Devotional Lesson Plan: Week 7 Day 3: A Future

Righteous King
Overview of the Chapter:

During this lesson we will encounter people whose fears drive them to either trust or abandon
God.

The Judgment: Devastation

The Lord responded to Ahaz’s rejection of him with a message of judgment and hope for God is
with us is judgement for God’s enemies but hope for his people.

In Isaiah 8:6, it says that the people have “rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah…”

Shiloah is a small waterway that feeds into Jerusalem, the city is dependent on its water to live.
Although small and quiet, Shiloah was a sign that God was with them. In rejecting Shiloah they are
rejecting God.

(Interestingly enough, Shiloah has another name in the New Testament, Siloam. In John 9:7 Jesus
says “Go wash in the pool of Siloam” This water source is considered a holy site of cleansing
today. It is almost as if the people rejected their healing from sin by rejecting Shiloah, and God.)

The Euphrates river is mentioned in the passage. It is a large, powerful river. In this context, it is
symbolic of the might of the Assyrians. King Ahab put his faith in the wrong river. Rather than
trusting God and his power, he decided to ask the Assyrians for help against his enemies.

Because of this, God rebuked the people saying that the Assyrians will sweep destruction into all
of Judah.

But in verses 9-10 Isiah says to all nations of the world that in the end, no matter how bad things
get, God is with them, and they will ultimately be victorious in the Lord.

Strong and Ugly or Pretty and Weak Activity:

Materials: Fragile pretty yarn and strong ugly yarn

The pretty blue yarn represents Assyria

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The pretty blue yarn is pretty, but when you pull on it, it breaks really easily

The ugly sparkly yarn is displeasing to look at, and looks like it is the “worse yarn” but in reality it is
strong.

This is like the Assyrians versus God, the Assyrians look strong and powerful enough to protect
from Israel and Syria which Ahaz is afraid of, but in reality the Assyrians may get rid of those
enemies, but they will also destroy much of Judah. God is the “ugly” yarn. Ahaz doesn’t believe
God is strong enough to protect Judah from the other nation he had hardened his own heart. In
reality God is the stronger one, he has the power and will not break. Ahaz should have trusted God,
but instead he relied on another group of people instead of who could really save him.

The Little Details: Isaiah’s Child

In Isaiah 7:14 it says that “a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call him
Immanuel” I cross referenced with other bible translations and although many say “virgin” not all
do, some say young women or something else. This is interesting because it means that this may
not be talking about Jesus alone, but about Isaiah’s baby. Later in Isaiah 8:2-4 Isaiah has a son
with a prophetess and he is named Mahershalal-hash-baz which means “swift is the booty, speedy
is the prey” which was referenced in Isaiah 7:15 when describing the child to be born. It is likely
that Isaiah’s child is the subject of the first verse ALONG WITH Jesus, it foreshadows BOTH births.
This means that Isaiah’s child is the initial fulfillment of the prophecy, while Jesus is the ultimate
fulfillment..

Read bottom paragraphs on page 115, and the side blurb

Next page

Read Isaiah 8:17-18

Isaiah and his children are signs of how to trust God and portents of what was to come.

(REMEMBER: Portent = a sign or warning of something to come)

Remember Isiaah’s son with the funny name? He was part of a prophecy where Assyria was going
to destroy Judah. He was a portent, a sign or warning of something bad to come.

Isaiah then says to ask for God’s help, and then LISTEN. Just asking isn’t enough, you have to
actually follow his advice.

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After asking the answer isn’t often super obvious, God doesn’t just talk to people. Usually you can
spot the signs of God’s answer in your life. You may feel really strong feelings toward something,
all of the doors may just open toward that option, or all of the doors might close on the others. In
any circumstance when you need help God will be there, just ask and listen.

Read question 15 aloud and answer as a group

Lately, I have been making time right before bed to pray, while my mind is clear,
and I’m processing how the day went. I find this is the best time because I have
something else to do, it is quiet in the house, and I’m usually a night owl so
staying up praying doesn’t bother me, I’m usually quite awake. I find that praying,
asking God for help, thanking him, asking for instructions really calms me down
before bed, and I feel like I’m really ready to have a conversion with him. Usually it
is just little things, but just kind of talking with God helps me figure out what I
think about something, and just talk out ideas in my head.

Hope: The Promise of a Future Righteous King

Darkness was not the end of Judah’s hope.

Read Isaiah 9:1-2 aloud

This verse says that there will be light, something will happen and they will be saved from their
oppressors.

Read Isaiah 9:6 aloud

In this verse it says that a savior will be born, prophesying that Jesus will come to save the world.
It says that “the government will rest on his shoulders” and it gives us a list of names for him,
describing his attributes.

Read Jesus’s names

Jesus has many names, these are just a few. Something interesting I took from this is that during
this time in history, these names all conveyed attributes that Judah needed. They needed wisdom
to see the path to take, they needed God’s might to repel those that threatened them, they needed
a good father for comfort and support during the stressful time, and they really needed peace,
both for their anxious hearts, and with those who raised arms against them. What the people and
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the king really needed though was faith, which they seemed to have lost, and because they didn’t
have faith they didn’t have the wisdom, strength, comfort, and peace that Jesus and God bring.

Read Isaiah 9:7

Jesus will sit on David’s throne (which means he is the anointed messiah), his government and
peace will increase without end, he will rule with justice and righteousness, and he will rule
forevermore.

The Little Details: Prophecy

Read the paragraph on the side of 117

In summary, short term predictions often contain a larger view in history. The prophecies both
relate to current events and raise awareness about God’s bigger, ultimate, plan. Many times a long
plan is fulfilled in steps even though the prophecy is read as one event. The theme is the same
even though the events may not even be in the same year.

The Immediate Fulfillments:

Read the paragraphs leading up to question 19

Summary:

Assyria destroyed syria and Israel fulfills Isaiah 8:3-4

Israel tries and fails to rebel against Assyria fulfills Isaiah 7:16

Ahaz was foolish and didn’t see why this was happening ended up building a false altar in the
Lord’s temple and moved the Lord’s altar to make room for the idol.

Ahab also planned to use the Lord’s altar for a practice the Lord forbade, divination.

Uriah the priest did not stop him

Ahaz trusted the Assyrian King's strength over the strength of God, even as the prophecies were
being fulfilled.

Ahaz was afflicted by the king of Assyria, and since he saw the success of the people of
Damascus he decided to bar the doors of the Lord's temple and pray to the false idols instead.
Ahaz went against the lord and it only brought him misery.

After Ahaz died he left his kingdom to his son Hezekiah. Making him face the problems he left
behind. Hezekiah…

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Opened the temple doors and readied it for worship

Through off Assyria’s yoke

Prayed for deliverance

Hezeiakaih understood the power of prayer and faith

God responded with Isaiah. The Lord himself would defend the city.

Hezekaiah trusted God and witnessed a miracle.

We can learn from Ahaz’s mistakes, and Hezekaiah’s actions. Against all hope the Lord stepped in
to save Jerusalem, all thanks to Hezekaiahs prayer. Prayer is a powerful tool. God can help us
when everything seems impossible, or unreachable.

ENDING THEME:

God can do anything, so make sure to ask for everything. We may not get what we ask for, but God
is a kind, merciful, compassionate, loving God, and he wants what is best for us, whether we know
it (want it ) or not

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