His Name Is Immanuel, God-With-Us (Isaiah 7)

The word of God comes to the king of Judah, the descendant of David, with a warning and an encouragement. God will establish the throne of the Son of David forever.

Isaiah 7:14 (ESV)

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

The King of Judah has heard news that their brother nation, Israel, has made an alliance with their enemies to come and attack them.

Isaiah brings the king a word from God. Their enemies intend to destroy them, but God promises Divine protection. The promise is sealed with a sign. In the time it takes for an unwed woman to get married and have a child, and before that child is old enough to know good and evil (when he becomes a man, at twelve), God will rescue Judah from the violence of their enemies. Syria and Israel will be themselves destroyed. The child's name will be "Immanuel", which means "God is with us".

The promise of deliverance from these enemy nations would be fulfilled. Only a few years later, Judah would see Israel attacked and the survivors scattered. However, not long after that, Judah herself would also be overtaken by another nation, and her people scattered. The line of the kings of Judah will end, and the period of the exile of God's people will begin.

In their exile, God will remember all of God's promises of deliverance since the time of Abraham. They will look earnestly for the coming of their promised Messiah, a new King of Judah, of the line of David, whose kingdom will never end.

God's promise of salvation remained with Israel until Jesus was born to the house of David, born of a virgin, named Mary. He was not only named Immanuel, but was Immanuel, the presence of God among them. This forever King would take upon himself all of the violence of the colonizing empire that occupied their land. By the mercy of God would all fear of violence and corruption and death be destroyed from among God's people, and the true King of Judah restored to sit on his throne forever.

☠
Tomorrow: 1 Peter 1 - Things Into Which Angels Long To Look 
Next Tuesday: Isaiah 8 - Ruled By That Which We Fear

Click the image for the entire series from Isaiah