Day 134 · Part 8: Two Kingdoms
Isaiah’s Vision
In the Story
In context
“In the year that King Uzziah died,” about 740 BC, Isaiah sees the Lord on a throne, and the seraphim call to one another, “Holy, holy, holy, is Yahweh of Armies” (Isaiah 6:1–3). A live coal from the altar touches his lips, and when the Lord asks, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Isaiah answers, “Here I am” (6:6–8). The hard words he is given to carry are quoted by Jesus and by Paul (6:9–10; Matthew 13:14–15; Acts 28:25–27).
Ahaz king of Judah even makes his son pass through the fire, as the nations had done (2 Kings 16:2–3). When Syria and Israel march on Jerusalem, Isaiah tells him, “Don’t be afraid” (Isaiah 7:1–4). Ahaz will not ask for a sign, so the Lord gives one: “the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel,” a name that means “God with us” (7:10–14).
Instead, Ahaz sends the temple’s silver and gold to Tiglath Pileser of Assyria, copies an altar he saw in Damascus, and at last shuts the doors of the Lord’s house (2 Kings 16:7–18; 2 Chronicles 28:21–24). Isaiah speaks of a great light and of a child born, the “Prince of Peace,” on David’s throne (Isaiah 9:2, 6–7; Matthew 4:15–16).
Now all this has happened that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel,” which is, being interpreted, “God with us.”
Matthew 1:22–23 · Isaiah gave Ahaz the sign of a son called Immanuel; Matthew tells of the birth of Jesus with the same words, “God with us.”
For families
When the Lord sent Isaiah to meet King Ahaz, he told him to take his son Shearjashub along (Isaiah 7:3); the boy’s name means “a remnant will return.” In Samaria the prophet Oded spoke to Israel’s army, and some of Ephraim’s leaders clothed, fed and carried home the women and children taken captive from Judah, “their brothers” (2 Chronicles 28:8–15).
Isaiah took his son along when he went to see the king. Where has a parent or grandparent taken you along with them?
In the Bible
World English Bible, as published by eBible.org (public domain).
Isaiah 6
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2 Kings 16
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2 Chronicles 28
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Isaiah 7
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Isaiah 9:2
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Isaiah 9:6–7
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A hymn for today
Holy, Holy, Holy · words by Reginald Heber
- Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!
- Holy, holy, holy! all the saints adore Thee,Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,Who wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.
- Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide Thee,Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see,Only Thou art holy; there is none beside TheePerfect in pow'r, in love, and purity.
- Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!All Thy works shall praise Thy name, in earth, and sky, and sea;Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!