Bible Study                                     Notes 1999

STUDIES IN ISAIAH                                       30 November 1999

Text:  Isaiah 7

THE WICKED REIGN OF AHAZ (Cf. 2 Chron 28)

1.   Practised idolatry in the worst of forms (2 Chron 28:1-4, 19, 22)

2.   His reign saw many battles waged against the kingdom of Judah

a)   Syria           2 Chron 28:5

b)   Israel          2 Chron 28:6-8

c)   Edomites      2 Chron 28:17

d)   Philistines      2 Chron 28:18

A GLIMPSE OF THE PROPHETIC MINISTRY OF ISAIAH

1.   To offer a word of encouragement to the harassed King of Judah, Ahaz

2.   To allay the fears of the people when they heard that Syria and Israel had combined forces to attack Judah  Isa 7:2

3.   The prophetic word given was that the alliance and plots of Syria and Israel will fail   Isa 7:7-9

4.   God's gracious offer to Ahaz to ask for a SIGN   Isa 7:10-11

5.   Ahaz's rejection of this offer garbed in "polite" language   Isa 7:12

THE SIGN GIVE: A PROPHETIC PROMISE   Isa 7:14

1.   The Lord Himself will give the Sign

2.   There will be a Virgin who will conceive and bear a Son (Immanuel)

3.   This Promise was fulfilled in Jesus   Matt 1:22-23

ANOTHER PROPHETIC SIGN: THE FALL OF ISRAEL   Isa 7:15-25

1.   This prophecy will take place soon, before a child is able to discern good and evil and to choose well   Isa 7:15-16

2.   Israel will fall to the might of Assyria and Egypt   Isa 7:18

      (Ahaz had tried to court Assyria to come to the aid of Judah  2 Chron 28)

3.   The land of Israel will be completely devastated by the ravages of war   Isa 7:21-25

MARKS OF TRUE PROPHECY

1.   Specific prophetic utterances

2.   Historically verifiable

3.   Absolutely accurate