Prophet's Story:

The Lord Himself Will Give You A Sign

Christmas Eve - December 24, 2005

Isaiah 7:10-14

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior, the Babe of Bethlehem, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Ahaz, who is that guy? He’s one of the kings of Judah. The king of Aram and the king of Israel arose against him to conquer Jerusalem and set up a usurper king on the throne. While Jerusalem had not been taken, Ahaz was taken prisoner along with 200,000 others. Later, he was released, along with the other prisoners.

Ahaz had suffered this because of his idolatry, for God had delivered him into the hands of the king of Aram. This was God’s punishment upon him for he and those who followed Ahaz, had turned away from the Lord God of their Fathers.

His worst idolatry was that he professed to worship the true God, but didn’t worship him as God had instructed. He thought he could worship in his own way. In fact, he was very zealous in his worship, a very pious man. But he did not worship as God had instructed. Even the prophets spoke well of him, and prophesied good things about him - but these prophets were not from God - they were false prophets.

Obed, a true prophet of the Lord went to meet that army that had captured Ahaz. Told them that God’s anger would be kindled against them for their sins, if they did not release the prisoners. They repented, and released Ahaz and the other prisoners.

After being released, again, Ahaz found out that the Aramean forces were still in Israel and that they were planning to attack. Instead of coming to God for help, he was planning to send a message to the Assyrian kings for help. He was not willing to trust God, even though it was God who had gotten him released. This is the situation in which Isaiah records our text.

God doesn’t want to abandon His people, He wants them to trust in Him instead of in earthly kings. God wants Ahaz and the people of Judah to look to the Lord and their strength and deliverer. Just before the words recorded as our text, Isaiah had spoken another word from God to Ahaz saying, “If you will not believe, you surely shall not last.”

God is intervening to bring hope to Ahaz. God is proclaiming, “Trust me Ahaz, I will deliver you.” So, God sends Isaiah to Ahaz with a word from the Lord. Isaiah comes to him and says, “Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above.”

God is willing to give Ahaz a sign, to show him the goodness God has for him. But Ahaz spurns God, rejects God’s willingness, and then quotes the Scripture in defiance, “I will not test the Lord.” He acts holy and righteous, which he is not, for there is no faith in his heart.

The religiosity of Ahaz has been a thing of his own making. He practiced his faith as he wanted to, not as God prescribed. He had, at this point, no more use for God. It was evidenced in his behavior and response.

So much for Ahaz. How about you? In today’s texts, we also have shepherds spoken about. Brave men, men willing to fight lions, and tigers, and bears, (oh my) to save their flocks. They are very afraid at the appearance of angels, showing with the glory of God. At the evidence of God’s glory, their sins weigh heavy on their mind - ‘who can abide the presence of a holy and almighty God’ - who wouldn’t be terrified?

They are told about their Savior, the one who would free them from their sins and give them peace. No, not a peace which means that they wouldn’t have to battle wild animals, or that wars on earth would end. They would receive peace with God, the wrath of God against sin would be satisfied in the flesh of that infant laid in swaddling clothes and laying in a manger.

So, they left all to see this thing the angels told them about. And they found Him, just as the angels had told them. Then, having seen the child, what did they do? Did they go tell everybody about the cute little baby? Did they say how they felt His love when the baby looked at them? Did they tell about what a wonderful family He had?

None of those things. When they left, “they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this child.” They rejoiced at the news that their Savior was born. They told everybody that the Messiah God promised, who would remove the fear of sin had finally come into the world.

That was the sign God gave to Ahaz. “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

Immanuel, God with us. That’s the promise to Ahaz. God was telling Ahaz, “no matter how you turn away from me, I am still your God and desire good things for you. I desire to forgive your sins and bless you.”

Ahaz spurned God. Ahaz rejected the goodness of God. Ahaz instead looked to the strength of other kings to protect his kingdom, and was consumed with the world.

The Lord Himself has given you a sign, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” You know the story, that child born of a virgin on this holy night we are gathered to celebrate is none other than your Savior, Christ the Lord - He is God with us. He took your sins into His flesh, for those innocent hands were nailed to the cross, His brow was pierced by a thorny crown. And there, on Good Friday, that child purchased peace with God for you, that you might never have to fear sin or death.

So, what will you talk about this Christmas? The same message has been given to you, that was given to Ahaz and the shepherds. Will you regale one another with tales of the things that you found with your name under the Christmas tree? Will you bemoan the efforts of your favorite football team this season, and whether Sherman and Favre will be back to play come the fall of 2006?

Or, will you make widely know the saying which has been told to you concerning this Child.

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” Unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. You will find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.

Immanuel, God with us. He’s is here. He is still, “God with us.” He is still hidden as it were, in swaddling clothes - hidden in the Word you hear, the bread you eat, and the wine you drink. In these Means of Grace, Jesus Christ is still Immanuel, God with us. God’s desire is to give you good things, forgiveness, eternal life, and salvation - to bless you for eternity.

Glory to God in the highest, for He is come to give us peace - God’s goodwill toward men in sins forgiven. Let us come to this Bethlehem, this place where Christ IS Immanuel, God with us. Let us come and see, and hear, and taste this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us. Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Back to Sermon Archive.

Back to St. Peter's or Zion Lutheran

Back to the main page.