It was the year 742 B.C. The Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) has formed an alliance with their enemies, the Syrians, in hopes of conquering the Southern Kingdom of Judah and taking control of Jerusalem. Although their initial attacks fail, they know that victory is just around the corner.
Gone are the days when King Uzziah ruled Judah with strength and integrity. His grandson, Ahaz, now sits upon the throne. Unlike Uzziah, Ahaz is a weak, sinful king who has no desire for the things of God. Ahaz is so terrified of Ephraim and Syria that he forms an alliance with the wicked Assyrians in an attempt to secure protection.
It was during this attempted siege that God sent Isaiah and his son Shearjashub ("a remnant shall return") to prophecy unto Ahaz. Earthly speaking, Isaiah had very little good to say to the king. The Word from the Lord was that although Judah would survive this onslaught from Ephraim and Syria, that they would eventually be destroyed by their current allies, the Assyrians. In fact, all of these Kingdoms would be destroyed within 65 years.
This scene gives us the backdrop for Isaiah's famous prophecy of the birth of Christ in 7:14, "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." The name Immanuel means "God with us." That this verse is referring to the birth of Christ is without dispute. Matthew gives his own commentary on the matter in 1:22-23, as the angel is speaking to Joseph in a dream concerning Mary, "Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring for a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."
So how could this possibly be good news to Ahaz, knowing that the kingdom of Judah would eventually fall to the Assyrians? The message from Isaiah was simple, Judgment is coming, but so is the King and the Kingdom. This is why Isaiah 7:14 is still so relevant to us today. We know that judgment is coming. We see this in our own country, America. This is why we can never look to the kingdoms of this world for satisfaction. Judgment is coming, but so is Christ. Ahaz would have recognized this as good news if he wasn't so concerned about his earthly throne.
Isaiah's language gets even stronger in 9:6-7, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice henceforth even for ever." This is a clear reference to Christ's Kingdom upon the earth, where He will rule and reign in perfect peace. No one will vote Him out, defeat Him, or scare Him into resigning. There will be no media propaganda to slander Him, nor any other branches of government that He will have to answer to. He will reign in supreme righteousness and justice.
We can be sure that if Christ came the first time of a virgin like like Isaiah prophesied, then He will come back a second time just like He promised. This world will never be our home. This is why we must put our hope in the coming King, and coming Kingdom. Judgment is coming, but so is the King. Are you ready?
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