~ LISTENING CENTER ~

Date: December 24, 2023 (PM) Title: His Name Shall Be Called ... Immanuel Speaker: Bob Corbin Download Audio Watch it on

* We have been considering the prophetic declaration of YHWH through Isaiah, regarding the coming of a man child - who would be called: Wonderful Counselor; Mighty God; Everlasting Father; Prince of Peace. Each of these names are direct references back to YHWH Himself. As He revealed elsewhere, YHWH was declaring that He would manifest Himself on the earth by becoming incarnate - taking on human flesh - and being born. * This prophecy in Isaiah 9 is part of a larger section which begins in chapter 7. YHWH declares His faithfulness to the tribe of Judah ... He would not allow Syria and Israel to gain victory over Judah. To reveal His faithfulness to King Ahaz, He told Ahaz to ask for a sign ... to which Ahaz self-righteously declares, "I will not ask, nor test YHWH." * YHWH declares that He, Himself, would then give a sign To The House of David - not to Ahaz! “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Emmanuel.” (Isaiah 7: 14) Immanuel means: "God with us." * What an incredible prophecy! “The virgin” will conceive. Many have debated this term and some translations have interpreted the word as “young girl.” However, the Hebrew language has a specific word for a young girl from infancy to adolescence - na'arah. The word used by Isaiah in this prophecy, though, is almah - a veiled girl. The word is only used 7 times in the O.T. Including this passage. Consider its use in context: Song Of Solomon 6:8 “There are sixty queens and eighty concubines, and virgins without number.” * As we heard in the reading from Matthew 1 ... this prophesy would be fulfilled at the birth of Jesus.