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by Sandy Shaw
Isaiah Chapter 7 presents us with a very political passage - where faith in God - and everyday politics are interwoven. Some say faith and politics don't mix - and should not mix - that they should be kept separate - kept apart - implying that faith is a private thing - to be kept all to yourself.
But that implies - that faith does not have much to say about the world in which we live.
Israel at this time was both a ‘church’ and a nation. As a nation she was called to be the people of God - and yet, she had her own king. How she got on with other nations affected her relationship with God.
Isaiah was raised up by God at a time of national and international turbulence. This was a time of crisis in the nation of Israel.
As we read these verses - you can sense the FEAR - the DREAD - the people were being TERRIFIED - the hearts of the king and his people were being shaken.
In Israel the people were living in dangerous times - and they were trying to face the future in a very wrong way. If we fear things - people - death - disease - loneliness - poverty - this can reveal a lack of trust in God - it reveals that something has gone wrong.
When we have one right fear - one good healthy fear - that can subdue other fears - being rightly afraid of letting God down - of failing God our Father. Other matters can be seen from a different perspective and take on a different appearance.
The nation of Israel was divided. The northern part had made an alliance with Damascus - to invade Judah in the south. That is basically the situation.
King Ahaz is on the throne in Jerusalem - the capital of Judah in the south – and King Ahaz thinks - "If I can make an alliance with huge powerful Assyria to the east - if I can join a political coalition with Assyria - then the northern tribes and Damascus will leave us alone. Clever thinking - but so wrong in the eyes of God.
King Ahaz thought you could trust in political alliances. King Ahaz thought that if he made a political alliance, then Jerusalem would not be invaded.
Now - God had said - that as long as His People looked to Him for help and for strength - He would protect and guard and give victory. But King Ahaz panicked – he shook with fear because of his enemies - and made a pact with Tiglath-Pilesar the King of Assyria. This only brought short-term relief - in the long run it proved disastrous for Jerusalem. Isaiah shook in the presence of God.
God says to Isaiah - 'Go and have a word with the King' - it is good to have a prophet around. It is good to have a man of God around who is hearing from the Father. Go and have a quiet word with King Ahaz - I'll tell you where to find him on his own.
Verse 3 - And Isaiah - take your little boy with you. Isaiah's son's name is SHEAR-JASHUB - which means a 'remnant will return'.
When the king says - Is this your little boy? You will be able to say YES. And when the king asks - What is your little boy’s name? When the name is given you will be able to preach prophetically to the king. When Ahaz asks what all this means - Isaiah, you will be able to explain "I have called my little boy this because God will always have a remnant.
Verse 4 – Take care and be calm – that is a very real picture of FAITH. The enemy was merely smouldering stubs – barely burning. But the enemy comes – and continues to come – to kill, steal and destroy. See John Chapter 10 .
Verse 6 – Let’s tear it apart – and make the son of Tabeel a puppet king – someone who was powerless and weak and meaningless.
Isn't it so interesting that the one nation that has survived is the one nation which so many have tried to destroy.
Verse 9 . Isaiah ends up by saying - "If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all." There is a text for each of us. Here is a word the people of God need to hear. Faith is essential if we are going to stand.
In the prophets - sometimes the word is national - for the nation - sometimes it has to be personal - and what we do with it personally can affect the nation for good or bad.
What we do as a result of hearing The Word of God can influence society - positively or negatively.
Isaiah seeks to bring the Light and Truth of God to the King of the People of God - but Ahaz will not listen. Ahaz will not hear the Word of God from Isaiah, the man of God.
That is a fact we just have to live with - although we long to see everyone experiencing and receiving and enjoying what we have experienced and enjoyed and received from Jesus Christ - but we know that this will not happen - and yet, our task, like of Isaiah, is to speak and share and minister.
Verse 10 . God in His Mercy and Love approaches the king again through Isaiah - "Ask the Lord Your God for a sign." Ahaz says so piously - "I will not ask - I will not put the Lord to the test." He refuses to do what God wants him to do - on religious grounds. Ahaz does not want the help of God. He will not ask for a sign even when invited to. Was he afraid that God would really guide and speak?
Is that why people are afraid to ask at times? God might just answer seriously - and that could be difficult for some to cope with.
Ahaz would prefer to put his trust in alliances with people - than in the living God.
What he is really saying to Isaiah and to God is - Hands off - Mind your own business. But this was Isaiah's business.
In verse 11 it is “your God” – and Ahaz rejects this – and by verse 13 Isaiah speaks about “my God”. The LORD is the SOVEREIGN ONE.
Verses 18 to 25 – Ahaz’s policies would bring judgment upon the land.
18,19 speak about the results of rejecting God. Everything happened just as Isaiah went on to prophesy.
Chapter 8 verse 11 and verse 17,19 . Verses 17,18 are quoted in Hebrews 2verse 13 .
Another lesson here - we cannot have a foot in the world and one in the Word. Such a man will NOT be able to stand.
Emmanuel – to the unbeliever God is nowhere – to the believer He is now here .
Chapter 8 verses 11to 22 . The call to stay faithful – they needed to hear it – so do we.
Verse 19 – We have this warning against permitting mediums to influence the nation. Isaiah teaches the people to consult GOD.
“Lord our God – the only God there is – the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob – we live in a political world – we are surrounded with Herods and Pontius Pilates – with Governors and Emperors. We look to You – we consult You – we learn from this revealing passage of Scripture – and we give You thanks and praise – through Jesus Christ, the King of Kings. Amen.”
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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