Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (vers. 10-16): — I. THE PLEDGE PROPOSED. 1. The condescension which God displayed on this occasion was very remarkable. 2. There may be a semblance of regard for the honour of God, while the heart is in a state of hostility against Him. 3. God may sustain a certain relationship to those who are not His in reality. II. THE INDIGNANT REBUKE ADMINISTERED. (Ver. 13.) 1. The persons to whom it was addressed. Not the king only, but the whole nation; which shows that they, or a large portion of them, were like-minded with their ungodly ruler. They are called "the house of David," a designation which was doubtless intended to remind them of his character, and the great things which God had done for him. Well would it have been if he by whom David's throne was now occupied had been imbued with David's spirit, and walked in David's ways; and that his influence had been exerted in inducing his subjects to do so likewise. 2. The feeling by which it was prompted. It was evidently that of holy indignation. 3. The grounds on which it rested. There were two things especially by which God was dishonoured on this occasion. (1) Unbelief. Nothing casts a greater indignity upon the Divine character than for His word to be distrusted. (2) Hypocrisy. Far better to bid open defiance to the Most High, and say with Pharaoh, "Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice?" than pretend to serve Him while we are resolved to act in opposition to His will. III. THE GLORIOUS EVENT PREDICTED. As to this striking prediction, in itself considered, there are several particulars which it sets before us — 1. The miraculous conception of Christ. 2. The essential Deity of Christ. 3. The design of the coming of Christ. For Him to be called "Immanuel, God with us," shows that He appeared to espouse our cause. 4. The lowly condition of Christ. "Butter and honey shall He eat," etc. 5. The moral purity of Christ. Although the expression, "before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good," has literal reference to His attaining the age of discernment, yet it may be applied with special propriety to the spotless sanctity of His character. He knew, in a sense in which no one else ever knew, how to refuse the evil and choose the good. (Anon.) Parallel Verses KJV: Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. |
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