Friday, January 27, 2012

Bible Scripture Reading for Friday 27 January 2012

"Greetings in the Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 27 January 2012"

Today's Blog Title: "The Book of Immanuel"
Today's Scripture Reading: Isaiah 7:1-25
Today's Key Verse: Isaiah 7:14 "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 Immanuel Prophecy from 7:1 thru 12:6 introduces the hope of the future in spite of pending judgment.  "Ahaz" rules Judah from 736 to 720 B.C.  He was an ungodly king who refused Isaiah's words of encouragement.  "Rezin" was the last "king of Syria" to reign in Damascus.  He was later killed by Tiglath-pileser of Assyria.  "Pekah" was the king of northern Israel from 740 to 732 B.C.  He usurped the throne by assassinating his predecessor, Pekahia, and was later murdered by his successor, Hoshea, the last king of Israel.  "Syria is confederate with Ephraim" refers to the fact that they formed an alliance against Ahaz to force him into an alliance with them against Assyria.  What Ahaz fears is an invasion of Judah by Syria and Israel.

Isaiah is sent by the Lord to warn Ahaz not to form an alliance with Assyria, but to trust God to rid the land of its enemies.  "Shear-jashub," Isaiah's son accompanied him to see the king Ahaz.  The invading kings are described as "smoking firebrands."  Isaiah predicts that the threatened invasion will not succeed and that within "threescore and five years" (65 years) the northern kingdom will fall into captivity.

Isaiah, as the spokesman for Yahweh, urges Ahaz to "ask thee for a sign." However, the king responded with a surprising pious ploy announcing that he "would not" ask for such a sign nor "tempt the Lord."  Isaiah announced that God Himself had chosen a miraculous sign addressed to the hose of David.  It was a prediction of hope: although Israel and Judah may b cut down, a Child shall spring forth as a Branch out of its roots.

In verse 14, "the Lord" here is "Adonai."  "Behold" is used to call attention to the unusual birth that is about to be announced.  A "virgin" is better read "the virgin."  Isaiah sees  the pregnant virgin about to bear a Son.  That this prophecy must refer to the virgin birth of Christ is obvious since the virgin is pregnant and still a virgin!  "Immanuel" is a symbolic name meaning, "God with Us."  He is the incarnate Son of God who is further pictured as the "Child-Prince."

"Butter and honey" is a reference to the best food.  The phrase indicates that the land will be so desolate of people that the best food is available to those who remain.  Though "Immanuel" would not be actually be here for many years to come, His infancy symbolizes the fact that Judah's present desolation will be short lived because her enemies will soon be rendered powerless.  Thus the prophecy has both immediate significance to Ahaz and ultimate significance to Ahaz to the line of David in predicting the virgin birth of the Messiah.

"The day that Ephraim departed from Judah" (verse 17), refers to the division of the kingdom between the northern and southern tribes after the death of Solomon in 931 B.C.  The "king of Assyria is named as the source of the coming destruction of northern Israel, which was fulfilled in 722 B.C.  The "fly" in verse 18 symbolizes Egypt, and the "bee" symbolizes Assyria.  Within two years after Isaiah's prediction, Syria fell to Assyria and Pekah no longer ruled Israel.  Within another 10 years, Israel (Ephraim) had fallen to Assyria.

Click on the link at www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com to read Today's Bible Verse from John 14;1-3.

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day.  Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God Moe Today.  Pray for our Brothers and Sisters in Christ who are being persecuted for their Faith and Trust in Jesus Christ.  Also Pray for God's Blessings on the Nation of Israel. Always remember that when you have a spiritual dilemma in your life and you yell out "I CAN'T", GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN."

Your Sister In Christ,
Cindi           

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