Lesson #07

Related Articles

Isaiah

September 21, 2015

Lesson #01

January 3, 2010

Lesson #02

January 3, 2010

RETURN TO SYLLABUS

ISAIAH 7
Lesson #07
THE ROBBER OF PEACE

• MEMORY VERSE: ISA 7:14

• SO FAR IN OUR STUDY OF ISAIAH WE HAVE SEEN THE SOCIAL AND SPIRITUAL FAILURES OF ISRAEL. NOW WE WILL SEE SOME POLITICAL FAILURES.

• READ ISA 7:1-13 A COMPLEX CIVIL WAR
• READ 2KIN 16:3-4
• WHO’S WHO?
• THE GOOD GUYS:
• JUDAH = THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM LED BY EVIL KING AHAZ.
• THE BAD GUYS
• EPHRAIM OR ISRAEL = THE NORTHERN KINGDOM LED BY KING PEKAH. PEKAH WAS THE SECOND TO THE LAST KING TO REIGN IN THE NORTHERN KINGDOM.
• THE VERY BAD GUYS:
• SYRIA (ARAM) LED BY KING REZIM
• REZIM WAS THE LAST KING TO REIGN.
• ASSYRIA LED BY TIGLATH-PILESER III.
• POWER POLITICS AND THE BALANCE OF POWER:
• =1= PREVIOUS TO CHAPTER 7 ISRAEL (EPHRAIM), THE NORTHERN KINGDOM, HAD ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OVER THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM OF JUDAH. HOWEVER, THEY WERE NOT STRONG ENOUGH AND FAILED.
• =2= SYRIA (ARAM) HAD ALSO TRIED TO TAKE OVER THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM OF JUDAH, BUT THEY, TOO, WERE NOT STRONG ENOUGH AND FAILED.
• =3= THEREFORE, ISRAEL DECIDED TO BAND TOGETHER IN AN ALLIANCE WITH SYRIA (ARAM) TO TAKE THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM OF JUDAH.
• =4= MEANWHILE, THE NATION OF ASSYRIA IS STILL ON THE RISE BUT NOT YET INVADING.
• AHAZ’S PROBLEM AND SOLUTION:
• AHAZ WAS FRIGHTENED BY THE CHANGE IN THE BALANCE OF POWER. HE NOW FEARED THE ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE NORTHERN KINGDOM OF ISRAEL (EPHRAIM) AND SYRIA (ARAM). (2)
• INSTEAD OF SEEKING GOD’S GUIDANCE AND TRUSTING GOD’S POWER, GODLESS KING AHAZ DECIDES TO TURN TO THE BIGGER ENEMY, ASSYRIA, FOR HELP. (2KIN 16:5-9)
• GOD SENDS ISAIAH TO AHAZ (3):
• THERE ARE SEVERAL IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTICE IN VERSE 3:
• GOD TELLS ISAIAH TO TAKE HIS SON, SHEAR-JASHUB, WITH HIM TO MEET WITH KING AHAZ.
• SHEAR-JASHUB MEANS = “A REMNANT SHALL RETURN “.
• THIS IS TO BE AN ENCOURAGEMENT THAT THE NATION WILL NOT BE TOTALLY WIPED OUT FROM THIS COMPLEX CIVIL WAR.
• THE PLACE WHERE THIS MEETING IS TO TAKE PLACE IS VERY IMPORTANT.
• THEY ARE TO MEET “AT THE END OF THE CONDUIT OF THE UPPER POOL IN THE HIGHWAY OF THE FULLER’S FIELD” (3)
• THE LIFE-GIVING WATERS FOR THIRSTY JERUSALEM CAME FROM THROUGH THIS CONDUIT.
• THE END OF THE CONDUIT IS THE PLACE WHERE THE WATER COMES OUT AND IS ACCESSIBLE TO THE PEOPLE.
• THE SIGNIFICANCE:
• THE CONDUIT IS LIKE THE BLOOD-LINE OF CHRIST THROUGH THE JEWS.
• THE PLACE WHERE THE LIFE-GIVING WATER COMES OUT IS THE TIME PERIOD WHEN JESUS CHRIST, THE MESSIAH, IS BORN TO BRING SPIRITUAL LIFE TO THE PEOPLE.
• THE UPPER POOL — THE WORD FOR “POOL” IS BEREKAH WHICH MEANS “BLESSING”, AND THE WORD FOR UPPER IS OFTEN USED FOR “THE MOST HIGH GOD”.
• SIGNIFICANCE:
• THE BLESSING OF THE MOST HIGH GOD, JESUS CHRIST, WHO IS THE WATER OF LIFE CAME TO THE NATION OF ISRAEL IN GOD’S PERFECT TIMING. THIS BLESSING WAS DIRECTLY FROM GOD, THE FATHER.
• THE HIGHWAY OF THE FULLER’S FIELD
• THE HIGHWAY IS A PATH AROUND A FIELD WHICH WAS ELEVATED TO KEEP IT FROM FLOODING. THEREFORE, THE TRAVELER’S FEET REMAINED FREE FROM MUD.
• PRO 16:17 AND ISA 35:8 GIVE US THE SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE:
• THE WAY OF HOLINESS WHICH CAN ONLY COME THROUGH THE MESSIAH WHO SAID, “I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE”.
• THE FULLER’S FIELD WAS THE PLACE WHERE THE WOMEN WASHED THE CLOTHES.
• SIGNIFICANCE:
• ONLY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, WHO IS THE WAY TO SPIRITUAL LIFE, WILL YOUR SINS BE CLEANSED.
• ISAIAH’S MESSAGE (4-9):
• THE ALLIANCE OF THE NORTHERN KINGDOM AND SYRIA (ARAM) WAS LIKE TWO SMOLDERING EMBERS OF FIREWOOD. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY WOULD SOON DIE OUT.
• BOTH KING PEKAH OF THE NORTHERN KINGDOM, AND KING REZIM OF SYRIA (ARAM) DIED TWO YEARS LATER IN 732 BC.
• THE ATTACK WOULD NOT TAKE PLACE AS AHAZ FEARED. (7-9)
• IN FACT, WITHIN 65 YEARS SYRIA (ARAM) WOULD NOT EXIST AND THE NORTHERN KINGDOM OF ISRAEL (EPHRAIM) WOULD NO LONGER BE A STRONG NATION.
• 734 BC ISAIAH GAVE THE PROPHECY, 65 YEARS LATER IS 669 BC.
• ASSYRIA CONQUERED THE NORTHERN KINGDOM IN 722 BC AND DEPORTED MANY JEWS. IN 699 BC ASSYRIA BROUGHT MANY FOREIGNERS INTO SAMARIA TO RE-POPULATE THE COUNTRY AND INTERMARRY WITH THE FEW REMAINING JEWS STILL THERE.. THESE PEOPLE AND THEIR DESCENDANTS BECAME THE HATED “SAMARITANS” OF JESUS’ DAY. THEREFORE, IN 699 BC THE NORTHERN KINGDOM OF ISRAEL WAS A WEAKENED, DEFEATED NATION. (9)
• KING AHAZ WAS TOLD THAT IF HE DID NOT BELIEVE ISAIAH, HE, TOO, WOULD NOT LAST.(9)
• WHAT WAS THE ATTITUDE OF KING AHAZ? (10-12)
• GOD TOLD AHAZ TO ASK FOR A SIGN SO AS TO STRENGTHEN HIS FAITH. HE COULD ASK FOR ANY MIRACLE HE WANTED.
• READ ISA 7:14-16 THE SIGN
• BECAUSE AHAZ DECLINED GOD’S OFFER TO ASK FOR A MIRACLE SIGN, GOD TURNED TO THE NATION AS A WHOLE AND GAVE A GREATER PROPHETIC MIRACULOUS SIGN.
• DETAILS OF THE SIGN:
• A VIRGIN BIRTH
• A CHILD CALLED IMMANUEL.
• WHY WAS JESUS NOT CALLED IMMANUEL?
• THE CHILD WOULD BE RAISED DURING A TIME OF NATIONAL CALAMITY (CURDS AND HONEY VS. 15)
• “BUTTER AND HONEY SHALL HE EAT THAT HE MAY KNOW TO REFUSE THE EVIL” (15)
• THIS IS THE DIET OF THE POOR.
• BEFORE THE CHILD SHALL KNOW TO REFUSE THE EVIL, …THE LAND THAT THOU ABHORREST SHALL BE FORSAKEN” (16)
• BY THE TIME JESUS CAME NONE OF THE KINGDOMS OF EPHRAIM, SYRIA, AND ASSYRIA WOULD EXIST.
• THERE IS A DOUBLE FULFILLMENT TO THE SIGN.
• FIRST FULFILLMENT: ISA 8:3-4
• THE FIRST FULFILLMENT OCCURS IN CHAPTER 8 IN THE DAYS OF ISAIAH. THIS IS A NEAR FUTURE EVENT THAT EVERYONE IN ISAIAH’S DAY COULD SEE BEING FULFILLED. WE WILL DISCUSS THIS FULFILLMENT MORE IN CHAPTER 8.
• WHAT IS THE SECOND FULFILLMENT? (MAT 1:18-23)
• THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST IS THE SECOND DISTANT-FUTURE FULFILLMENT. HOW DO WE KNOW JESUS’ BIRTH FULFILLED WHAT ISAIAH SAID? BECAUSE MAT 1:22-23 SAY IT IS.

• READ ISA 7:17-25 THE GREATER ASSYRIAN THREAT
• GOD TELLS AHAZ THAT THE GREATER THREAT WILL COME FROM ASSYRIA. IT IS A WARNING THAT AHAZ SHOULD NOT CONTINUE WITH THE TREATY WITH ASSYRIA AS HE PLANNED. HOWEVER, AHAZ DID NOT HEED THE WARNING AND CONTINUED WITH THE TREATY.
• TIGLATH-PILESER III OF ASSYRIA HELPED AHAZ BY GETTING RID OF SYRIA AND THE NORTHERN KINGDOM. HOWEVER, THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT AHAZ’S TREATY. AS A RESULT OF THIS UNHOLY TREATY, ASSYRIA FORCED THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM OF JUDAH TO PAY TRIBUTE FOR MANY YEARS.
• THE MENTION OF EGYPT (18)
• THE EGYPTIAN ARMY WOULD BE NUMEROUS AS FLIES.
• THE ASSYRIAN ARMY WOULD BE NUMEROUS AS VICIOUS BEES.
• LATER IN THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM, UNDER THE REIGN OF GOOD KING HEZEKIAH, AHAZ’S TREATY WAS BROKEN AND ASSYRIA THREATENED TO INVADE. HEZEKIAH SOUGHT HELP FROM EGYPT. WHEN HE WAS ABOUT TO TAKE THE HELP, GOD MIRACULOUSLY INTERVENED. (WE WILL SEE HOW LATER IN ISA 36 AND 37).
• THE HUMILIATION TO COME FROM ASSYRIA (20)
• THE SHAVED HEAD AND BEARD WERE SIGNS OF SHAME AND HUMILIATION.
• DECIMATED AGRICULTURE (21-23)
• DYING ANIMALS WITH ONLY DAIRY PRODUCTS TO EAT.
• HONEY FROM WILD-FLOWERS INSTEAD OF PLANTED CROPS. BRIERS AND THORNS MENTIONED 3 TIMES.

• APPLICATION:
• WHAT WERE THE POLITICAL FAILURES?
• IT IS EASY TO LOOK BACK AND SEE WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE DONE. THAT’S WHY GOD SENT PROPHETS, TO WARN THEM AHEAD OF TIME. FIRST OF ALL, THEY SHOULD HAVE LISTENED TO THE PROPHETS.
• THEY SHOULD HAVE TRUSTED GOD INSTEAD OF POWER POLITICS.
• AS WE LOOK AT THE POWER POLITICS PLAYED IN THE WORLD TODAY, WE SEE THE SAME FAILURES.
• SHORT TERM ALLIANCES AND EXPEDIENT MEASURES WHEN THE DANGER IS IN THE LONG TERM BALANCE OF POWER.
• WE MUST REMEMBER THAT GOD ULTIMATELY HOLDS THE BALANCE OF POWER. MAN’S WISDOM IS SHORT-TERM WHILE GOD’S IS INFINITE.
• THEY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN HOW TO GAIN THAT INNER PEACE WHEN ALL AROUND THREATENS TO BRING FEAR. SEE ISA 26:3

HOMEWORK
ISAIAH 8
This is a self-study. Please do not send homework answers to the teacher forcorrection.

• APPLICATION OF ISA 7
• WHAT SITUATIONS IN YOUR OWN LIFE ROB YOU OF PEACE?

• WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT GOD IN THIS CHAPTER THAT WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO TRUST HIM?

• PRAY AND GIVE THE SITUATION OVER TO GOD. ASK HIM TO GIVE YOU A SIGN OF REASSURANCE OF HIS PRESENCE.

• PREPARATION FOR ISA 8
• READ ISA 7:14-16
• READ ISA 8:1-4 THE FIRST FULFILLMENT OF ISAIAH’S SIGN
• NOTE: THE CHILD’S NAME, MAHER-SHALAL-HASHBAZ MEANS “HASTE THE BOOTY, HASTE THE SPOIL”
• WHAT DOES THE CHILD’S NAME HAVE TO DO WITH THE POLITICAL SITUATION OF ISAIAH’S DAY THAT WAS DESCRIBED IN CHAPTER 7?
• READ ISA 8:5-8 THE DESTRUCTION OF SYRIA (ARAM) AND ITS CAPITAL OF DAMASCUS AND THE FALL OF THE NORTHERN KINGDOM OF ISRAEL AND ITS CAPITAL OF SAMARIA.
• TO WHAT DOES VERSE 8 REFER?
• READ ISA 8:9-22
• WHAT SPECIFIC THINGS DO YOU LEARN ABOUT JESUS IN VERSES 13-17?
• ON WHAT WERE THE PEOPLE RELYING FOR STRENGTH AND GUIDANCE?
• MEMORY VERSE: PSALM 77:13