God Limits Kings and Nations: History
Isaiah 7–10
Bad News, Good News (Isaiah 7:1–8:4)
War Jitters. News had reached Jerusalem that Israel’s King Pekah and Syria’s King Rezin intended to invade Judah. Shaken by the news, King Ahaz seemed particularly concerned about inspecting “the conduit of the upper pool,” which supplied Jerusalem’s fresh water. God sent Isaiah there with a message that the two kings were planning to dethrone King Ahaz and replace him with the son of Tabeel. However, through Isaiah, God told Ahaz, “It shall not stand, and it shall not come to pass.”
Good News Scorned. Isaiah told Ahaz he would be established instead of being dethroned—if only he would place his complete faith in God. Unfortunately, King Ahaz unwisely chose to negotiate an alliance with Tiglath-pileser III of Assyria (see 2 Kings 16:5-8). Confident in this scheme, Ahaz scorned God’s rescue offered in Isaiah’s message.
The Lord’s Sign. God then challenged Ahaz to ask for a sign to confirm the message, but he refused. He did not let Isaiah interrupt the inspection of his defenses. Because Ahaz disobeyed by refusing to ask for a sign, a message of severe rebuke followed: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.” The announcement of the birth of a child who would sit on David’s throne, where Ahaz sat, may have sounded like bad news to the ungodly king. However, the promise of a virgin-born son provided hope and comfort for the God-fearing people who heard it.
A Warning. First, God addressed the immediate problem of the two kings confronting Ahaz. Pekah’s and Rezin’s demise would occur in the near future (both kings died a couple of years later). Then, the Lord was going to turn the Assyrian king against him. Next, God told Isaiah to expect the birth of another son and to name the boy Maher-shalal-hash-baz, meaning “the spoil speeds; the prey hastens.” Assyria’s king would carry off the wealth of Samaria and Damascus before this child would be old enough to speak. The events that occurred after Isaiah gave his message are recorded in 2 Kings 16:9–17:6. Ignoring the warning, Ahaz went to Damascus and offered tribute to Tiglath-pileser, using treasures he had taken from the Lord’s temple.
After returning to Jerusalem, Ahaz replaced the bronze altar in the temple court with an idolatrous altar similar to the one in Damascus. Ahaz placed the Lord’s bronze altar off to the side. Ignoring God’s guidance through Isaiah, Ahaz purposed to use the bronze altar “for seeking guidance” (2 Kings 16:15, NIV), instead of making sacrifices to God.
Think about Ahaz’s refusal to place his faith and trust in God. Why did God allow Ahaz to bring idolatrous worship into His temple? From God’s eternal perspective, Rezin, Pekah, and even the seemingly invincible Assyria, had relatively brief success. God promises to judge evil in His perfect timing: “Fret not yourself because of evildoers … Transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off” (Psalm 37:1, 38). Ultimate justice belongs to God. By faith, we know that one day our desire for justice will be fully satisfied.
The Cost of Rejecting God’s Plan (Isaiah 8:5-22) Ahaz temporarily triumphed. The people saw no indication that their ally would invade Judah, as Isaiah predicted. Neither the people nor Ahaz acknowledged God’s intervention on their behalf. Yet again, God said He would bring into Judah “the king of Assyria and all his glory,” likening him to “the waters of the [Euphrates] River” overflowing its banks, sweeping through Judah, submerging it to the neck. Instead of being Judah’s ally, Assyria would become an invader.
Isaiah admonished those who understood his message to preserve God’s Word for the future. As for Isaiah, he determined to wait for the Lord and trust Him: “Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.” As believers in Christ, our lives also point unbelievers to the truth that God is still alive and active in world affairs.
Think about Isaiah’s faithfulness in the face of Judah’s continued rejection of God’s prophecies. Although the people did not listen to Isaiah, his presence and life of faith were reminders of God’s claim upon them. Steadfast, faithful Christians are signs to the world. Whether or not others pay attention, we remind people about God as we live with His values and His heart. When we live in unity and love, we amaze others. When we forgive as God forgives, we are a testimony that there is a different way to live.
A Poem about God’s Judgment (Isaiah 9:8–10:4) The poem beginning in chapter 9 outlines God’s judgment against the northern kingdom and its main city, Samaria. Each of the poem’s four stanzas ends with the refrain, “For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still.” God would withdraw His mercy because the elders and the prophets were misleading the people. Those who oppressed the poor would not find refuge in their riches. In the day of reckoning, they would “crouch among the prisoners or fall among the slain.” Second Kings 17:1-23 records the prediction’s historical fulfillment.
When Tiglath-pileser occupied Damascus (732 BC), the Assyrian armies did not advance to Samaria. Hoshea killed King Pekah, became Israel’s king, and sent tribute to Assyria’s king. As a vassal of Assyria, he was allowed to rule Samaria. But later, when Assyrian Shalmaneser V succeeded Tiglath-pileser, Hoshea rebelled. His action triggered a three-year siege of Samaria and the end of the northern kingdom, which yielded to Assyrian conquest in 722 BC.
Assyria under God’s Control (Isaiah 10:5-34) Verses 5-6 say that Assyria was like a rod in God’s hand to express His wrath against His people, who had angered Him by ignoring Him. In judgment, God sent the Assyrians into the land to plunder and trample the people as predicted. God, not Assyria, was in control!
Although Israel had been subdued and Judah’s punishment inflicted by Assyria would be severe, God’s intervention would allow a small “remnant”—those who had relied upon Him—to return to their lands. Also, God said His anger would eventually turn away from Judah and toward Assyria. In the end, Assyria’s army would be like a forest God would cut down with a mighty blow of an axe. As believers, we hope in God and His mercy, no matter how serious the consequences of our sin may be.
Personalize this lesson. “Be not afraid of the Assyrians…. For in a very little while my fury will come to an end, and my anger will be directed to their destruction” (Isaiah 10:24-25). This message called for a great deal of trust. It can be difficult to believe God will deliver us when all we see is a looming threat. The good news is that although we may have to wait for God’s rescue, we never have to wait for relationship with God. If you’re waiting for “good” to come, talk honestly with God about His apparent delay. Ask God how He’d like you to relate with Him while you are waiting for the good (God, while I wait, how do You want me to know You better?). Then be listening expectantly for what He wants to communicate to you—perhaps through His written Word, through a friend, or through His small whisper to your heart and mind.
Lesson 5: Day 2: Isaiah 7:13–8:4—The Virgin with Child
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Lesson 5: Day 3: Isaiah 8:5-22—Consequences of Rejecting God’s Plan
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Lesson 5: Day 4: Isaiah 9:8–10:4—God’s Anger against Israel
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