June 28, 2024 - Isaiah 5-8

Isaiah is so rich in content.  In these chapters there is the vineyard of the Lord, Isaiah’s vision of the Lord and call to the prophetic ministry, and God’s assurances to King Ahaz (and to us).  The northern kingdom of Israel, with Syria, was threatening war against Judah.  To Ahaz, the prophet speaks, “Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint” (7:4).  The Lord, as always, would fight his people’s battles.  Judah will have the victory and, furthermore, it will come soon:  “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.  He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.  For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted” (7:14-16).

Yesterday, I wrote about how the prophets and writers speak with one voice (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zechariah, and Paul).  Do we need additional evidence of this?  Well, we get it in Matthew’s Gospel.  The angel said to Joseph, concerning Mary:  “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.  All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet [Isaiah]:  ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us)” (Matthew 1:21-23).

That boy-child of Mary

was born in a stable,

A manger His cradle

in Bethlehem.

What shall we call Him,

Child of the manger?

What name is given

in Bethlehem?

His name is Jesu,

God ever with us,

God given for us,

in Bethlehem.   –Tom Colvin (1967)