FEARS AND COMFORTS
Isaiah 7:1-9. And it came to pass, in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, &c.
The historical statements [778] in these verses afford illustrations of spiritual truths.
[778] For a statement of these circumstances see following paper: THE VIRGIN’S SON.
I. The powers of evil are confederate against the Lord’s people (Isaiah 7:1-2; Isaiah 7:6). By the combined forces of evil, God’s chosen ones have always been assailed. The conflict began in Eden, and has continued ever since. These combined forces attacked our Lord, and appeared for a time, outwardly at least, to conquer. We must expect similar assaults (John 16:33). The ultimate object of these foes is to destroy our spiritual life.
II. The Lord’s people are often terrified by the action of their foes. Two things may contribute to this.
1. A sense of personal guilt. Conscience often slumbers in prosperity, but awakens and alarms us when danger threatens. No doubt Ahaz remembered his sin, when he saw his foes were coming.
2. Distrust of the Lord. It does not appear that Ahaz told the Lord about his trouble, or sought His help. His idolatry had led him into unbelief—a frequent cause of the Christian’s terrors. He looks at his troubles, and sinks, because he does not lay hold on Christ (Matthew 14:30).
III. God seeks to allay the fears of His people in the hour of their trouble. This is done in three ways.
1. By exhorting them to keep their minds calm. “Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be faint-hearted.” Picture Ahaz restless, excited, his breast fainting, hope and courage failing. How timely was the prophet’s exhortation! how helpful it might have been to Ahaz! Who of us does not know the blessedness of such an appeal? We have been excited, trembling, fainting, because of temporal dangers or spiritual foes, and in our agitation have been likely to do something foolish. But a voice has said, “Fear not; be calm!” Who says, “Fear not”? The loving, omnipotent Saviour, who is able to deliver us.
2. By showing His people the weakness of their foes. They are only the “two tails of smoking fire-brands.” You think them powerful, but they are really weak (1 John 4:4).
3. By predicting the failure of the plans of their foes (Isaiah 7:7-9)—a prediction which was fulfilled sixty-five years afterwards, when Esarhaddon desolated the country, and filled it with foreigners. So God shows to us the weakness of our foes, and predicts their failure.
IV. God shows His people that faith is necessary for the establishment of their peace (Isaiah 7:9. See also 2 Chronicles 20:20; Isaiah 26:3).—H. F. Walker.
FAITH’S IMPREGNABLE CITADEL
Isaiah 7:1-9. And it came to pass, in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, &c.
I. There are many things calculated to fill us with fear—sufferings, losses, temptations, death, &c. Especially alarming are combinations of evil: when they threaten, we are apt to feel as did Ahaz and his people (Isaiah 7:2). Afflictions seldom come singly: sickness brings poverty in its train, &c.; and the heart is apt to fail before such accumulations of misfortune.
II. But God guarantees the safety of those who trust in Him.
1. He controls all events (Isaiah 7:7). The Prince of Orange, when he took the field against France and the Emperor, said he had made an alliance with Heaven, and feared not for the result. Much more may the believer be confident in the warfare of life (H. E. I. 200–203, 2372, 2373, 4049, 4055–4058).
2. It is only while we trust in Him that we are thus in alliance with Him. Only by trusting in Him are we kept from trusting in that which cannot deliver us—ourselves or our fellow-men, to the exclusion of God and the rejection of His proffered help. Only by trusting in Him are our hearts kept in peace (chap. Isaiah 26:3. H. E. I. 1893, 1894, 1911–1919, 1923–1926). Only by trusting in Him do we give Him the glory which is His due, and which He will not give to another (H. E. I. 4054).
III. The guarantee of safety which God offers to all who trust Him extends to the soul as well as the body. Because of our sins, and the enemies they bring against us, we might well fear; but in the Gospel help is offered, or perfect safety is guaranteed to them that believe.
IV. The inevitable result of refusal to accept the help which God mercifully offers us is ruin. Ahaz, refusing the sign offered him, and trusting in Assyria, was overthrown by his ally. There is deadly peril in any other alliance than that which God offers to form with us. Said our Lord to all who are tempted to apostacy, “Remember Lot’s wife,” and in like manner we may say to all who are tempted to disregard and reject God’s offers of help, Remember Ahaz!—John Johnston.