Come Bible Study with Me (Isaiah 7)

Well, we made it to another chapter. Welcome back to the blog! This week, I'm sharing my thoughts and strategies used with Isaiah chapter 7.  

I will be using the asking questions (annotating strategy) again to summarize this chapter. Remember, there is no fixed way to use any of the strategies I am sharing here. Choose to make it work for you. 

Let's begin! Here are my list of questions and answers as I read through the chapter:

Why are the King of Syria and the King of Israel waging war against Jerusalem? 
After studying different commentary, I learned that these two kings united against the coming all-conquering Assyria. They were so serious that they were even willing to overthrow King Ahaz and replace him with the son of Tabeel. They believed they could possibly defeat them if they all joined forces. 

Why did God instruct Isaiah to bring his son "Shear-jashud" to meet with King Ahaz? 
According to various Bible commentary, Isaiah's son symbolized God's judgment and His restoration that would come. His son name meant "a remnant will return." This was a show of Isaiah's faith in God keeping His promise to preserve David's throne in Jerusalem. Therefore, they wouldn't be annihilated.  

In addition, King Ahaz was the king of Judah at the time. He had led the people into sin, to act sinfully against God. Through Isaiah, God made sure that his (Isaiah's) son was a symbol that God's judgement would come to pass because of their great sin against him. 


Why did Ahaz refuse God's help to fight against all of their adversaries? 
According to 2 Kings 16:8, King Ahaz secretly tried to buy aid from the Assyrians with silver and gold from God's Temple. Even with God telling him (through Isaiah) that Ephraim (Israel, the northern kingdom) would no longer exist within 65 years, Ahaz still struggled to place his faith in God alone. He worshipped the "god" that benefitted him. 


How does God's prophecy through Isaiah begin to come to  pass? 
According to various commentary, God's prophecy that He spoke through Isaiah began to come to pass when the northern kingdom was invaded by Assyria. By 669 BC, the nation no longer existed. 


What does God, through Isaiah, mean when he says in chapter 7:9, "If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all?" 
In the context of what was taking place at the time, I believe the LORD was saying that Ahaz would never be firm or stand for anything. He would always waver in his thinking. He would always seek his own will, what seemed right in his own eyes. Others would be able to use him, and he would ultimately fall, which he did. Overall, God was trying to get him to understand that he had his trust in the wrong place, and it would cost him. 


Why did God speak to Ahaz about the virgin that would conceive and bear a son and would call him Immanuel? 
This was two-fold. There would be a virgin (in their time) who would give birth to a son and name him Immanuel, which would be a sign of remembrance that God spoke the two kings would no longer be an issue. They died two years later, before the boy knew how to refuse evil and choose good (he was young).

This was also the prophecy of the Christ to come, the redeemer of souls, the one who would make the ultimate atonement for all of humanity. 


What stood out the most?
The thing that stood out to me the most was King Ahaz belief that he could buy a friendship, instead of seeking God. He rejected the word of God (through Isaiah) because he seemed to walk after his own will and his own wisdom. 


What's the theme of this chapter?
I think the theme of the whole chapter is verse 9, "If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all." 


How does it apply to us today?
I believe many are not firm in their faith in Christ. This is why emotions are able to rule over individuals so easily. Our world is much like the mindsets of all the kings in chapter 7, let me figure it out on my own, separate from the LORD. 


I often practice (even what seems like smaller decisions) asking God to give me direction. I ask Him to help me to walk strong in my faith and not place my trust in myself or others. This is vital because we don't want to fall prey to the enemy and the adversaries that seek to harm us. 


We must stand still and see the salvation of the LORD.  


Now, let's dive deeper: 
As usual, we will take a few minutes to answer the 4 questions below either in our Bible or a journal. Notice these are focused on King Ahaz.

Once you're done, return here for the next part. 

1. What lie did King Ahaz believe? 
​He believed he could protect himself from the evil against them. 

2. What truth did God reveal about Himself to King Ahaz?

2 Chronicles 28:23 reveals, "For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus that had defeated him and said, 'Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.' But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel."

​Therefore, the truth revealed here is that all the gods of man are worthless. God is the creator and sustainer of all. The worship of idols only destroy. 

3. How did the lie King Ahaz believed distort his identity?

King Ahaz seemed to believe that he was the keeper of the southern kingdom. He didn't submit to God like his father David, knowing that God knew all things and was able to keep him. He had a god complex, which destroyed him in the end.  


4. What was King Ahaz's purpose as revealed to Him by God?

He was supposed to trust God and seek Him for wisdom to protect the land He had given. 

Now use my HOPE acronym and journal how there was still HOPE for the people by answering the questions below. Feel free to change or add your own questions as well. 

H (Spiritual Healing) - How did God hold the people of the land accountable for their spiritual downfall? 

O - (Overcoming) - How did God send assurance to the people in the midst of the threats? 

P - (Purpose) - What was Judah's overall purpose? 
​
E - (Eternal Perspective) - How did God's promise to Judah reveal His faithfulness even while they struggled with unbelief?


Finally, take a few moments to journal the application question below:

Have I allowed fear to make decisions that faith should make?


What were your answers from chapter 7? Add them below with any other comments you have. Share this to bless someone else. 


Thank you for stopping by the blog! 


Be Blessed & Keep Studying with "HOPE in CHRIST"
Denise M. Walker
Founder of Hope-in-Christ Ministries