Reflection - Promises Kept

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/122017.cfm
Isaiah 7:10-14
Luke 1:26-38

The year was approximately 732 BC, just short of two hundred years since the great King Solomon had died and David’ kingdom of Israel, which had united the twelve tribes under kings David and Solomon, split into the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah. Young Ahaz, barely twenty years old, had succeeded his father to become king of Judah. Immediately upon his accession to the throne he came under heavy political pressure from his northern neighbors, Israel and Damascus. Both were afraid of the growing strength of the Assyrian empire, a Kingdom immediately to their north. They browbeat the young Judea king, seeking to form an alliance of the three nations against the Assyrian threat. Instead, against the counsel of the prophet, Isaiah, he appealed directly to the Assyrian ruler for protection; and the Assyrian monarch was more than happy to have an excuse for attacking his neighbors.

Ahaz was irresolute and impressionable; and the power and conquests of the Assyrians intrigued him. Consequently, he sought to imitate this pagan ruler, changing the Temple which Solomon had built to conform to theirs, building other pagan temples throughout his kingdom, and even sacrificing his two infant sons to Moloch, a pagan god. Consequently, he had no heir. It was to this corrupt and vacillating king that Isaiah extended the invitation of theLord:

Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God;
let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky.

It is doubtful that it was Ahaz’ consciousness of his sinfulness that brought about his reluctance to make a request. Likewise, it is doubtful that it was Ahaz’ humility or fear of the Lord which roused the exasperation of the prophet:

Is it not enough for you to weary men,
must you also weary my God? 

Here was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, clearly and directly offering to manifest his power and protection on behalf of the King and the people of Judah. And here was the King, arrogant enough to refuse God the opportunity. It was in these circumstances that the prophecy was originally made.

The virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and shall name him Emmanuel.

Ahaz had no heir. He had previously sacrificed two of his infant sons as an burnt offering to a pagan god. He had refused to place his trust in the God of Israel. He had desecrated the holy Temple in Jerusalem. He had ignored the Covenant made at Mt Sinai and made his alliance with a foreign, pagan ruler instead. And yet he was promised the fulfillment of whatever sign he requests. And, when he refused, the Lord promised the unexpected. The king would have a son to succeed him on the throne.

It is appropriate at this time of year that we should view these words of the Lord in the context of their ultimate fulfillment in the angel’s promise to Mary — and to us. Like Ahaz, we too are reluctant to place our full and complete trust in God. Like Ahaz, we too desecrate the Temple of the Lord. (Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16) Like Ahaz, we too make our alliances with the foreign and the pagan, whether it be prestige, power, riches, or material goods. Do we also cavalierly discard God’s promise? Jesus was quite clear:

Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8)

So, we too should hear the words of Isaiah.

Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God;
let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky.

So, we too should take seriously the promise made to us.

Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (John 14:13)