ISAIAH
CHAPTER 7
OBSERVATION
STAGE
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
The purpose of
the observation stage is to maintain focus on the text at hand within the
normative rules of language, context and logic 
.
.This
limits the observer to the content offered by the book of Isaiah. This
will serve to avoid going on unnecessary tangents elsewhere; and more
importantly, it will provide the framework for a proper and objective
comparison with passages located elsewhere in Scripture.
Remember that
something elsewhere may be true, but in the text at hand it may not be in
view.
Immediately
below is an excerpt that reviews the context of the previous chapter 6
which continues into chapter 7
Or
skip to the beginning of chapter 7: 
****** EXCERPT
FROM CHAPTER 6 ******
(6:11-13)
ISAIAH WAS READY TO SPEAK WHATEVER GOD WANTED HIM TO SAY, BUT HE WANTED
TO KNOW HOW LONG HE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO DELIVER SUCH A TERRIBLE MESSAGE
OF HORRIFIC JUDGMENT TO WHICH THE PEOPLE WOULD BE UNRESPONSIVE, EVEN
CALLOUS, AND SUFFER SO SEVERELY. THE LORD INDICATED TILL THE PEOPLE AND
THE LAND HAD BEEN DESTROYED / TAKEN INTO CAPTIVITY TO A FAR AWAY LAND -
UNTIL AFTER A TENTH RETURNED YET TO BE DESTROYED; BUT A REMNANT WILL
REMAIN AS A HOLY SEED
****** END
OF EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER 6 ******
.I)
[Isa 7:1-25]:
A)
(7:1-9) DURING THE REIGN OF AHAZ, KING OF JUDAH; THE KINGDOMS OF ARAM
AND EPHRAIM (ISRAEL), WOULD MAKE WAR AGAINST JERUSALEM. THE PEOPLE OF
JUDAH WERE SHAKING WITH FEAR WHEN THEY WERE TOLD THAT THE ARMY OF ARAM
WAS ENCAMPED IN EPHRAIM WITH BOTH KINGDOMS' ARMIES READYING TO WAGE WAR
ON JERUSALEM. AT THE LORD'S COMMAND, ISAIAH TOOK HIS SON SHEAR-JASHUB,
('THE REMNANT SHALL RETURN') TO MEET AHAZ AT THE AQUEDUCT NEAR FULLER
FIELD TO ASSURE THE KING THAT THE LORD WOULD DELIVER JUDAH FROM ARAM AND
EPHRAIM - HE TOLD AHAZ THAT IN 65 YEARS, ISRAEL WOULD NO LONGER BE A
PEOPLE IN THE LAND. FURTHERMORE, HE SAID THAT IF JUDAH DID NOT RETURN TO
THE LORD, SHE WOULD NOT LAST EITHER
B)
(7:10-16) ISAIAH REQUESTED TO KING AHAZ TO NAME ANY MIRACULOUS SIGN IN
CREATION FOR THE LORD TO PERFORM TO AUTHENTICATE THAT GOD WOULD NEVER
LET ARAM AND EPHRIAM CONQUER JUDAH. THE OFFER WAS ARROGANTLY REJECTED BY
THE UNFAITHFUL AHAZ. THEREFORE, THE LORD HIMSELF GAVE A SIGN TO BEHOLD
BEYOND AHAZ'S LIFETIME AND IN THE DISTANT FUTURE: THE MAIDEN / VIRGIN -
THE PREGNANT ONE - GIVING BIRTH TO A SON, WHOM SHE WOULD CALL HIS NAME
IMMANUEL - MEANING GOD IS WITH US. AND GROWING UP, AS A YOUNG CHILD HE
WOULD EAT CURDS AND HONEY, (INFANT FOOD); AND BEFORE HE KNEW TO REFUSE
THE EVIL AND CHOOSE TO DO GOOD, THE KINGDOMS THAT JUDAH DREADED WOULD BE
FORSAKEN BY BOTH HER KINGS AND DESTROYED
1)
[Compare Isa 9:1-7]:
C)
(7:17-25) IN THE FACE OF KING AHAZ'S ARROGANT AND FAITHLESS REJECTION OF
THE LORD, ISAIAH PROPHESIED THAT THE LORD WOULD BRING UPON THE KING, HIS
FATHER'S HOUSE, AND THE PEOPLE OF JUDAH SUCH DAYS AS HAVE NEVER COME
UPON JUDAH SINCE EPHRAIM DEPARTED FROM JUDAH. HORDES OF SOLDIERS FROM
EGYPT AND ASSYRIA WOULD DESTROY CULTIVATED LANDS AND VINEYARDS. THE LAND
WOULD RETURN TO BRIARS AND THORNS, MAKING FARMING IMPOSSIBLE. THE PEOPLE
WOULD BE HUMILIATED, SLAUGHTERED AND TAKEN AWAY CAPTIVE TO OTHER LANDS.
THOSE FEW WHO WERE LEFT WOULD HAVE TO SURVIVE ON MILK AND CURDS FROM THE
FEW COWS AND SHEEP LEFT TO GRAZE ON THE WILD GRASSES AMIDST THE BRIARS
AND THORNS, HONEY FROM THE BEES WHO FED ON WILD FLOWERS, AND THE HUNTING
OF WILD GAME
Note that the
previous context of chapter 5 parallels the context indicated above:
****** EXCERPT
FROM CHAPTER 5 ******
(5:24-30)
THE PREVIOUS CONTEXT OF CHAPTER 5 STIPULATED SIX JUDGMENTS UPON THE
PEOPLE OF JUDAH OF THE TIME OF ISAIAH. THEIR DEPRAVITY AND DESTRUCTION
VIA THESE JUDGMENTS WAS PORTRAYED AS A FLAME WHICH DEVOURED STRAW AND
DRY GRASS; A ROTTEN ROOT; AND FLOWER BLOSSOMS BLOWN AWAY LIKE DUST.
HENCE THE LORD WOULD STRIKE HIS PEOPLE WITH AN EARTHQUAKE - MANY WOULD
DIE. THEN THE LORD WOULD SUMMON NATIONS TO ATTACK THE PEOPLE LEAVING
ONLY DARKNESS AND SORROW IN THE LAND
[Compare
Isa 1:1-9 ]:
****** END
OF EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER 5 ******
CONTINUE
TO ISAIAH CHAPTER 8
