Isaiah 7 - Bible Study in 5 Minutes
Isaiah 7 Short Summary:
During the reign of Ahaz, Syria and Israel attacked Judah. Isaiah was sent to reassure Ahaz. God promised to give Ahaz a sign that in a few years Syria and Israel would be desolate and no threat to Judah. Isaiah prophesied, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Judah would be spared from Syria and Israel, but God would use the Assyrians and Egyptians to punish them for their wickedness.
Isaiah 7 Bible Study
TIMELINE:
As mentioned previously, the prophetic ministry of Isaiah spanned the reigns of King Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.
The events of Isaiah 7 took place during the reign of King Ahaz.
KEY CHARACTERS:
Isaiah – The son of Amoz (1:1). God commissioned Isaiah as His prophet to Judah.
Ahaz – King of Judah. He was the grandson of Uzziah. Ahaz did not love the Lord, and he was a wicked king (2 Kings 16:1-4).
Rezin – King of Syria.
Pekah – King of Israel.
Shear-jashub – Isaiah’s son.
DEFINITIONS:
Ephraim (7:2) – Ephraim was a tribe of Israel, but in Isaiah’s time, the name was used to refer to the whole northern kingdom of Israel.
Shekel (7:23) – A piece of money weighing about 11 grams.
OUTLINE:
GOD SENDS ISAIAH TO REASSURE AHAZ (7:1-9):
During the reign of Ahaz, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the king of Israel threatened Judah with war. They wanted to dethrone Ahaz and appoint a new king (7:6).
Ahaz was terrified by this threat.
God sent Isaiah to him to reassure him that Syria and Israel would not succeed.
God called Rezin and Pekah two smoldering stumps of firebrands. They were not a real threat, just two dying flames that God was about to extinguish.
God promised Ahaz He would not allow Judah to be defeated.
Instead of Israel defeating Judah, Isaiah prophesied that within 65 years, Israel would be wiped off the map.
IMMANUEL (7:10-16):
God offered to give Ahaz a sign that Isaiah’s words were true, but Ahaz refused the offer.
God told Ahaz He was going to give him a sign anyway, and not just to him, but to all the descendants of David.
A virgin would give birth to a son, and his name would be Immanuel, meaning “God with us.”
Judah wasn’t going to be saved because of their military prowess or foreign allies; they were going to be saved because God was with them preserving them.
By the time Immanuel came of age, the kingdoms of Syria and Israel would be deserted, but Judah and the house of David would remain.
JUDAH BROUGHT LOW BY ASSYRIA AND EGYPT (7:17-25):
Though God promised to spare Judah from Israel and Syria, they would still be punished for their wickedness.
God would use the Assyrians (who Ahaz foolishly trusted) and the Egyptians to humble Judah.
He would shave their head and their beard, that is to say He would shame them, with His Assyrian sword.
BIBLE COMPREHENSION:
God’s sign to Ahaz was ultimately fulfilled in Jesus.
Matthew applies Isaiah’s prophecy to Jesus’ birth in Matthew 1:23.
Mary conceived as a virgin and gave birth to Immanuel (which means “God with us”).
Jesus was God on earth, God among men.
Jesus was a descendant of David and the King who sits on David’s throne.
Though Ahaz didn’t get to see Jesus, Isaiah’s promise assured him that David’s family would survive the joint Israelite and Syrian attack, and the throne of Judah would outlast the thrones of those kingdoms.
