Isaiah Lesson 5

Adult Class

December 2006-May 2007

Isaiah

Lesson 5: Trust God In Time of Danger

The section that includes 7:1-9:7 introduces a time of great danger to Judah. The northern kingdom of Israel has allied itself with Syria to invade and plunder Judah. The ultimate goal was to take Jerusalem itself and install another king, one under the oversight of Israel and Syria. These events can be dated about 733 B.C. The fuller story of the campaign between Judah and the Syro-Ephraimite alliance can be found in 2 Kings 16. It was this invasion that panicked Ahaz into calling upon Assyria to come to his aid against the combined kingdoms. Assyria responded to Ahaz’ invitation, but became another, more powerful and oppressive, invader.

7:7-17—Have faith

The word of God through Isaiah was plain: the plans of Syria and Israel will come to nothing. In both kingdoms, the entire enterprise depended upon only the king—if he were no longer in power, the whole nation would collapse. God promised, through Isaiah, that within 65 years the northern kingdom would be so shattered that it would no longer be considered a separate people. Ahaz is urged to maintain faith in the word of God and not trust in any other salvation. It is God who will work out this deliverance, and if Ahaz is not strong in his faith, his kingdom will not stand.

Then God invited Ahaz to choose a sign to confirm the word spoken through Isaiah. Others had asked for confirming signs (Gideon required three separate signs!) and not been condemned for it—they were not challenging God. Here, though, Ahaz rejects God’s invitation and couches it in pious language (Deuteronomy 6:16). In exasperation, God indicates what the sign will be.

The promise that the “virgin” shall be with child is a rare prophecy that has a double fulfillment. In the first place, there is a timely fulfillment in the city of Jerusalem—a young, currently unmarried woman will have a son. By the time the boy is old enough to understand right from wrong, God pledges that the Syrians and Israelites will be destroyed. This is the confirming sign from God that demonstrates that the plans of Ahaz’ enemies will be fruitless.

The second fulfillment of this stunning announcement, though, is the conception and birth of Jesus. It is important for us to realize that we would never have understood this as a secondary fulfillment of Isaiah’s words if not for Matthew’s explanation in Matthew 1:23. It is not possible for us to declare that this prophecy or that one has a secondary fulfillment. Only an inspired person could make that revelation known.

8:11-20—Fear God

Followers of God have always taken a way different from the unthinking people of the world. Here, Isaiah is commanded to reject the fears and anxieties of the nation. They see conspiracies on every side—everywhere there is something or someone to fear. Their way of life will be destroyed. They live in constant suspense. Yet God says that it is all unnecessary and foolish. Instead, Isaiah and all of God’s people are to regard Him alone as One to be feared and honored. He will protect His people and punish His enemies. It is not the kings of Syria or Israel or even Assyria who are in control of the lives of the people of Judah—it is the Lord Almighty who reigns over His people.

Isaiah takes his stand firmly before the Lord in verse 18 and indicates that he and his children will serve as symbols of God’s sovereignty in Jerusalem. Even if others will not follow God, he and his children will. They will live tranquil and peaceful lives in the middle of international turmoil because they trust in God and not in man. This same sentence is put in the mouth of Jesus by the Hebrew writer in Hebrews 2:13, indicating that Jesus regards His disciples as His own family—“brothers” or “children.”

In verse 19-20, God scolds the dabblers in the occult who would seek to raise the spirits of the dead in order to gain advice for living. By contrast, God demands that the living seek the Living God to learn about life. Those who reject the written word of God will continue to live in darkness, with all that implies—failure, sin, misery, error and personal disaster in every way.

9:1-7—He’s coming . . .

In contrast to those who stumble and fall in the darkness of their minds, God will provide a light for those who will come to Him. This section is a clear indication of the coming Messiah, a Deliverer of humanity. We should note seven distinctive things about this coming Messiah:

He comes from Galilee, the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. Consider this passage in connection with the Pharisees’ objection to Jesus in John 7:52, then note that a great prophet to the Gentiles came from Galilee—Jonah (2 Kings 14:25).
His coming will be an occasion of great joy.
His coming means freedom from the great oppressor of the people.
He is of Divine Nature, called “Mighty God.”
He will be King forever.
He will occupy the throne of David, who was promised a permanent descendant upon his throne.
This will all come about by the power and authority of God.

All of this is a powerful description of the life, ministry and nature of Jesus of Nazareth. Matthew noted that Jesus is the direct and unmistakable fulfillment of Isaiah’s words in this very passage when he commented on Jesus’ background in Matthew 4:12-16.

In the middle of a time of terrible turmoil and great danger for the people of Judah, God sends a message through Isaiah: have faith and trust in God. He has a glorious future in mind for His chosen people—this danger that seems so threatening is not very dangerous at all in the larger context. In times of great national calamity, instability and division of opinion, it is very important that we recognize that we do not follow the ways of the world, that we do not fear what they fear, and that our security is not gained by arms, wealth, technology or power. Our hope and our confidence are in God. In Him, even death is not the end of the story.