Thoughts for the Day

Isaiah Reassures King Ahaz

In the days of Ahaz son of Jotham son of Uzziah, king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel went up to attack Jerusalem, but could not mount an attack against it. When the house of David heard that Aram had allied itself with Ephraim, the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.

Then the Lord said to Isaiah, Go out to meet Ahaz, you and your son at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Fuller’s Field, and say to him, Take heed, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smouldering stumps of firebrands, because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and the son of Remaliah. Because Aram—with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah—has plotted evil against you, saying, 'Let us go up against Judah and cut off Jerusalem and conquer it for ourselves and make the son of Tabeel king in it'; therefore thus says the Lord God:

It shall not stand,
and it shall not come to pass.
For the head of Aram is Damascus,
and the head of Damascus is Rezin.

(Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered, no longer a people.)

The head of Ephraim is Samaria,
and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah.
If you do not stand firm in faith,
you shall not stand at all.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Don't be put off today's passage of scripture because of all the strange names and places. Put simply, King Ahaz of the Southern Kingdom of Judah finds himself facing a formidable alliance between Rezin of Syria and Pekah of Israel (Northern Kingdom) who seek a war with him, intending to capture Jerusalem and place a puppet king on the throne. The inability of his enemies to prevail against Jerusalem is to be a significant moment for the Southern Kingdom of Judah and hints at God’s protection over His chosen people, despite their King who sought alliances with foreign nations (who then turn on him), instead of trusting in God.

We see the struggle of a king who is fighting his own doubts and fears. He (and his people) “shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind”. But Isaiah brings a reassuring message from God. We should notice that God’s response to Ahaz is not at this stage one of judgment but rather one of reassurance. He says to him "Take heed, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smouldering stumps of firebrands". God instructs Ahaz about the importance of faith and the need for trust. Unfortunately in the long term the King was to ignore God's words and would prove to be one of the most evil of Kings.

This passage teaches us that in a world filled with uncertainty we need to learn to trust God. He invites us to lean on Him. In times of trouble, it can feel like God is distant, yet these verses remind us that He is always near. We should learn to lean towards Him rather than finding ourselves pulling away in fear, for He is with us in every trial we face.

Lord God,
when we are worried or scared;
when circumstances feel out of control;
and when we don't know how to act,
increase our faith in You
that we may draw near to You,
rather than run from You,
and learn to place all our trust in You.
Amen.