Isaiah 7:10-12

Moreover, the Lord spake, &c.— From the 10th to the 16th verse, we have the confirmation of the promise, by a sign to Ahaz in the name of God; in which we have, first, the prophet's address to Ahaz, exhorting him by the divine command to ask whatever sign he would; Isaiah 7:10 with the reply of Ahaz, Isaiah 7:12. And secondly, a declaration of God's good pleasure, to give an illustrious sign, which he offers rather to the true believers, than to a hypocritical and incredulous king; Isaiah 7:13. By a sign we are here to understand a miracle, commonly so called, or an unusual or extraordinary effect, production, or phaenomenon, which cannot be explained from natural causes, but only from the omnipotence of the ruler of the universe; which moreover signified that God was present, and ratified the word, promise, or doctrine, for which the sign was given at the petition of some public teacher or other holy man. The prophet offers this sign either in the depth or in the height above; signifying that all nature was subject to the power and controul of that God whom he calls the God of Ahaz, as being the God of his fathers, and in order to admonish him in whom to place his confidence. Ahaz, however, refuses to ask for a sign; not from true faith and humility, but from hypocritical reasons, as is sufficiently evident from the history of his life. See 2 Chronicles 28 throughout. He feared lest, if such a sign should be given as he did not choose, he should be compelled to desist from his purpose, the calling in the aid of Assyria, and which he could not well do after Jehovah had given a sign to the contrary. Besides, as he seems to have been deserted by God, he dared not commit himself to that divine favour and providence which he had heretofore so proudly despised; preferring to it the protection of other and false deities. See Vitringa.