Title: Seeking the Sign of Immanuel
Contents
Hymns No. 167 “The Coming of the Lord Jesus”; No. 313 “He made the way clear”
Isaiah 7 is a prophecy about Ahaz and records the signs of the Messiah and the Assyrian Empire's invasion of Judah.
Saints who love Emmanuel's family and church! What are the signs that God is with us? It is the motivation to love worship, service, evangelism and education. People looked for signs whenever the future was uncertain. The people of Judah, without exception, sought a sign from God. Therefore, the sign appeared by foretelling the sign of Immanuel, the birth of the Messiah (Isaiah 7:10). That is, the meaning of the Virgin Christmas was declared (refer to Matthew 1:23, Luke 1:31).
First, the signs of Immanuel can be known by faith (Isaiah 7:1-9).
In the days of Jotham's son Ahaz king of Judah, Rezin king of Syria and Pekah king of Israel son of Remaliah attacked Jerusalem in Judah. Jehovah sent the prophet Isaiah to the fearful King Ahaz to emphasize his faith (Isaiah 7:4). “Do not be afraid and do not lose heart, says the Lord GOD, their plans will be destroyed.” However, Ahaz could not accept it in faith, doubting and anxious, thinking to rely on a great power (Isaiah 7:12).
Second, the sign of Immanuel works whether we hear it or not (Isaiah 7:10-17).
Jehovah God encouraged Ahaz to ask for a sign. But Ahaz did not ask and did not believe. In other words, he did not even believe in ‘Emmanuel’, who said ‘God is with us’. Isaiah regards the sign of Immanuel as a small thing, and tells Ahaz the strength of the virgin and the equanimity of the Messiah, who disobeyed God's command. Thus, the prophet Isaiah declared to Ahaz that the two kings of the united nations would die and that the “sign of God immanuel” would be fulfilled (Isaiah 7:15-16).
Third, the sign of Immanuel preserves the line of David (Isaiah 7:18-25).
King Ahaz did not believe that the Messiah would be born, so he was punished by God. In other words, the distrust of one king became the distrust of the nation, and the result was a thorn tree. Therefore, Assyria, who believed Ahaz to be a great empire, became an enemy that brought wrath to the house of Judah. Therefore, he prophesied that he would fly like swarms of bees and flies, torment the pastures and sheep, and make the people captive. He also emphasized the impossibility of cultivating the people's vineyards (Isaiah 7:23).
Dear saint! King Ahaz, who relied on a great power, sinned against Jehovah. Their cost of not relying on God was captivity and brutal slaughter. Let us remember that the Savior is the Messiah sent by God. That is, only our Lord Jesus Christ is the main source of salvation, the fruit of the Immanuel sign (John 14:6). So let's seek the signs of God's protection and salvation. -Amen-
Our Lord Jesus Christ! I would like to receive the servant of porridge (Mark 9:33-37) and serve with the heart of a child (Luke 18:15-17).