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The Prophet Isaiah Foretold the Virginity of Mary, and The Birth of Jesus, along
with the Adoration and Gifts of the Magis.Biography of Isaiah He lived about 765years before JesusIsaiah, a great prophet of Judah who lived in
the eighth century, BC. Isaiah prophesied in the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. We know little of his personal
life; he had three sons who were a great joy to him, and he stood high at court, for in the book of Isaiah he speaks very
familiarly of court life and customs. His writings, though of surpassing poetic beauty, are full of gloomy denunciation of
the people for their sinfulness and lack of faith in God. In the reign of Ahaz war was made against Judah by the kings of
Israel and Damascus. Isaiah exhorted Ahaz to meet the raiders calmly, looking to God for support.
Ahaz defeated the enemy, but turned for help to Tiglath-pileser, king of the Assyrians. This alliance displeased Isaiah
bitterly, and he foretold that through it, dire things would befall Judah; nor was it long before Judah was chafing under
bondage to these very Assyrians. So bitter did the yoke become that Hezekiah, the king, formed an alliance with the Egyptians,
and planned a revolt against the oppressors. Again Isaiah bitterly opposed their turning for help to anyone but God, and foretold
the disastrous results which would follow; but Hezekiah would not be dissuaded, and the Kingdom of Judah was almost destroyed.
Then the people turned back to God, imploring Him to help them, but Isaiah told them to mend their evil ways.Isaiah: Chapter 60:1-9 Rise
up in splendor! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. See, darkness
covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the Lord shines, and over you appears His glory.
Nations shall walk by Your light, and kings by Your shining radiance. Raise Your eyes and look about;
they all gather and come to You. Your sons come from afar, and Your daughters in the arms of their nurses.Then You shall be radiant at what You see, Your heart
shall throb and overflow, for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before You, the wealth of nations shall be brought
to You. Caravans of camels shall fill You, dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; all from Sheba shall come
bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the Lord.All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered for You, the rams of Nebaioth shall be Your
sacrifices; they will be acceptable offerings on My altar, and I will enhance the splendor of My house. What
are these that fly along like clouds, like doves to their cotes? All the
vessels of the sea are assembled, with the ships of Tarshish in the lead, to bring Your children from afar with their silver
and gold, in the name of the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, Who has glorified You.
Matthew:
Chapter 2
1 When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived
in Jerusalem, 2 saying, "Where is the newborn King of the Jews? We saw His star at its rising and
have come to do Him homage." 3 When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They
said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: 6 'And you, Bethlehem, land of
Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.'
7 Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star's appearance. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem
and said, "Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found Him, bring me word, that I too may go and do Him
homage." 9 After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising
preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the Child was. 10 They were overjoyed at seeing the star, 11
and on entering the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother. They prostrated themselves and did Jesus homage. Then they
opened their treasures and offered Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Isaiah 60: 6) 12
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way. 13 When they had
departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the Child and his mother,
flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him." 14 Joseph rose
and took the Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt. Isaiah:
Chapter 7Again
the LORD spoke to Ahaz: 11 Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God; let it be deep as the nether world,
or high as the sky! 12 But Ahaz answered, "I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!" 13 Then he said: Listen,
O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary men, must you also weary my God? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give
you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.
Matthew:
Chapter 1:18-24 Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When His mother Mary
was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph
her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was
his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son
of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has
been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His
people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the
prophet: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name Him Emmanuel," which
means "God is with us." When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
Isaiah: Chapter 7Again the
LORD spoke to Ahaz: Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God; let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky! But Ahaz
answered, "I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!" Then he said: Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough
for you to weary men, must you also weary my God? Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be
with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.
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