Isaiah 7:10-17¹ ⤒🔗

It's time to get into the "Christmas spirit." Such a statement usually means that it is time for all people, regardless of background, religion, political affiliation, or whatever, to be nice to everyone else and to show this by giving presents, hosting parties, etc. For members of Christ, however, the "Christmas spirit" should not be so superficial – something that fades away come boxing day or come January. Rather, the true Christmas spirit is a spirit of humble adoration, appreciation, and acceptance of the ways of the LORD – ways that are higher than man's ways – ways that are higher than the highest heavens and deeper than the deepest seas.

To see this, let us turn to one of the most famous Christmas texts, "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and His name shall be called "Emmanuel" (which means, God with us)."

Let Us Look at this Text Especially in its Original context of Isaiah 7←↰⤒🔗

The "Immanuel prophecy" came in a time of bitter crisis, turmoil, and conflict for Judah. The very survival of the nation of Judah appeared to be at risk. 2 Chronicles 28 recounts what happened during this time: because of the evil deeds of king Ahaz, God first sent Rezin the king of Syria, and then Pekah the king of Israel (both nations to the north of Judah) against Ahaz. Both campaigns had devastating results for Judah: Pekah's army slew 120,000 men of valor in one day, killing even Ahaz' own son, the commander of the palace, and the second in command (v. 7).²

From a human perspective, Israel and Syria had good reason to attack Judah. Both of these nations had just recently felt the oppression of the mighty Assyrian empire. In 738 BC, Tilgathpilneser, king of Assyria withdrew temporarily from these regions to fight on other fronts. This gave time for Israel and Syria to form a league in anticipation of the return of Assyria – a league referred to in Isaiah 7:2.³ In all likelihood, Israel and Syria wanted to force Judah to join in their league of resistance against Assyria. So far, in spite of all their successful campaigns against Judah, Judah stubbornly failed to join this league: that made Israel and Syria angry.⁴

The Immanuel prophecy comes near the end of this conflict between Judah and her northern neighbours.⁵ Ahaz, however, does not know that this conflict is nearly over. Tidings had reached the ears of Ahaz that Israel and Syria were in league together and they had decided to set up "the son of Tabeal as king in the midst of" Judah (v. 6). Having tired of trying to force the Davidic kings on their side, Israel and Syria planned to set up their own puppet king in Jerusalem. Thus, Ahaz faces a second attack by Israel and Syria, and humanly speaking it is no wonder that "his heart and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind;" Israel and Syria had just recently won decisive victories against Judah; Judah was now much weaker than before, having lost over 120,000 men of valor, and now she was faced with a united offensive! The very future of the house of David appeared to be severely threatened.⁶ Will God's promise to David in 2 Samuel 7:16 hold? – The promise which said,

And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.

Will the son of Tabeal indeed replace the son of David?

Precisely at this time, while Ahaz is pondering what to do,⁷ God commands Isaiah to bring a message to Ahaz for the house of David.

Take heed, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smouldering stumps of firebrands, at the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remaliah. Isaiah ends this message with a word of warning in verse 9, If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established.

After these words, there follows an ominous silence. It appears that Ahaz just listened, but said nothing: we don't read of any response of joy to these good tidings.

God then speaks again and pleads with Ahaz in verse 10, "Ask a sign of the LORD your God …" – the faithful God of the covenant who upholds His promises! Do you have trouble believing this incredible message of deliverance, Ahaz? Well then, ask for a sign – for any sign:

let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. I will perform it so that you can see that what I say is true.⁸

Finally Ahaz speaks, "I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test." This pious sounding response does not impress the LORD at all, for it amounts to nothing more than an insult.⁹ Ahaz does not want a sign: he has already made up his mind what he will do – and any sign could only discredit his decision. Ahaz would rather follow his own practical reason than walk in dependence upon God. Ahaz will go to Assyria for help.¹⁰

With this response of Ahaz, we see the words of Isaiah 6:9 coming true, "Hear and hear, but do not understand; see and see, but do not perceive." Those who harden in sin will not believe without seeing – and even when signs are offered they refuse to see. The terrible thing is that this is happening in the house of David! The theocratic king who is supposed to lead God's people in the ways of the LORD, and out of whom is supposed to come the Redeemer, the everlasting King – he is the one hardening in sin! Indeed, the whole house of David had hardened in sin – to the point that the Word of God now turns against them for their destruction.

Isaiah then responds with devastating words,

Hear then, O house of David, Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also?¹¹

God, as it were, is fed up with the house of David! Notice also how previously Isaiah pleaded, "ask a sign of the LORD your God," but now asks, "why do 'you weary my God also?'" Because of his rejection of the LORD, God's Word now drives Ahaz away from the Gospel: God is no longer the God of Ahaz! Ahaz is now in the same position as Saul after he rejected the word of Samuel:¹² God will tear the kingdom away from him and from his house. The Davidic dynasty will come to an end (see also below).

Ahaz wants no sign – but God gives him a sign anyway, a sign as deep as Sheol and as high as heaven. Isaiah continues in verse 14,

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name, Immanuel.

With this text we come to one of the most famous Christmas texts, as quoted in Matthew 1:23. But note that it is given as a sign in the context of judgment on the house of David.

This "Immanuel sign" is an issue of much dispute among explainers. The central question is this: does this sign apply only to the birth of Christ? Many indeed think so. However we should first of all realize that verse 14 is not the full sign. Isaiah continues in verses 15-16,

(Immanuel) shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.

Isaiah prophecies that before Immanuel grows up, the land of Pekah and Rezin will be deserted.¹³ Thus, if this child was not born in the days of Ahaz, the whole credibility of Isaiah would be called into question. The Immanuel prophecy has to have an initial fulfillment in the days of Isaiah already.

The text simply speaks of a "young woman,"¹⁴ a girl of marriageable age. She was likely a particularly young woman¹⁵ close to marriage, with whom Ahaz would have been familiar. For the rest, the text does not give more detail. Ahaz could know that as surely as this woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son whom she would call "Immanuel," so surely God would not permit Israel and Syria to overthrow Judah and the house of David. As a matter of fact, before the child matured, the land of these two kings would be deserted. As such, the sign was good news for the house of David – good news which came to fulfillment very quickly after Isaiah's prophecy.¹⁶

However, that still is not the complete sign. Isaiah continues speaking about Immanuel in verse 15,

He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.

In other words, when Immanuel natures, he will live in an area devastated by warfare: Judah will have been defeated by the king of Assyria.¹⁷ Not only would the sign signify the destruction of Israel and Syria, but also of Judah and the house of David! Because of Ahaz's rebellion the sign now comes with a devastating message – a message that will just as surely come to pass as the birth of Immanuel, and as the defeat Rezin and Pekah. In the words of verse 17,

The LORD will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father's house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah.

The day that Ephraim departed from Judah – that happened in the days of Rehoboam. In its time, the house of David suffered a severe blow: the son of David could only rule over two tribes, whereas David and Solomon ruled over all 12 tribes of Israel. Now, says Isaiah, the house of David will suffer further devastation – and Immanuel is a sure sign that this devastation is coming! This devastation will come by the hand of the king of Assyria.¹⁸ God, the great King, makes a mockery out of Ahaz: Ahaz and the house of David have made up their mind to go to Assyria for help. They are unwilling even to see a sign from God that will help them to change their mind. God, then, will use the very king of Assyria to punish the house of David – and that will all happen before Immanuel grows up.¹⁹

Thus, to the house of David hardened in rebellion, the sign of Immanuel becomes a sign of devastation. As such, however, the sign of Immanuel also becomes a hard sign for the faithful remnant in Judah! After all, this sign spelled the ruin of that royal house that was to produce the Saviour! Imagine the questions of the faithful remnant when the throne of David was deserted! How they must have sung Psalm 89:18 and 20 (in the words of our Book of Praise),

Thou hast, O LORD, removed the scepter from His hand,
Cast to the ground his throne, him from Thy presence banned.
O LORD our God, where is thy steadfast love of old,
The oath to David sworn with promises untold?

How was the promised redeemer to come now? How was the house of David to produce a royal son? David no longer even had a throne! That's the devastation that the child "Immanuel" pointed to!

Yet, to the faithful remnant, the sign of Immanuel was also a sign of hope. Isaiah says, "Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son…" This woman is simply a young woman or virgin. No mention is made of her father or of her husband that would give her rank: the text simply emphasizes the youthful woman and her little boy – two apparently unimportant and weak members of society. The woman would call her son "Immanuel" which means, "God with us." She would do this even in a time when outwardly the opposite appeared to be the case, when it appeared that Judah and Jerusalem would be completely destroyed by Pekah and Rezin. Thus, the woman is obviously a God-fearing and faithful woman – one who stands in stark contrast to the faithlessness of the wicked Ahaz and the hardened house of David.

He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.

Yes, by the time the child grows up he will be eating desert food – Judah will be devastated. Yet, in contrast to many, the child Immanuel will survive the devastation! God will preserve His faithful remnant and will still be with them – Immanuel! Immanuel is not only a sign of devastation, but also a sign that God's promises will come to pass! Assyria (and later Babylon) would remove David's sons from the throne, but they would not be able to thwart the royal promises made to David: the promised Redeemer from the house of David would still somehow come!

To the faithful in those days who saw the overthrow of the throne of David, this must have been hard to believe. How could this destroyed house of David produce the great king? Yet, the faithful remnant could behold the sign of Immanuel in the days of Isaiah – "God with us" – even in spite of the rebellion and destruction of the house of David.

Today we know, and may even celebrate how God fulfilled this promise to His faithful remnant. Matthew in a few words records the birth of Jesus Christ from the virgin Mary through the Holy Spirit, and then adds,

All this took place to fulfill what the LORD had spoken by the prophet: Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel (which means, God with us).

At Christmas we may rejoice in the fulfillment of the Immanuel sign. God preserved His faithful remnant and brought the redeemer in a most miraculous way. The virgin Mary conceived and bore a son. No man was involved, not even the house of David. God produced the great king who would deliver His people from the greatest enemy of all, the devil, – and David could only adopt Him as His Son via the humble Joseph who himself was not a king. This king is "Immanuel" – God with us in the full sense of the Word. With the birth of Jesus Christ, God Himself came to dwell among His people. He is the "Amen" of all the promises of God to His people (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Ahaz refused to ask for a sign, but God provided a sign anyway – a sign that is deeper than Sheol and higher than the highest heaven – the sign of Emmanuel – the sign of the virgin birth.

We usually associate the "Immanuel sign" with the joy of Christmas, but to the house of David hardened in rebellion, the Immanuel sign was a sign of devastation. Such is also the case for the sign of Immanuel today – the sign fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The true joy of the Immanuel sign, the true joy of Christmas is not a general thing. Many today celebrate Christmas, but not the birth of the Christ of Scripture. Rather, they mock at the sign of Immanuel, at the virgin birth: they simply regard it as a nice fairy tale – and refuse to see the truth of it in spite of the clear Word of God. Neither do they rely on that Word of God for their joy and strength, but seek their joy and future elsewhere – just as king Ahaz did. To such who harden in unbelief, Immanuel and the virgin birth and indeed Christmas is only a sure sign of devastation and destruction. Just as surely as Christmas came, so surely they will be destroyed.

Yet, we may indeed associate the Immanuel sign with the true joy of Christmas when we accept this sign in faith – when we see it as a sign "as deep as Sheol or high as heaven." In this sign and in the fulfillment of it, we see the great faithfulness of our God. God will accomplish His promises to His faithful people. To us the future of God's kingdom and our share in it may often seem so hopeless, but let us behold the virgin birth! Humanly speaking there was no way for the Saviour to come. David's kingship had been overthrown. Aside from that, how could corrupt men ever produce a perfect mediator? God's ways, however, are higher than our ways – He sent His own Son by means of the virgin Mary! Who else would have thought or accomplished something like that?

The true Christmas spirit is a spirit that beholds the sign of Immanuel, and then puts complete trust in the mighty ways of the LORD. That's the Christmas spirit – the spirit that humbly views the sign of Immanuel with adoration – the spirit of calm and firm confidence in our mighty covenant God. That's the spirit that will lead to deep and profound joy – joy in knowing that God will preserve His faithful remnant – a joy that will not disappear when the Christmas season is over – a joy that will not disappear even in the midst of sorrow and pain and disappointment – a joy that is steadfast and sure because it comes from God alone.

Let us behold the sign of Immanuel – a sign as deep as Sheol and as high as heaven.