ISAIAH CHAPTER 9

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.

Note that Isaiah chapter 9 continues the context of chapter 8 to such an extent that the Masoretic Text has the first verse of chapter 9 as the last verse of chapter 8, from which an excerpt is posted below:

******* EXCERPT FROM ISAIAH CHAPTER 8 *******

Or skip to the beginning of chapter 9:

(8:16-22) ISAIAH BOUND UP AND SEALED THE DETAILED ACCOUNT OF HIS TESTIMONY IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS DISCIPLES AS WITNESSES TO SECURE ITS INTEGRITY. HENCE IT COULD NOT BE CLAIMED THAT IT WAS ALTERED; AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, ISAIAH'S TESTIMONY WOULD PROVE ITSELF TO BE GOD'S WORD WHEN THE PROPHECIES WERE FULFILLED. CONSEQUENTLY, ISAIAH'S TESTIMONY HAD THE FORCE OF LAW, WHICH FORTIFIED HIS POSITION AS GOD'S PROPHET. ISAIAH DECLARED THAT HE HAD LOOKED FOR THE LORD WHILE THE LORD HAD HIDDEN HIS FACE FROM THE HOUSE OF JACOB. HE DECLARED THAT HE AND HIS CHILDREN WERE SIGNS AND WONDERS IN ISRAEL FROM THE LORD. ISAIAH QUESTIONED THOSE WHO SOUGHT MEDIUMS AND WIZARDS WHO CLAIMED TO CONSULT THE DEAD INSTEAD OF SEEKING THE LIVING GOD - EXPLAINING THAT IT WAS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO LIGHT IN THEM. HE ALSO DECLARED THAT THOSE ISRAELITES WHO TRUSTED IN SUCH THINGS WOULD BE HARD-PRESSED, HUNGRY; AND SO ENRAGED AT THEIR DISTRESS THAT THEY WOULD CURSE THEIR KING AND EVEN GOD FOR THEIR TROUBLES. THEY WOULD LOOK UP TO THE LORD IN THE HEAVENS IN VAIN AND THEN LOOK DOWN TO EARTH WHERE THE GLOOM OF THEIR ANGUISH WOULD DRIVE THEM INTO FURTHER DARKNESS. THEY HAD REJECTED THE LIGHT OF THE RIGHTEOUSESS OF THE LORD AND WOULD SUFFER THE DARKNESS OF HIS JUDGMENT VIA ASSYRIAN OPPRESSION

******* END OF EXCERPT FROM ISAIAH CHAPTER 8 *******

I) [Isa 9:1-7]:

A) (9:1-7) FOR A FUTURE GENERATION, THE GLOOM AND DISTRESS UPON ISRAEL WOULD BE NO MORE - AS WHEN AT FIRST THE LORD TREATED WITH CONTEMPT THE LANDS OF ZEBULUN AND NAPHTALI, AND AFTERWARD MORE HEAVILY OPPRESSED THEM THROUGH ASSYRIAN INVASION. THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WHO IN PAST GENERATIONS WALKED IN DARKNESS WOULD SEE A GREAT LIGHT FROM THE LORD SHINING UPON THEM. THE NATION WOULD BE MULTIPLIED AND THE LORD WOULD INCREASE THEIR JOY - LIKE THE REJOICING AT HARVEST TIME OR WHEN MEN DIVIDE THE SPOILS. IN THE MANNER THAT THE LORD SUPERNATURALLY PROVIDED VICTORY FOR GIDEON AND ISRAEL OVER THE MIDIANITES, SO THERE WOULD BE AN END TO OPPRESSION AND WAR: FOR UNTO ISRAEL A CHILD WOULD BE BORN. TO HIS PEOPLE ISRAEL THE LORD WOULD GIVE A SON - HIS SON. THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE UPON HIS SHOULDER; AND HIS NAME WOULD BE CALLED WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, EVERLASTING FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE. AND OF THE INCREASE OF HIS GOVERNMENT AND PEACE THERE WOULD BE NO END. HE WOULD RULE HIS KINGDOM AND THE WORLD FROM THE THRONE OF DAVID - ESTABLISHING JUDGMENT AND JUSTICE FOREVER. ALL OF THIS WOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE ZEAL OF THE LORD OF HOSTS

1) [Compare Isa 10:24-27]:

2) [Compare Isa 7:14]:

****** EXCERPT FROM ISAIAH CHAPTER 7 ******

Or continue on with Isa 9:6-7

(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

****** END OF EXCERPT FROM ISAIAH CHAPTER 7 ******

3) [Isa 9:6-7 cont.]:

II) [Isa 9:8-10:4]:

A) (9:8-10:4) THE CONTEXT OF ISAIAH 9:1-7 OF THE AGE OF THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD, MOVES BACK IN TIME IN VERSES 9:8 THROUGH 10:4 TO THE PERIOD OF THE GENERATIONS OF ANCIENT ISRAEL WITH A FOCUS ON THE NORTHERN KINGDOM, BUT WITH JUDAH IN SIGHT. THIS INCLUDES THE DAYS OF ISAIAH THE PROPHET. THE MESSAGE WAS ONE OF COMING JUDGMENT UPON THE NORTHERN KINGDOM. AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL HAVE KNOWN THIS MESSAGE: THAT FURTHER DESOLATION WOULD COME UPON THEM IF THEY DID NOT TURN BACK TO THE LORD. BUT THEY WERE ARROGANTLY CONFIDENT THAT DESPITE THE DESOLATION THEY WOULD INCUR, THEY WOULD REBUILD THEIR KINGDOM WITH THEIR OWN HANDS - WITHOUT THE LORD'S HELP - EVEN BETTER THAN BEFORE. AS A RESULT OF THIS UNREPENTANT ARROGANCE TOWARD THE LORD; HE WOULD BLOCK EPHRAIM'S ALLY, REZIN, KING OF ARAM FROM WAGING WAR UPON THEIR COMMON ENEMIES, LEAVING THE NORTHERN KINGDOM VULNERABLE TO ATTACK AND FURTHER DESOLATION. IN ALL THIS, THE LORD'S ANGER WAS NOT REMOVED AND HIS HAND WAS STILL RAISED TO STRIKE AGAIN BECAUSE THE PEOPLE REFUSED TO REPENT. SO THE LORD WOULD DESTROY THE WHOLE KINGDOM BECAUSE THE LEADERS CAUSED THE PEOPLE TO SIN. ALL WERE GUILTY AND ALL WOULD BE DESTROYED. THE LAND OF ISRAEL WOULD BE BURNED UP. ITS PEOPLE WOULD BE THE FUEL FOR THAT FIRE. IN ADDITION TO DESTRUCTION FROM THE OUTSIDE, THERE WOULD CIVIL WAR - BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER. IN CHAPTER TEN VERSES 1-4, THE LORD WOULD CONTINUE TO CHARGE THE RULERS OF THE NORTHERN KINGDOM WITH AFFLICTING THE PEOPLE, CAUSING THEM TO SIN. THEREFORE, TOTAL DESTRUCTION WOULD NOW COME FROM AFAR - ASSYRIA

CONTINUE TO ISAIAH CHAPTER 10