2016-11-02 ILC Chapel — Christ’s kingdom endures forever
2 Chronicles 28:19–25 (Listen)
19 For the LORD humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had made Judah act sinfully1 and had been very unfaithful to the LORD. 20 So Tiglath-pileser2 king of Assyria came against him and afflicted him instead of strengthening him. 21 For Ahaz took a portion from the house of the LORD and the house of the king and of the princes, and gave tribute to the king of Assyria, but it did not help him.
Ahaz’s Idolatry
22 In the time of his distress he became yet more faithless to the LORD—this same King Ahaz. 23 For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus that had defeated him and said, “Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel. 24 And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and he shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and he made himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem. 25 In every city of Judah he made high places to make offerings to other gods, provoking to anger the LORD, the God of his fathers.
(ESV)
Isaiah 7:9–14 (Listen)
9 And the head of Ephraim is Samaria,
and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah.
If you1 are not firm in faith,
you will not be firm at all.’”
The Sign of Immanuel
10 Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz: 11 “Ask a sign of the LORD your2 God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.” 13 And he3 said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 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.4
Footnotes
[1] 7:9
[2] 7:11
[3] 7:13
[4] 7:14
(ESV)
Hymn: LSB 357, st. 1,2,4 :
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
1. O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel
Shall come to thee,
O Israel!
2. O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who ord’rest all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go. [Refrain]
4. O come, Thou Branch of Jesse’s tree,
Free them from Satan’s tyranny
That trust Thy mighty pow’r to save,
And give them vict’ry o’er the grave. [Refrain]