Reading

• Isa. 7:1-9:21

Devotional

When Ahaz was still king of Judah, the king of Aram and Remaliah king of Israel allied together to attack Jerusalem, but they were unable to defeat it. GOD told Isaiah and his son to go to Ahaz and instruct him to request a sign, but Ahaz was unwilling. Isaiah replied that GOD would give Israel a sign regardless, but the sign GOD gave would be that of the Messiah and not an immediate sign. Isaiah said:

¹³ Then he said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also? ¹⁴ Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. ¹⁵ Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good. ¹⁶ For before the Child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that you dread will be forsaken by both her kings. ¹⁷ The LORD will bring the king of Assyria upon you and your people and your father’s house—days that have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah.”
(Isa. 7:13-17 NKJV)

Isaiah told Ahaz how Assyria would destroy Israel. The desolation within the land would be awful.

¹¹ For the LORD spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying: ¹² “ Do not say, ‘A conspiracy,’ Concerning all that this people call a conspiracy, Nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. ¹³ The LORD of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, And let Him be your dread. ¹⁴ He will be as a sanctuary, But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense To both the houses of Israel, As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. ¹⁵ And many among them shall stumble; They shall fall and be broken, Be snared and taken.” ¹⁶ Bind up the testimony, Seal the law among my disciples. ¹⁷ And I will wait on the LORD, Who hides His face from the house of Jacob; And I will hope in Him. ¹⁸ Here am I and the children whom the LORD has given me! We are for signs and wonders in Israel From the LORD of hosts, Who dwells in Mount Zion.
(Isa. 8:11-18 NKJV)

Then Isaiah revealed more details regarding the Messiah.

¹ Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed, As when at first He lightly esteemed The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, And afterward more heavily oppressed her, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, In Galilee of the Gentiles. ² The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined. ³ You have multiplied the nation And increased its joy; They rejoice before You According to the joy of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil. ⁴ For You have broken the yoke of his burden And the staff of his shoulder, The rod of his oppressor, As in the day of Midian. ⁵ For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle, And garments rolled in blood, Will be used for burning and fuel of fire. ⁶ For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ⁷ Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
(Isa. 9:1-7 NKJV)

To the few faithful children of GOD in Israel and Judah, these details of the coming Messiah must have been received with great anticipation.