Reading
SAA Notes
The sign of Immanuel is truly wonderful. Judah was delivered within the period a child grew from birth to an age of understanding right from wrong from her enemies. This fulfilment of the prophecy was the shadow of the greater deliverance that arrived with the birth of Jesus – our Immanuel (means: God with us) in a very unique way.
SJA Notes
* God who is with us, please show us Your word today.
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
Immanuel – GOD WITH US!
That this statement from God comes directly after the weakness and faith-LESS-ness of Ahaz is important.
God tells Ahaz to ask for a sign of the coming salvation and Ahaz says he doesn’t want to put the Lord to the test.
This perhaps seems like a wise and even humble response, God’s word is clear that signs and putting God to the test we should not seek after or do (Matthew 12, Deuteronomy 6, Matthew 4).
However, this is not that.
God called on Ahaz for a response.
Ahaz rejected God’s call.
How do we know that is response from Ahaz was faithless? How can we summise that he was quoting scripture for his own selfish ends?
God’s words through Isaiah that come directly after show us the truth,
“Hear then, O house of David! It is too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also?”
God has clearly given us the most important sign, pointed to from Genesis through to Revelation – Jesus on the cross, dead in the grave, then on the third day risen!
Death conquered, the grave defeated!
We need no other signs, no other works.
* Dear God,
Thank You for Jesus, You in the Person of the Son – His birth heralded here in Isaiah.
Thank You that You are with us, Immanuel.
Thank You for the most important sign, Your grace and mercy, Your love for us – That at the cross Jesus bore our shame, the curse of our sin, so that we would be free.
Hallelujah, what a Saviour!
Amen.