Faith Influencing Political Decisions

MEMORY SELECTION: “If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.” —Isaiah 7:9

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 8:10-20

ISAIAH wrote and spoke fearlessly concerning the impending devastation and ultimate doom that would befall the southern kingdom if they continued to disregard the will of God.

The scene in this week’s lesson finds King Ahaz contemplating the making of a treaty with Assyria. The purpose of the treaty was to protect Judah from Israel and Syria, who were plotting against her. Isaiah, in accordance with instructions from the Lord, had previously cautioned the king, saying, “Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither let thy heart be faint, because of these two tails of smoking firebrands.”—7:4, ASV

Ahaz refused Isaiah’s counsel, even though it came from God, and he relied on men’s strength rather than on the Lord’s. Isaiah then took a large tablet and wrote on it several strange words: “Maher-shalal-hashbaz,” which, when translated, mean “The spoil speeds, the prey hastes.” Later, when Isaiah’s wife conceived and bare a son, he was given this unusual phrase as his name in observance of God’s commandment.—8:1-3

Thus, every time the child’s name was spoken the prophecy concerning Israel’s fate was proclaimed. And Isaiah further had prophesied that by the time the child could speak his first words, Israel would be conquered by the Assyrians.

Disobedience meant that destruction would ultimately be their doom. This is clearly outlined in the prophecy where Isaiah spoke the word of the Lord, which says (vss. 6-8): “Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah’s son; now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks: and he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.”

In the prophecy, we note the contrast between the gentle waters of Shiloah representing God’s blessing and peace over his people, with the violent and strong waters, which represent the power of the Assyrian flood. “This people,” however, preferred an alliance with Rezin of Damascus [Syria]. When the waters are deep enough to “reach even to the neck,” a man is in peril of drowning. Yet the head was not in danger, suggesting that all was not lost in the Heavenly Father’s perpetual care over his people. The nation would survive and one day play an important part in the far-reaching and eternal plan of God. Reference to “Immanuel” is applicable only to the Messiah. Soon the Israelites would be sorely overwhelmed, but God would continue to look after the affairs of his people, and they would be saved in due time.

There was danger in attempting alliance with earthly powers, and Isaiah proclaimed this hazard. He said, “Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.”—vss. 9,10

The repetition of the phrase, “gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces,” suggests the certainty of their utter destruction at that time. And yet we know that God’s hand was over the affairs of the nation of Israel. In due time Messiah came. He provided the means not only to free the children of Israel of their sins with his own precious blood but also to reconcile the whole world to God in due time.

For hundreds of years the Jewish people have played an important part in the plan of God. Their prophets and teachers were nearly totally responsible for the writings of the Old Testament. Jesus, the Messiah, came from the loins of David through his mother Mary. The apostles were Jewish, and the invitation to the members of the Lord’s antitypical body was first extended to the children of Israel. Truly the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

| Home Page | Table of Contents |