Call His name Immanuel
There are four passages in Scripture that contain the term Immanuel. One of the passages (Is. 8:10) is generally not considered a name, but rather a comment on a situation. The other three passages are names:
Why would there be a need for a name meaning God with us? The answer to this question is the key to understanding the name Immanuel.
The Old Testament passages (i.e. the Isaiah texts) were written during a time in Israel's history where there was stress (and fear) regarding the probability of coming under the domination of the Assyrian kingdom. Prior to this time, Israel was full of hope. This hope was generated by God destroying the Persian kingdom under whose domination Israel had suffered. Thus, Israel was regaining strength as an independent nation. Spiritually speaking, it was an entirely different story--faithfulness went from bad to worse. God then began to judge Israel's sin by bringing along the Assyrian armies to rule over Israel. So, Israel moves from fear to hope and back to fear.
But there is no need to fear...God is with us (Immanuel). God's communication to Israel was that no matter what took place in their world (either as a result of their obedience to God or disobedience), they could take courage and comfort in the fact that the Almighty God was in their presence. In essence, God gave this prophecy to Israel to prompt faith and to encourage trust in Him.
Ultimately, this prophecy is fulfilled in the Lord Jesus as Matthew 1:23 states. The previous verse in Matthew says, "So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet..." Matt. 1:22.
How is Jesus Immanuel? In every way! He is God, and so to Israel He was the complete fulfillment of God's promise to be with them. What a dismal account...they crucified their Promise...they put to death their Immanuel...for so long they yearned for God to be with them, and when He came they said, "No thanks...."
Application: Jesus is our Immanuel in every way as well. Think of it...there is nothing to fear! Even death itself has no hold on us because He is with us even then. Because Immanuel died and conquered death, Immanuel is with us all the way. Because Immanuel returned to His glory with the Father, He sent His Spirit to be in us. Thus, immanuel...God is with us at every point, at all times, in every situation.
This truth should give us hope and cause us to trust Him implicitly. That means we can different...we can be bold...we can have integrity...we can suffer for our faith...we can thrive in difficult situations...He is Immanuel! The Hope of Christmas!
Isaiah 7:14: "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel."The last verse (Matt. 1:23) is a quotation of Is. 7:14, giving us our first hint as to what insights can be found in this term. That hint is the meaning of the Hebrew word Immanuel: "God with us."
Isaiah 8:8: "He will pass through Judah, he will overflow and pass over, he will reach up to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel."
Isaiah 8:10: "Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; speak the word, but it will not stand, for God is with us."
Matthew 1:23: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."
Why would there be a need for a name meaning God with us? The answer to this question is the key to understanding the name Immanuel.
The Old Testament passages (i.e. the Isaiah texts) were written during a time in Israel's history where there was stress (and fear) regarding the probability of coming under the domination of the Assyrian kingdom. Prior to this time, Israel was full of hope. This hope was generated by God destroying the Persian kingdom under whose domination Israel had suffered. Thus, Israel was regaining strength as an independent nation. Spiritually speaking, it was an entirely different story--faithfulness went from bad to worse. God then began to judge Israel's sin by bringing along the Assyrian armies to rule over Israel. So, Israel moves from fear to hope and back to fear.
But there is no need to fear...God is with us (Immanuel). God's communication to Israel was that no matter what took place in their world (either as a result of their obedience to God or disobedience), they could take courage and comfort in the fact that the Almighty God was in their presence. In essence, God gave this prophecy to Israel to prompt faith and to encourage trust in Him.
Ultimately, this prophecy is fulfilled in the Lord Jesus as Matthew 1:23 states. The previous verse in Matthew says, "So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet..." Matt. 1:22.
How is Jesus Immanuel? In every way! He is God, and so to Israel He was the complete fulfillment of God's promise to be with them. What a dismal account...they crucified their Promise...they put to death their Immanuel...for so long they yearned for God to be with them, and when He came they said, "No thanks...."
Application: Jesus is our Immanuel in every way as well. Think of it...there is nothing to fear! Even death itself has no hold on us because He is with us even then. Because Immanuel died and conquered death, Immanuel is with us all the way. Because Immanuel returned to His glory with the Father, He sent His Spirit to be in us. Thus, immanuel...God is with us at every point, at all times, in every situation.
This truth should give us hope and cause us to trust Him implicitly. That means we can different...we can be bold...we can have integrity...we can suffer for our faith...we can thrive in difficult situations...He is Immanuel! The Hope of Christmas!
posted by Pastor Jason | 8:38 AM
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