Isaiah 9

Notes on Isaiah 7 & 8

The tribe of Ephraim was taking sides against Judah and joined with Syria against them. This troubled the heart of Ahaz and this causes Isaiah to come to comfort them. God sends Isaiah to Ahaz to encourage him not to fear those kings but to take heed to the real enemy, Assyria.

No matter how big and powerful these two enemies considered themselves, they are nothing compared to the power of God. They are compared to smoking firebrands. They were harmless and gave only an appearance of being dangerous. All smoke and no fire.

Syria and Ephraim was going to take over the country of Judah and even appoint a king to rule it. They determined to vex the land of Judah and take over.

The Word of the Lord prevails against all. God said that it would not come to pass and it did not. All their plans to take over Judah was not allowed to come to pass.

Imagine how low Ephraim had gotten that they made a confederacy with Syria against their own brethren in the south, the people of Judah. This would have never been heard of in the days of Moses and Joshua.

Here is prophecy of the downfall of Syria and Ephraim. They did not succeed in putting a king of Syria on the throne of Judah. Later we will read where Assyria comes to defeat both Syria and Ephraim. Unfortunately they also turn against Judah too.

God is offers to send a sign.

I believe this to be a prophecy of the coming Christ child even though Isaiah after this has a son. This may be one of those prophecies that has a double meaning. The name of Immanuel means "God with Us". We know Isaiah's son was not God but Jesus Christ was.

This child shall know right from wrong but, he would not be old enough to choose good from evil until the two kings of Syria and Ephraim would be destroyed. Their evil plot against Judah did not prevail according to the word of God.

Ahaz trusted in Assyria to help him and Assyria ended up being a worse enemy than Syria and Ephraim. They later conquered all the 10 tribes of Israel and all the country except Judah. It reminds me of WW 2 when the Russian was considered allied with the United States and England. After the war they took control over much of the land they were fighting to free from Nazi control. A friend and deliverer became an enemy.

Assyria was considered a friend and ally once but became a deadly enemy.

Destruction came so badly that only a remnant remains. Animals dwelled where men once dwelt. The places become desolate and empty.

Invading armies of Assyria and Egypt destroy both the kings of Syria and Ephraim bringing Isaiah's prophecy to pass. Judah also was invaded and it brought wide destruction to the land with only a remnant remaining.

As we continue to study the book of Isaiah we need to keep in mind why God allowed one nation to conquer another. God sends His prophets over and over again to warn Israel of their sin and rebellion against God. When they take heed to the Word sent by the Lord and repent, God allows them to be delivered from their enemies. In most cases, however they went on with their own ways and idolatry refusing to receive correction. He then allows other nations to destroy and consume their land. He always allows a remnant to remain that the word of God and His plan of salvation can come to pass. He also remembers the remnant who continue to believe in Him in spite of popular opinion.

Notice also that the nations God uses to punish Israel also suffer judgment. They were not to boast and think that is was by their own power that Judah and Israel suffered loss.

Isaiah 8

3 And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz.

The Lord uses illustrations many times in the bible. Perhaps it is to get us to search, seek and pray for understanding. We need to get dependent upon the Lord to give us understanding. He said in James, "If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God.....". He will give us wisdom if we ask in faith doubting not. Those who truly desire to understand the ways and the Word of God will. Those who seek to read in order to excuse their own sin will not understand truth. Our motives matter in reading the word.

A child is born of Isaiah and his wife called Mahershalalhashbaz. meaning - booty, prey and spoil. God is using the son here to show the future defeat of Syria and Ephraim.

(Isa 8:4 KJV) For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.

Samaria is the northern kingdom of Israel which sided with Assyria against Judah. Israel was the first kingdom to fall and follow after other nations. As a result Assyria was allowed to conquer Israel. That left Judah remaining. Most of the prophecy concerning Judah is warning them that unless they repent they too would lose their nation also. All these prophecies were fulfilled. The message to us today is to take heed, if God spares not the natural branches, we need to take heed that we do not make the same mistakes.

Sin starts out by simply neglecting to worship God. When we neglect to worship our focus changes. If God doesn't fill our hearts, Satan will.

Israel started out as a nation God chose to bring the salvation of all mankind. God delivered them out of Egypt's bondage, which kind of represents the world and sin. After they came out some began to desire to go back to Egypt and the things they enjoyed while there. Others went on to enjoy the presence of God and had the victory of inheriting the promise land. After they got comfortable in the promise land, they began to desire to be like other nations and have a king. Later they wanted to marry the foreign wives. Then later some began to desire to worship the gods of the other nations. This led to these prophecies, warnings and the eventual downfall of these nations. God only seeks for our good. He sees further down the line and knows where sin will lead us. He sends faithful messengers, he gives us His word and His Spirit to lead us. Let us take heed and hear the Word of God.

7 Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:

The northern kingdom of Israel desired to follow the ways of Syria and other nations so God is allowing the same nation of Assyria to overcome them. They even turned against their brethren, Judah. They thought Assyria was their friend and ally but that friend became their destroyer.

If we leave God and follow after Satan and the world, eventually Satan will destroy all who follow him. He is not a friend to anyone. When Israel made a league with nations who served other gods and desired their ways instead of God's ways the other nations eventually turned on Israel to destroy them.

It is a lesson on compromising. We can't love the world and God too.

(Isa 8:8 KJV) And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.

This is a warning also to Judah that the Assyrians would also overflow into their land. Again we see the use of the name of Immanuel meaning "God with Us."

(Isa 8:9 KJV) Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces .

No matter how the enemies of Judah take counsel and gather against God's people they will be destroyed. God allows other nations to punish His people when they disobey but He also destroys the nations that come against His people.

13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

God has always warned Israel and Judah not to make confederacies with other nations but to trust in God. God is to be our fear and dread not other nations. God is the one to whom we are to serve. When they trusted in Egypt and Assyria it backfired every time. The Lord was to be the one they trusted in both then and now.

(Isa 8:14 KJV) And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Here is clear prophecy of the coming Messiah. The answer was so simple and the message the same. Trust in the Lord and not in other nations. They did not recognize Him when He came to them because their trust was not in God.

Those who reject the Messiah, the Christ sent to save the world will stumble, fall and be broken but to those who receive Him, He will be a safety, a sanctuary. The Messiah became a rock of offense to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. They later rejected Him as they rejected the Word of God and served other nations in Isaiah's time.

17 And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.

Sin and rejection caused God to hide His face from the house of Jacob. When God hides His face evil will prevail and Satan has more power.

This rock of offence in verse 14 is none other but Jesus Christ. He became a snare to all who did not believe in Him. Many were offended at Him and wanted His death. They were looking for a conquering Messiah who would come as a great and mighty warrior and king. They were looking for someone to give them victory over their Roman oppressors at the time of Christ. They were not looking for someone who preached repentance for sins. His face is hidden temporarily from Israel because of their rejection of the Messiah.

We see though as we search the scriptures that God has not permanently cast away His people but a remnant will be saved and the nation of Israel brought back to God just before the reign of Jesus Christ. He then will come as the king and savior from the enemies.

Christ's first coming was to deal with the sins of the entire human race. Christ's Second Coming is to bring judgment and set up His literal kingdom. Don't look for an earthy king to come and solve all the world's problems and call him the Messiah. He will be the wicked one who talks of peace but there will be no peace. He will be the one to whom many people will be deceived and fooled into thinking he is god. Craft will prosper during the anti-christ's reign. The economy will prosper. People will be fooled into thinking all is well. This is not the reign of Christ.

The reign of Christ will get rid of sin and unrighteousness. Enemies of righteousness will be judged and destroyed. He is giving us the chance now to receive His kingdom within us. We can be born again by receiving Christ as Lord and savior and then we will reign with Him in His literal kingdom. Sin has to be turned from and repented of. He came the first time to take away our sin. Many today are skipping this part and trying to receive Christ without any cleansing of sin and repenting. When we receive Christ as savior, we receive the new birth and become a new creature in Christ Jesus, all old things pass away and all things become new. There will one day be a new heaven and earth where there will be no sin. We will not be allowed to enter that new earth unless we get rid of the sin first. That can't be done by doing a few good deeds while we are alive. That can only be done by repenting of sin, receiving Christ as savior and Lord thereby letting the blood of Jesus cover our sins.

God has a plan to redeem Israel also. They are now in darkness as a nation. They do not see themselves as sinners in need of repentance. This blindness is what keeps many of us from being born again and a new creature in Christ. We do not see ourselves as sinners in need of repentance. Phrases like "I'm only human," and "Everybody does it," does not bring eternal life.

19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?

How is must grieve our Lord when a nation to whom He delivered from Egypt, gave them a land full of milk and honey, and delivered them from all enemies began to turn from Him to seek familiar spirits and other gods.

Should we who have received the Lord Jesus Christ as savior and have been redeemed by His blood dabble in the occult, fortune telling and other counselors who know not God. Jesus Christ redeemed us by His blood and reconciled us back to the God who created us. We were separated from God by our sin. Jesus came to take away that sin and bring us back into the fellowship of God. We now can go straight to God without any mediator whether is be a priest, prophet or preacher. How He must feel when we run here and there and talk to everybody about our problems and never bring them to Him.

People of Isaiah's day was actually seeking dead spirits to advise them. Seeking to communicate with the dead is forbidden by the holy scriptures. I would stay away from it like the plague. Seek our Holy righteous God and He will give you His Holy Spirit to abide with you forever. Let Him be your teacher.

(Isa 8:20 KJV) To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

This was true then and still is now. Those in darkness do not speak the word. If they are speaking either then or now contrary to the Word of God, they are speaking in darkness and deception. Without the word we abide in darkness but at the entrance of the Word comes light.

Isaiah 9

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