Isaiah 7
CHAPTER 6 refers to the year of Uzziah’s death; chapter 7 passes by the 16 year reign of his godly son Jotham and tells of the time of the wicked Ahaz, Uzziah’s grandson. 2 Chronicles 28 gives the inspired account of this thoroughly bad king; God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria, and into the hand of the king of Israel; many were killed in battle and far more were carried away as captives. The Edomites also attacked Judah, and carried away captives, and the Philistines seized several cities during Ahaz’ reign.
We learn from Isaiah 7 that the kings of Syria and Israel were not able to capture Jerusalem; God spared Judah to that extent—yet the people as well as the king and his family were stricken with fear, and no wonder, since the king who sat on David’s throne walked in ways utterly displeasing to God.
It was the intent of these northern kings (and one of them an Israelite) to substitute for David’s line a king of their own choice. God would not allow this; His word to David must stand. Those who in unbelief have criticized our Bible, have pointed to the sixty-five years of verse 8, as a blunder, because the ten tribes were carried away in about 21 years, but the 65 year limit was reached when a colony of foreigners was planted in their land, in Samaria. God does not err; the word is “within 65 years shall Ephraim be broken so as to be no more a people.” They then lost their land, and have never gone back to it.
Ahaz, utterly unbelieving, will not ask of God (verse 12), but Isaiah is privileged to tell him of a marvelous sign that God would and did give,
Thus is the promise of Genesis 3:1515And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15) made clear. Not partaking of the sinful nature of Adam, but truly man, yet fully and essentially God, came the eternal Son of God into the world to save sinners.
The end of verse 16 should read, “the land whose two kings thou fearest (or abhorrest) shall be forsaken.” Verse 17 adds a promise of judgment not long to be deferred: the king of Assyria was coming! Coming not as a friend or ally but as a conqueror! Ahaz had before sent there for help instead of humbling himself because of his sins and seeking God’s forgiveness and help, but the Assyrian king has been no help (2 Chronicles 28:16-2116At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him. 17For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives. 18The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there. 19For the Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the Lord. 20And Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not. 21For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the Lord, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not. (2 Chronicles 28:16‑21)).
The Assyrians were coming; they came twice in Hezekiah’s day and ravaged the land of Judah.
ML 04/30/1933