Isaiah 7 Have you ever met someone who i

Isaiah 7

Have you ever met someone who is able to quote verses from the Bible yet they are not the person they appear to be?
Meet Ahaz. He’s not a nice man. He’s not a true worshipper of God. In fact, he’s evil, he offered his own son as a burnt offering to the gods. Yet there was a side to him that made him look good.
“I will not put the Lord to the test”, v12.
Ahaz’s nation, Judah, was hugely outnumbered by an invading coalition army of Israel and Syria.
He and his people were shaking from fear but they were not in fear of God unlike Isaiah in the chapter before.
God speaks to Ahaz to assure him; he does not need to be afraid; the invasion will not be successful; these nations will not be there in 65 years time.
All Ahaz has to do is to believe, to stand firm in faith, v9. God tells Ahaz to ask for something from Him. He is really telling Ahaz to change and acknowledge he does need God.
Ahaz refuses by quoting Scripture. How pious! The truth was he had already arranged an alliance with Assyria who would help him. He had a plan. He didn’t need God.
Today God still asks people to need Him.

I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.
Refrain:
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Saviour,
I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their pow’r when Thou art nigh.

I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.

I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.

I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;
Oh, make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son.

Annie S. Hawks 1872