Isaiah 7:1-9

DAY #20

ISAIAH 7:1-9

?

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.

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.

3 ???????? Then said the LORD unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, you, and Shearjashub your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field;

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.

5 ???????? Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against you, saying,

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:

7 ???????? Thus saith the Lord GOD, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.

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.

9 ???????? And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established.

?

King Ahaz was in a long war with Israel. The constant battle growing seemingly daily. King Ahaz, was not a good king like king David. He did not pursue holiness, nor take down idols. Ahaz saw the increase in attacks against Judah. He was informed that Syria and Ephraim had allied themselves together against him.

Yet God in his goodness, kept his promise to David and protected Jerusalem. Isaiah was now directed to go and meet King Ahaz. He is told to bring his son, Shearjashub, whose name means “The remnant shall return.” His presence was to be a sign of hope, given the meaning of his name. Then Isaiah tells the king that Syria and Ephraim are two tails of smoking firebrands. This small description held great meaning to King Ahaz. It mean they were a smoldering fire about to be out by God. This may be their last shot at “bravado,” for they had captured God’s attention and not in a good way. God was saying to King Ahaz, “I got this.”

This message was both a warning and a promise of a win in a long war. “If you will not believe …” if you will not trust that Isaiah is God’s prophet. “If you will not heed these words … surely you will not be established.” God was through giving Ahaz more chances to rebel. He either had to believe or risk being in the same place as Israel was which was making war with him. A choice between having hope and having none.

?

Dear Lord Jesus,

Help me to pay attention to the world around me. Help me to see it through Your eyes. I want to understand more than I think I do. I want to better understand how to be Your frontline. I want to be there understanding where you want me to go. Lord, my Hope is in You. Use me that I may share this incredible love that You have granted me.

In Jesus name, Amen.