Isaiah, Week 3, Days 1 & 2: Isaiah 7:1-8:22

Day 1

Chapters 7-12 of Isaiah have been called "The Book of Immanuel" because of the strong prophecy of Christ's coming.-BB

Backdrop:
734 BC
When Ahaz was King of Judah:
King Rezin of Syria/Aram--was last king
King Pekah of Israel--was 2nd to last king-Israel became weaker after King Jeroboam II died.
Aram/Israel alliance against Judah
They planned to replace Ahaz with a puppet king--"son of Tabeel" (v 6).
Ahaz was terrified

*they reference "Ephraim" as the nation of Israel as representative of the entire nation. Ephraim was the largest tribe.

God tells him (v3) to send his son to meet King Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct. Tell him to stop worrying and fearing those nations.  The Lord says the invasion will never take place (v 7) because Syria is no stronger than its capital of Damascus and Israel will fall within 65 years.  But your faith must be firm. (v 8)

His son's name was Shear-jashub which means "a remnant will return" -BKC

1. The threat against Judah is the Syrian/Israeli alliance from the north.

2. The attack will fail (v 7)

3. Ephraim (Israel) will be destroyed within 65 years.
2 Kings 17:23---Yes, Israel was exiled into Syria.  There were multiple layers of disintegration over a period of time.

It seems contingent that Ahaz must believe that this will happen for it to happen even though he would not see it in his lifetime.

Day 2

 Isaiah 7:10-8:22

1.  Ahaz would be given the sign of a virgin bearing a son in a time of national upheaval.  His name would be Immanuel, "God with us."

Virgin is an unmarried woman of marriageable age.
Comment on upheaval:

The abundance of… milk was a distressful factor, not a good one. With many animals dying, a farmer’s young cow and two goats would have no young to nurse, and so the milk (and curds from it) would be plentiful for the people. Honey would also be abundant because wild flowers would grow in the desolate fields and bee swarms would be more plentiful. All this would fulfill the sign given Ahaz by Isaiah (Isa_7:15): he will eat curds and honey. -BKC

2. Immanuel means "God with us."  "The Almighty beside us."

3. The instrument of judgement will be Assyria  (Isaiah 7:17)  Also, the army of Southern Egypt (Isaiah 7:18).

4.  Isaiah 8:14, "He will keep you safe."  I don't understand the connection between the other references and safety.   Of course, Christ assures our safety, but I don't see that direct application in Luke 2:34 or Hebrews 2:11-13