Preached on 18 December 2022 in Christ Church, Billericay @ 8:00
Readings: Isaiah 7:10-16; Matthew 1:18-25
Introduction
This morning we are looking at the prophecy that a virgin will give birth to a child. Both our readings are the subject of some controversies. That’s partly because of the subjects they cover, but also because the language that the Isaiah reading is written in has words that do not easily translate into either Greek, or English.
I am going to look at both passages, to see what they mean individually and when they are taken together. There is a common theme between the two reading that’s only loosely related to the prophecy.
Ahaz’s problem
First, let’s start with the Old Testament. Ahaz has a problem. The two countries to the north of him have got together. That’s Aram and Israel (or Ephraim), in what we would now see as Sameria. They have joined forces, to help protect themselves against Assyria. Assyria is the regional power, and is constantly threatening the borders of its neighbours. Rezin of Aram and Pekin of Ephraim want Ahaz to join forces with them. If he won’t, they plan to take Judah by force, thus expanding their territory. Hopefully that will make them less of a target for Assyria.
In the time of King David, Ephraim and Judah had been one nation, so this alliance seems like the ultimate betrayal. No wonder, Ahaz was shaken.
Now he has an important decision to make. What is he to do?
Isaiah’s message
Isaiah has already been given a message for Ahaz, telling him not to be afraid, because the invasion he is expecting will not happen. Apparently this has not quelled his fear, so at verse 10 the Lord has another go at speaking to Ahaz.
Signs
He is offered a sign – any sign. This is a very unusual offer. When Hezekiah was offered a sign, he was given a choice, should the sun go forward or backward 10 steps. He chose backward because he though that was harder to do, and the Lord did it. Hezekiah had been a faithful king. Signs, when they are provided, are usually just given and no choice involved.
Ahaz refused
Ahaz has not been a faithful king. He is supposed to listen to the prophets and ensure that the people worship correctly, but he has not done that. His response to God’s amazing offer is “No, I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test”.
Do not test God
You will probably remember Jesus saying something similar during His temptation in the wilderness. They are both quoting Deuteronomy 6:16 “Do not put the Lord your God to the test as you did at Massah.” The context is very different. Jesus was speaking to Satan. The Israelites had tested God at Massah by getting ready to stone Moses because there was no water. (ex 17:1-7)
Here, though, Ahaz is being offered the sign by God. It seems that he knows just enough of the scriptures to try to deflect Isaiah from what God is saying.
The Prophecy
God will not be deflected from his purpose, neither will Isaiah. God will provide a sign. He will try to convince Ahaz to follow His instruction.
“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
Immanuel means either “God is with us”, or “God with us”. It’s meant to tell Ahaz that God is with him, protecting him and the rest of Judah from the threat they are so worried about.
To set a time frame to this, the following is given:
He will eat curds and honey
when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right. But
before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right,
the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.
How the prophecy worked
We cannot be certain how the prophecy worked in detail. There are debates about every aspect. This prophecy does not require a virgin birth, normal conception is possible for a current virgin. The virgin could be Isaiah’s second wife, or a recently married woman in the king's entourage, the name Immanuel being chosen as a way of expressing disapproval with Ahaz’s leadership. Either way, a son is born.
“Curds and honey” may refer to the good things that the boy will have – from the promised land – ‘a land flowing with milk and honey’ or the exact opposite – the only food available when the nation is devastated.
‘Reject the wrong and choose the right’ is undoubtedly the key, as children must be a certain age to do this. Commentators vary from two, twelve, or in the twenties.
It doesn’t matter that much, what we know is that within a few years, before they had time to overrun Judah and Jerusalem, Aram and Ephraim had been overrun themselves by Assyria. So the prophecy is fulfilled, at least for Ahaz.
Joseph’s decision
Now let’s move on to the New Testament reading. Joseph’s difficult decision comes as a surprise to him, rather than an escalating threat. Joseph either hears about the pregnancy, or sees evidence of it for himself, we are not told. It’s possible he went to collect his bride for the wedding, and spotted the problem then.
Now he has an important decision to make. What is he to do?
Righteous Man
Joseph is described as a righteous man, that being the case, to continue with the marriage is out of the question. According to scripture, Mary should be punished for her indiscretion. This could be a stoning, but that was rare in the 1st century, or a divorce – either publicly or privately. This is Joseph’s preferred option. He is certainly a kind man. He wants to cause Mary as little trouble as possible while still doing the right thing for God and himself. So he decides on a quiet divorce, that way they can both get on with their lives sooner rather than later.
The Dream
Maybe he decided to sleep on it and see how he felt in the morning. While he was asleep, an angel of the Lord appeared to him. The angel told him not to be afraid to take Mary home as his wife. The social stigma of having a new wife already pregnant would be considerable, the assumption would be that the baby was his and that he wasn’t a very self-disciplined person. He would be seen as a sinner, and shunned by those claiming righteousness.
The decision
So, unlike Ahaz, Joseph is swayed by the message the angel delivered, and agrees to take Mary as his Wife. This makes him Jesus’s legal father on earth. So, Jesus is born of the house of David, just as required by various other prophecies. He then had no union with her until after Jesus was born – so maybe the pregnancy was quite advanced at this stage, or Joseph, being a righteous man, had a greater understanding of what was going on than was reported. After Jesus was born, though, they seem to have lived a normal life, the rest of the family being conceived by the usual method.
The problem with Prophecies
Matthew tells us that this took place to fulfil the prophecy that we read about in Isaiah. From a straight forward reading of Isaiah, it is easy to tick this prophecy off as fulfilled and done with. Judah was not defeated by Aram and Ephraim, but they were later defeated by Assyria.
That’s the problem with prophecies, not only are they sometimes difficult to understand, but it is also possible that they refer to things other than those that are being directly addressed when they are given. Matthew clearly sees something more in Isaiah than a straight forward reading provides.
Debate
As I mentioned before, there is huge debate about the prophecy in Isaiah, and about this report of the birth of Jesus. Does the word for virgin, really mean virgin in our sense, does it mean young woman. Most agree that it does not translate easily to either. The Greek word used ‘parthenos’ does directly translate to virgin – I’ve checked. So there is no doubt what Matthew thought.
God and Man
Anyway, it would be difficult to accept that Jesus was the son of God, if God had no involvement in His conception. So Matthew has set us up nicely for the next difficult theological debate – understanding the trinity.
Connection
I mentioned at the beginning that there is another connection between the two passages. It is related to the prophecy, and in particular to God speaking to us directly when we have difficult decisions to make, as was the case in both our readings.
Connection- Ahaz
Ahaz was approached by the prophet and offered a sign – any sign that would convince Ahaz that God knew what He was doing and was in control. Ahaz rejected the offer and moved his kingdom – the house of David, away from God’s rule. Judah was ultimately defeated by controlled by Assyria.
Connection- Joseph
Joseph, on the other hand, when finding his betrothed was expecting a baby, listened to what God had to say and accepted Mary as his wife. Jesus the son of God would be born anyway, that process was unstoppable. Joseph’s acceptance led him to all sorts of difficulties – the flight to Egypt and the return to settle in a strange town, come to mind.
Us
When we have big decisions to make, they often become turning points in our lives. It is important for us to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying at that time. That may be through someone filling the role of a prophet, through a sign, (although I doubt you’ll get a choice!) through a dream, through a scripture reading holding a new meaning to us, through a sudden change in circumstance, or even a dream. It may also come through a discernment process that leads to selection, or not, for some sort of ministry.
The important thing for us is to listen and accept the advice or direction that the Holy Spirit is providing.
Amen.
References
https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/fourth-sunday-of-advent/commentary-on-isaiah-710-16-3
https://sermonwriter.com/biblical-commentary/old-testament-isaiah-710-16-commentary/
https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/fourth-sunday-of-advent/commentary-on-isaiah-710-16
Youtube: https://youtu.be/vaxxvyLJLzs
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