The Book of Immanuel ISAIAH By Ariel Berkowitz

The Book of Immanuel ISAIAH 7-12 By Ariel Berkowitz

THE BOOK OF IMMANUEL ISAIAH CHAPTERS 7-12 Introduction A. The Nature of Isaiah 7-12 1. Deals with a specific historical event: a crisis to Jerusalem 2. Focuses on a specific national problem: ungodly leadership 3. Predicts the solution to Israel s problem: The Messiah 4. Identifies and Describes the Messiah: Immanuel, God with us 5. Provides the backdrop for much of the rest of Isaiah 1-39: The Coming of Assyria B. An Outline of Isaiah 7-12 CHAPTER 7 The Need for Immanuel CHAPTER 8 Immanuel s Land CHAPTER 8-9 The Birth of Immanuel CHAPTER 10 The Judgments of Immanuel CHAPTER 11 The Kingdom of Immanuel CHAPTER 12 Praise to Immanuel C. The Study CHAPTER 7 THE NEED FOR IMMANUEL I. The Historical Situation vv. 1 2 A. The Ungodly Ahaz (weakened Judah) B. The cause of Ahaz s fear: See 2 Chronicles 28:1 8 C. What situation does he face? 7:1 2 Kings 16:5 6 D. The emotional reaction of Judah 7:2 II. God s Message to Ahaz: Part I vv. 3 9 A. What was Isaiah s message to Ahaz? 7:4-9 B. The Fulfilment of Isaiah s Prediction to Ahaz (verses 8, 9) 734 BCE Ahaz begins his reign 734 Isaiah meets Ahaz 732 Damascus captured and Rezin killed 722 Samaria captured 669 Samaria finished off, resettles (2 Kings 17:22 24) TOTAL = 65 years

III. God s Message to Ahaz: Part II 7:10-17 A. Ahaz s Response 7:10-12? B. Ahaz s real plan 2 Kings 16:7 9 Ahaz invited the wolf to protect the sheep! C. God s Response to Ahaz and the House of David D. The Interpretive Issues 1. The meaning of the sign to Ahaz and the House of David 2. The meaning of the sign to Isaiah 3. The meaning of the sign In Matthew. 4. The meaning of virgin. 5. The meaning of Immanuel. E. Suggested Interpretations 1. The Meaning of the Sign to Ahaz and the Houae of David: a. Immanuel s birth was to assure Ahaz and the house of David, that if he trusted in God, God would be with him/us (Immanuel kt ubng) b. By the time the promised child would be old enough to make moral decisions and to speak, the kings that Ahaz feared would be gone in fact, that happened! 734 BCE Ahaz begins his reign 734 Isaiah meets Ahaz 733 Menahem of Samaria becoming his tributary 732 Damascus captured and Rezin killed Ahaz of Judah became an Assyrian vassal 731 After the murder of Pekah, Hoshea was appointed king of Israel (see 2 Kings 15-17). 722 Samaria captured 2. The Meaning of the Sign to Isaiah God would send one who would be worthy to sit on David s throne, He would be God s presence Himself Immanuel: kt ubng 3. The Meaning of the Sign to Matthew a. The incarnated One, Yeshua, would be the true and rightful heir to David s throne and as the righteous King, he would save His people from their sins. b. Matthew would give Isaiah s words their fullest possible meaning, their fullest weight. c. We are not told until Matthew that the words of Isaiah were given their fulllest intended meaning at the time of Yeshua s coming. That is why we should not look for Ahaz or Isaiah to have fully understood the prophecy of 7:14.

F. Summary 1. The son: A message to the house of David that someone is coming who will make decisions properly and save His people. Isaiah will expand on the significance of Immanuel in the next several chapters. 2. The name of the son: Not his personal name, but a description of His nature and function. See 9:6 for the same phraseology. 3. The age of the son: This is the sign. After the child is weaned, but before he knows to make moral decisions, Ahaz s fears will be resolved. God will do it without the help of Ahaz. G. The Word Virgin 1. (עלמה) Almah Genesis 24:43 Exodus 2:8 Isaiah 7:14 Psalms 68:25 Proverbs 30:19 Song 1:3; 6:8 2. (בתולה) Betulah Genesis 24:16 Exodus 22:16-17 Leviticus 21:3,14 Deuteronomy 22:19, 23, 28; 32:25 Judges 19:24; 21:12 2 Samuel 13:2, 18 1 Kings 1:2 2 Kings 19:21 Isaiah 23:4, 12; 37:22; 47:1; 62:5 Jeremiah 2:32; 14:17; 18:13; 31:4, 13, 21; 46:11; 51:22 Ezekiel 9:6; 44:22 Joel 1:8 Amos 5:2; 8:13 Zechariah 9:17 Psalms 45:14; 78:63; 148:12 Job 31:1 Lamentations 1:4, 15, 18; 2:10; 2:13, 21; 5:11 Esther 2:2-3, 17, 19 2 Chronicles 36:17 3. A Special Passage a. Genesis 24:16 The girl was very beautiful, a virgin, and no man had had relations with her b. The word virgin is betulah and it needs to be qualified by saying, and no man had had relations with her.

IV. The Fulfilment of Isaiah s Words A. Isaiah s Prophetic Action 7:3 1. His son bwvy"ƒra'v. She ar-yashuv a remnant will return. It can suggest: a. Either warning or hope b. Either physical return from exile or spiritual return to God. c. Perhaps all are intended, for all four ideas can be justified from one or more passages in the book. d. Without doubt the element of warning is prominent in the present context. 2. The location: See 36:2 a warning The warning to Ahaz: His plan will backfire! V. The Rise of Assyria vv. 17 25 A. The Assyrians Depicted 7:18 B. The Extent of the Assyrian Invasion 7:19 C. The Assyrian Treatment of the People 7:20 D. The Image Portrayed of the Assyrian Invasion 7:21-25 ISAIAH CHAPTER 8 IMMANUEL S LAND I. The Prophetic Placard 8:1 4 A. What did God instruct Isaiah to do in 8:1 4? 1. A gillyon (גליון) is a flat piece of wood, not a scroll or a stone. 2. An ordinary stylus Not clear, but could carry the idea of he wrote in a clear hand. 3. This time Isaiah wanted everyone to read the sign, not just the royal family. B. What was he to write on it? Maher-shalal-hash-baz (zc aj kka rvn) Speeding to the plunder, hurrying to the spoil. C. What was the significance of this message? 1. A sign to Ahaz and/or the corrupt House of Judah that God will act quickly and protect them, their hasty and dangerous plot is not necessary. 2. The fulfilment came in 732 when Assyria conquered Damascus and plundered Samaria.

II. The Prophetic Flood 8:5 8 A. What two bodies of water are compared in verses 5-8? 1. Shiloah a. The Gihon Spring, which was probably in full view of Ahaz when Isaiah was speaking b. What did the Shiloah (Gihon) Spring signify? The sweet and gentle goodness that God desired for them 2. The River a. Euphrates River b. What did The River signify for them? The judgment of the Lord by sending the Assyrians The people were whooping with delight at the prospect of the downfall of the two northern kings. Yet forgot who it was that was about to do them in! B. What the Assyrians would do Notice the image Isaiah uses to describe this damage? 8:7-8 C. It reaches to the neck Jerusalem! D. What would be the reason for such protection of Jerusalem? The reason for the protection is Immanuel! 1. Are we to understand Immanuel as a name or as an assurance of God s presence? 2. Whose Land is it? 3. What is the significance of this designation? E. A Textual Problem 1. 8:6 sometimes reads: Inasmuch as these people have rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah and rejoice in Rezin and the son of Remaliah 2. Why would the people of Judah and Jerusalem rejoice in Rezin and the son of Remaliah? It does not make too much sense. 3. The problem is solved by using slightly different letters: Instead of,משוש which would mean rejoice, perhaps the scribes made a mistake on the sounds and it should read, which would then be translated as despair or were,מסוס caused to melt, or become weak. This fits both the context, the historical situation, and especially ties in with 7:2 better. It is just a slight difference in letters, both of which have the same sound.

III. The Prophetic Assurance 8:9 10 A. Ahaz s plans will be thwarted, and even backfire. B. The very mention of Immanuel s name brings renewed confidence in Isaiah to rebuke their wicked schemes. IV. The Prophetic Irony 8:11 15 A. The Lord to Isaiah and all who trust in Him: a Sanctuary B. The Lord to unbelievers: a Stumbling Stone V. The Prophetic Children 8:16 18 A. The Testimony and The Torah Isaiah s disciples were instructed to write down all that they were hearing from the great prophet. B. Both Isaiah and his children are signs for God s people. 1. Sha ar-jashuv (cuah rta) a remnant shall return a. A sign to Ahaz that although his plans will be thwarted and his people will be taken away, yet God will cause a remnant to return. b. Man s plans will falter without God, yet God will always act out of grace. 2. Maher-shalal-hash-baz (zc aj kka rvn) a. Swift is the booty, speedy is the prey b. A sign to Ahaz and/or the corrupted House of David that God will act quickly and protect them, their hasty and dangerous plot is not necessary. VI. The Prophetic Blackout 8:19 9:1 A. Review the situation as Isaiah paints it. B. What was the distress in Israel/Judah? 8:21 C. Reject the mediums and accept God s Word! vv. 19 20 D. Spiritual Darkness will cover the Land E. Physical Distress and gloom will cover the Land F. The Promise of Light 1. Zebulun and Naphtali in the north, in Galilee 2. The Place where the Idolatry was heavy 3. The Place where the Assyrians first entered 4. The Place where Immanuel will grow up and minister reclaiming His Land and His People!

ISAIAH 8:21 9:7 THE BIRTH OF IMMANUEL I. The Situation for Immanuel 8:21 22 A. Ahaz s Backfired Plan B. The Distress of Ephraim/Israel 1. Starvation 8:21 2. Bitterness 8:21 3. Despair 8:22 II. The Relief through Immanuel 9:1 5 A. The Location Galilee B. The Particulars 1. Darkness to Light v. 1 2 2. Depopulation to Increase v. 3 C. A textual and translation problem in verse 3: 1. Magnification or increase of the Nation (magnification is a better translation of,hcrv than multiply ) 2. tk was understood by the ancient masoretes to be uk. The difference is from no to to or its The translation should read, You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. D. Defeat of Enemies v. 4 Verse 4 gives us the reason for the joy. It is the destruction of the rod of the oppressor. As in the day of Midian, when Gideon suddenly had his men break their pitchers and show forth the light of the coming of God s deliverance, here the coming of Messiah causes the light suddenly to shine out and shows the certainty of the coming deliverance from sin and oppression that results from sin through the death of Messiah. (Alan A. MacRae, Isaiah, 36) E. Destruction of War v. 5 Wars, like with the Assyrians, would come to an end with the coming of Immanuel, the Prince of Peace. III. The Arrival of Immanuel 9:6 A. The History of Interpretation 1. Jewish Interpretation a. Ancient Targum Jonathan (1 st century BCE) And there was called His name from old, wonderful, counsellor, mighty God, He who lives for ever, the Messiah in whose days peace shall increase.

b. Modern i. Rabbi A. J. Rosenberg (Isaiah, Judaica series of the Prophets) Hezekiah ii. Rabbi I. W. Slotki (Isaiah, Soncino Books of the Bible) merely transliterates the names: Pele-joez-el-gibbor-avi-ad-sar-shalom 2. Christian Interpretation a. Messiah! b. Differences the division of the names i. KJV 5 names ii. Others 4 names, following the MT B. Immanuel s Titles 1. Wonderful Counsellor (.guh tkp) a. Pele tkp not an adj., but a noun b. Pele means a wonder A mysterious act of God, beyond human grasp c. Rabbinic 2 names: God turned the time back for Hezekiah and God s plan to defeat Sennacharib was successful d. The name fits the situation: He is the Wonder Counsellor who partakes of the very nature of God (See 28:29). 2. Mighty God (rucd kt) a. A hero in war, able to defeat Israel s enemies b. Messiah is called the same name as God. El Gibor is used to speak of God elsewhere in the Tanakh: Isaiah 10:21; Deuteronomy 10:17, Jeremiah 32:18 c. Rabbinic the One who destroyed all of Sennacharib s troops instantly d. The name fits the situation: The King will have God s true might about Him, able to defeat all of Israel s enemies including sin! 3. Father of Eternity (sghct) a. One word in Hebrew b. Rabbinic The Father of time, existing forever, the reign of the Davidic line was prolonged through Hezekiah s merit; able to add 15 years to Hezekiah s life.

d. The name fits the situation: God/Immanuel relates to His people with paternal compassion. The Messiah is eternal and paternal in relation to His people. 4. Prince of Peace (ouka-ra) a. Rabbinic It was peaceful during the reign of Hezekiah How peaceful were those days? i. 2 Kings 18:7 9 He rebelled against the king of Assyria. ii. 2 Kings 18:7 9 He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza. iii. 2 Kings 18:13 In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and seized them. iv. 2 Kings 20:1 In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. v. Bar Kafara says that God intended Hezekiah to be the Messiah and Sennacharib to be Magog; but Hezekiah was unworthy of this honour. (B. Sanhedrin 94a) b. The name fits the situation: Messiah will bring in the peaceful Messianic Kingdom and gives peace, well-being, wholeness to all who trust in Him. 5. Immanuel s Dual Nature IV. The Triumph of Immanuel 9:7 A. Immanuel s government will increase and last forever B. He will be the kind of King that Israel needs, in contrast to Ahaz and the other kings. C. Immanuel s kingdom will be one of justice and righteousness. D. God Himself will cause it to happen, Immanuel s reign will not be done by humans but by God alone.

ISAIAH 9:8 10:4 THE JUDGMENTS OF IMMANUEL Introduction A. There is a sharp and sudden transition between 9:7 and 9:8 B. The chapter breaks should be at 9:8 and 10:4 C. A repeated refrain may indicate that this sermon was sung 1. Nevertheless His anger does not turn away, and His hand is still stretched out. 2. The title, therefore for this Song of Judgment can be God s Unrelenting Merciful Judgment I. Judgment Against Arrogance and Pride 9:8 12 A. The Nature of the 1 st Judgment 9:8-12 B. They ignored the Word of the Lord 9:8 9 B. Their futile plans 9:10 C. The Squeeze 9:11 12 God will entice Israel s enemies to attack Israel II. Judgment Against the Spiritual Leaders 9:13 17 A. The Nature of the 2 nd Judgment 9:13 17 B. God s Discipline has two purposes 9:13 1. Retributive him ( who struck them ) 2. Restorative ( seek the lord and turn back ) C. The Head and Tail: 1. Head palm branch (The honoured) elder and honourable man 2. Tail bulrush (the insignificant) prophets D. Just as they had no pity on the orphans and widows, so God will take no pity on the choice young men. 9:17 E. The sin spread to all strata of society 9:17 III. Judgment Against National/Family Rivalries and Mistreatment 9:18 21 A. The Nature of the 3 rd Judgment 9:18-21 B. Isaiah using the image of fire 1. Wickedness spreads like wildfire! 9:18 2. Wickedness caused the blaze in 9:18 3. Divine wrath causes the blaze in 9:19 C. The nation devouring each other 9:19 20 1. Wickedness and insatiable Greed will destroy the Nation 2. Civil War brings wrath The first civil war of Israel was between Ephraim and Manasseh (the Gileadites) in Judges 12:1

IV. Judgment Against Civil Leadership 10:1 4 A. The Nature of the 4 th Judgment B. Their laws went contrary to the Torah 10:1 C. The vulnerable were deprived of rights 10:2 D. Retribution in the day of their court, there will be no defender for them! 10:3 E. Jail and slavery: desirous to not be noticed 10:4 IMMANUEL S JUDGMENTS, PART II ISAIAH 10:5 10:34 Introduction A. We need to remember the overall theme of this section of Isaiah Ahaz s conspiracy to defend Judah by seeking an alliance with Assyria. B. Up to this passage, Isaiah had alternative rebuked and encouraged Israel. But not the prophet speaks directly to Assyria, a nation other than Israel/Judah. C. This section continues the theme of judgment, but presents an interesting theological presentation of Immanuel s judgment. We will look at what God had to say to Assyria. I. Background of Assyria A. Beginnings 1. From Ashur, the first-born son of Shem (Genesis 10:22) 2. Settled in northern Mesopotamia on the Tigris River. 3. Assyrians were Semitic, Babylonians were from Ham, but related to Assyrians in language, religion, and history. 4. Both nations inherited the highly advanced Sumerian civilization, which they adapted to their own needs. B. Rise to Power 1. First they were subject to the Babylonians, but under Tiglath Pileser I in 1115-1077, they gained strength and began their empire. 2. They became the most warlike of all Mesopotamian nations. 3. They used terrorism, psychological warfare, and brutality. 4. After a period of slight decline, they were conquering again under Ashurbanipal (885-860). This period of decline coincided with the rise of David and Solomon in Israel. 5. Their ambition was to create an empire from the Persian Gulf to the Nile Valley.

C. Their End 1. Nineveh was taken by the Babylonians, the Medes, and the Scythians in 612. It became a ruin and a place for herds to pasture. 2. The Medes and Babylonians again attacked and carved up the rest of the Assyrian Empire for themselves in 609. King Josiah was killed trying to prohibit the Egyptians from coming to the Assyrian s aid. 3. Read Nahum 2:12-13; 3:1,7 on the Fall of Nineveh. I. The Pride of Assyria 10:5 14 A. God s Purpose for Assyria 10:5 6 ( Mud in 10:6 does not refer to physical harm, but to humiliate them) B. God s Problem with Assyria 10:7 11 1. Place names may indicate possible date: Calno and Arpad 738 Damascus 732 Samaria 722 Hamath 720 Carchemish 717 2. 10:8 princes are kings (read Assyrian boasting) Often Assyrian s generals were former kings of the conquered peoples. 3. Assyrian cruelty was noteworthy 4. All for the name of Assyria and her gods (Ashur) 5. Assyrian kings gave themselves the title, The King of Kings 6. Quote from Esarhaddon (681-669): I am powerful, I am all-powerful, I am gigantic, I am colossal, I am honoured, I am magnificent, I am without an equal among all the kings. II. The Downfall of Assyria 10:15 19 A. After God accomplishes His work! 10:13 B. Assyrian arrogance 10:14 15 1. Assyrian intelligence 10:13 2. Note Isaiah s use of the language in 10:14 ( chirped ) C. God s Plan 10:16 19 1. Slow deterioration 10:16 2. A single day 10:17 The Fall of Nineveh, described by Nahum (612)

3. God, the light of Israel becomes a consuming fire! a. He will be a light. Not merely will light b. Remember: The Rock of Salvation also becomes a Stumbling Stone c. God remains eternally the same. But humans may experience now one consequence of a particular divine attribute and then another. 4. Note the continual use of the forest or vegetation image (v. 15, 17 19; 3 34) prepares us for chapter 11 III. The Accomplishments of Assyria 10:20-27 A. Judgment on Israel/Judah 10:20 22 B. A lesson for Israel/Judah 10:20 C. A Second Egypt 10:23 27 1. Assyria treated Israel like slaves in Egypt Assyria will experience the same. 2. Israel will be delivered miraculously, just like from Egypt. IV. The Description of Assyria s Terror 10:28-32 A. A description of terror and fright of the people as if they can see the coming of the Assyrians from the north to Jerusalem. B. Look at the Geography V. The Transition to Chapter 11 10: 33 34 A. How are the people of Judah described in 10:33-34? B. What will Assyria do to these people? C. How do these verses serve as a transition to chapter 11? IMMANUEL S TASK (THE KINGDOM OF IMMANUEL) ISAIAH 11 I. Sprouting of The Branch 11:2 A. The Hebrew: choter, branch (חוטר) rod, or shoot gez a, stump (גזע) stem netzer, sprout (נצר) offshoot shoresh root (שורש) B. The intent: something small and insignificant will arise from something small and insignificant. C. The word-play on the word netzer: 1. Netzer means sprout or offshoot. But us the same letters to for a word that means to watch over, or to look at 2. It is the word from which we get the name Nazareth!

II. Characteristics of the Branch 11:2 5 According to verses 2-5, what are the characteristics of the Branch? III. The Kingdom of the Branch 11:6 16 A. The Release from External Danger 11:6 9 A change to the land and animal world (Romans 8:21-22) B. What will be the reaction of the Nations to the Branch? 11:10 C. The Restoration of Israel 11:11 16 1. To the Land 11:11-12 2. To Each Other 11:13 3. To Place of Honour Over their Enemies 11:14-16 PRAISE TO IMMANUEL ISAIAH 12 Introduction A. Reminder of the Context The Book of Immanuel, Chapters 7 12 B. The Purpose for Chapter 12 Similar in purpose and character to the Song of Moshe following the Exodus from Egypt: to express joy at the mighty deliverance that God will perform, particularly by the hands of Immanuel. Israel s first and final expression of God s grace was praise. C. Ways of Outlining the Chapter 1. Two halves: a. First half: Praise for what God has done b. Second half: Exhortation to share those deeds 2. What the song teaches about Immanuel D. The Song of the Redeemed! Can t you just hear Isaiah dancing around and singing it to his people?! I. Immanuel, Our Comforter 12:1 A. That Day a general expression for the day in which God does a mighty work: the salvation of Israel B. The anger/discipline will cease Israel will be comforted

II. Immanuel, Our Saviour 12:2 3 A. The root gah 1. Occurs 3x in verses 2 3 2. God is our salvation the theological reality of god 3. God has become ( prophetic perfect ) our salvation God working on behalf of His people in accordance with His nature. 4. The springs of salvation the never-ending living water God is a never-ending supply of living water to satisfy all of our spiritual thirst. A possible synonym for the Word of God. B. Trust and not fear The imperfect tense: represents continual trust, alleviates all fear C. Strength and song God is everything to the redeemed: Salvation, Strength, Song III. Immanuel, the Exalted One 12:4 A. The change of the pronoun 1. 12:1 a singular you 2. 12:4 a plural you 3. The nation is pictured like a man suffering under the guilt and consequences of sin. Once delivered, however, the nation as a body engages in one act of praise. 4. Salvation for the individual results in praise from the nation B. Make known His deeds among the nations Israel will fulfil their divine calling because of Immanuel. C. Is exalted God s name will be praise among the nations because of Israel. IV. Immanuel, the Holy One of Israel 12:5 6 A. Immanuel the object of their emotions 1. Cry aloud A shrill sound, like that of the neighing of a horse 2. Shout for joy a loud ringing cry 3. Sing! B. Immanuel the object of their speech Throughout the earth C. Immanuel will be in their midst D. Immanuel the Holy One of Israel