Isa 7 | MHM | STEP | The Distress of Ahaz; Comfort Administered to Ahaz Isaiah’s work as a prophet continued after King Uzziah died (Isaiah 6:1 ). Jotham, Uzziah’s son, ruled well for sixteen years, and Isaiah likely preached many sermons during that time, even though we do not have records of them. The events in this section happen during the reign of Ahaz, Jotham’s son, who did not follow God. Sometimes, in evil times, God’s messages are written down for a warning to the people. This chapter shows God’s mercy even when the king and the nation are unfaithful. v. 1 : Two powerful kings—Rezin of Syria and Pekah of Israel—joined forces against Jerusalem. Earlier, they had attacked Judah separately (2 Kings 15:37 ), but now they planned to conquer the city together. Ahaz was a wicked king, and because of his sin, God allowed these enemies to come against him (2 Chronicles 28:5 ). However, even though their attack was frightening, they did not succeed. This shows that sin can bring trouble to a nation, but God can still protect his people.

‏ Isaiah 7

The Distress of Ahaz; Comfort Administered to Ahaz

Isaiah’s work as a prophet continued after King Uzziah died (Isaiah 6:1 ^a). Jotham, Uzziah’s son, ruled well for sixteen years, and Isaiah likely preached many sermons during that time, even though we do not have records of them. The events in this section happen during the reign of Ahaz, Jotham’s son, who did not follow God. Sometimes, in evil times, God’s messages are written down for a warning to the people. This chapter shows God’s mercy even when the king and the nation are unfaithful.

v. 1: Two powerful kings—Rezin of Syria and Pekah of Israel—joined forces against Jerusalem. Earlier, they had attacked Judah separately (2 Kings 15:37 ^b), but now they planned to conquer the city together. Ahaz was a wicked king, and because of his sin, God allowed these enemies to come against him (2 Chronicles 28:5 ^c). However, even though their attack was frightening, they did not succeed. This shows that sin can bring trouble to a nation, but God can still protect his people.

v. 2: When Ahaz and his court heard about the alliance between Syria and Israel, they were terrified. The Bible calls them the “house of David” to remind us of God’s promise to David (Psalm 89:30-33 ^d). Ahaz and the people were so scared that their hearts shook like trees in the wind. Their fear came from a sense of guilt and lack of faith. When people are not right with God, even small threats can seem overwhelming (Leviticus 26:36 ^e).

v. 3: God told Isaiah to go and meet Ahaz, even though Ahaz did not ask for God’s help. God sometimes gives comfort even to those who do not seek him. Isaiah was to take his son, Shear-jashub, whose name means “A remnant shall return,” as a sign of hope. This showed that even if trouble came, God would bring some people back and save a remnant (Isaiah 8:18; 2 Chronicles 28:15 ^f).

Isaiah was to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct, where the king was probably planning how to protect the city’s water supply. Ahaz was worried about how to defend Jerusalem. God sent Isaiah to speak to him exactly when he was most afraid, showing that God’s help comes right when we need it (Isaiah 22:9-11; 2 Chronicles 32:3-4 ^g).

v. 4: God gave Isaiah words of comfort to speak. He told Ahaz, “Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted.” Isaiah was to encourage Ahaz not to let fear control him. Those who trust God should be careful not to let their hearts be troubled, but instead hold on to courage and faith (Psalm 27:14 ^h).

Isaiah also told Ahaz not to be afraid of his enemies. He compared Rezin and Pekah to “two tails of smoking firebrands”—they looked dangerous, but their power was almost gone. Their anger would not last, and God could put it out quickly. We should not fear people, even if they seem powerful, if God is with us (Jeremiah 46:17 ⁱ).

v. 5-7: Isaiah explained that the enemies’ plan would not succeed. Even though Rezin and Pekah wanted to conquer Jerusalem and set up their own king, God said, “It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.” (Isaiah 7:7 ^j). God controls the outcome, and evil plans cannot succeed against his will (Psalm 33:10; Lamentations 3:37 ^k).

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v. 8-9: God set boundaries for these kingdoms. Syria’s capital would remain Damascus, ruled by Rezin, and Israel’s capital would be Samaria, ruled by Pekah. They would not grow any bigger. God also said that within sixty-five years, Israel (Ephraim) would be destroyed and no longer a people. This warning shows that it is foolish to attack others when you are close to judgment yourself (Acts 17:26; 2 Chronicles 28:10 ^l).

Isaiah finished by urging Ahaz and the people to believe God’s promises. He said, “If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established.” Faith is necessary for peace and stability, even when things look uncertain. Without trusting God, they would remain fearful and insecure (2 Chronicles 20:20 ^m).

The Promise of Immanuel

God offered Ahaz a special reassurance. He told Ahaz, through Isaiah, that he could ask for any sign or miracle to prove that God’s promise was true. This was a great kindness from God, showing his willingness to help people believe. Even though Ahaz was not a good king, God still called himself the Lord his God, because of the promises made to Abraham and David. God is patient and gracious, even to those who do not deserve it.

v. 10-11: God invited Ahaz to ask for any sign he wanted, either something amazing in the sky or something deep on the earth. God wanted to help Ahaz trust his promise by giving a clear and visible proof (Hebrews 6:17 ⁿ). God understands that sometimes we need signs because we live in a world where we trust what we see and feel.

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v. 12: Ahaz refused to ask for a sign. He pretended to be humble, saying, “I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord” . But the real reason was that he was trusting in the king of Assyria, not in God. He did not want to depend on God’s promise. Sometimes people pretend to honor God, but in truth, they are just hiding their lack of faith.

v. 13: Isaiah rebuked Ahaz and his court for their lack of respect for God’s message. He said that their unbelief was not only an insult to people but also to God himself. Isaiah still called God “my God,” showing his personal trust, even when others did not believe (Malachi 2:17 ^o). No matter what others do, we should remain faithful to God.

v. 14-15: Since Ahaz would not ask for a sign, God gave one anyway: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14 ^p). This prophecy points to the birth of Jesus Christ, who would be called Immanuel, which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:21-25 ^q). This was a promise that the house of David would not be destroyed, because the Messiah would come from their family. Immanuel would be truly human, growing up and eating the food of the land, just like other children (Luke 2:40,52 ^r). Even though he was born in a miraculous way, he would live a real human life.

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v. 16: God also gave a more immediate sign for Ahaz. Before Isaiah’s own son, Shear-jashub, was old enough to know right from wrong, the lands of Syria and Israel—the two enemy kings Ahaz feared—would be left empty. In just a few years, both kings would be gone (2 Kings 15:30; 2 Kings 16:9 ^s). This showed that God’s promise of rescue was true, both for the present and the future. God’s faithfulness in one promise gives us hope for the next one.

Judgments Announced

After God made comforting promises to Ahaz as a descendant of David, he also warned him of coming judgment because of his unfaithfulness. Even though God would not take away his kindness for David’s sake, Ahaz’s sins would still be punished. If people do not trust God’s promises, they should expect his warnings of judgment.

v. 17: The coming judgment would be very serious. It would affect Ahaz himself, the people of Judah, and even the royal family. This disaster would be worse than anything since the division of Israel and Judah. God would allow these hard times because people kept sinning and would not turn back to him. No one can escape God’s judgment when he decides to act.

v. 18: The king of Assyria would be the main instrument of this judgment. Ahaz trusted the king of Assyria for help instead of God, even giving him treasures from the temple and palace (2 Kings 16:7,8 ^t). But God warned that the Assyrians, like flies and bees, would swarm over the land when God called them. Even small and seemingly weak enemies become powerful when God sends them (Isaiah 5:26 ^u).

v. 19: The invaders would spread everywhere. They would settle in the empty valleys, hide in the rocks, and cover the land like swarms of insects. The land would be so weak that the enemy would take it easily and remain there without being driven out.

v. 20: God said he would use the king of Assyria like a hired razor to shave the land—removing everything, just as a leper shaved all his hair after being healed (Leviticus 14:8,9 ^v). Ahaz had hired Assyria for help, but God would use Assyria to punish him and his people. This teaches us that when we trust in human power instead of God, it often brings us trouble instead of help.

v. 21-22: The land would be so devastated that only a few animals would be left. People who once had many herds and flocks would be happy to have just a young cow and two sheep. Because there would be so few people, the remaining cattle would give plenty of milk, so there would be enough butter and honey for those left. This shows how greatly the population would be reduced.

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v. 23: Fertile land that once grew many grapevines and brought good income would become nothing but thorns and briers. God can quickly turn a fruitful land into a wasteland if people do not honor him (Isaiah 5:4 ^w).

v. 24: Places that were once farms and vineyards would be so overgrown that people would need bows and arrows, not for farming, but to defend themselves from wild animals or to hunt for food. This is a sad change caused by the people’s sin.

v. 25: Even the hills that used to be carefully fenced and protected would be abandoned and left for cattle to wander. The hedges would be gone, and wild animals would come in and ruin the land (Psalm 80:12,13 ^x). This is the result of neglecting God and his ways. Earthly possessions can be lost quickly, but heaven is a place where nothing is ever spoiled or wasted.