Isaiah 7:1-9:7
Related Sunday School Lesson, Family Bible Series, Nov. 12
This week’s passage of Scripture takes place with the backdrop of Isaiah 7:1-2. Ahaz, the king of Judah, was threatened with war as a result of an alliance between Israel and Syria. These two nations threatened to invade Judah if King Ahaz did not join them in their fight against Assyria.
According to verse 7:2b this threat of war sent panic among the people. Neither the emotions of the king or his people were able to be comforted because of this news. This is where Isaiah’s words come into play (note verses 7:3-4). God spoke through His prophet to give His people the hope they needed if they would only trust His words!
God is still doing that today. Since 9/11, we in America have had new reasons to trust God’s Word for the hope we need to get us through life’s uncertainties. May we, too, heed God’s Word through Isaiah to give us the sustained hope we need to get us through life’s most difficult moments.
Notice with me the following truths that will give us light in the midst of darkness.
I. Turn to God and His Word (vv. 8:13-22)
How many of us still remember the days and months immediately following the events of 9/11? Our churches were full and people were asking and searching for answers.
So were the people of Isaiah’s day. The only problem with searching for answers is being careful where and whom you turn to! We must go to the right place and the right people.
Isaiah wants the people not to turn to spiritualists or to their circumstances, but rather to turn to God’s Word and to those who would tell them truth based upon God’s Word. Isaiah tells the people in verse 20 to trust only the law of God and those who testify to its truthfulness. Stay away from mediums, wizards, and false prophets.
You see, it’s in difficult times that we find out where our real trust and hope lies. If it’s not in God’s Word and ultimately God’s Son, Jesus, we are on unstable ground.
Isaiah warns the people that if they don’t repent and truly trust God’s Word, they will surely be cast into deeper darkness (v. 22).
Now is always the best time to turn to God’s Word!
II. Look for God to act (Isaiah 9:1-5)
The bottom line here is that even though the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali would be the first to suffer the Assyrians’ brutal invasion and annexation, in the end God would bring hope from despair. The invasion of the Assyrian king marked the beginning of some of the darkest days of Israel’s history.
However, all would not be lost and all was not over concerning God’s promises and plans for Israel. God would eventually free national Israel from every foreign power that has ever captured and oppressed her. All of this was based upon His covenant with Abraham as referenced in verse 3.
But today, as Christians, we know that the ultimate deliverance comes from being set free from spiritual bondage. Israel and every people on the face of this earth must live in the light now given through the coming of Jesus Christ! God has acted upon the behalf of all men through the work of Christ on the cross (Romans 5:8). Jesus echoes this in Matthew 16:12-17 as He begins His public ministry.
God will, God has, and God does still act on our behalf.
III. Live in light of God’s sovereignty (Isaiah 9:6-7)
The ultimate hope that can be given to any nation or people, at any time or in any situation, is that God is sovereign! He truly rules and “overrules” the affairs of men. The bottom line here is that God is going to ultimately have His way! And His way here is to send a child, a son, a governor to bring to pass every redemptive purpose God has planned for mankind including Israel.
In spite of Israel’s sinfulness and our sinfulness, God has sovereignly chosen to bring salvation near to us all. The evidence of God’s choice of us will be seen in real repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The nature and character of Christ as identified in verse 6, “Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace” confirms that Jesus alone fulfills all rights to the Davidic throne (v. 7). Note the following verses for further study and understanding: Isaiah 7:14; 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Psalm 89:1-37; Matthew 1:21; Luke 1:31-33; 2:7, 11; Revelation 2:27; 19:15.
Because we know of God’s passionate zeal to complete full redemption for all of His creation, we can live under His rule and experience life the way God intends us to now and forever!
We can live the life God calls us to live through His sovereignty!
A light to the end
Jesus is truly the light, the only light, given to a dark, hopelessly lost world. Jesus was the hope in Isaiah’s day. He is the hope of our day and will be the hope in any future days God may give us.
I’ll never forget hearing the late Dr. J. Harold Smith say, “It does not matter where you cut the Bible, it will always bleed Jesus!” The death, burial, resurrection, and return of Christ is our only sure light to the end!