I would like to look at a couple of verses from the Old Testament book of Isaiah. The reason I want to take time considering these familiar passages of Scripture is that they are so familiar to all of us we think we know what they mean and so we overlook them in our studies. As always, the context of a passage of Scripture is always more powerful and more relevant than any meaning we may assign to it.

1. Isaiah 43:5

Do not be afraid, for I am with you…

Here is the perfect Hallmark verse. The problem is, most people don’t read it all and consequently don’t know that the rest of the verse says this:

I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.

So, when we read just the first phrase on its own, we get this meaning: God is always with us. Is this a correct statement? Of course it is! Recall words of our Lord in Matthew 28:20b-

Surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

We have Jesus’ promise that He would be with us forever. We know that to be true. However, what is Isaiah getting at when he says it? If you read further to the end of the verse, God says he will take your children from the east to the west. What if you have kids and you don’t want God to take them? What if you like where you are and you don’t want to be gathered from the west? All of a sudden, this verse may not apply to you in any way. Let’s look at what the prophet is really saying.

The entire chapter 42 of Isaiah is an exposition of the Lord’s grace of redemption toward His people, Israel, in spite of their sins.

Words of comfort, verses 1 to 7

The first words of verse 1 force the reader to glance back at chapter 42, where Isaiah outlines the consequences of Israel’s stubborn refusal to be obedient to God’s law. But in this chapter, the prophet declares that the nation will indeed see God as their Redeemer. Because of their constant backsliding, this possibility might have seemed remote to some, so we see a repetition of the phrase “do not be afraid.”

The assurance that G-d hadn’t left them despite their sins, consists of several considerations:

• G-d had formed them; that is, He created them as a nation. He had bound Himself to them by an eternal covenant, first given to Abraham, then repeated over and over again down through the centuries. G-d never had and never will break His covenant with Israel.
• So great is His faithfulness to them, He has actually given entire nations for their ransom. It follows that, if necessary, He would give even more for their ransom.
• To gather Israel back in one place; to restore Israel, is part of God’s eternal purpose and plan. Nothing can deter Him from His purposes.
• For these reasons, the Israelites had nothing to fear. What they were experiencing, even though brought on by their willful disobedience, reminds us of what Paul told the believers in Corinth-

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4:17).

And again-

Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. (Hebrews 12:10).

We see, once again, that the teachings of the New Testament adds much light to the teachings of the Old; we may not be Israel, but can we say we are any more faithful than they were?

So, the meaning of verse 5 is very clear within the context of the prophecy: God has been allowing the people of Israel to experience obstacles and trials, but despite their hard hearts, He is eternally faithful to them. In the midst of their trials they may be tempted to despair to lose hope, so He declares in no uncertain terms that that can never happen.

2. Isaiah 7:14

This is probably the most quoted verse one time a year. Another Hallmark verse, we read it on cards every Christmas-

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

We all know that in the widest prophetic sense, this verse refers to Jesus Christ. We know this because that is how it is used in the New Testament-

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”-which means, “God with us.” (Matthew 1:22, 23).

So, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Matthew was able to apply the “Immanuel Prophecy” to Christ.

However, if we look at that verse, there is much more we may learn.

First, consider how it begins: Therefore. This indicates that verse 14 is not a “stand alone” verse; it is part of a larger thought-it is in response to something. We need to go back to verse 10 and read on to verse 25, the complete oracle, get the sense of what verse 14 is all about.

Ahaz

King Ahaz was one of the most vile kings to rule Israel. He ruled for 19 years and his rule was one of degradation and darkness. Among his dubious accomplishments, Ahaz not only sacrificed to idols, he also sacrificed his own son-the most wicked of pagan abominations. As a result of his sins, Ahaz was handed over to the Syrians, and many of his subjects were taken captive to Damascus. Despite this, Ahaz still did not repent. As he continued to sin, his people continued to suffer. In one day, 120,000 of his soldiers were slaughtered by Pekah, king of Israel. Following the carnage, Pekah gathered 200,000 people from Judah and was intent on enslaving them before a prophet stepped in and stopped him. Despite the intervention and his own inability to lead and protect his people, Ahaz still refused to repent. Ahaz aligned himself with Assyria and began to worship their gods. He also profaned the Temple of the Lord by bringing in pagan altars and removing the altars of God, provoking the Lord to anger. His unabashed sin nearly destroyed his people, and he did nothing to stop it.

Ahaz made his plans and did not include the Lord in them. In arrogance he refused to listen to the prophet.

Despite this, the Lord still spoke to him. Isaiah told the king to ask God for a sign. Ahaz refused, so the prophet told him that God would give him a sign, anyway. The sign for the Ahaz is verse 14: a virgin would conceive and bear a child and certain things would transpire during the child’s infancy and childhood. In other words, the child would be like an indication of time, as he grew, so the time of God’s judgment would come closer and closer.

The virgin

Isaiah used the Hebrew word almah, (“virgin” NIV). This word also means “young woman.” So, we have a word that can mean two things: a virgin of an age or a young woman. It’s important to know this because it goes to the context of the verse 14.

Child/son

If Ahaz was to be given a sign, it stands to reason that that sign would be given within the lifetime of Ahaz. If we read ahead, we notice these verses-

The LORD said to me, “Take a large scroll and write on it with an ordinary pen: Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. And I will call in Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah as reliable witnesses for me.”

Then I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. And the LORD said to me, “Name him Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. Before the boy knows how to say ‘My father’ or ‘My mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria.” (Isaiah 8:1-3)

With the birth of Isaiah’s son, Mahershalalhashbaz, we have the fulfillment of the prophetic word. However, we know that this word is a direct reference to Jesus Christ because that was how Matthew viewed. What we have here is what is commonly known bibliology as “The Law of Double Reference,” that is, a prophecy with more than one fulfillment. There are actually several of these in the Old Testament, but this one is the most famous.

The lesson for us today is two-fold. First, God keeps His word. Ahaz was thoroughly disreputable, yet the Lord sought to give him a sign. God gave him a sign and fulfilled His word to Ahaz and the house of David. To Ahaz and Isaiah, verse 14 was both a prophecy and a historical fact. Second, on another level, verse 14 remained a prophecy to the people of Isaiah’s day. It was fulfilled 1500 years later with the birth of Jesus. Did Isaiah know the full extent of his prophetic utterance? Probably not.

3. Isaiah 9:6, 7

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Yet another Christmas passage we recite and sing every year. But let’s examine it carefully.

Notice the use of the conjunction “For.” All the wonderful things mentioned in the previous verses hinge on this child; He will be the cause of those things coming to pass. In the order of the words, “child” is in the position of emphasis. Use of the first person plural, “us,” brings the reader back to 7:14. The whole tenor of chapters 7 through 9 becomes more and more Messianic. Originally, in Isaiah’s mind, he is giving prophecies of the immediate future of the kingdom. Yet, at the same time, the more he talks, the deeper his words become; it becomes obvious that the child of both 7:14 and 9:6 is not just the prophet’s son.

Notice, also, the break between the phrases, For to us a child is born, to us a son is given and and the government will be upon his shoulders. Etc. The first phrase is historical fact: a child was born back in chapter 8. The second phrase is pure prophecy that is yet to be fulfilled. This is not only a Christmas prophecy, it is a Second Advent prophecy. Almost all of these two verses have yet to be fulfilled! At Christ’s Second Advent, the government will indeed b upon His shoulders. This apparent gap of thousands of years between these two phrase is what is known as “The Law of Prophetic Perspective,” that is, the prophet saw the future as mountain tops, he did not see the intervening valleys.

This child will be given four names, in addition to the aforementioned Immanuel. The four names are: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. The rendering “Wonderful, Counselor” is so familiar to us from the KJV and the musical phrasing of Handel’s Messiah, but it is more than likely not two names, but one name, “Counselor,” with the adjective “Wonderful” describing Him.

Since the beginning of chapter 7, Isaiah has been making some of the most profound, deep, and startling pronouncements under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. These disclosures find their climax in these two stunning verses. As we read and meditate on what Isaiah wrote so long ago, we find ourselves wondering in awe like the mother of this most remarkable Child, and asking the question, How will this be? (Luke 1:34). The prophet must have known people would as that question, and so gives us the answer at the close of his oracle-

The zeal of the Lord will accomplish this. (verse 7)

The fact is, both the blessing of his people, Israel, and the coming of the Messiah both times, are guaranteed by the zeal of the Lord.

For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. (37:32).