Saturday 20 December 2008

Background

The book of Isaiah is a complex collection of prophecies inpoetry and prose, probably containing the oracles of at least threeprophets. Our passage today comes from the first part of Isaiah -the words of the original prophet, who ministered in Jerusalem andwas highly influential during the reigns of Kings Ahaz and Hezekiahof Judah.

This was a time when the southern kingdom of Judah was involved ina war against a coalition of Israel and Syria. In chapter 7, KingAhaz receives the terrible news of the alliance against them andGod sends Isaiah to meet the king with words of comfort - promisingtheir enemies' demise. God suggested Ahaz ask for a sign to provethe authenticity of Isaiah's words. Ahaz, who perhaps had otherplans in mind, refused to put God to the test, but God gave him asign anyway!

This famous sign is quoted to Joseph by the angel of the Lord and is writtenon countless Christmas cards today. The Christ was coming (inJudah's case, around 700 years later) - but how would that helptheir immediate situation on the brink of war? How was this signunderstood at the time? The few verses that follow perhaps give aclearer picture. It most likely meant that if a child was born atthat time (perhaps a royal child, perhaps Isaiah's child, perhapsany child), then by the time it was not very old (old enough toknow right from wrong) Judah would be a land of plenty (ie not atwar) and their enemies would be devastated.

A sign of hope? Yes, but more than that. It is a sign of the verypresence of God in Judah's political struggles and decisions. Hencea good name for the child would be 'Immanuel' which means 'God iswith us'.

The word translated 'virgin' here could mean the same as 'youngwoman' or one who has not yet given birth. And when seen in thiscontext, we might be disappointed. What about the Virgin Birth?Well, are we to limit God's signs to one meaning only? Just beforethe birth of Jesus, an angel of the Lord reapplied this prophecy toGod's new agenda.

But how are we to know God didn't have that in mind all along? Thefact of Jesus' miraculous birth does not rely on the context ofsome obscure conversation between Ahaz and Isaiah. Besides, themiracle of Jesus' birth is not primarily in the manner of hisconception, but more in the very fact that, in Christ, God is withus. And so, the presence of the Lord is real in everysituation.

To Ponder

What do you think are the pros and cons ofreading the Old Testament 'in the light of Christ'?

In what ways does faith in Christ help us to knowthat 'God is with us' always?