It has been a little while since I did a little study on Isaiah. Some things in this book are very hard to understand, and I was taking some time to study it and pray over it. I finally decided just to break it down and look at it a little at a time.
Verses fourteen through twenty-five of Isaiah chapter seven contain prophecy. In the prophetic books, there is usually a near prophecy (to be fulfilled soon) and a far prophecy (to be fulfilled sometime in the far distant future). That is the case in these verses as well. In addition, there is a type (prophecy of Christ) which is given in verses fourteen through sixteen. There is also an anti-type (prophecy of the anti-Christ) in these verses as well. Today’s little study takes a look at one of the near prophecies.
Remember that Ahaz said he did not need a sign from God because he did not want to tempt God? God had promised that Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah would not be able to overcome Ahaz and set up their own king or their own kingdom. The story of what occurred during the fulfillment of this prophecy can be found in II Chronicles chapter twenty-eight.
Pekah, the son of Remaliah, and Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim came in with Syria’s army and slew a hundred and twenty thousand people. They also took two hundred thousand women, sons, and daughters captive. But a prophet of the LORD by the name of Oded was there, and he went to talk to the people of Samaria where the captives were taken. He rebuked them and told them to give the captives back, “Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven. 10) And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the LORD your God? 11) Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you.” (II Chronicles 28:9b-11)
God allowed these enemies of Judah and Jerusalem to do great damage because of the sins of king Ahaz and the people of Judah and Jerusalem. However, they went in and wreaked havoc and took captives without pity. Now, they were in danger of God’s fierce wrath. Certain heads of Ephraim stood up and agreed with the prophet and said, “Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the LORD already, ye intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel. 14) So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation. 15) And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren.” (II Chronicles 28:13-15a)
God had promised Ahaz that he would not be overthrown. Also, God had promised that Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah would not take over and that they would not set up their own kingdom or appoint their own king. God fulfilled this promise, although He allowed many to be killed and much trouble to come to the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
Because of the trouble that came upon Judah and Jerusalem, Ahaz became afraid. He did not think that God had given them enough deliverance. He did not take into consideration that the reason so many were killed and so much damage was done was that he and the people had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.
When Ahaz saw the destruction that came upon Judah and Jerusalem, he chose to doubt God and put his trust in man. The very next verse shows that he called upon Assyria to come and help him, “16) At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him. 17) For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives. 18) The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Bethshemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.” (verses 16-18)
How did this turn out for Ahaz? Not very well. Verse twenty says, “Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.” Why not? For two reasons.
1. God was judging the nation for Ahaz’ sake, “For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD.” (verse 19)
2. God was judging Ahaz because Ahaz had taken things out of the Lord’s house to give as a bribe to the king of Assyria, “For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the LORD, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria.” (verse 21a) But the king of Assyria was not bought with bribes, “but he helped him not.” (verse 21b)
As a nation, we in America could be in danger like the people of Judah and Jerusalem. In a large part, we have also forsaken the Lord God. We have put our trust in man and in our own understanding.
Ahaz did not demonstrate trust in the Lord as his own son Hezekiah did. When Sennacherib, king of Assyria came up against Judah, Hezekiah comforted the people saying, “With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles.” (II Chronicles 32:8a) The arm of flesh will always fail, but trust in the Lord will bring victory and rest. II Chronicles 32:8 ends by saying, “And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.”
What will be our choice today? Will we rest in the power of the Lord God even if it looks like things are not like they are supposed to be. Or will we trust in man, in the arm of flesh, in which there is no help?