Background material to this chapter is to be found in 2 Chronicles 28 and 1 Kings 15. Ahaz was a faithless king. Isaiah is going to exhort him to trust in God.

1. The unbelief of Ahaz (vs. 1-9)

Ahaz’s response to the knowledge of the league that exists between Syria and Northern Israel is one of dread. There is a vivid picture of a wavering man. Ahaz was not trusting in the word of God. Compare with 26:3. Apparently Ahaz and his son were out inspecting the water supply in verse 3. Isaiah is told by God what to say to Ahaz in verse 4. He is to have his eyes open and his heart calmed. God refers to Rezin and Pekah as “two stubs of smouldering firebrands”. They are has-beens. Within 65 years God was going to destroy Israel and send them into captivity (vs. 8). Ahaz trusted in Assyria more than he trusted in God. This is why God says in verse 9, “If you will not believe you will not last”. This can be applied to our lives.

2. The sign of God (vs. 10-16)

The Lord is speaking through the prophet to Ahaz. God tells Ahaz to ask for a sign in verses 10-11. It can be a sign on the earth or in the sky above. Ahaz answers in verse 12 by hypocritically quoting Deuteronomy 6:16. It was God after all who had asked him to request a sign. So God tells Ahaz that if he is not going to ask for a sign, He will give him one! (vs. 13). The sign follows in verse 14. This refers to the virgin birth of Jesus:-

• “God with us” – It could not have been the prophet’s son
• The sign is given to the house of David and not just to Ahaz.
• The word “virgin” in the Old Testament always refers to a single virgin woman.
• The context demands the supernatural.
• This fits the flow of the book. See 9:6-7 and 11:1-5.
• The New Testament account of the virgin birth is a fulfilment of this sign.

3. The destruction of the land (vs. 17-25)

The Assyrians are going to come because of Ahaz’s unbelief and the land will be desolate and devastated because of the people’s faithlessness.

Categories: Isaiah