God With Us: Studies in Isaiah – Week 1: The Messiah is Coming
Theme:
Text: Isaiah 7:14; 11: , Matthew
Read Opening Text: Isaiah 7:10 – 14; 9:2, 6
Introduction
Isaiah is an interesting book in scripture. As I was reading through the book I noticed it seemed to have two key areas. First there was the judgement of God upon the nations. There was the nations of Judah and Israel who had been split into two kingdoms under king Rehoboam. Then there were the surrounding nations Babylon, Assyria, Philistia, Moab, Syria, Ethiopia, Egypt, Edom, Arabia and Tyre.
Isaiah is known for his uncanny way of pinpointing prophecies. Not general but specific judgments upon the nations. Here are a list of just a few prophecies (from research). Isaiah could "see" ahead in time
If you read Isaiah 45:1 (written perhaps between 701 and 681 BC), you will find a prophecy that was ultimately fulfilled hundreds of years later in 539 BC.
>Isaiah 45:1 – “This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut…”
List Of Bible Prophets In Chronological Order
In this passage, the prophet said God would open the gates of Babylon for Cyrus and his attacking army. Despite Babylon’s remarkable defenses, which included moats, and walls that were more than 70-feet thick and 300-feet high (with 250 watchtowers) Cyrus was able to enter the city and conquer it. Cyrus and his troops accomplished it by diverting the flow of the Euphrates River into a large lake basin. Cyrus then was able to march his army across the riverbed and into the city!
Babylon’s Kingdom Will Be Permanently Overthrown
In Isaiah 13:19 (written between 701 and 681 BC) there exists yet another prophecy that was not fulfilled until 539 BC.
>Isaiah 13:19 – Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the Babylonians’ pride, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.
Here, Isaiah tells us that Babylon would be overthrown, permanently. History confirms the fact that following Cyrus’ destruction of Babylon in 539 BC, it never again rose to power as an empire. You’ve got to remember, however, that before the time of Cyrus, Babylon had been defeated by the Assyrian Empire as well, But Babylon was able to recover and later conquer the Assyrian Empire. In light of this reality, I’m sure many people doubted Isaiah when he proclaimed this prophecy. In spite of this, and just as Isaiah predicted, the Babylonian empire was defeated, and never recovered from Cyrus’ conquest.
Babylon Will Be Reduced to Swampland
In Isaiah 14:23 (written between 701 and 681 BC), the prophet makes yet another prediction that does not come true until 539 BC.
>Isaiah 14:23 – “I will turn her into a place for owls and into swampland; I will sweep her with the broom of destruction,” declares the Lord Almighty.
The prophet makes the bold claim that Babylon, which had been a world power at two different times in history, would be brought to a humble and final end. But not only that, Isaiah claims that Babylon would be reduced to swampland! Well, after Cyrus conquered Babylon in 539 BC, the kingdom never again rose to power, that is certain. And history tells us that the buildings of Babylon fell into a gradual state of ruin during the next several centuries. Interestingly, when archaeologists excavated Babylon during the 1800s, they discovered that some parts of the city could not be dug up because they were under a water table that had risen over the years!
nother surprising accurate prophecies are those dealing with the messiah.
Though interpreters may vary on whether certain passages are messianic or not, these are the ones I see. I think that a passage must meet one of these three criteria to be considered messianic.
1. Messianic Title. The passage may include a reference to the throne of David, son of David, etc., or used the idea of anointing (Hebrew mashîah?, from which we transliterate to get our word "Messiah."
2. Single Personage. A single person who exerts superhuman powers or influence for God's kingdom.
3. NT Quotation. A passage which is quoted in the New Testament as messianic or which speaks of the Age of the Messiah.
4:2-6 Speaks of "the Branch of the Lord," a messianic title used elsewhere (Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 33:15; Zechariah 6:23). The gathering, too, is the act of the Messiah (11:12).
6:13b Refers to the "holy seed," which in light of Isaiah's focus in the shoot out of Jesse's stump in 11:1 probably refers to the Messiah.
7:14 Virgin shall conceive and bear a son named Immanuel. It probably has a short-term AND long-term fulfillment.
9:1-7 Light comes to Galilee area. To us a Child is born and is given titles that transcend mere mortals.
11:1-12 Root of Jesse will deliver Israel; God's Spirit is upon him.
16:5 Refers to one sitting on David's throne bringing justice.
24:1-2 The New Testament refers to these armies of heaven that will be overcome by the Messiah (Revelation 17:14; 19:19), as well as the imprisonment of fallen angels awaiting the final judgment.
28:16-17 Refers to the precious, tested cornerstone that God will lay, a reference to the Messiah (1 Peter 2:6-8; 1 Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 2:20; Romans 9:32-33; 10:11).
32:1
40:3-11
42:1-4 Servant of the Lord with God's Spirit upon him will bring justice, is the hope of the nations.
50:4-9 Steadfast Person who is persecuted, mocked, and accused but innocent.
52:12-53:12 Suffering Servant passage, where the servant takes on himself the sins of all mankind. Clearly referenced to the Messiah in the NT.
55:1-5 Deliverer of the people.
56:8 Here God will gather both Jews and others, a function of the Messiah.
61:1-3 Jesus declared the fulfillment of the Messianic passage in himself at Nazareth (Luke 4).
65:25 Refers to the Peace of the Messiah recalling the imagery of chapter 11.
66:22-24 Everlasting kingdom which refers to the Messiah elsewhere.
Isaiah contains some of the most incredible prophecies of any book. It contains foreknowledge, in incredible details about the Messiah, and the future reign of Jesus Christ. The purpose of the book of Isaiah was to call God’s nation, the nation of Judah, back to faithfulness and to declare the coming Messiah “Immanuel”. God calls and commissions His prophet to declare to Judah and Israel condemnation, conviction, and ultimately great hope.
Then we arrive at Isaiah 7 - background
We open Isaiah 7 to a crisis for the kingdom of Judah. The Hebrew people were split in two different kingdoms after the death of Solomon: Israel to the north and Judah to the south. Both kingdoms struggled to stay faithful to God, and eventually both were exiled.
Isaiah 7 shows the kingdom of Israel and Aram trying to invade Jerusalem the capital of Judah. King Ahaz of Judah is nervous about the thought of invasion. Scripture says that the “hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind” (v. 2). 2. It is at this point that God instructs Isaiah to go to Ahaz and tell him, “Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid” (v. 4). Speaking of the invasion, God says, “it will not take place, it will not happen” (v. 7). Isaiah even tells Ahaz to test the Lord to show his faithfulness: “Ask the LORD your God for a sign” (v. 10). Ahaz responds by saying, “I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test” (v.12). Ahaz seems very holy sounding, but in fact he has no relationship with the Lord. 2 King 16 describes Ahaz: “He did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD his God. He followed the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire” (2 Kings 16:2–3). Ahaz was not a good king. He might have had the temple of the Lord, but he also worshiped other gods. He did not put his trust in God, and in the situation of possible invasion, he put his trust in the Assyrian Empire (Stephen J. Lennox, God’s Story Revealed: A Guide for Understanding the Old Testament [Indianapolis: Wesleyan Publishing House, 2009], 209). He sent a message to the Assyrians, asking for help and saying, “I am your servant and vassal. Come up and save me out of the hand of the king of Aram and the king of Israel” (2 Kings 16:7). The Assyrians made an alliance and destroyed Israel and Aram. However, the relief brought by Assyria would not last; eventually the empire would turn against Judah (Isaiah 7:18–25).
3. We all have been in situations where God told us to trust him and we trusted something or someone else. We made alliances with our own empires; we trusted ourselves to provide for our needs instead of the Lord to be our provision. Have you ever tried to hold four things at once while going up the stairs? Maybe someone asked if they could help and you said “I got this” shortly before you dropped everything because you tripped. When we struggle to trust God, we can tell him, “I got this” when we really don’t. That lack of trust shows our continual need to grow in our relationship with him.
He Is Immanuel – God With Us
(Isa 7:10) Moreover the Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying, (Isa 7:11) "Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above." (Isa 7:12) But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!" (Isa 7:13) Then he said, "Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also? (Isa 7:14) Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
Dual Prophecy
For the Local time. Ahaz I am about to give you a sign. You are going to find a mother who is going to birth a child. Why is this important? Because this nation is getting invaded and they didn’t even know if they could make it out. They had no idea if there was going to be a future. Was there going to be a “next generation”. God says, the nation will “not” be invaded. Even though it seemed all odds were against them.
This deliverance would not happen by man but God would deliver them.
Paul, I got a word from God
But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.' Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.
(Act 27:21-25)
Second Application – True Virgin Birth – The Messiah
The Virgin Birth – Fulfilled in Matthew 1
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus. (Matthew 1:18-25)
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" [3] But when she saw him, [4] she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
(Luk 1:26-35)
Also prophesied in Jeremiah 31:32 "The Lord hath created a new thing in the earth. A woman shall compass a man."
This is the virgin birth. A woman who knew or slept with no man shall conceive a son. This doesn’t’ make sense. How will this happen?
How????
The Holy Spirit will come upon her. The seed that will be planted with be from God Himself. IN her he has created a perfect child. Separate from the sinfulness of this world.
This Word Sustained Mary and Joseph
This sustained Mary and Joseph throughout their whole life in raising Jesus. Joseph took on the challenge of marrying Mary who was pregnant. Mary took on the challenge of following the words of God in spite of all the ridicule.
In other words you can trust the word of the Lord. How many of you have received a “word from the Lord”. God says trust Him.
Why is the virgin birth so important?
A. As a Sign to all – this is Jesus the Messiah, fulfilled prophecy in Isaiah 7:14.
B. For salvation –
1. Humanity – born of a woman
2. Divinity – born of the Holy Spirit
A precursor to the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
6 So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ’Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts. Zech 4:6 (NKJV)
Acts 1:4-8 – “ 4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 And He said to them,
"It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
“You shall receive power…” (dunamis) Dunamis (Power) – ability, power, physical or moral as residing in a person or thing. (b) Power in action, as e.g., when put forth in performing miracles. Jesus had given them a commission but He also left them with the power or ability to carry out this commission.
Conclusion – The Wonder of Christmas
Isaiah’s prophecy of hope was given in a time of hopelessness and rebellion, a time where those leading God’s people were not holy. God would fix what was right through the incarnation (as Immanuel, God with us). He would physically walk with his creation and sacrifice himself to give life to those who were lost and dead in sin.
