Firm in Faith

Firm in faith

Isaiah 7:1-25

“This book puts forth a new way of seeing. And it isn’t our own brainstorming. God is the one offering us a new perspective on everything.”

-Ray Ortlund

Main Idea: We are to be firm in faith because our God is with us in judgement and salvation.

I. The bad news (7:1-2)

II. The good news (7:3-9)

III. The best news (7:10-25)

I. The bad news (7:1-2)

II. The good news (7:3-9)

    1. Be careful

    2. Be quiet

    3. Do not fear

    4. Do not let your heart be faint

Isaiah 7:7-9

thus says the Lord GOD: 

    “‘It shall not stand,

        and it shall not come to pass. 

    For the head of Syria is Damascus,

        and the head of Damascus is Rezin.

    And within sixty-five years

        Ephraim will be shattered from being a people. 

    And the head of Ephraim is Samaria,

        and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah.

    If you are not firm in faith,

        you will not be firm at all.’”

  • Syria - Exalted

  • Damascus - Silent is the sackcloth weaver

  • Rezin - Firm

  • Ephraim - Double-ash-heap, I shall be doubly faithful; doubly fruitful

  • Samaria - Watch mountain

  • Remaliah - Protected by the Lord. The exaltation of the Lord.

Jonah 3:6-9 The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”

III. The best news (7:10-25)

Isaiah 7:11 “Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.”

Isaiah 7:12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.”

Isaiah 7:14-16 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted.

v. 18-19 - Effortless deliverance

v. 20 - Humbling of the proud

v. 21-22 - Reduced to hardship

v. 23-25 - Their fame will fade away

But who is this son?

Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz - Speed-spoil-hasten-plunder or, swift to the spoil, quick to the plunder. 

Matthew 1:20-25

“But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

    “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

        and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us).  When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.”

  • Be careful

  • Be quiet

  • Do not fear

  • Do not let your heart be faint 

If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.