THE SIGN OF IMMANUEL
chapter 7
1. When Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem, but they could not overpower it.
2. Now the house of David was told, "Aram has allied itself with Ephraim"; so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind.
3. Then the LORD said to Isaiah, "Go out, you and your son Shear-Jashub, to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field.
4. Say to him, ’Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood - because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah.
5. Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah’s son have plotted your ruin, saying,
6. "Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it."
7. Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says: "’It will not take place, it will not happen,
8. for the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is only Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people.
9. The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.’"
10. Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz,
11. "Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights."
12. But Ahaz said, "I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test."
13. Then Isaiah said, "Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also?
14. Therefore the LORD himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
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Isaiah 7:1-142022 Christmas-1
THE SIGN OF IMMANUEL
(Isaiah 7:1-25)
Open it:
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What is one of the most frightening pieces of news you’ve ever received?
Explore it:
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Read vs. 1-2. What problem did King Ahaz of Judah face? What was the plan of these enemies? (5,6; also read 2 Kings 16:5-6) How was the morale of Judah affected when they heard about the alliance of Aram and Israel?
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Read vs. 3-9. What did the Lord tell Isaiah and his son to do? What was God’s message to Ahaz? (3-4) What was God’s promise? (7-9a) How could Ahaz stand firm? (9b)
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Read vs. 10-13. What did God offer to help Ahaz out of his unbelief? (10,11) Why did Ahaz refuse? (12) What effect did Ahaz’s unbelief have on his people? On God?
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Read vs. 14-15. What sign was promised by God even though Ahaz had not asked? What does the name “Immanuel” mean? (Jn. 1:14; Lk. 2:11-12) To Ahaz? To us?
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Read verses 16-25. What was Isaiah’s specific prediction regarding Ahaz’s enemies? (16) What country would be used by God to punish both Judah and its enemies? (17-20) In what concrete ways would Judah lose its status as a land of rich, productive agriculture? (21-25)
Apply it:
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What fear do you need to surrender to God, not to be controlled by it?