The Signs of The Signs of Immanu-elImmanu-el

Matthew 1:23Matthew 1:23

Isaiah 7:1-17Isaiah 7:1-17

Unity Presbyterian Church29 December 2013

The Signs of The Signs of Immanu-elImmanu-el

What is the What is the meaning of meaning of Christmas?Christmas?

The Signs of The Signs of Immanu-elImmanu-el

What is the What is the meaning of meaning of Christmas?Christmas?

God became a human being so God became a human being so that all human beings will be that all human beings will be saved from eternal damnation saved from eternal damnation and enjoy eternal life with God and enjoy eternal life with God foreverforever

Matthew’sMatthew’sSign of Sign of

Immanu-elImmanu-el

Matt 1:20-23 Matt 1:20-23

Matthew 1:20-23Matthew 1:20-23

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:20-23Matthew 1:20-23

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: said through the prophet:

23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth 23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” —to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” —which means, “God with us.”which means, “God with us.”

Isaiah’s Immanu-el

Isaiah 7:1-17Isaiah 7:1-17

The Prophet Isaiah by Michelangelo

Isaiah 7:1-17Isaiah 7:1-17

1 When Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of When Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of JudahUzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against JerusalemJerusalem, but they could not overpower it. 2 Now the house of David was told, “Aram has allied itself with EphraimEphraim”; so the hearts of Ahaz Ahaz and his people and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind.

Reign of King Ahaz son of Jotham

735-715 BC

King Rezin of Aram

King Pekah King Pekah son of son of Remaliah of Remaliah of IsraelIsrael

King Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria

3 Then the LORD said to Isaiah, “Go out, you and Isaiah, “Go out, you and your son Shear-Jashub to meet Ahaz your son Shear-Jashub to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Washerman’s Field. 4 Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood—because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliahson of Remaliah. 5 Aram, Ephraim and Ephraim and Remaliah’s son Remaliah’s son have plotted your ruin, saying, 6 “Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it.”

Isaiah 7:3Isaiah 7:3

Reservoir from Reservoir from Gihon Spring near Gihon Spring near JerusalemJerusalemShear-Jashub= Shear-Jashub= remnant will returnremnant will returnGod’s assurance- God’s assurance- Judah will not be Judah will not be destroyeddestroyed

7 Yet this is what the Sovereign LORD says:   “ ‘It will not take place, it will not happen, 8 for the head of Aram is Damascus, Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is only Rezinand the head of Damascus is only Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people. 9 The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.’ ”

Isaiah 7:3-9Isaiah 7:3-9

not afraid of Rezin and Pekahnot afraid of Rezin and Pekah, mere men; both , mere men; both died 2 years later (732 BC)died 2 years later (732 BC)

Challenge to Ahaz to believeChallenge to Ahaz to believe ‘If you do not stand ‘If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all’firm in your faith, you will not stand at all’

65 years Israel will no longer be a people65 years Israel will no longer be a people– Prophecy given in 734 BCProphecy given in 734 BC– 65 years will be 669 BC65 years will be 669 BC– Assyria conquered Israel in 722 BCAssyria conquered Israel in 722 BC– People exiled, foreigners brought in (2 Kings 17:24)People exiled, foreigners brought in (2 Kings 17:24)– 699 BC, more foreigners (Ezra 4:10)699 BC, more foreigners (Ezra 4:10)

10 Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask the 10 Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.” deepest depths or in the highest heights.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test.” LORD to the test.” 13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of 13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also? men? Will you try the patience of my God also?

14 Therefore the Lord himself will give 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuelbirth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.. 15 He 15 He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right. 16 But to reject the wrong and choose the right. 16 But before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid wasteyou dread will be laid waste. 17 The LORD will . 17 The LORD will bring on you and on your people and on the bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah—he will bring Ephraim broke away from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria.” the king of Assyria.”

Isaiah 7:13-17Isaiah 7:13-17

House of AhazHouse of Ahaz

Translation of word ‘virgin’Translation of word ‘virgin’

Earliest Isaiah ManuscriptEarliest Isaiah Manuscript

Dead Sea scrollsDead Sea scrolls

‘‘almâhalmâh = unmarried women of child bearing age = unmarried women of child bearing age

Not virgin birthNot virgin birth

Isaiah 7:13-17Isaiah 7:13-17

Isaiah’s wife (Isaiah 8:3-4)Isaiah’s wife (Isaiah 8:3-4)

Someone both Isaiah and Ahaz knewSomeone both Isaiah and Ahaz knew

The queenThe queen

13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The maiden ‘almâh will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:13-17Isaiah 7:13-17

The three conditions of the sign (734 BC)The three conditions of the sign (734 BC)– Born and called Immanu-elBorn and called Immanu-el– Raised in time of calamityRaised in time of calamity– Still youth the two-king alliance will be laid waste (732 Still youth the two-king alliance will be laid waste (732

BC Aram destroyed)BC Aram destroyed)

15 He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right. 16 But before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. 17 The LORD will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria.”

Isaiah’s Sign of Immanu-elIsaiah’s Sign of Immanu-el

Prophecy of reassurance to King AhazProphecy of reassurance to King Ahaz

Judah will not be destroyedJudah will not be destroyed

3 children’s Names3 children’s Names– Shear-Jashub Shear-Jashub = a remnant will return (7:3)= a remnant will return (7:3)– Immanu-el Immanu-el = God with us (7:14)= God with us (7:14)– Maher-shalal-hash-baz Maher-shalal-hash-baz =quick to plunder, =quick to plunder,

swift to spoil (8:3)swift to spoil (8:3)

Isaiah’sIsaiah’sThe Sign of The Sign of Immanu-elImmanu-el

Isaiah 7:14 =Isaiah 7:14 =

God with usGod with us

(with Judah)(with Judah)

The Virgin and Child

Septuagint

Septuagint or LXXSeptuagint or LXX

33rdrd Century BC, translation Century BC, translation of the Hebrew Bible into of the Hebrew Bible into Koine GreekKoine Greek

Ptolemy II Philedelphus Ptolemy II Philedelphus (285-246 BC)(285-246 BC)

72 Hebrew scholars72 Hebrew scholars

Great respect; Philo and Great respect; Philo and Josephus Josephus

Early church fathersEarly church fathers

Septuagint or LXXSeptuagint or LXX

Isaiah 7:14Isaiah 7:14

Hebrew Hebrew ‘almâh‘almâh translated as Greek translated as Greek parthenosparthenos

parthenos = parthenos = virginvirgin

Therefore the Lord himself will give you  a sign: The parthenos will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel

Septuagint or LXXSeptuagint or LXX

Is it possible for seventy-two Hebrew scholars to mistranslate one word, ‘almâh in Isaiah 7:14?

Septuagint or LXXSeptuagint or LXX

Is it possible for seventy-two Hebrew scholars to mistranslate one word, ‘almâh in Isaiah 7:14?

And predict the virgin birth of Jesus

735 years before it happens?

Matthew’sMatthew’sThe Sign of The Sign of Immanu-elImmanu-el

Matt 1:20-23 Matt 1:20-23

Matthew 1:20-23Matthew 1:20-23

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:20-23Matthew 1:20-23

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” —which means, “God with us.”

Inspiration of St Matthew by Caraggiovo

The virgin birthThe virgin birth

The sinless The sinless nature of Jesusnature of Jesus

SaviourSaviour

Immanu-elImmanu-el

Matthew’sMatthew’sThe Sign of The Sign of Immanu-elImmanu-el

Matt 1:20-23 = Matt 1:20-23 = God with us + God with us + God savesGod saves

Our Our The Sign of The Sign of Immanu-elImmanu-el

Isaiah 7:14Isaiah 7:14

Matt 1:20-23Matt 1:20-23

Our Sign of Immanu-elOur Sign of Immanu-el

God is in God is in controlcontrol

Our Sign of Immanu-elOur Sign of Immanu-el

God is in God is in controlcontrol

God savesGod saves

Our Sign of Immanu-elOur Sign of Immanu-el

God is in God is in controlcontrol

God savesGod saves

God with usGod with us

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and  will call him Immanuel. 

Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)

Prophet Isaiah in prayer

Transcript of this sermon is available at www.kairos2.com/sign_of_immanuel.htm