Highlights In Today's Reading:
God sings a love song to His beloved Israel (5:1-7). The brilliance of His holiness reveals the darkness of our sin (6:5). Send me — Will you go (6:8)? A divine principle: God always leaves a seed (6:13)! A prophecy of Jesus, the Light of the world (7:14-16; 9:1-7). Whatever the circumstances, keep trusting God (8:20).
Ahaz king of Judah did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord . . . for he walked in he ways of the kings of Israel . . . and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen. . . . Wherefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria . . . and . . . the king of Israel (II Chr. 28:1-5). But God in His mercy, through Isaiah, gave Ahaz an opportunity to trust the Lord for his protection.
Since his father and grandfather were basically godly men, Ahaz was aware of the power and presence of God. However, Ahaz chose to pay a huge sum of money from the House of the Lord for the Assyrians to defeat Syria and Israel (II Kin. 16:7-9). This subjected Judah to the Assyrians as Isaiah had foretold: If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established (Is. 7:9) — meaning you will not remain a nation. The Assyrians attacked Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom and, after a three year siege (II Kin. 17:5), it was defeated. As foretold by Isaiah: Within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people (Is. 7:8). Thus the ten tribes were carried . . . away into Assyria (II Kin. 17:4-6).
As the mouthpiece of the Lord, Isaiah spoke a marvelous prophetic message in His invitation to Ahaz: Ask thee a sign of the Lord . . . Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His Name Immanuel (meaning "God with us") (Is. 7:11,14). Deity in the form of human flesh, an infant yet a King — both man and God — the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and Truth (John 1:14).
Isaiah foretold: The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light (Is. 9:2). He proceeded to reveal the character and names of the eternal King of kings who is Wonderful (9:6) since He is the preexistent Creator Son of God (John 1:1-3; Heb. 1:2; 11:3). He is also Wonderful in His life and triumph over death, and Wonderful in providing eternal life to all believers.
Jesus alone is the wonderful Counseller (Is. 9:6) — the Revealer of all Truth for He is Truth. He tells us what is right through His Word which we, as disciples, are to share. He is The Mighty God (9:6) and The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6).
Thought for Today:
All nations whom Thou hast made shall come and worship before Thee, O Lord; and shall glorify Thy Name (Ps. 86:9).
Christ Revealed:
Isaiah reveals that a Child shall be born; a Son shall be given; and that the government shall be upon His shoulder (Is. 9:6). The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever (Rev. 11:15).
Word Studies:
5:1 vineyard = the Israelites; 5:5 go to = listen to Me; 5:23 reward = bribes; 7:16 abhorrest = hate, despise; 8:21 hardly bestead = sorely distressed, hard pressed; 9:9 stoutness = arrogance.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for Radio Sri Lanka Shortwave Broadcasts in India sponsored by Nathalie Steelberg • Staff: Benjamin Wallace • Government Officials: Rep. Dan Boren (OK) and Rep. Michael Ross (AR) • Country: Uzbekistan (24.4 million) central Asia • Major languages: Uzbek and Russian • Limited religious freedom due to Islamic influence • 68.2% Muslim (largely Sunni); 4.4% Russian Orthodox; .2% Roman Catholic; .2% Protestant; .5% Jewish; .5% Other; .2% Baha'i; .3% Buddhist; 25.5% non-Religious/Other • Prayer Suggestion: Pray and then obediently do what God says (I Chr. 14:14-16).
Optional Reading: Hebrews 10
Memory Verse for the Week: Matthew 10:22