Verse 9: “The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son. If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established.” 

Remaliah’s son: Throughout this prophecy Pekah (he is only mentioned once by name) is called ‘Remaliah’s son’. He was not an individual who was going to be successful. He was an inadequate leader and was unable to carry out his own desires.

If you will not believe: Isaiah is now addressing Ahaz. Ahaz needed to have faith in the promises of God. He needed to take hold of the promises of God as it is faith that pleases God.

You shall not be established: If Ahaz did not take hold of the promises of God, then his kingdom was not going to be established, it would not be built on a firm foundation.

Verse 10: “Moreover the Lord spoke again to Ahaz saying;”

The Lord spoke again: God knows that faith does not come naturally for us. Having faith is supernatural. If we trust God, He will grow and build up our faith (Romans 10:17). Ahaz was not faithful (2 Chronicles 28). God, being faithful and wanting all to come to repentance,
wanted to work in Ahaz’s life and grow him into a faithful man.

Verse 11: “Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above.”

Ask a sign …in the depth or in the height above: God did not place a limitation on Ahaz. God wanted Ahaz to ask for any sign that would help him to overcome his unbelief, and that (when the sign was given to him) would help to strengthen his faith.

Sign: Something that is a supernatural or divine act that only God can do (eg: something that could relate to the sun, moon, stars etc. These things in the heavens are considered signs – Genesis 1:14)

Ask it either in the depth or in the height above: This is an idiom and meant that Ahaz could ask God for anything at all – from the depths of Sheol right up into the heavens. God was calling Ahaz to believe. He was calling him not to be terrified and not to panic. God was calling him to be a faithful man in front of the nation that he had been called to lead. God was willing to grant Ahaz any sign, as God wanted to encourage Ahaz to believe in Him.

Verse 12: “But Ahaz said, ‘I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord.’”

I will not ask: Ahaz did not want a Godly experience in his life. He did not want to respond or get involved or engage with the Lord. He was an utterly faithless individual who did not even want to give God the opportunity to manifest Himself to him.

Verse 13: “Then He said, ‘Listen, O house of David! Is it too small a thing for you to weary men, that you think you can weary God?’”

House of David: God is not addressing the people of Judah or the counsellors of Ahaz. Once again, He is addressing the house of David. ‘House of David’ is a Messianic term. It speaks about those who believe in the Messianic promise…those who are a part of the congregation of the Redeemed.

Weary God: Nothing makes God weak; nothing wears God out.