WTW 2021
February 7
Isaiah 7
Then Yahweh said to Isaiah, “Go out, you and your son…to meet Ahaz…Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood—because of the fierce anger of…[those who]…have plotted your ruin, saying,
“Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves…Yet this is what Lord Yahweh says:
“It will not take place, it will not happen…”
“Ask Yahweh your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”
But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put Yahweh to the test.” Isaiah 7:3-7, 11-12
To be continued…
Wisdom in the WORD 
RJ Background Notes
The backdrop of 2 Kings 16 and 2 Chronicles 28 is helpful. They also show that despite Isaiah 7:7 saying the attack by Israel and Aram would not stand, there was some success against Judah. 2 Chron 28:5-8 gives some details. But it goes on to tell of a prophet who warned Israel against enslaving Judah. So they showed restraint.
Isaiah 7:14 regarding Immanuel “with us is God” really stands out here, almost out of place. But it seems that we see a prophecy to be fulfilled in the near-term and further in the future.
Notice that the sign of the child is about how soon Aram and Israel will experience destruction (7:16). By the time the child knows what’s right and wrong, Aram and Israel would fall to the Assyrians. At the beginning of Isaiah 8 we see Isaiah impregnate a prophetess, who births a son with a prophetic name of the coming, swift destruction. And 8:4 echoes 7:15-16. Before that son was evidently old enough to speak, the destruction would come.
Historical accounts evidently show this clearly happened within about 12 years of the prophecy.
And the destruction reached even Judah, who is called Immanuel (Isaiah 8:8).
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The backdrop of 2 Kings 16 and 2 Chronicles 28 is helpful. They also show that despite Isaiah 7:7 saying the attack by Israel and Aram would not stand, there was some success against Judah. 2 Chron 28:5-8 gives some details. But it goes on to tell of a prophet who warned Israel against enslaving Judah. So they showed restraint.
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