Reflections on Isaiah 7

Isaiah 07 (Contemporary English Version)
1. Ahaz, the son of Jotham and the grandson of Uzziah, was king of Judah when King Rezin of Syria and King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel went to attack Jerusalem. But they were not able to do what they had planned.
   
2. When news reached the royal palace that Syria had joined forces with Israel, King Ahaz and everyone in Judah were so terrified that they shook like trees in a windstorm.
   
3. Then the LORD said to me: Take your son Shearjashub and go see King Ahaz. You will find him on the road near the cloth makers' shops at the end of the canal that brings water from the upper pool.
   
4. Tell Ahaz to stop worrying. There's no need for him to be afraid of King Rezin and King Pekah. They are very angry, but they are nothing more than a dying fire. Ahaz doesn't need to fear
   
5. their evil threats
   
6. to invade and defeat Judah and Jerusalem and to let the son of Tabeel be king in his place.
   
7. I, the LORD, promise that this will never happen.
   
8. Damascus is just the capital of Syria, and King Rezin rules only in Damascus. Samaria is just the capital of Israel, and King Pekah rules only in Samaria. But in less than sixty-five years, Israel will be destroyed. And if Ahaz and his officials don't trust me, they will be defeated.
   
9. (SEE 7:8)
   
10. Once again the LORD God spoke to King Ahaz. This time he said,
    
11. "Ask me for proof that my promise will come true. Ask for something to happen deep in the world of the dead or high in the heavens above."
    
12. "No, LORD," Ahaz answered. "I won't test you!"
    
13. Then I said: Listen, every one of you in the royal family of David. You have already tried my patience. Now you are trying God's patience by refusing to ask for proof.
    
14. But the LORD will still give you proof. A virgin is pregnant; she will have a son and will name him Immanuel.
    
15. Even before the boy is old enough to know how to choose between right and wrong, he will eat yogurt and honey, and the countries of the two kings you fear will be destroyed.
    
16. (SEE 7:15)
    
17. But the LORD will make more trouble for your people and your kingdom than any of you have known since Israel broke away from Judah. He will even bring the king of Assyria to attack you.
    
18. When that time comes, the LORD will whistle, and armies will come from Egypt like flies and from Assyria like bees.
    
19. They will settle everywhere--in the deep valleys and between the rocks, on every bush and all over the pastureland.
    
20. The Lord will pay the king of Assyria to bring a razor from across the Euphrates River and shave your head and every hair on your body, including your beard.
    
21. No one will have more than one young cow and two sheep,
    
22. but those who do will have enough milk to make yogurt. In fact, everyone left in the land will eat yogurt and honey.
    
23. Vineyards that had a thousand vines and were worth a thousand pieces of silver will turn into thorn patches.
    
24. You will go there to hunt with your bow and arrows, because the whole country will be covered with thornbushes.
    
25. The hills where you once planted crops will be overgrown with thorns and thistles. You will be afraid to go there, and your cattle, sheep, and goats will be turned loose on those hills.

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To this point in the book of Isaiah, the prophet has had visions of what is and what will be. The previous chapter records Isaiah's vision of his call to be God's prophet to Judah. All of this was preparation for the assign that Isaiah now takes on. The accounts of chapter 7 appear to be Isaiah's first assignment.

At this point in the history of Israel, the 12 tribes of Israel are divided into two kingdoms, the northern kingdom being Israel, and the southern kingdom, Judah. It is this southern kingdom to which Isaiah served as prophet, and his first assignment regarded an alliance between the northern kingdom, Israel, and the country of Aram for the purpose of attacking Judah. Verse 2 says that at learning of this alliance "the heart of Ahaz and the hearts of his people trembled like trees of a forest shaking in a wind." Therefore, God sent Isaiah to Ahaz with the message, "Calm down and be quiet. Don't be afraid or fainthearted because of these two smoldering stubs of firebrands, Rezin of Aram, and the son of Remaliah," for there will be no attack from these kings.

The God of the universe was in control of these events, and He was telling Ahaz that these mere men, Rezin and Pekah, were not a threat. What he needed to be more concerned about was what would happen if he did not stand firm in his faith, for if he did not, he would not stand at all. Did he stand firm in his faith? As we will see, he did not. Ahaz was offered the inviable opportunity of asking God for whatever miracle he wished to have performed as a sign that this prediction would come true. Although his response to this offer sounds pious, it really reveals the lack of faith in his heart. He said, "I will not test the LORD." Isaiah's response is our clue that Ahaz' reply is not one of faith, "Is it not enough for you to try the patience of men? Will you also try the patience of my God?" (7:13) The opening verses of this chapter may lead us to believe that king Pekah of Israel was an ungodly king and Ahaz a godly king, since God was going to deliver him from the attack of the Israel/Aram alliance. But we realize now that Ahaz was little, if any, better than Pekah.

The remainder of the chapter tells of a sign that Ahaz will be given, though he asked for none, and of the coming judgment on Judah at the hands of the Egyptians and the Assyrians. Ahaz did not stand firm in his faith and thus he and his nation would not stand at all. No doubt God gave Ahaz a sign, though he asked for none, so he would realize the truth of this prediction and recognize his own error.