Alliance against Judah
Isa 7:1 And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.
Judah was separated from Israel. An alliance was formed between Israel and Syria to war against Judah. The grandson of King Uzziah was ruling. He was the wicked Ahaz, who worshipped foreign gods and even brought them to the temple in Jerusalem.
2 Ki 16:1 In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.
2 Ki 16:2 Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father.
2 Ki 16:3 But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel.
He burned his son to the god, Molech. Sacrificing children to a god sounds awful, yet, today millions of unborn are sacrificed to the god of self and pleasure.
2 Ki 16:4 And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
He worshipped pagan gods in their ways.
2 Chr 28:4 He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
2 Chr 28:5 Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.
2 Chr 28:6 For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.
One Hundred twenty thousand of Judas best fighting men were killed in one day, because they forsook the God of Israel and his protection was removed from them.
2 Chr 28:7 And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king.
2 Chr 28:8 And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.
The mighty men of Ephraim, a tribe of Israel captured two hundred thousand from Judah and brought them to Samaria, but a prophet was there with a message.
2 Chr 28:9 But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, 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.
2 Chr 28:10 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?
You have captured your kinsmen from Judah, all sons of Jacob, now have they done any worse than you in sinning against the Lord?
Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
2 Chr 28:11 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.
2 Chr 28:15 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: then they returned to Samaria.
Mat 25:42 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
Mat 25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Mat 25:44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Mat 25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
Isa 7:2 And it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind.
The hearts of the people of Judah were as their wicked king Ahaz, they were fearful. Israel and Syria were allied together and Judah was, trembling, as trees moved by the wind, yet they would not trust their one true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Unbelief of Ahaz
Isa 7:3 Then said the LORD unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shearjashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field;
Isaiah is given detailed instructions from God. They are to be followed, not ignored. Why would God use someone who will not listen to and follow him? He was to go meet King Ahaz, of Judah, at this certain place and to bring Isaiah's son, Shearjashub; the name meaning, a remnant shall return. The son's name was also a message to the king.
Isa 7:4 And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.
God spoke this message to Ahaz; take heed and be quiet. Apparently like us at times, we get excited and worried about things, when we are to be still, seek God and obey him. Fear not, for the fierce anger of the kings of Syria and Israel, are as to God as smoking burnt out torches. Let God be your deliverer, often we see defeats of the past as coming to us again, it is the devils smoke. Stand fast and trust the LORD.
Isa 7:5 Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying,
Isa 7:6 Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal:
The two enemy kings desire to make a breach in the wall of Jerusalem, remove you as king and set up their own king to rule Judah.
Isa 7:7 Thus saith the Lord GOD, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.
God said, it will not happen. Can Ahaz trust God, after so much idolatry in serving foreign Gods? Again America comes to mind, not wanting God until there is no way out, then they sing God Bless America.
Isa 7:8 For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people.
God points to the future, in 65 years Israel will no longer be a people, but taken captive.
Isa 7:9 And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.
Ahaz would not believe in God as his help, but would trust in the gods of Syria. His unbelief would bring him to death and hell. Those who inherit eternal life believe in God and His promises.
2 Chr 28:22 And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz.
2 Chr 28:23 For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.
2 Chr 28:24 And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem.
2 Chr 28:25 And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers.
False honor
Isa 7:10 Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying,
Isa 7:11 Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.
Speaking through Isaiah, the LORD had promised to deliver Judah if Ahaz trusted in Him. Now he gives Ahaz an open door: ask for a sign to prove me and I will give it to you. This is the way the old testament Jews sought for proof.
1 Cor 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
There should not be a need for a sign, but because of Ahaz' unbelief, God was willing to give him a sign. Is God showing us a sign or signs today?
The Jewish leaders asked for signs from Jesus too.
Mat 12:38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
Mat 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign;...
Mark 8:11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
Mark 8:12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.
Isa 7:12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD.
Oh how spiritual this sounds; but is disobeying God a spiritual thing? What a hypocrite; he never intended to obey God. A liar will say anything to make himself look good, but we must see what he does. His fruit follows him showing what he really believes.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Isa 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
Isa 29:14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
So many we witness to, pretend to want to know answers about God, but in truth they are just playing a game. They have already made up their mind, not believing or even blaming God, instead of coming to Him and obeying Him. God gave His Son, to redeem us from death and hell; yet many smugly refuse this, thinking themselves as clever, while trusting in lesser gods.
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
2 Cor 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
Jer 19:15 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon this city and upon all her towns all the evil that I have pronounced against it, because they have hardened their necks, that they might not hear my words.
It is never clever or wise to disobey God. Hear him, study his word, pray and obey your God. Do not be as Ahaz, refusing His offer of deliverance. Ahaz was an idolater.
Sign of Immanuel
Isa 7:13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?
Hear ye now, pay attention King Ahaz and also Judah, the house of David. Your unbelief wears out men, but will you make God weary too? Unbelief grieves the Holy Spirit of God.
Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
In our Internet chat rooms, negative unbelief or even worse false god worship, grieves the Holy Spirit. It cannot be allowed to continue, for it leads to division and strife.
Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
You would not ask for a sign, but you and the house of David will be given a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.Praise God! Through Isaiah, God speaks to the future coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was spoken some 700 years before he came, describing a miracle birth; a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son. Also the name is given; Immanuel, God with us.
Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Mat 1:22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
Mat 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
This is a very important sign, given in the face of unbelief. Faith would be required to receive this promise. Faith that would mean salvation. Salvation is by faith in Immanuel, then and now.
Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Isa 7:15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.
There was no evil in Jesus, the son of God. He was the light and truth of the world.
John 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
John 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
Psa 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
...that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.
John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
1 John 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
2 Cor 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Isa 7:16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.
Before the coming of Immanuel, the land that you defile, king Ahaz, the land that God established for righteousness, you have turned into wicked idolatry. The land of Israel and Judah shall have both her kings removed. The kings and people would be removed to Babylon, only a remnant remaining. Your salvation will depart because you did not trust in the God of your people and Immanuel who shall come.
The LORD had offered Ahaz deliverance, if he would trust in him. Instead of receiving from the LORD Ahaz chose his own path, which resulted in destruction. Do we put our own plans ahead of God? In Christ we are in God's will; being yoked together with Christ, he carries our burdens and leads the way. If we break loose on our own, it will result in chaos. Follow the signs of God, the virgin birth, the cross and the resurrection. Observe the signs around you as the end is drawing near. It is no time to be walking in our own understanding, but a time to draw near to God and to yield to the direction of the mind of Christ.
As Flies and Bees
Isa 7:17 The LORD shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father's house, days that have not come from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; even the king of Assyria.
Because Ahaz would not listen to God, The LORD spoke to him of coming disaster. The LORD shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people. They might have lived in peace, but they were stubborn.
Isa 7:18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.
Isa 7:19 And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all thorns, and upon all bushes.
The LORD will whistle to the Assyrians, in which Ahaz tried to befriend, even worshipping their Gods, and they will come in swarms. The Egyptians would come too, as flies and the Assyrians as bees, to sting; they will be everywhere.
Isa 7:20 In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, namely, by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet: and it shall also consume the beard.
The LORD will hire them to come and humble them by shaving the head and legs and also consume the beard. The Assyrians were known for their cruelty and torture of their enemies.
The prophet Jonah refused to go to them, because he wanted the Lord to destroy them, instead he took a boat to Tarshish. But the LORD made him return to witness to them, and they repented.
Jonah 1:2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
Jonah 1:3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
To shave off the beard of an Oriental was an unbearable shame to him and was a sign of great sadness and mourning as well as despicable slavery. (Bultema)
Isa 7:21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep;
Isa 7:22 And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land.
This would be all that would remain of their possessions; a little milk and butter and honey from the land. Their agriculture would be ruined.
Isa 7:23 And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, it shall even be for briers and thorns.
Briers and thorns will replace the vineyards and fields of grain.
Isa 7:24 With arrows and with bows shall men come thither; because all the land shall become briers and thorns.
Isa 7:25 And on all hills that shall be digged with the mattock, there shall not come thither the fear of briers and thorns: but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of lesser cattle.
The land shall become a grazing place for oxen and lesser domestic cattle; sheep and goats. All this, because Ahaz refused to take the LORD's offer of help.
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