Isaiah. Part Two Choosing Whom to Trust (7 37)

Isaiah Part Two Choosing Whom to Trust (7 37) 1

Isaiah Choosing Whom to Trust 7 37 Four sons as signs 7:1-9:7 A-REMNANT-SHALL-RETURN (Shear-ja-shub) 7:1-9 GOD-WITH-US (Immanu-el) 7:10-25 SPEEDING-TO-THE-SPOIL-HURRYING-TO-THE-PLUNDER 8:1 9:1 2

Speeding-to-the-Spoil-Hurrying-tothe-Plunder Isaiah s placard Maher-shalal-hash-baz Speeding-to-the-Spoil-hurrying-to-the-plunder It was notarized Isaiah would give his son this name Meaning Before he was old enough to say My father or My mother Assyria would carry off the wealth of Ephraim and Damascus 3

God Trying to Reach Ahaz Don t be afraid 7:4 Ephraim shattered within 65 years 7:8 God-with-Us a time sign Before he can choose right from wrong Speeding-to-the-Spoil-Hurrying-to-the- Plunder a time sign Before he can say My father or My mother 6

Assyria at Flood Stage 8:5-10 Ahaz had already sent messengers to Assyria God is still trying to reach him He tells Ahaz the consequences of rejecting His protection 10

Ahaz s Choice 8:5-10 Shiloah (God s aid) Gently flowing waters of the aqueduct Ahaz rejected this Yet Israel still rejoiced over Pekah s downfall The Euphrates (Assyria) Overflows uncontrollably Sweeps away everything in its path Judah will be up to its neck in Assyria Like a bird of prey spreading its wings across the land 11

The Prophecy Fulfilled Tiglath-Pileser III did destroy Damascus and laid waste Samaria within three years Ahaz was summoned to Damascus and forced to Pay tribute money to Assyria Worship the Assyrian gods Assyria would now be a problem for Judah for years to come 13

God-with-Us Once Again 8:10 The Assyrian flood May cover Judah up to the neck That s as far as it can go in the land of God-with- Us Assyria s Strategy and Plans Won t stand because God is working out his purposes in history This is the land of God-with-us 14

God-with-Us Once Again 8:10 The Assyrian flood May cover Judah up to the neck That s as far as it can go in the land of God-withus Assyria s Strategy and Plans Won t stand because God is working out his purposes in history This is the land of God-with-us 15

God-with-Us The reality behind the name God is with us This is Immanuel s land This is the land where God will be with His people if they ll only trust him This is a land of hope even when floodwaters reach to your neck 16

Pay Attention to God! 8:11 9:1 The theme? Choosing whom to trust. Two choices Follow the way of the people (8:11-12) Pride Injustice towards the weak Fearing what they fear Regard God as holy (8:13) Results God is a sanctuary and rock of refuge (8:14) God is a stone that causes men to stumble (8:14-15)) 17

Isaiah s Choice 8:16-17 Judah does not trust God, so He hides his face from them Isaiah does trust God 21

Isaiah and his sons as Signs 8:18 Signs that salvation comes from God Signs to trust God rather than the nations Signs God will be with them Signs God will fulfill his promises 22

To the Law and to the Testimony 8:19-22 What they should cling to in the face of fear To the Law and to the Testimony That s how trust in God expresses itself in your life Where they did turn to in the face of fear Mediums and spiritists Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? Consequences of listening to the wrong voice Gloom and darkness 23

Nonetheless, Hope 9:1 In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, Galilee of the Gentiles Zebulun and Naphtali were west and southwest of the Sea of Galilee The first area in Ephraim conquered by Tiglath- Pileser III (732 BC) So many Jews deported and so many foreigners brought in that it became Galilee of the Gentiles Gloom and darkness are not the end of the story 26

Zebulun and Naphtali Galilee of the Gentiles 27

The People s New Situation 9:2-3 Instead of darkness, a great light Instead of shadow of death, dawn Joy and rejoicing 28

Hope to Shattered People 9:4-5 How do you give hope to a people Suffering a humiliating defeat? Tortured? Destroyed as a kingdom? Living among foreigners? Show how a hopeless time in Israel s history turned completely around! Example: The despair of Midian Judges 6 God worked an amazing deliverance 29

Zebulun and Naphtali Galilee of the Gentiles 31

Capernaum of Later Times Zebulun and Naphtali Galilee of the Gentiles 32

Hope to a Shattered People Matt 4:3-16 NIV Matthew 4:13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali-- 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: 15 "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles-- 16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." 34

Hope to a Shattered People Matt 4:3-16 NIV Matthew 4:13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali-- 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: Jesus 15 did "Land just of what Zebulun God s king and would land of do Brought hope to a shattered people!!! Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles-- 16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." 37

Son #4 9:2-7 Ahaz was a disappointment; God will send a king who will show what a king should be This child is different from the others Name signifies future events A-Remnant-Shall-Return (Shear-ja-shub) Hurrying-to-the-Spoil-Speeding-to-the-Plunder (Maher-shalal-hash-baz) Name signifies relationship God-With-Us (Immanu-el) This one s name is different 38

Son #4 9:2-7 To us a child is born, To us a son is given Government will be on the shoulders of a king we can trust His name is his nature Pele-yoets-El-gibbor-Abi-ad-Sar-Shalom Wonderful counselor (wisdom beyond human) Mighty God Father of Eternity (everlasting father) Prince of Peace These are not just his names they are who he is! 43

Son #4 9:6-7 God brings freedom from gloom and darkness In a very surprising way A child is born His reign On David s throne Establish and uphold his kingdom with justice and righteousness. No man will do this; the zeal of God will do it. 52

Assignments for This Week Read Isaiah 10:5 12:6 Call someone and invite them to class People are needed to help move chairs next quarter. Please call or e-mail me if you can help! 60