of Remaliah killed a hundred and twenty thousand soldiers in Judah because Judah had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers. Zicri, an Ephraimite warrior, killed Maaseiah the king's son, Azrikam the officer in charge of the palace, and Elkanah, second to the king. The Israelites took captive from their kinsmen two hundred thousand wives, sons and daughters. They also took a great deal of plunder, which they carried back to Samaria.

8 8 But a prophet of the LORD named Oded was there, and he went out to meet the army when it returned to Samaria. He said to them, "Because the LORD, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah, he gave them into your hand. But you have slaughtered them in a rage that reaches to heaven. And now you intend to make the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem your slaves. But aren't you also guilty of sins against the LORD your God? Now listen to me! Send back your fellow countrymen you have taken as prisoners, for the LORD's fierce anger rests on you." Then some of the leaders in Ephraim Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berekiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai confronted those who were arriving from the war. "You must not bring those prisoners here," they said, "or we will be guilty before the LORD. Do you intend to add to our sin and guilt? For our guilt is already great, and his fierce anger rests on Israel." So the soldiers gave up the prisoners and plunder in the presence of the officials and all the assembly. The men designated by name took the prisoners, and from the plunder they clothed all who were naked. They provided them with clothes and sandals, food and drink, and healing balm. All those who were weak they put on donkeys. So they took them back to their fellow countrymen at Jericho, the City of Palms, and returned to Samaria. At that time King Ahaz sent to the king of Assyria for help. The Edomites had again come and attacked Judah and carried away prisoners, while the Philistines had raided towns in the foothills and in the Negev of Judah. They captured and occupied Beth Shemesh, Aijalon and

9 9 Gederoth, as well as Soco, Timnah and Gimzo, with their surrounding villages. The LORD had humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had promoted wickedness in Judah and had been most unfaithful to the LORD. Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came to him, but he gave him trouble instead of help. Ahaz took some of the things from the temple of the LORD and from the royal palace and from the princes and presented them to the king of Assyria, but that did not help him. In his time of trouble King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the LORD. He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus, who had defeated him; for he thought, "Since the gods of the kings of Aram have helped them, I will sacrifice to them so they will help me." But they were his downfall and the downfall of all Israel. Ahaz gathered together the furnishings from the temple of God and took them away. He shut the doors of the LORD's temple and set up altars at every street corner in Jerusalem. In every town in Judah he built high places to burn sacrifices to other gods and provoked the LORD, the God of his fathers, to anger. The other events of his reign and all his ways, from beginning to end, are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. Ahaz rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of Jerusalem, but he was not placed in the tombs of the kings of Israel. And Hezekiah his son succeeded him as king. (NIV) 2. Sixteen (16) years on the throne (for king Ahaz) do not easily fit into two small chapters of sacred history!

10 10 a. Ahaz, son of Jotham (2 Kings 16:1), reigned over Judah sixteen (16) years, but he was not looked upon favorably by the Lord (2 Kings 16:2-4). i. 2 Kings 16:1, 2-4, In the seventeenth year of Pekah son of Remaliah, Ahaz son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign. Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD his God. He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire, following the detestable ways of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites. He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree. (NIV) ii. He was so evil that he sacrificed his sons to idol gods. II. A general context, it is thought, would be something like this: Assyria has shown itself a mighty force to be reckoned with; when Tiglath- Pileser III assumed the throne over the Assyrian army/empire (about 745 B.C.), he made an effort to expand westward. A. Israel and Syria, people who were constantly against one another, became bed-fellows to stop the Assyrian advances. 1. This confederacy of two also sought the alliance of Judah, but king Ahaz refused any overtures from them. 2. It might have been because Ahaz s fear of Assyria was greater than his fear of the confederacy.

11 Perhaps, in this fear, he sought to maintain his position on the throne and Syria was the best help to accomplish this. 4. In any case, with Ahaz s refusal, Syria and Israel decided to go up against Judah and have Ahaz replaced as king with one of their own, the son of Tabeel (7:6). 5. With this threat and the subsequent execution of this threat, ultimately, Jerusalem was not overcome, but surrounding cities/villages were (2 Kings 16:5-9; Isaiah 7:1-2) overcome. a. 2 Kings 16:5-9, Then Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem and besieged Ahaz, but they could not overpower him. At that time, Rezin king of Aram recovered Elath for Aram by driving out the men of Judah. Edomites then moved into Elath and have lived there to this day. Ahaz sent messengers to say to Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, "I am your servant and vassal. Come up and save me out of the hand of the king of Aram and of the king of Israel, who are attacking me." And Ahaz took the silver and gold found in the temple of the LORD and in the treasuries of the royal palace and sent it as a gift to the king of Assyria. The king of Assyria complied by attacking Damascus and capturing it. He deported its inhabitants to Kir and put Rezin to death. (NIV) b. Isaiah 7:1-2, When Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to

12 12 fight against Jerusalem, but they could not overpower it. Now the house of David was told, "Aram has allied itself with Ephraim"; so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind. (NIV) III. After much defeat and affliction were experienced by Judah and Ahaz (for the Lord was against Ahaz, 2 Chronicles 28:6, 19) the Lord had Isaiah (with his son) go and meet the king, telling him to no longer be overcome by fear for what Syria and Israel were about to do. A. 2 Chronicles 28:6, 19, In one day Pekah son of Remaliah killed a hundred and twenty thousand soldiers in Judah because Judah had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers. The LORD had humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had promoted wickedness in Judah and had been most unfaithful to the LORD. (NIV) B. What they want will not come to pass; they will not succeed at overthrowing him. 1. As a matter of fact, they will be broken. 2. Within a period of sixty-five (65) years, both places will be defeated. C. It is worth noting that Isaiah was to take his son with him; his son s name was Shear-jashub (meaning a remnant shall return). 1. It is thought that the son s presence, with his name known, should have been some sign to the king. 2. Isaiah and his son went to the king and delivered the Lord s message (7:4): this message was to encourage the

13 13 king to no longer fear the two who threatened him their actions would be extinguished as fire is extinguished with water (7:5-9). a. Isaiah 7:4-9, Say to him, 'Be careful, keep calm and don't be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood 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.' " (NIV) IV. What is the significance of sixty-five (65) years? A. It is not clear what these sixty-five (65) years refer to (Oswalt, p. 138). B. Some scholars have said that the time frame lacks punch and has the earmark of a later commentary (cf. NET study note), but, as Jackson said, Israel, of course, was conquered by Assyria about a dozen years later (2 Kings 17:24); however, her doom was finally sealed when the Assyrian rulers settled the territory of Ephraim with colonists from the East (c. 669 B.D.) (Ezra 4:2) (p. 20).

14 Kings 17:24, The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took over Samaria and lived in its towns. (NIV) 2. Ezra 4:2, they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of the families and said, "Let us help you build because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to him since the time of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here." (NIV) Isaiah 7:10-17, Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, "Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights." But Ahaz said, "I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test." Then Isaiah said, "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? Therefore 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. He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right. But before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. The LORD will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah he will bring the king of Assyria." (NIV) I. In the first part of this chapter, Isaiah tells Ahaz what the Lord said; now Isaiah tells Ahaz to ask for a sign from the Lord to confirm the words of Isaiah. A. Grogan said that God went even further than He did with Gideon (Judges 6) in that he offered to Ahaz carte blanche, the unrestricted choice of a sign (p. 62).

15 Judges 6:34-40, Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him. He sent messengers throughout Manasseh, calling them to arms, and also into Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, so that they too went up to meet them. Gideon said to God, "If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised-look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said." And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew a bowlful of water. Then Gideon said to God, "Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make the fleece dry and the ground covered with dew." That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew. (NIV) B. With this prophecy of Israel s and Syria s doom before the king, all that was required was for Ahaz to believe it. 1. However, Ahaz did not believe it because he believed more in temporal man (7:10-12)! a. Isaiah 7:10-12, Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, "Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights." But Ahaz said, "I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test." (NIV) 2. Ahaz did not want a sign because he did not want to believe; his mind was already made up.

16 16 a. Either he had already appealed to Tiglath-pileser for help or he was planning to appeal to him shortly (Hailey, p. 83). b. He feigned a belief in refusing to test God. 3. In 2 Kings 16, we read about Ahaz s wickedness and his intent to align himself with Assyria to relieve the pressure against him by Syria and Samaria. II. Isaiah s response was strong. a. Isaiah gave Judah s king a further opportunity to see proof that what He said He would do would indeed come to pass. b. It is worth noting that when a person has his mind set on a particular action, all other actions that are suggested even by God are dismissed. c. This shows how strong sin is in each of our lives. A. Ahaz, you refused a sign. Now, let the Lord give the House of David a sign. 1. Isaiah called upon the king to ask for a sign from the Lord; Ahaz s false piety brought from the Lord a sign to the house of David. a. No longer is the sign to the king, but to the nation. b. The house of David has wearied men with the kind of rulers sitting on the throne through its history (some

17 17 good, some not so good), now the house of David (as represented by Ahaz) is wearying the Lord God how long will He put up with it? c. He charges that they weary God by pretending to trust in him with their outward show of religious commitment, while in fact they fear Rezin and Pekah and are thinking about sending to Assyria for help (Willis, p. 157). B. There will be a woman, she will be a (the) virgin and she will conceive and bear a Son. 1. The name of the Son will be Immanuel, which means God with us. 2. Before the male child knows how to refuse evil and choose good, the two kings and their respective armies will be gone. a. (Oswalt suggests the child s age might be about twelve, p. 139). III. Let us consider this prophecy further, for this prophecy is associated with much debate. A. The text says that a virgin will conceive (ESV). 1. However, in the Jewish Study bible (JSB) it reads, Look, the young woman is with child and about to give birth to a son. Let her name him Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14, in part). B. The dispute in the verse is whether it is more correct to read virgin or young woman.

18 The Hebrew, that gives us both English translations, is almah. 2. The LXX (Greek translation of Old testament Scriptures) translates this Hebrew word as parthenos, which corresponds to our English word virgin. 3. Scott says that young woman is the only correct translation of the Hebrew word almah, and that when Matthew cited the Isaiah passage as a fulfillment in the angel s word to Mary, he referenced the LXX, not the Hebrew. 4. This conviction we may firmly retain, while recognizing that the New Testament s use of Isaiah 7:14 is based on an inaccurate translation of the Hebrew text the word almah means a young woman of marriageable age, possibly a virgin (p. 218). 5. On the other hand, Wayne Jackson cites the work of William F. Beck who says: I have searched exhaustively for instances in which almah might mean a non-virgin or a married woman. There is no passage where almah is not a virgin. Nowhere in the Bible or elsewhere does almah mean anything but a virgin (Jackson, p. 11, Italics in quote). 6. Young s Analytical Concordance says the word almah (KJV) is rendered damsel (1 time), maid (2 times), and virgin (4 times). 7. The following references give the locations and how the word is translated:

19 19 a. Genesis 24:43, behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass that when the virgin comes out to draw water, and I say to her, Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink, (NKJV) i. The NKJV translates the word almah as virgin. ii. Virginity is clearly implied with that translation. iii. Compare Genesis 24:43 (NKJV) with Genesis 24:16, Now the young woman was very beautiful to behold, a virgin; no man had known her. And she went down to the well, filled her pitcher, and came up. (NKJV) iv. Genesis 24:16, The girl was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever lain with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again. (NIV) b. Exodus 2:8, And Pharaoh s daughter said to her, Go. So the maiden went and called the child s mother. (NKJV) i. The NKJV translates almah as maiden. Alternative translations: damsel, maid, and girl all of which convey the idea of virgin. ii. The English dictionary tells us that damsel means a young unmarried woman and maiden means an unmarried girl.

20 20 c. Psalms 68:25, The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; Among them were the maidens playing timbrels. (NKJV) i. The NKJV translates almah as maidens. ii. The ESV translates it virgins. iii. The translation known as God s Word renders it young women (cf. GNB). iv. The KJV has damsels. d. Proverbs 30:19, The way of an eagle in the air, The way of a serpent on a rock, The way of a ship in the midst of the sea, And the way of a man with a virgin. (NKJV) i. The NKJV translates almah as virgin. ii. Some alternative translations: maiden, maid, girl, woman, adolescents. e. Song of Solomon 1:3, Because of the fragrance of your good ointments, Your name is ointment poured forth; Therefore the virgins love you. (NJKV); Song of Solomon 6:8, There are sixty queens And eighty concubines, And virgins without number. (NKJV) i. The NKJV translates both places as virgin. ii. Alternatives: woman, young women, young girls, maidens, and young maidens.

21 21 iii. In the Jewish Study Bible, the word almah is translated as young woman. iv. In the notes section it is said, All modern scholars, however, agree that the Hebrew merely denotes a young woman of marriageable age, whether married or unmarried, whether a virgin or not. v. With respect to the passage and its fulfillment the notes section further states that there is uncertainty when the sign comes to pass immediately, soon, or several years in the future. 8. As a conclusion to this, whatever the best translation of the Hebrew word, because the Holy Spirit uses the word virgin in Matthew 1:23, which is a reference to the translation of the LXX, which is a translation of the Hebrew word, this scribe adheres to the Holy Spirit s interpretation! C. Getting back to the passage, verses 15 and 16 can be difficult to interpret. 1. It is possible that these two verses lend themselves to the double fulfillment view. 2. On the other hand, it might be referring to a period of time in which a child would grow to maturity; in that time period, Damascus and Israel will be gone. 3. It is difficult to determine which is correct.

22 22 Isaiah 7:18-25, In that day the LORD will whistle for flies from the distant streams of Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria. They will all come and settle in the steep ravines and in the crevices in the rocks, on all the thornbushes and at all the water holes. In that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the River the king of Assyria to shave your head and the hair of your legs, and to take off your beards also. In that day, a man will keep alive a young cow and two goats. And because of the abundance of the milk they give, he will have curds to eat. All who remain in the land will eat curds and honey. In that day, in every place where there were a thousand vines worth a thousand silver shekels, there will be only briers and thorns. Men will go there with bow and arrow, for the land will be covered with briers and thorns. As for all the hills once cultivated by the hoe, you will no longer go there for fear of the briers and thorns; they will become places where cattle are turned loose and where sheep run. (NIV). I. The remainder of this chapter has the Lord making clear what He will do to the land when He brings the Assyrians in to punish Judah. Note the imagery used: A. The Lord will whistle for the bees to come (7:18-19). 1. Isaiah 7:18-19, In that day the LORD will whistle for flies from the distant streams of Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria. They will all come and settle in the steep ravines and in the crevices in the rocks, on all the thorn bushes and at all the water holes. (NIV) a. When they come they will settle. b. Can you imagine being swarmed by bees with no opportunity for relief?

23 23 B. As a man, when one goes to the barber, he sometimes receives a shave. 1. The shave is with a straight razor. a. The razor is deadly sharp, and one small slip can cause much damage. 2. The Lord used this image (7:20) to make it plain that the razor He is bringing against Israel will make a clean shave! a. Isaiah 7:20, In that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the River the king of Assyria to shave your head and the hair of your legs, and to take off your beards also. (NIV) b. When Joseph was brought out of the prison and before he could stand before Pharaoh he had to be clean shaven (Genesis 41:14). i. Genesis 41:14, So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh. (NIV) c. When David sent out emissaries to comfort a neighboring nation, his servants were sent back in humiliation with their beards half shaved off (2 Samuel 10:4-5). a. 2 Samuel 10:4-5, So Hanun seized David's men, shaved off half of each man's beard, cut off their garments in the middle at the buttocks, and sent them away. When David was told about this, he

24 24 sent messengers to meet the men, for they were greatly humiliated. The king said, "Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown, and then come back." (NIV) C. This third image (7:21-22) has some uncertainty associated with it; are we to understand it as a positive in the midst of negatives, or are we to understand this negatively, along with the other images used? 1. Isaiah 7:21-22, In that day, a man will keep alive a young cow and two goats. And because of the abundance of the milk they give, he will have curds to eat. All who remain in the land will eat curds and honey. (NIV) 2. Grogan (p. 65) thinks this might be a ray of light in an otherwise dark setting, and Willis (p. 169) thinks these verses reveal how Isaiah looks at the concept of the remnant. 3. On the other hand, Barnes and Hailey think it is a continuation of judgment language. 4. It is interesting to note that Watts (p. 109) interprets this negatively by inserting a phrase not in the verse. a. Each person (will be lucky to have) a cow or two goats to give milk, for curds and milk will be the staple food. b. Perhaps Watts is right, but this scribe is inclined to think that something positive is conveyed here because the language of the two verses has nothing negative in them (cf. 1:17; 3:10).

25 25 i. Isaiah 1:17, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. (NIV) ii. Isaiah 3:10, Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds. (NIV) c. Whether this passage is interpreted one way or the other, the point is clear: the Lord is bringing judgment to Israel. D. The fourth image (7:23-25) is one of desolation; the land is vacated only the livestock roam there. 1. Isaiah 7:23-25, In that day, in every place where there were a thousand vines worth a thousand silver shekels, there will be only briers and thorns. Men will go there with bow and arrow, for the land will be covered with briers and thorns. As for all the hills once cultivated by the hoe, you will no longer go there for fear of the briers and thorns; they will become places where cattle are turned loose and where sheep run. (NIV).

26 26 Questions on Isaiah 7:1-25 by John C. Sewell 1. What is The Sign of Immanuel? 2. What were the historic, political and spiritual situations facing Israel and Judah at the time addressed by Isaiah 7:1-25? 3. Identify: (1) Ahaz (2) Jotham

27 27 (3) Tiglath-Pileser III (4) Tabeel (5) Shear-jashub (6) Rezin (7) Aram (8) Remaliah (9) Uzziah (10) Immanuel

28 Define virgin as used in Isaiah 7:14. Provide support for your answer. 5. What did the Lord say he would do to the land when He brought the Assyrians to punish Judah? 6. What images were used to illustrate what the Lord would do to the land? 7. and marched up to against, but they could not it. 8. What was the reaction of Ahaz and his people to the news that Aram had allied itself with Ephraim?

29 Where did Isaiah and his son meet Ahaz? Exactly where were these places? How did these places get their names? Why were they so named? 10. What did Isaiah tell Ahaz? 11. Why did the Lord tell Isaiah to take his son with him when he went to see Ahaz? 12. What were the two smoldering stubs of firewood? Why were they so designated?

30 What will not happen (as stated in Isaiah 7:7)? 14. What would happen within sixty-five years? 15. If you do in your, you will at all. 16. Give examples which show that the statement in Question 15 above is indeed true. 17. What did the Lord tell Ahaz? (See Isaiah 7:10.)

31 Give other biblical examples of God s providing signs to people. 19. What differences are there between the sign of Ahaz and other signs referenced in question 18 above? 20. What was Ahaz s response to God s command in Isaiah 7:10? 21. What was Isaiah s response to Ahaz s refusal to ask for a sign? 22. What was the sign God would provide?

32 What is the primary application of this sign? What is its secondary application? 24. Explain Isaiah 7: What do these verses mean? 25. When was Isaiah 7:17 fulfilled? 26. What is the literal meaning of what the Lord said about flies and bees?

33 What is meant by the illustration of the razor? What was the attitude of Hebrew men toward their beards? 28. What good things are promised in Isaiah 7:21-25? 29. What bad things are promised in Isaiah 7:21-25? 30. Where did the things foretold in Isaiah 7:18-25 come to pass?

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