Title: Immanuel?
Contents
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10. Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying,
11. Ask the LORD your God for a sign, either in the depths or in the heights.
12. And Ahaz said, "I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test."
13. And Isaiah said, Hear now, O house of David. Do you afflict men, and consider it a small thing, to afflict my God again?
14. Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
15. When it is time for him to forsake evil and know how to choose good, he will eat curdled milk and honey.
16. For the land of the two kings you hate will be desolate before this child knows how to choose good and forsake evil.
17. The LORD will bring upon you and your people and your father's house a day not seen since Ephraim left Judah, the day of the coming of the king of Assyria.
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18. This is the birth of Jesus Christ: His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, and before they lived together, it was found that she had been conceived by the Holy Spirit.
19. Her husband Joseph was a righteous man, and he wanted to cut off her secretly,
20. As he was thinking about this, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife, for she who has been conceived is of the Holy Spirit.
21. You will give birth to a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.
22. All these things took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken through the prophets, saying,
23. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and he shall call his name Immanuel, which is translated, God with us.
24. And Joseph awoke from sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded, and brought his wife.
25. They did not lie with her until she gave birth to a son, and when she gave birth, he called his name Jesus.
Content
Subject: Immanuel?
Text: Isaiah 7:10-17, Matthew 1:18-25
What is the true meaning of ‘God is with us’ (Isaiah 7:14; 8:8)? King Ahaz of Judah (735-15 B.C.) did not cope well with the international situation. They did not listen to the spiritual masters of that time, such as Hosea, Micah, and Isaiah. As a tribute king of Assyria, he served idols and even sacrificed his son (2 Kings 16:3). Today's Old Testament text (Isaiah 7:10-17) was in this context. The combined forces of Rezin king of Syria (Aram) and Pekah king of Israel attacked Jerusalem. Although the fall was spared (Isaiah 7:1), the hearts of King Ahaz of Judah and the hearts of the people fell into great chaos upon hearing the detailed circumstances (Isa 7:2). God, the master of history, communicated His will and encouraged us to ‘stand firm’ without being shaken (Isaiah 7:3-9). However, King Ahaz did not listen to him. It was a reaction of habitual rebellion and rebellion.
He said, “Ask for a sign” (v. Ahaz's answer to this. “I will not ask. I will not put the Lord to the test” (verse 12). Although it seems that they would not dare to test God (Deuteronomy 6:16), in reality, they showed distrust and rebellion against God who was involved in the affairs of the kingdom (2 Kings 16:7). The role of the savior, the king of Assyria, that Ahaz thought was not to save Judah, but to bring great disaster (verse 17). In the midst of Ahaz's history of betrayal and rebellion, God Himself gave a sign that King Ahaz did not want. That is the sign of Immanuel. “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, a virgin will conceive and bear a son. I will call his name Immanuel” (verse 14).
When we speak of God's love for us, it is expressed as 'Nevertheless'. It is reminiscent of the words of “All day long I have stretched out my hands to a disobedient and rebellious people” (Romans 10:21; Isaiah 65:1-3). It is the character of God who cannot endure without love. It is the love of the Father who had to give His only begotten Son to this earth (John 3:16). An angel of the Lord appears to Joseph, who was contemplating Mary's pregnancy. It is the story of true love, the story of life conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18-25). It's the best love ever. “You will give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. for he will save his people from their sins” (verse 21). The old prophecy is mentioned again. “Behold, a virgin will conceive and bear a son. His name shall be called Immanuel” (verse 23).