The nation of Israel had been split, the northern half of the country being Israel and the southern half being Judah with its capital being Jerusalem.
The thing about these verses is how King Ahaz of Judah responds to God...He is very pious sounding in his words toward the Lord...but his heart is far from Him.
That's messed up...Gleanings from Isaiah 7: 1-12
"During the time of King Ahaz, who was the son of Jotham and grandson of Uzziah, all kings of Judah..., there was news that Pekah the king of Israel had made an alliance with Syria and were planning to attack Judah, particularly Jerusalem. It turned out to be nothing more than "news"...the plan to do this was never carried out.
Now when the news of this had reached the Royal Court of Judah...King Ahaz totally "freaked"and as a result the people of Judah lived in fear. In fact, it was so bad they literally shook...like leaves on trees that are blown by the wind or for some like the trees themselves being blown fiercely by a storm.
God spoke to Isaiah and said:" Go and speak with Ahaz of Israel, and take your son Shear-jashub (his name meaning "A Remnant-Will-Return") with you. Meet with him at the canal of the Upper Pool on the highway to Fuller's Field, it's near the road where cloth is washed.
Tell him to stop worrying. These two "burnt out" cinders have nothing in them but smoke...both of them, King Rezin of Syria and King Pekah of Israel. They are just talking "smack"...that's all it is...just cheap talk.
Now, it is true they are plotting against Judah and focused on Jerusalem, and they have made some pretty bold statements....not gonna happen...but bold. They even went as far to say after they capture Jerusalem they will set up a new king of Judah...Tabeel.
Nice..isn't that nice...the problem with that is: 1) they didn't ask you (lol) and more importantly 2) they didn't ask Me.
So, here is what I have to say about these plans of theirs. First, it's a "dud" from the start. Their strength when they are on their "A-game" is weak at their very best. Both Damascus of Syria and the nation of Israel are not "all that", even with the reputation of the warrior Pekah.
Now, I the Lord have news for them....within the next 65 years max, Israel will be crushed to pieces..they will no longer be a people let alone a nation.
Now listen to Me Ahaz, king of Judah...there is something you need to do right now or you won't make it...you won't be around much longer. Here is what I want you to do: believe Me...believe what I am telling you...you must believe what I say to you."
Later, the Lord sent another message to King Ahaz of Judah. He said, " Look, to help you get some confidence on this matter...I want you to ask me for a sign...a conformation to what I am telling you. You can make this request as specific or unusual as you want...it can be something "wild"....choose from anywhere!...the highest in the heavens...or look below...right down into the place of the dead! I will follow up with the confirmation...you call it!"
But King Ahaz got all "religious" toward the Lord, and answered Him in a way that sounded very pious and humble..but the truth of the matter King Ahaz was faking it...not a good thing to do with God! King Ahaz replied," I won't do that, I won't ask You for a conformation....I will not put what You have already told me...to the test."
The truth of the matter was King Ahaz was already in negotiations with Tiglath-Pileser III, of Assyria, to help Judah "take out" both Israel and Syria. Ahaz was more confident in these negotiations than with putting his heart in trust to what the Lord had told him he would do for him.......not a good idea...no, not a good idea at all.
The thing about these verses is how King Ahaz of Judah responds to God...He is very pious sounding in his words toward the Lord...but his heart is far from Him.
That's messed up...Gleanings from Isaiah 7: 1-12
"During the time of King Ahaz, who was the son of Jotham and grandson of Uzziah, all kings of Judah..., there was news that Pekah the king of Israel had made an alliance with Syria and were planning to attack Judah, particularly Jerusalem. It turned out to be nothing more than "news"...the plan to do this was never carried out.
Now when the news of this had reached the Royal Court of Judah...King Ahaz totally "freaked"and as a result the people of Judah lived in fear. In fact, it was so bad they literally shook...like leaves on trees that are blown by the wind or for some like the trees themselves being blown fiercely by a storm.
God spoke to Isaiah and said:" Go and speak with Ahaz of Israel, and take your son Shear-jashub (his name meaning "A Remnant-Will-Return") with you. Meet with him at the canal of the Upper Pool on the highway to Fuller's Field, it's near the road where cloth is washed.
Tell him to stop worrying. These two "burnt out" cinders have nothing in them but smoke...both of them, King Rezin of Syria and King Pekah of Israel. They are just talking "smack"...that's all it is...just cheap talk.
Now, it is true they are plotting against Judah and focused on Jerusalem, and they have made some pretty bold statements....not gonna happen...but bold. They even went as far to say after they capture Jerusalem they will set up a new king of Judah...Tabeel.
Nice..isn't that nice...the problem with that is: 1) they didn't ask you (lol) and more importantly 2) they didn't ask Me.
So, here is what I have to say about these plans of theirs. First, it's a "dud" from the start. Their strength when they are on their "A-game" is weak at their very best. Both Damascus of Syria and the nation of Israel are not "all that", even with the reputation of the warrior Pekah.
Now, I the Lord have news for them....within the next 65 years max, Israel will be crushed to pieces..they will no longer be a people let alone a nation.
Now listen to Me Ahaz, king of Judah...there is something you need to do right now or you won't make it...you won't be around much longer. Here is what I want you to do: believe Me...believe what I am telling you...you must believe what I say to you."
Later, the Lord sent another message to King Ahaz of Judah. He said, " Look, to help you get some confidence on this matter...I want you to ask me for a sign...a conformation to what I am telling you. You can make this request as specific or unusual as you want...it can be something "wild"....choose from anywhere!...the highest in the heavens...or look below...right down into the place of the dead! I will follow up with the confirmation...you call it!"
But King Ahaz got all "religious" toward the Lord, and answered Him in a way that sounded very pious and humble..but the truth of the matter King Ahaz was faking it...not a good thing to do with God! King Ahaz replied," I won't do that, I won't ask You for a conformation....I will not put what You have already told me...to the test."
The truth of the matter was King Ahaz was already in negotiations with Tiglath-Pileser III, of Assyria, to help Judah "take out" both Israel and Syria. Ahaz was more confident in these negotiations than with putting his heart in trust to what the Lord had told him he would do for him.......not a good idea...no, not a good idea at all.
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