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“And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz— the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah— that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah— king of Israel— went up toward Jerusalem to war against it— but could not prevail against it.”
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Ahaz– possessor
Jotham– Jehovah is perfect
Uzziah– strength of Yah
Judah– celebrated
Rezin– firm, goodwill messenger
Syria– the highland
Pekah– watch
Remaliah– Yah has bedecked
Israel– he will rule as God
Jerusalem– founded peacefully
Names of the people mentioned here, and the names of the places— put into a contextual collection of sentences.
“The Possessor— Jehovah— is perfect; he is the strength of Yah, and celebrated. Firm is he— and a goodwill messenger to the highlands. Watch— for Yah has bedecked, and he will rule as God— and found it, peacefully.”
I love seeing what the names themselves mean, when put all together into a meaningful collection of thought.
It seems that the grandkids and kids, who descended from these kings, decided they would align with Syria, and go and war against Jerusalem— but they were not blessed to prevail in this passage; and as the sentence of the names and places detailed— Yah, his strength, and being the possessor— stood firmly, as a goodwill messenger of the highland— and kept it peacefully founded.
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2 “And it was told to the house of David, saying— Syria is confederate [dwelling in affiliation] with Ephraim. And his heart was moved— and the heart of his people, as the trees [firmness] of the wood are moved with the wind.
3 Then said the Lord unto Isaiah— Go forth now to meet Ahaz— you, and Shearjashub [a remnant will return] your son— at the end of the conduit [channel] of the upper pool [reservoir], in the highway [turnpike thoroughfare, viaduct] of the fuller's [trample/washing] field;
4 And say unto him— Take heed [hedge about, guard], and be quiet [rest, be still]; fear not, neither be fainthearted [be weakened in your thinking of heart] for the two tails of these smoking firebrands [fire pokers] —are for the fierce [burning] anger [ire, and wrath] of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.
5 Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah— have taken evil [morally corrupt] counsel [advice and consultation] against you, saying— 6 Let us go up against Judah, and vex [server and distress] it, and let us make a breach [a rip, tear open, division] therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it— even the son of Tabeal:
7 Thus says the Lord God—
It shall not stand [be established]—
neither shall it come to pass.
8 For the head [capital] of Syria— is Damascus— and the head of Damascus is— Rezin; and within threescore [60] and five years —Ephraim, shall be broken [prostrate, abolished violently]— that it be not a people [a congregation, a collective of persons].
9 And the head of Ephraim— is Samaria, and the head of Samaria— is Remaliah's son.
If you will not believe [or, build up support, render firmly, faithfully to trust— going to the right hand of assurance, continuing steadfast] —surely you shall not be established [same definition of believe above].”
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The news reached the family of David (house of Judah) that Ephraim was in league with Syria— and it vexed his heart, and the heart of his people too; which is to say, grieved the people abroad— rocking them to the core of their hearts.
So the Lord spoke to Isaiah, and told him to go up, and meet Ahaz— and take your son Shearjashub (whose name means— a remnant will return); and when you get there, tell them— to hedge themselves about, guard themselves and the area— and be quiet— and rest, being still; do not be fearful, nor fainthearted, or weakened in your thinking of heart— for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, or fire pokers— will come into play to assist you.
Here he’s stating that God is going to go with them, and he will come with his strength and authority— and push them back, like the pokers used to move about burning coals and logs of a fire; meaning— it’s easy for the Lord to move about ‘hotheaded’ men— and protect his people, by his might, will, and Spirit.
(I like how the definition of ‘take heed’ here,
means— guard yourselves about;
it gives much more understanding to the term,
when God uses it about ‘his scripture’ verses,
and what they mean: with the word of God—
hedge yourself in, and guard yourselves with it.)
Syria, and the wayward sons of Remaliah and Ephraim— have taken evil counsel advice— to go after Judah, and tear it up, divide it— and spoil it.
I’d like to make note here— these are ‘God’s people,’ or are supposed to be, from one of the tribes of Joseph’s kids— and they are desiring to erect a king of their own choosing; it reminds me of how it is shown in scripture, that God’s people repeat patterns— if the lessons are not learned the first time.
Didn’t the people NOT WANT God holy as their king in the book of Samuel?? Or how about how— in the New Testament— where Christ himself says —there will be MANY who come in ‘my’ name— there will be many Jesus’, and antichrist.
There is always an ‘usurping’ that satan is attempting to do— and let us not forget that the title satan, means— ‘accuser, adversary, opponent.’
And he desires to rip God’s people apart— and separate them from him, and his will and good pleasure; essentially— causing rebellion to God, his leadership and rule— and to divide them relationally, from good standing with him, or him and his other children.
Satan’s way is the same with us today.
But I love how the Lord comes in and says— “It won’t stand,” or be ESTABLISHED; they can do what they will— but God will not allow it, and will throw down these operations.
He says— Ephraim will be broken down, and lie prostrate before all (that means flat on the ground), and will be abolished violently; and they will NOT BE ‘a people,’ or a congregation of a collection of persons— when he’s finished with them.
*Note to those desiring to rebel him and his ways and rule— this is our Father God, and he is to be respected— not CHALLENGED.
Lastly, here, he says— If you will not believe, or— be built up and supportive of— firmly, faithful in trust to, and going to the right hand of assurance with God, and continuing steadfast with him —surely you shall not be established.
Which happens to be the same root definition, and Strong’s number as ‘believe,’ used above.
I make mention of this, because as/like how HEED means, guard and hedge yourselves about— ESTABLISH and BELIEVE, here— have the SAME DEFINITION.
Which means— if we are intending to be ‘established,’ in ANYTHING with God, then— WE MUST ‘believe;’ and if we are ‘believing,’ then— we must stand RESOLUTELY, SUPPORTIVE, FIRMLY FAITHFUL IN TRUST to the RIGHT-HAND OF ASSURANCE → who is God…
Or → we will not be ESTABLISHED in what we are ‘going after.’
I found that quite insightful.
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10 “Moreover the Lord spoke again unto Ahaz, saying— 11 Ask [inquire or demand, lay charge earnestly] for a sign [signal] of the Lord your God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.
12 But Ahaz said— I will not ask, neither will I tempt [or test] the Lord.
[I love this, because God is saying—
ask me to ‘show you,’
and I will; and Ahaz is like—
“Sir, that’s not necessary—
I trust you— no sign needed.”]
13 And he said— Hear [intelligently, obediently listen] now— O house of David; it is a small thing [a little matter] for you to weary men— but will you weary [tire and disgust] my God [supreme magistrate] also??
14 Therefore the Lord himself— shall give you a sign; Behold— a virgin [a lass— veiled and private] shall conceive, and bear a son [Strong’s— builder of a family] —and shall call his name Immanuel [God with us— mighty strength— the Almighty deity].
15 Butter [curdled milk— cheese] and honey [syrup or honey] shall he eat— that he may know to refuse [abhor, cast away off, disdain and reject the reprobate way of] the evil [morally bad, displeasing, grievous, harmful, mischievous, naughty, sorrowful, and troublesome, wretched], and choose [select and appoint to himself, being joined to] → the good [well, beautiful, best, favored, fine, gracious, kind, joyful, loving, and preciously pleasing].”
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I like how the beginning of these passages of correspondence— between God and his loyal leader— is taking place, and is detailing out that → FULL trust has already been erected and established between them.
But what is heart wrenching, is that he must address the people and say— LISTEN UP, intelligently, and obediently— now— O house of David; it might be a ‘small thing,’ or a LITTLE MATTER for you to weary ‘men—’ but are you going to CONTINUE TO weary, tire and disgust —MY GOD and supreme magistrate, also?!?
I cannot help to notice that this is still going on in the earth today; there is nothing new under the sun. We live our lives, going after whatever we ‘will,’ and we disregard the heart of God altogether— and weary and disgust him with our perverseness; which is to say— our twisted ways and conduct of persons.
We tend to go after ‘what appeals to us’ (and I mean the flesh carnal nature), and not necessarily what is best for our cultivated relationship to and with God holy— and our prospering.
Ahaz then just goes into stating— Nah, I won’t ask for a sign, GOD HIMSELF will give you a sign, and the sign will be HIS OWN COMING.
He will be born of a virgin— a lass— veiled and private, bearing a son, who is a builder of family —and he shall be called → Immanuel, which will mean— ‘God with us, and is mighty in strength— who is the Almighty deity.’
And he will eat cheeses and honey, and he will KNOW TO REFUSE, or— abhor, cast away-off, disdain and reject the reprobate way of → the evil, or— morally bad, displeasing, grievous, harmful, mischievous, naughty, sorrowful, troublesome, and wretched → and choose, or— select and appoint to himself, being joined to → the good, which means— well, beautiful, best, favored, fine, gracious, kind, joyful, loving, and preciously pleasing— instead.
This is the caliber of the son of man (and God’s Son) —and he is IN US, and we too— are ‘sons of’ God; we ought to heed [or guard and hedge in] this truth of the Lord, of how a ‘son’ is to ‘be,’ and conduct his person— as we are to ‘follow the example of,’ and the Son HIMSELF— in our lives; for the Son— is IN, OUR LIVES— and we, in the ‘life of—’ the Son: the Christ.
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16 “For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good— the land that you abhor— shall be forsaken [relinquished, fail and become destitute surely] —of both her kings.
17 The Lord shall bring upon you— and upon your people, and upon your father's house— days that have not come [or been] —from (or since) the day that Ephraim departed [turned off from, declined, eschewed, rebelled] from Judah— even the king of Assyria.”
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Side note: did you know Moloch is in the definition of king (H4428) in Strong’s; it makes me think that when we choose another ruler over us, and we worship those other rulers over us— much like Moloch, who people ‘sacrifice to—’ we too, sacrifice to ‘other gods,’ when we erect another inside of us— and refuse to throw them down, from within the ‘high places,’ inside man.
Amos 5:26— “But you have born the tabernacle of Moloch and Chiun— your images, the star of your god— which you made to yourselves.”
Acts 7:43— “Yes, you took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan— figures which you made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.”
Just making note— Moloch— is only mentioned 2 times in scripture, and pertaining to leadership, worship, and ‘other gods—’ namely, Babylonian influence.
Not only is God, in judgment to Israel for it’s rebellion— going to KNOCK DOWN, and OUT— ‘both of’ the kings— but they people are going to experience something, in that time period— that hasn’t been SO HARSH, since the children of God in Ephraim— REBELLED in DEPARTING FROM God— meaning— turned off from, declined, and eschewed God and his ways.
These are lessons we are to learn, and HEED— which again, means— ‘guard and hedge’ ourselves in with— applying these lessons to our lives.
Israel and Judah are going to be ‘chastened,’ and harshly— as a show or sign of what happens with haughty and rebellious people— and this is to ‘save,’ some of them: a remnant who will be saved.
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18 “And it shall come to pass— in that day— that the Lord shall hiss [or, give a shrill whistle] for the fly [flit of a stinging nature] that is in the uttermost part [extremity] of the rivers of Egypt— and for the bee [one of orderly motion, systematic] that is in the land of Assyria.”
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Okay, I stopped here, because yes— God is going to send stinging flies, and bees— as he gives a shrill whistle call to them, to do his bidding— and it will come over from the extreme distances of the Egyptian’s rivers, and the Assyrian’s land; BUT— I’d like to note here, that he details this out scarily— so much more.
He says— these STINGING flies, will come from the Egyptian rivers, but, as well— the bees will come from Assyria— SYSTEMATICALLY, and ORGANIZED, IN THEIR MOTIONS.
Folks— that means— these insects come with → INTELLIGENCE OF MISSION AT HAND; God is directing them, and they will FULFILL THEIR MISSION!!
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19 “And they shall come— and shall rest [settle in], all of them— in the desolate valleys, and in the holes [cleft] of the rocks [lofty fortresses], and upon all thorns, and upon all bushes [pasture].
(With God’s judgment, always comes pestilences,
and retribution of some sort; we ought to note this.)
20 In the same day shall the Lord shave [lay waste] with a razor [knife/sword] that is hired— namely, by those beyond the river— by the king of Assyria— the head [captain], and the hair [dishevelling, bristling] of the feet [step of endurance]: and it shall also consume the beard.”
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Okay, let’s recap this— all these ‘bugs of judgment,’ that the Lord is directing— will come, and settle into the valleys, the holes, or clefts of the rocks (lofty fortresses, too), and upon all thorns, and upon all bushes (or places of pasture).
THEN— he goes even further to speak of how they will VEX MAN, in that they will— INHABIT their head, or captain leaders— by infiltrating their hair (as well meaning— they will become disheveled, and bristling) — as well the feet of them, or their step of endurance— will be affected too: and it shall also consume the beard; which God just said to me, figuratively means— their countenance will be affected entirely.
He’s ULTRA clear here folks; he is bringing judgment to the house of God— ‘through—’ great pestilence, by— HIRED SWORD (or might) he said, in those verses; by SHAVING— or ‘laying waste to’ these lands and people.
He did say— ‘it shall not stand,’ that they will erect another king over them— in verse 7.
And in verse 16— they will lose both their kings, or leadership; and in verse 9— if you don’t STAND WITH HIM → resolutely, built up in support, rendering firmly, and faithfully trusting God— going to the right hand of assurance, continuing steadfast— with him— then surely you shall not be ESTABLISHED.
Or— successful.
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21 “And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall nourish [revive] a young cow, and two sheep; 22 and it shall come to pass— for the abundance of milk that they shall give— he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall everyone eat— that is left [preserved, remains a remnant] in the land.”
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He did say— AFTERWARDS— there would remain a remnant of people; and after all this judgment— those who remain, will be a people living off of honey and milk— in this land.
We too, the remnant who remain— are to be PROSPEROUS IN THE LORD, and IN THE LAND; but we must ‘believe,’ (or be livin’ it, for real) as he said in verse 9— and that means to— STAND RESOLUTELY, SUPPORTIVE, FIRMLY FAITHFUL IN TRUST to the RIGHT-HAND OF ASSURANCE → who is God…
Or → we will not be ESTABLISHED
in what we are ‘going after.’
{Just making a mental, and HEART STANCE ‘note’ here, for myself as well, folks; as this definition of BELIEVE and ESTABLISH— is new to me— but brings so much more understanding to RESOLUTE IN CHRIST.}
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23 “And it shall come to pass in that day— that every place [figuratively, condition of body or mind] shall be, where there were a thousand vines, at a thousand silverlings [cost of money]— it shall even be for briers [an etching, scratching, like unto a diamond being cut] and thorns [trash, weeds].
24 With arrows [woundings] and with bows [strength] —shall men come thither; because all the land shall become briers and thorns.
25 And on all hills that shall be digged [arranged] with the mattock [the weeding hoe], there shall not come thither the fear [reverence] of briers [chipping away refinement cutting] and thorns [continued growth of weeds]: but it shall be for the sending forth [presenting] of oxen, and for the treading [abasement] of lesser cattle [flocks, sheep, goats etc].”
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Okay, so in recap…
It’s going to be HARD and LABORIOUS to ‘rebuild.’
In that day— every place, or figuratively— every person’s ‘condition of body or mind’ —shall understand that where there were a thousand vines (or prosperous grapes before)— there will now be thorns and briers.
Because there will have been an etching, and a scratching— like unto a diamond being cut and refined— that will have taken place in the people as well as the land; and in doing this, a people of refinement, who have been judged, annihilating the ill conduct, or trash and weeds— will remain: A REMNANT.
But it will be a harsh place to rebuild, and become prosperous again in; cattle and sheep, for cheese— and honey— will be there for the people; but the land will need CULTIVATING AGAIN— which reminds me of how the hearts of man need cultivating— unto loving God, once again— too.
And he says— people will come with arrows, or woundings— and with bows, or strength; which is signifying that men WILL COME to replenish the numbers— but it will be with ‘tools’ that are for hard work and SUBDUING— and a result of HARSH JUDGMENT— for a fight.
Because all the land, and people, shall become refined again— but through JUDGMENT and HARD CULTIVATING WORK again, or— weeding the garden.
And the purpose??
→ the CULTIVATION of THE GARDEN,
and PROSPERING a REMNANT.
As the land shall be dug, or arranged— with the mattock— or, the weeding hoe; and the fear, or reverence of briers— which was ‘weedy ways’ of conduct, figuratively— will not be tolerated; but it WILL TAKE a lot of hard work, to turn the thorny overgrowth— into prosperous LAND again— as well as GODLY PEOPLE.
The people have been judged and chipped away at, in refinement cutting…
Now thorns, or continuous growth of weeds— remain, and by these men— and getting down to hard work (with God too), the land will be restored.
It shall be for the sending forth, or presenting of oxen— and for the treading upon of lesser cattle, meaning— flocks of sheep and goats; but it will not come easily.
In the next chapter, which I usually do not look ahead to— the judgments continue— because they continue to rebel; I say that— because he DID leave a remnant of people— but if his people do not repent, and return to him— judgments continue on.
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So— a summary recap of the chapter.
The Lord comes through to Isaiah and tells him to take his son and go tell Ahaz to take heart— fear not— for God is coming, like fire pokers to a hot burning fire, to move things about— and deal with these rebellious defectors.
For they have taken wicked counsel against his other house— and he will not stand for it.
So, they want to establish another king, one of their own lead and choosing— and God says— it ain’t gonna happen, as he says in verse 7— Thus says the Lord God— It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.”
But instead he says— Ephraim shall be broken, and thrown down, and will not even be a people anymore, after he’s finished with their judgment.
And because they would not believe on him— God holy— and adhere to him and his rule— they will not be established.
Then Ahaz says he will not tempt the Lord— but instead, the Lord himself will give a sign to these people; and he goes on to say that a virgin will give birth to a son, who will be a builder of family— and his name will be called Emmanuel, or God with us.
And he will eat cheese and honey, and he will eschew evil— and choose good; and this will be the SIGN of what the Lord is bringing to his people. I’d also like to note— it’s a sign of WHAT HIS PEOPLE ARE TO BE LIKE: eschew evil, choose good.
And he says, before this child (Yahshua) will be able to know good or evil— the land that you abhor, shall be forsaken of both her kings; and in verse 17 it says—
The Lord shall bring upon you, and upon your people, and your father's house → days that have not come (or been for a very long time), from (since) the day that Ephraim departed [forsook] from Judah; even the king of Assyria.
Which means— this harsh judgment will go all the way up to the HIGHEST RANKS— even unto the kings; and it will ABASE and DECIMATE them all.
And the Lord himself is going to give a shrill whistle, and call the stinging flies from the rivers, and the stinging bees to the land— and it will be a systematic organized nature of events— as he himself leads them.
And in all this— he will abase the people, all the way up to the highest authorities— the king, even; and the entirety of these people and their prosperity will be ROCKED, and left waste.
There will be a remnant of people, meaning a TINY AMOUNT left, who escape and remain— and it will be quite laborious to rebuild the land after the decimation that is coming.
Land will be desolate of farming qualities, and will be overrun by thorns a briers— as this is a mirrored reflection of what happened inside the men there— as they rebelled spiritually first, against the Lord, and his upright people; they will nurse cattle and sheep back to health, so they will have milk and honey (remember the bees are here)— but they will not have prosperous farm land.
Other men will come from elsewhere, with their strength and weapons of wounding— and will come because of a brutish people there— symbolically, the thorns and briers.
And the hard work of the HOEING in the hills, or gardens— will be the only area thorns and briers will not take over— but will grow pasture to feed the flocks.
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I cannot help but symbolically, spiritually see the resemblance of the people who will work hard with God holy— tilling, hoeing and cultivating their heart soils unto him, for green pastures— will also be the people who are able to feed the flock of his.
We get back from God, what we give to God; sow disgrace, dishonor and rebellion— reap decimation and judgment; sow holy, clean, honorable union relationship with him, worshiping him— reap prosperity and blessing.
We often talk about tithing—
but do we understand the tithe
is the 10th part,
the remnant given back to God,
of whatever he gave to you??
And so, a remnant of people, who are living and giving back to God holy— EXACTLY WHAT and HOW he gave to them— will be a 10th part remnant of ALL PEOPLE, too.
God is always showing A MIRRORING, or a PATTERN; what we sow spiritually— comes into the PHYSICAL WORLD: hence the part where Ahaz said— “Will you also weary, or disgust my God too??”
And he said this, because weary meant— tire and disgust; and so, in that verse it also said, if you replace ‘weary,’ with tire and disgust…he is implying…
“You TIRE and DISGUST MEN—
will you
TIRE and DISGUST my God too?!”
We must be a people of deliberate living— meaning— a people who live unto God holy— DELIBERATELY, with EFFORT and FORESIGHT, and HONOR: his way— not our way, or unto our own lusts and takeovers: if not— Judgment comes.
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AMEN