What a chapter, Isaiah 7. It is chock full of history, with a major sliver of prophecy embedded therein, as well as being loaded with a cast of interesting characters!
There is “wicked” King Ahaz of Judah, sort of the chapter’s protagonist or main character. This man is in the Davidic line, Grandson to great King Uzziah. (Uzziah, who just died at the beginning of Isaiah 6, proving the Book is not slavishly in chronological order.)
There is also a coalition (confederacy) of two more wicked Kings; Rezin King of Syria and Pekah the King of Israel. This pair hates Ahaz, largely because he is not anti-Assyrian enough!
Oops, I just introduced the fourth royal character! The sitting (and by far most powerful) King of Assyria, whose proper name is not given in the chapter.
Our Text today (Isaiah 7) opens with a recording/detailing of the prevailing spirit in Judah, soon as this perilous threat was made know. “And it came to pass in the days of AHAZ the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that REZIN the king of Syria, and PEKAH the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem TO WAR against it, but could not prevail against it. And it was told the house of David (AHAZ), saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind.” Verses 1-2 only are given here. See the “panic?” (The King of Assyria not being mentioned until verse 17, actually.)
Next, in a thrilling “Sermon,” God (through Isaiah the Prophet) predicts (foretells) His future Plans for these men! The Lord scoffs at the two (most wicked) Kings in the Syro-Ephraim block (Rezin and Pekah), calling them “smoking firebrands!” In English, “has-beens!” Literally, “torches” that have nearly expended themselves, on the verge of being completely “burned-out!”
Wow!
Then God suggests that if King Ahaz (again a very wicked monarch but legitimately in the ling of King David) would repent and obey … blessings (nationally) would ensue. But should he disobey (by trusting in the mighty King of Assyria for “help,” rather than leaning on the Lord God for protection) … quick judgment would result, and harshly so!
Then God informs all who will listen that the King of Assyria will be used to nearly decimate both Syria and Israel (Rezin and Pekah) in an impending future invasion! (Which was prophecy when Isaiah penned these words, but is history now, ancient history!)
The aforementioned coalition (Rezin and Pekah) had planned to violently assassinate Ahaz, and place a “puppet” king in his place, one they could control at will! Verses 5-6: “Because Syria (Rezin), Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah (Pekah), have taken evil counsel against thee (Ahaz), saying, Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach (by killing the king) therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal (meaning ‘God is good,’ but they didn’t mean the God of Israel, rather some false deity, some idol): THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD, IT SHALL NOT STAND, NEITHER SHALL IT COME TO PASS.”
“Not going to happen,” vows our God!
Wow!
And so far, we have just begin to relate the data in Isaiah chapter 7!
But this much I am clearly seeing, already! “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” (Proverbs 21:1, but here a cadre of Kings!)
Never have I seen this verse illustrated any more fully!
God’s mighty HAND, directing in the affairs of mankind! To the point of setting up one king … and deposing another!
Psalm 75:6-7 … “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.”
Wow again!
I am amazed at the Power of God today!
By the way, let’s pray for our President this morning. Many hate him for his policies. Yet God has placed him in power. (Romans 13:1 … “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”)
— Dr. Mike Bagwell