After disclosing the angel’s words to Joseph, the writer of Matthew abruptly switches back to addressing the reader, “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.”
With all we know, the explanation seems almost superfluous. Those who know their Bible well cannot read of Mary’s pregnancy, Joseph’s decision, his dream and the angel’s counsel, without thinking of the familiar passage in Isaiah 7, when the prophet first speaks of Immanuel. But how many of Matthew’s original readers would have done likewise is hard to say, because Isaiah wasn’t writing a particularly gleeful promise in Isaiah 7.
At the time, Isaiah had been told to go with his son to talk to the king of Judah. It was while Jerusalem (Judah’s capital) was being besieged by Israel and Aram. The king of Juday and all his countrymen were disheartened that their northern brothers (Israel) had allied themselves with Damascus (Aram), believing the combination too great for them to resist successfully. While giving the Lord’s strong counsel that Judah should not fear this development, the Lord spoke to Ahaz, king of Judah, “Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.” Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Isaiah goes on to detail that before the boy is old enough to know right from wrong, the siege will be over because of a massive invasion from Assyria, and the two kings Ahaz fears will be swept away. “The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria.” […] “Then I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. And the Lord said to me, “Name him Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. Before the boy knows how to say ‘My father’ or ‘My mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria.”
So the prophesy’s immediate application in the day it was given was to be Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, and we can know it was given as a prophesy of deliverance followed by imminent war. The birth of Immanuel would be followed by sweeping destruction and foreign occupation (via Assyria) until the completion of the whole prophesy and the setting up of Messiah’s kingdom (see Isa 8:9-1, 9:1-7). The implication is that Immanuel’s birth was to be a sign to Ahaz of peace for him and his household, even amidst the conflict and danger all around, and a sure sign of God’s coming kingdom, when public peace would reign forever over all nations.
So it was in Matthew’s day too – the coming of Immanuel (Jesus Christ) signals peace with God for those who receive Him, even though all around is destruction and foreign occupation – at the time via the Romans. The same is true for every Christ-follower. We receive Him into our lives and with Him we have peace with God, even though all around is the chaos of our broken world. And just as Ahaz did, and just as the righteous in Matthew’s day did, we can take Immanuel’s presence with us as a surety of God’s coming Kingdom, when we will never again fear war or destruction.
Amen.
It may be a cliché, but it is fact: If we recognize Immanuel we know peace for ourselves and we have hope for peace on earth. If we do not recognize Immanuel we have no peace for ourselves and we have no hope for peace on earth.
Marcus Verbrugge
APPLICATION: Thankfulness, Intentionality
Jesus told us, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Are you experiencing His peace today? How can you extend His peace to those around you?