Exposition by Max A Forsythe
This Wednesday we had a major fight between the two last periods. One student was stabbed and another is being charged with felonious assault. Now before we take too much pity on the poor wounded victim, we should realize that he was equally to blame in this particular case. In fact, he was in school instead of incarceration at the mercy of a Juvenile Judge. One last offer of clemency had been given to this young man earlier in the summer. If he could attend school and stay out of trouble, his sentence would be commuted from serving some hard time. Obviously it turned out this week, trouble was very much in his lifestyle and the kind grace of the court was rejected. Even before his assailant comes to trial, he is already put away for a minimum of six months.
Given what some would call laxity, but others grace, why would anyone reject an offer to stay out of confinement? Why indeed? Is there something in our fallen nature that would keep us from accepting an exceptional offer of grace? Yes, our example comes from our court system with which many are frustrated. However, the last, last chance given to our criminal element is mirrored well in God's kind dealings with all of mankind.
In our passage today, the extreme patience of our God is dramatized in one last offer given to King Ahaz. The offer of grace is tied in with a renewal of the covenant, if Ahaz would have the covenant given to his fathers and promised to his heirs.
Now, the occasion of the offer is a time of crisis in the life of Israel. Enemies were coming against the people of God. Kings of Israel and Syria were marching against Judah. This news of neighboring nations closing in shakes the hearts of Israel like a wind shakes the trees of the forest. A cold chill if you will was weakening the hearts of crown, council and the whole company of Judah.
To hearten the defense of Jerusalem, Isaiah and his son were sent to counsel the king. As it turned out, the king was inspecting one of the weakest links in the defense of Jerusalem, the source for the city's water supply. Isaiah's message would have been one of encouragement if the king had kept his head and heart where they were supposed to be. Look at the kind words of verses four and five:
"Be careful, keep calm and don't be afraid. Do not lose heart because ... these two smoldering stubs of firewood ... have plotted your ruin."
Then in verse seven Isaiah promises that "It will not take place, it will not happen". The purpose of the invasion will fail miserably.
However, there is a personal challenge for Ahaz. This is at the end of verse nine.
"If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all."
Here was a king who was foundering, here was a king whose frail expectations were not heavenly concerned. Here was a king whose dependence was on the might of the kings of this earth. Even as Isaiah challenges Ahaz he gracefully offers him a mighty confirmation of the promised prophecy.
"Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights."
Ahaz, he says, "do you want to see a sign in heaven or on earth?"
And then, amazingly, Ahaz rejects the confirmation of God's grace and salvation for the future of Judah! Would you like to see a miracle so that you can meet the difficult times ahead? And Ahaz declined. Yes, like some of our politicians today, his talk includes phrases from the Bible, but his heart is not in them. Hear the forceful words of Isaiah's answer in verse thirteen.
"Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also?"
Notice the use of "my God" who is here rejected by the likes of Ahaz.
So, you don't want a miracle? Okay! But, there will be a miracle anyway. In verse fourteen Isaiah predicts the virgin birth of the Lord's anointed: our Lord Jesus Christ. In his day, the two kings who cannot even put the fear of God in Ahaz will be long gone and Israel and Syria will be laid waste. In addition, Judah will have a similar fate. Even now, flies and bees are circling over their dead meals at the far ends of Palestine. The Lord will whistle and bring them near. And the land, the poor land of Judah will be destroyed. The cultivated fields and vineyards will be destroyed. A few goats and cattle will be herded where prosperous crops were formerly raised. Such will be the earthly punishment of all those who would reject the covenant grace of our mighty God.
Would that the world would learn from this lesson of Ahaz? This week something unusual happened in Columbus. There was an intellectual evangelism event in the heart of the state. There was a forum to consider the great question of Pontius Pilate:
"What is truth?" The one night of discussions at Ohio State, which I heard, was excellent. The speakers in the weeklong series of seminars echoed the concern of one of Isaiah's commentators who notes, "despite the resurrection of Christ - which is the best attested fact in the universe - they still refuse to believe in him."
In spite of the clear logic and intelligence that demands the existence of a Creator and His plan to provide for our salvation, some will still refuse, like Ahaz to have anything to do with the offer of grace. One of you told me about a radio listener who called in to interrupt a broadcast discussion of
"What is truth?" with a long tirade against the very consideration of a sacred explanation for beginnings and endings of time and matter. Like Ahaz, that atheist is typical of all unbelievers: defiant, willful and rebellious.
The king who would have nothing of David's greater son is informed that God will not count the coming Christ as a direct son of David's line. No king of David's line will ever be father to the Messiah.
God has other plans, behold "the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." Only the fact of Mary's link to David's line will keep the promises made to David and Abraham secure. Contrary to what Ahaz and the people of Judah fully deserve, God will provide for their seed the long expected Messiah. And some few, even of Judah will believe and accept the true Son of David as their eternal Lord and King.
May we who have heard the fuller revelation of the very virgin's Son here promised, may we who know the Christ by Name, may we who know who Jesus is - may we accept Him as He is gracefully given. And may we accept Him and all the promises of the Covenant of His blood and body so that unlike Ahaz and his crew, we may spend eternity knowing our God and our King. Amen.
Resources Used:
Ellis, Charles..
The Wells of Salvation.
Thomas, Derek..
Welwyn Commentery Series: God Delivers.
Uprichard,
Harry.
A Son is Given: Christ in Isaiah.
Young, Edward J.
The Book of Isaiah.
The Holy Bible.
New International Version (1984 Edition)
NOTE: I am not able to automatically
recommend any future editions.
Christ Covenant Reformed (Presbyterian Church in America) -
Box 13926 - Columbus, OH 43213
(c) 2001
07 November 93
Permission granted to redistribute unedited versions with this notice.