Isaiah 7 - Introduction

Isaiah 7:1 to Isaiah 9:7

A collection of prophecies belonging to the reign of Ahaz. Two important events in Isaiah's career are here chronicled. (1) The first is his débutas a practical statesman, seeking to shape the destinies of his country by a definite policy urged on the king and his advisers. (2) The second is the formation of a band of disciples, accompanied apparently by the prophet's temporary withdrawal from public life (Isaiah 8:16-18). Hence we obtain an obvious division of the section into two parts, which may have been separated by a considerable interval of time, although there is no great reason to doubt that the whole was written before the death of Ahaz. (1) Ch. Isaiah 7:1 to Isaiah 8:15 is a summary of Isaiah's activity during the crisis of the Syro-Ephraimitish invasion; (2) Isaiah 8:19 to Isaiah 9:7 probably represents the instruction communicated by the prophet to the inner circle of his believing adherents. In both parts the Chapter s exhibit the working out in history of the principles revealed in the latter part of ch. 6. The "great refusal" of Ahaz (Isaiah 7:12), approved as it seems to have been by public opinion, was a signal illustration of the judicial hardening produced by the overwhelming clearness of the divine revelation; and the gathering of a small religious fellowship round the person and family of the prophet shews how the doctrine of the remnant or the "holy seed" became from this time a practical ideal in his ministry.

In order to understand Isaiah's words and actions at this period it is necessary to realise as clearly as possible the salient features of the political situation created in Judah by the Syro-Ephraimitish invasion. Hostilities on the part of both Syria and Ephraim against Judah are recorded as having commenced before the death of Jotham (2 Kings 15:37), though there is no mention at that time of a formal alliance between the two powers. It was only after the accession of Ahaz that the crisis became acute; and the words of Isaiah 7:2 seem to point to the sudden development of a new and formidable danger. This consisted in the avowed object of the league to destroy the independence of Judah by the removal of the native dynasty and the establishment of a creature of the allies on the throne of David (Isaiah 7:6). It is generally supposed that the ultimate motive of the attack was to coerce Judah into a coalition to oppose the westward progress of the Assyrian arms. To allay what he perceived to be a groundless alarm on the part of the king and court was one purpose of Isaiah's memorable interview with Ahaz. But this of itself does not explain the extraordinary vehemence and urgency of the prophet's appeal. It becomes fully intelligible only when we understand that he wished to warn the king against the fatal step, which he afterwards took, of calling in the aid of Assyria against his two petty foes. It is only reasonable to suppose that this obvious and tempting expedient had already been discussed in the royal council and was favourably entertained by Ahaz. Isaiah was no doubt alive to the grave political dangers which would result from placing the country in a position of servitude to the Assyrian Empire. He also perceived how unnecessary it was for Judah to make any advances in that direction at this time, since it was quite certain that the ambitious schemes of Rezin and Pekah would speedily be crushed by Tiglath-pileser, whether Ahaz applied to him or not. All this must have been evident to any sagacious observer who kept his head amidst the general panic caused by the approach of the allied armies. But the prophet perceived that higher interests than the political future of the nation were at stake. He was opposed, on religious grounds, to all compacts with heathen powers as involving disloyalty to Jehovah and distrust of His power. The crisis presented itself to him as a test of the religious mind of the people, of its capacity for exercising that fearless trust in Jehovah's word which alone could guide it safely through the complications of the immediate future to the felicity that lay beyond. Hence the great object of this encounter with Ahaz is to bring round the king to Isaiah's own attitude of calm reliance on the help of God, and above all things to dissuade him from compromising his position by entering into direct relations with Assyria.

Chap. 7. Isaiah's interview with Ahaz and its consequences

The chapter is divided into two well-marked sections:

2 Samuel 7:1; 2 Samuel 7:1. The prophet meets Ahaz at a critical juncture of the war and holds out a promise of deliverance on the condition of faith in Jehovah. The king's unbelief is answered by the threat of an Assyrian invasion.

(1) The historical introduction (Isaiah 7:1).

(2) The divine message of assurance and encouragement, ending with a warning against unbelief (Isaiah 7:4). (We must suppose that something in the king's demeanour had betrayed his impatience of the prophet's exhortation.)

(3) If any sign in heaven or earth will overcome the king's incredulity, he has but to name it and it shall come to pass (Isaiah 7:10). Ahaz still remains obdurate (Isaiah 7:12).

(4) Isaiah announces the God-given sign of Immanuel, as a token (a) of deliverance from the immediate danger, and (b) of the coming Assyrian invasion (Isaiah 7:13).

ii. Isa 7:18-25. An expansion of the threat of Isaiah 7:17, but probably not spoken to Ahaz at the time. It is a picture of the desolation of the land, ravaged by Egyptian and Assyrian troops, and left destitute of all but the scantiest means of human subsistence.