The supernatural sign (7:14)
The introductory words “Therefore
the Lord himself will give a sign for all of you” emphasize: The LORD’s
work of salvation cannot be overthrown by Ahaz’s unbelief and the apostasy
within the house of David. This sign is a supernatural sign from the LORD
himself and the decisive proof that he holds to his promises even when the fulfillment,
humanly speaking, is impossible: “Look! The virgin will conceive and give birth
to a son and name him Immanuel” (immánu =among/with us, El = God).
God has already chosen a specific virgin (the original text has a
definite article) who will give birth to a man who is at the same time God, God
in our flesh and blood, God among us and with us. Concerning this son,
Isaiah prophecies further in 9:6, 7: “For to us a child is born. To us a son is
given. The authority to rule will rest on his shoulders. He will be named:
Wonderful, Counselor (SE), Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
There will be no limit to his authority and no end to the peace he brings. He
will rule on David’s throne and over his kingdom.” Without the God-man Messiah (Immanuel),
there is no salvation, no peace without end over David’s throne and his
kingdom!
The Hebrew word for “virgin,”
‘almá, in every instance in the Old Testament is used for a young,
marriageable woman, a virgin (see Ge 24:43; Ex 2:8; Ps 28:26; Pr 3):19; SS 1:3;
6:7). Such a woman will, through a miraculous intercession of the LORD, give
birth to a son, Immanuel, the God-man Messiah. If a young, unmarried woman is
not a virgin, she is called a zoná (whore). (Seth Erlandsson, The
Scroll of Isaiah: Its Unity, Structure, and Message [trans. Julius Buelow;
Waukesha, Wis.: Northwestern Publishing, 2020], 35-36)
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