“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

This text sounds straight out of a Christmas Eve worship service.  Yet it comes from a text in Isaiah about 700 years before the birth of Jesus.   God made this prophecy to King Ahaz of Judah in 734 BC. 

God’s message had a timely meaning.  Briefly, at that time the ancient kingdoms were in great turmoil and war.  We read that Ahaz was a destructive king, bringing idol worship and sacrilege to the kingdom of Judah.  Threatened with dominance from Assyria, he chose to form an alliance with them.  But Ahaz was from the house and lineage of David.  It was important that this line continue.  Fortunately, he was succeeded by his son, Hezekiah, who “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.”  2 Chronicles 2:29  The house and lineage of David continued.

Matthew later quoted the verse from Isaiah, expanding upon the significance.  While the prophecy was fulfilled in the Old Testament, Jesus brings much greater fulfillment.  God, Immanuel, would dwell among his people.  God-with-us came as the infant Jesus.  God, with his unconditional love, dwells with us now, even when we don’t sense his presence.  When we trust that God is with us, we can face anything.  We know that we are not alone.

Judy

I hope you enjoy this arrangement of a favorite Advent hymn. Song by Diane Hannibal, arranged by Brad Nix, sung by the Sunday Choir of St. Francis De Sales Church in Ajax, Ontario, Canada.