Sharper Iron — The Fifth Evangelist - Isaiah 7:18-8:10: The Gospel Is Always Relevant

Although Ahaz rejected the sign of Immanuel, the effects of the LORD’s promise would still be felt by Ahaz in his own day. Isaiah spells out how that rejected promise will bring judgment upon the LORD’s faithless people, even as the LORD promises that a remnant will remain. Through a Word from the LORD, Isaiah has a son whose name proclaims that the LORD will make good on His Word. Yet the reality that Isaiah has rejected the Gospel promise, opting for something that seemed more practical to him, means that Assyria will come in judgment against Judah and Jerusalem. Even still, the LORD’S Word will stand forever over all nations, because He is with us.

Rev. Andrew Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Haven, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Isaiah 7:18-8:10.

“The Fifth Evangelist” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through Isaiah 1-39. The prophet proclaims to the people of his day and throughout history that the Holy One of Israel alone is exalted. Those who put their trust in the strength of man will be brought low, but those who trust in the LORD will see that He is their Immanuel. Jesus is God with us who reigns over the kingdom of God forever and ever!

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

Isaiah 7:18-8:10

¹⁸In that day the Lord will whistle for the fly that is at the end of the streams of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. ¹⁹And they will all come and settle in the steep ravines, and in the clefts of the rocks, and on all the thornbushes, and on all the pastures.^[a]

²⁰In that day the Lord will shave with a razor that is hired beyond the River^[b]—with the king of Assyria—the head and the hair of the feet, and it will sweep away the beard also.

²¹In that day a man will keep alive a young cow and two sheep, ²²and because of the abundance of milk that they give, he will eat curds, for everyone who is left in the land will eat curds and honey.

²³In that day every place where there used to be a thousand vines, worth a thousand shekels^[c] of silver, will become briers and thorns. ²⁴With bow and arrows a man will come there, for all the land will be briers and thorns. ²⁵And as for all the hills that used to be hoed with a hoe, you will not come there for fear of briers and thorns, but they will become a place where cattle are let loose and where sheep tread.

The Coming Assyrian Invasion

8 Then the Lord said to me, “Take a large tablet and write on it in common characters,^[d] ‘Belonging to Maher-shalal-hash-baz.’^[e] ²And I will get reliable witnesses, Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah, to attest for me.”

³And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the Lord said to me, “Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz; ⁴for before the boy knows how to cry ‘My father’ or ‘My mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be carried away before the king of Assyria.”

⁵The Lord spoke to me again: ⁶“Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently, and rejoice over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, ⁷therefore, behold, the Lord is bringing up against them the waters of the River,^[f] mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory. And it will rise over all its channels and go over all its banks, ⁸and it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, reaching even to the neck, and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.”

⁹Be broken,^[g] you peoples, and be shattered;^[h]
    give ear, all you far countries;
strap on your armor and be shattered;
    strap on your armor and be shattered.
¹⁰Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing;
    speak a word, but it will not stand,
    for God is with us.^[i]

Footnotes

Isaiah 7:19 Or watering holes, or brambles
Isaiah 7:20 That is, the Euphrates
Isaiah 7:23 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams
Isaiah 8:1 Hebrew with a man’s stylus
Isaiah 8:1 Maher-shalal-hash-baz means The spoil speeds, the prey hastens
Isaiah 8:7 That is, the Euphrates
Isaiah 8:9 Or Be evil
Isaiah 8:9 Or dismayed
Isaiah 8:10 The Hebrew for God is with us is Immanuel

Rev. Timothy Appel

Although a mathematics degree may not be incredibly helpful to (proudly born-and-raised Texan) Rev. Timothy Appel while hosting Sharper Iron, his love of CFW Walther and the season of Easter will come in handy. His Call is shepherding the flock at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, Illinois, and he’s also husband to wife Kristin and dad to their growing basketball team of children. When he’s not carrying out pastoral duties, you may find him reading “The Lord of the Rings,” snacking on Reese’s peanut butter cups, playing dominoes with his boys, or studying up on Texas history (including Sam Houston, of course).