King Ahaz was troubled, and his people were terrified. Their two neighbors to the north, Israel and Syria, had formed an alliance and had declared war on his kingdom of Judah. Isaiah found him and delivered a message from God: “Fear not, neither be faint-hearted.” He promised that a child would be born of a virgin and would be named Immanuel, which means “God is with us.”
Chapter Outline
- Background: the invasion (v. 1-2)
- The message: Don’t be afraid (v. 3-9).
- God gives a sign: a child born of a virgin named Immanuel (v. 10-16).
- The Assyrian army will devastate the land (v. 17-25).
My Takeaways
- Don’t be intimidated, and don’t panic. The situation may not be as bad as it seems at first.
- God is involved in our lives. We are not alone.
Featured Blog Posts
❖ Isaiah reassures Ahaz – 2 Nephi 17:2-4
These Smoking Firebrands – 2 Nephi 17:1-7
1 And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin, king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it. 2 And it was told…
Fear Not, Neither Be Faint-Hearted – 2 Nephi 17:2-4
2 And it was told the house of David, saying: Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind. 3 Then said the Lord unto Isaiah: Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou and Shearjashub thy son,…
❖ Immanuel – 2 Nephi 17:14
What Is the Significance of the Name “Immanuel?”
We can be successful with God’s help. He has paved the way for us to overcome every obstacle, and He is with us.
Old Testament Foundations
Emmanuel
The author of Psalm 46 wants us to know that God is not a distant and detached monarch. He is very much involved in our lives, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” We may be surrounded by turmoil. “The waters” may “roar and be troubled,” and “the mountains” may “shake,” but the author…
God With Us
Isaiah prophesied that a virgin would bear a son and call him “Immanuel,” which means “God with us.” As Abinadi testified, God Himself came to earth. Jesus fulfilled that prophecy. We are not only walking toward God and Christ. We are walking with Them.
The Fear of the Lord
Throughout the scriptures, we are counseled to overcome our fears. God told Abraham, Hagar, and Jacob to “fear not” as they passed through troubling experiences (Genesis 15:1, Genesis 21:17, Genesis 46:3). Moses told the Israelites not to be afraid when they saw the glory of the Lord on Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:20). Then, as they…
New Testament Parallels
Unto Us a Child Is Born
Two of the most significant Old Testament prophecies of Jesus Christ focus on His birth. Both of these are in the book of Isaiah, and both also appear in the Book of Mormon: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14, 2 Nephi 17:14; see also Matthew 1:22-23 The people…
All Posts Referencing 2 Nephi 17
- Contents of the Brass Plates (1/3/2026)
- The Remnant Shall Return (3/5/2024)
- God With Us (12/24/2023)
- Emmanuel (1/7/2023)
- Unto Us a Child Is Born (12/25/2022)
- The Fear of the Lord (9/2/2022)
- The Living Christ and the Book of Mormon (12/26/2021)
- Words of Comfort and Encouragement from Isaiah (2/20/2020)
- Which of Isaiah’s Writings Are Quoted in the Book of Mormon? (5/31/2019)
- What Is the Historical Context for the Book of Isaiah? (5/30/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Fear? (5/8/2019)
- What Is the Significance of the Name “Immanuel?” (3/15/2019)
- Immanuel – 2 Nephi 17:14-16 (10/9/2018)
- These Smoking Firebrands – 2 Nephi 17:1-7 (9/16/2017)
- Fear Not, Neither Be Faint-Hearted – 2 Nephi 17:2-4 (3/1/2015)