An Encouraging Word

1 When Ahaz, son of Jotham and grandson of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah, the king of Israel, set out to attack Jerusalem. However, they were unable to carry out their plan.

2 The news had come to the royal court of Judah: “Syria is allied with Israel against us!” So the hearts of the king and his people trembled with fear, like trees shaking in a storm.

3 Then the Lord said to Isaiah, “Take your son Shear-jashub and go out to meet King Ahaz. You will find him at the end of the aqueduct that feeds water into the upper pool, near the road leading to the field where cloth is washed. 4 Tell him to stop worrying. Tell him he doesn’t need to fear the fierce anger of those two burned-out embers, King Rezin of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah. 5 Yes, the kings of Syria and Israel are plotting against him, saying, 6 ‘We will attack Judah and capture it for ourselves. Then we will install the son of Tabeel as Judah’s king.’ 7 But this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“This invasion will never happen;
it will never take place;
8 for Syria is no stronger than its capital, Damascus,
and Damascus is no stronger than its king, Rezin.
As for Israel, within sixty-five years
it will be crushed and completely destroyed.
9 Israel is no stronger than its capital, Samaria,
and Samaria is no stronger than its king, Pekah son of Remaliah.
Unless your faith is firm,
I cannot make you stand firm.”

In the Old Testament, prophets often gave discouraging messages, because the people had rebelled against God for a long time and were ripe for punishment.

But today’s verses show that Isaiah had an encouraging word here. There were political troubles in the land, and military threats from the outside were increasing. King Ahaz and his people were shaking with fear.

God sends Isaiah and his son to speak to these anxious people. Isaiah’s son, with a name that means “a remnant will return,” is a walking message that God will not abandon his people. Further, Isaiah encourages the king by telling him from the Lord that the forces allied against him will not succeed.

But the king must trust in the Lord, not in his political deals. “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.”

This is an encouraging word that takes courage to fol-low—courage to stick to the right path. That is hard for a king, a president, and for any believer.

When you read accounts of the persecuted church today, or of a whistleblower in a large firm who cannot be part of its deceit any longer, don’t you admire their courage?

We all need courage between the first coming and the second coming of Jesus. Isaiah assures us that courage is available from the Lord.

Thank you, Lord, for your promise to stick with us. Holy Spirit, help us to stand firm in our faith in you. In Jesus, Amen.