Monday 22 December 2014

Psalm: Psalm 113

Background

This is a prophecy to Ahaz, king of Judah. His capital city,Jerusalem, is under attack by the kings of Aram (Syria) and Israel.By this time, David's kingdom has been divided in two. The northernkingdom, Israel, has formed an alliance with Aram, to defeat theweakened Assyrian power, but the southern kingdom (Judah) refusesto join them. The allies therefore intend to attack Jerusalem,taking control of the throne of David. The odds seem to be againstAhaz, but Isaiah has brought him a message from God, to put hismind at rest. The kingdoms of the alliance will soon be nomore.

Ahaz's reluctance to test God seems very admirable, especiallyin circumstances where he might be forgiven for being desperateenough to try anything! Perhaps, though, the issue is more that heis afraid to trust the apparent prophecy. What if it is not fromGod? What if he asks for a sign and doesn't receive one? Will thatbe worse than not trying at all? But the call to seek a sign - asdramatic as Ahaz chooses - does come from God, so Isaiah proceedsanyway.

We saw yesterday that the sign Isaiah proclaimshas come to be associated with Mary and Jesus. For Christianstoday, its use by Luke's Gospel is probably the most familiarversion of it. But it must presumably have had some meaning forAhaz and the kingdom of Judah, or the prophecy would never havebeen written down and kept.

It is not clear who the young woman is - she may, perhaps, be awife of Ahaz. The name of the son that she is about to bear is, ofcourse, deeply symbolic. At a time of conflict and threatenedinvasion, his arrival will be a sign that God is with Ahaz:'Immanuel' means 'God is with us'. He will in time be weaned, andwill learn about right and wrong. But by that time, the choice ofname will be shown to be apt. That God is with Judah will be provedby the fall of both Aram and Israel.

To Ponder

• As we have already seen, this prophecy became part of popularexpectation concerning the Messiah, or Christ. 'Messiah' means'anointed one'; this could be a king, a military leader, an angel.Isaiah's prophecy comes at a time of turbulence and threatenedmilitary action, and it is easy to see why it might becomeimportant to people at the time of the birth of Jesus - a time ofRoman occupation. Look at the conflicts and struggles in our worldtoday. Where do you see signs of 'God-with-us'? How might theChurch proclaim Immanuel today?

• We have noted that 'young woman' in the Hebrew could also mean'virgin', and the Greek translations had followed thisunderstanding, as did the Gospel writers. Are they right? Does itmatter? What difference does it make to your faith and yourunderstanding of who Jesus is?