The Prophecy of Isaiah - Lesson 7: "The Sign of Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:1–17)

The Prophecy of Isaiah
Lesson 7: "The Sign of Immanuel" (7:1–17)

The Historical Setting (7:1–9)1

• Time of National Crisis for Judah
• Threat of Israel and Syria Alliance
• Syro-Ephraimite War, 735-734 BC
• Key Figures:
  
  • Tiglath-Pileser III (Assyria)
  • Rezin (Syria)
  • Pekah (Israel)
  • Ahaz (Judah)

       1When 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.
       2Now 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.
       3Then 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. 4Say 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. 5Aram, 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.” 7Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘It will not take place,
     it will not happen,
8for 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.
9The 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.’” (Isaiah 7:1–9, NIV)

The Sign Offered, Refused, and Given (7:10–17)

• The Sign Offered and Refused (7:10–13)

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? (Isaiah 7:10–13, NIV)

• The Lord’s Sign: The Birth of Immanuel (7:14–16)

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.  15 He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, 16 for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. (Isaiah 7:14–16, NIV)

• The Repurcussions for Judah (7:17)

17 The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria.” (Isaiah 7:17, NIV)

Interpretations of Isaiah 7:14

• The Meaning of ‘Almah
  
  • View 1: Isaiah’s Words Find Their Fulfillment Only in Jesus
  • View 2: The Prophecies of Isaiah 7 and 8 Are Linked
  • View 3: The Woman Is Already Pregnant
• Conclusion: Isaiah 7:14 and the New Testament

1 This outline is drawn from Bryan E. Beyer, Encountering the Book of Isaiah.