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Daily Devotions

Isaiah

Isaiah 
Day 
Day 52

"Syria's forces are deployed in Ephraim"

Text: Isaiah 7:2

THE REIGN OF AHAZ

King Uzziah was succeeded by Jotham who reigned for sixteen years (2 Chronicles 27:1). He was succeeded by Ahaz who also reigned for sixteen years (2 Chronicles 28:1). However, Ahaz was a wicked king. He even sacrificed his children in his pursuit of idolatry (2 Chronicles 28:3).

THE THREAT OF WAR

The threat of war loomed very large on the horizon. Judah had been prosperous in the reigns of Uzziah and Jotham. But the kingdom of Judah faltered in the reign of Ahaz.

“Now it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah,
king of Judah, that Rezin king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel,
went up to Jerusalem to make war against it, but could not prevail against it.
And it was told to the house of David, saying,
‘Syria’s forces are deployed in Ephraim.’
So his heart and the heart of his people were moved
as the trees of the woods are moved with the wind.”
Isaiah 7:1-2

1. The enemies of Judah identified:

a) Rezin the king of Syria.

b) Pekah the son of Remaliah, the king of Israel.

c) They had become allies in this war campaign against Judah.

d) They had attacked Jerusalem, but they had failed in their attempt to capture Jerusalem.

2. The war against Judah had gone badly.

a) Thousands from Judah had been killed and many thousands more had been taken
as prisoners of war to Damascus (2 Chronicles 28:5-8).

b) This was in partial fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 5).

c) Pekah and Rezin were planning their attacks on Judah.

d) Syria’s forces were already in Ephraim (about 6450 km away from Jerusalem).

e) Judah had been weakened considerably already.
How much longer could it resist the enemy?

3. The response of the king and Judah:

a) The two enemy countries had assaulted Jerusalem but had failed.

b) This should have caused Ahaz to turn to the LORD for His protection
but the king did not turn to God in prayer.

c) Ahaz and the inhabitants of the land became very fearful of further war campaigns.

d) Their hearts were described as trees swayed by a strong wind.