In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city; he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks. Open the gates, that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in. You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock – Isaiah 26:1-4

Taken out of context this title seems quite bland. Read through historical eyes Christ’s claim is quite remarkable.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace – Isaiah 9:6

In BC 735, Palestine was a war-zone. Since the days of Rehoboam the northern tribes were hostile. To resist the Assyrian threat, they formed an alliance with Syria.

Because Syria, with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has devised evil against you, saying, “Let us go up against Judah and terrify it, and let us conquer it for ourselves, and set up the son of Tabeel as king in the midst of it,” thus says the Lord GOD: “‘It shall not stand, and it shall not come to pass – Isaiah 7:5-7

When Ahaz didn’t play ball, they plotted to crown a puppet-king Tabeel. If this attack was foiled, an Assyrian crisis loomed – first Tiglath-Pileser, then later Shalmaneser IV and Sargon II (BC 722), invaded the Holy Land with devastating effects.

Behold, the Lord is bringing up against them the waters of the River, mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory. And it will rise over all its channels and go over all its banks, and it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, reaching even to the neck, and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel” – Isaiah 8:7-8

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