提要
以馬內利！上帝與我們同在！
在亞哈斯王年間，猶大離經叛道，上帝便派遣先知以賽亞去呼召百姓悔改，並警告他們將臨的審判。以賽亞說這段預言的背景是在亞蘭和以色列企圖合攻猶大時。他們的目標是想除掉大衛王朝的亞哈斯，代以會向他們俯首稱臣的他王（賽7：6；王下16：5~7）。亞哈斯很怕他們的威脅，惟恐自己和大衛的譜系就要斷送在他們手中。但上帝藉以賽亞再次向亞哈斯保證，亞蘭和以色列的計謀不會成功。上帝對猶大的大衛譜系有祂的計畫。從大衛家所出的公義之王是上帝對全世界的救贖計畫，祂的寶座也要存到永遠，正如上帝對亞哈斯的先祖大衛的應許（撒下7：16）。
以賽亞預言說將有一嬰孩出生。從上下文我們可以很清楚的看出，這嬰孩將是從大衛族譜而出的君王和拯救者。有一個「記號」會證實祂所帶來的拯救。那記號就是，有一個童女會奇妙的懷孕生子，並給祂起名叫以馬內利。這就證實了創世記三章十五節那古老的應許說，從女人的後裔，必出一位拯救者。
當猶大正處於水深火熱之中，以賽亞就預見，並預言了「以馬內利」的訊息。他不僅給當時正處於黑暗中的亞哈斯帶來光明，也給整個迷失在罪中的幽暗世界帶來無限的希望。這個希望就是彌賽亞──上帝所差來的那位奇妙嬰孩（賽9：6~7）。
上帝在歷史中的作為實在叫人驚奇，因為以賽亞的預言七百年後在我們的主耶穌基督身上應驗了──祂在「時候滿足」時降臨人間。上帝為祂的來臨預備了一切。當時的世界在羅馬統治下政治穩定；充滿了預言的舊約聖經也被翻譯成世界通行的希臘語，預備人心迎接彌賽亞的來臨。當時機成熟，上帝就派主耶穌為童貞女所生，應驗了祂將賜救主的記號。童貞女生子的確是一個事實，耶穌是先由聖靈感孕，是上帝在創世以前就預先命定要為這個世界所獻的無瑕無疵的贖罪祭。
馬太福音一章廿二至廿三節解釋了「以馬內利」的意思就是「上帝與我們同在」。這次上帝沒有派先知，乃是親自來到人間（來1：1~3）。上帝一直參與人間事，現在藉著祂的兒子耶穌基督更親密的與我們同在。因此我們可以與祂有親密的團契；「上帝在基督裡叫世人與祂和好」（林後5：19）。
以馬內利的目的是什麼﹖不只是要給我們留下偉大的教導、不只要行最奇妙的神蹟、或到處行善事、喊驚人的口號。以馬內利也不只是要應驗預言、創下最獨特的出生記錄。以馬內利的目的乃是要完成上帝救贖的計畫。基督的降生真是歷史上最大的事件。世界之王成為卑微的人的樣式（腓2：5~11）。祂來死在十字架上，使祂能拯救祂的百姓、賜生命、並與人有和好的關係。祂的確配得天使的讚美、牧羊人的稱頌、博士的敬拜、和天上之星的見證。祂配得每一個人的心。
上帝的計畫何等奇妙！超過任何人的智慧和知識。深哉，敬虔的奧祕（提前3：16）。上帝並不遙遠；祂曾經有血有肉的活在人間（約1：14），祂的靈也與我們同在。因此，讓我們敬拜祂、榮耀祂，因祂配得！「以馬內利」。你感受到這四個字的能力嗎﹖耶穌說，看見了祂就是看見了父（約14：9~11），並且，信子的人就有永生（約3：36）。
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Overview
Immanuel, "God with us!"
God sent the prophet Isaiah to call for repentance and warn God's people during their apostacy under the reign of king Ahaz of Judah. The occasion of this prophecy was the attempted invasion of the combined forces of Israel and Syria against Judah. Their goal was to dethrone Ahaz from the Davidic dynasty and set up another king of their own choosing who would be subject to them (Isaiah 7:6; 2 Kings 16:5-7). Ahaz feared that this terrible threat would mean the end for himself and the line of David upon the throne of Judah, but God sent Isaiah to reassure him that this attempt would not be successful. God still had a plan for the line of David in Judah. He also has a plan for the salvation of the whole world through the righteous King of the line of David whose throne would be established forever, just as God had promised Ahaz's forefather, David (2 Samuel 7:16).
Isaiah prophesied that a child would be born. From the context, it is clear that this child would be a king and a deliverer from the line of David. His coming would be a "sign" to verify the truth of His deliverance. The sign was to be that a young virgin would miraculously conceive and give birth to a son whose name would be Immanuel, thus confirming the ancient and first promise of the Bible in Genesis 3:15 about the deliverer who would come from the seed of woman.
In the midst of despair and turmoil in Judah, Isaiah foresaw and foretold of Immanuel. He thus gave hope and shed light on not only the immediate dark situation that faced Ahaz, but the whole darkened world lost in sin (Isaiah 60:1). This hope was in the Messiah, the coming Wonderful Child (Isaiah 9:6-7) whom God would send.
It is amazing to see God sovereignly acting in history, for this prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled 700 years later in the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, who came "in the fullness of time" (Galatians 4:4). God had prepared everything for His coming. There was political stability under the power of Rome. There was the universal Greek language into which the Bible had been translated (the Septuagint), and this Old Testament Scripture, full of prophecy, prepared hearts for the coming of the Messiah. The time was ripe, and God sent the Lord Jesus through the virgin birth, thus fulfilling the sign that He would be the deliverer. Indeed the virgin birth is a theological truth. Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit and therefore sinless. He was the unblemished sacrifice that God had pre-ordained for the salvation of the world, even before its foundation.
"Immanuel" is defined and explained in Matthew 1:22-23 as "God with us". This time God did not send a prophet but came Himself (Hebrews 1:1-3). God was always present in the events of the world, but now He was there more intimately in His Son, Jesus Christ (John 1:18). Because of this, we may have that more intimate relationship and fellowship with Him; "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself" (2 Corinthians 5:19).
What was the purpose of Immanuel? It was not just to give the greatest teachings, perform the most wonderful miracles, or go around doing good and making great claims. It was not just to fulfill prophecy and have the most unique birth; His purpose was to complete God's plan of redemption. The birth of Christ was truly the greatest event in history. The King of the world came in the form of a mere man (Phil. 2:5-11). He came to die on the cross, that He might save His people, give life, and have fellowhip with them. Indeed He deserves the praise of the angels, the visit of the adoring shepherds, the worship of the magi, and the witness of heaven by the star. He deserves the heart of everyone.
How marvellous is the plan of God! It is beyond any human wisdom or understanding. Great is the mystery of godliness (1 Timothy 3:16); God is not distant; He appeared in the flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14), and His Spirit is within us. Let us therefore worship and glorify Him, for He is worthy! "God with us". Have you felt the power and impact of these words? Jesus said, Those who have seen Him have seen the Father (John 14:9-11) and he who believes in the Son has eternal life (John 3:36).
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Prayer
Thank You Father that You gave us Immanuel, Your Son Jesus, as our Saviour. Once again we give to You, Jesus, our hearts, adoration, worship, and praise. You alone are worthy! |
