The original word for a _sign_ means also a _miracle._ And as God had
offered _Ahaz_ a miracle to be _then_ performed, which had been
refused, God Himself promises to _the house of David_ a miracle which
should be performed, not then, but _afterwards._ But the word
signifies, not only something done at present, to induce a belief of
something future, but also something to be done afterwards, declared
beforehand in confirmation of something foretold.
Thus, when God commanded Moses to go from the wilderness into Egypt
to demand the dismission of his brethren, God assures him of success,
and tells him: "This shall be _a sign_ unto thee; when thou hast
brought forth the people, ye shall serve God upon this mountain."
And thus, when the Assyrians were marching against Jerusalem in the
days of Hezekiah, Isaiah is again commanded to declare that the city
shall not be taken; and after saying, "This shall be _a sign_ unto
you," he specifies several particulars which were all future.[1]
If then a thing, at all future, may be declared as _a sign,_ it makes
no difference whether the thing be future by three years or three
hundred, provided that one circumstance be observed--which is, that
the man, or body of men, to whom the fact is declared to be a sign
shall exist to see the thing accomplished. This was manifestly the
case here. For not only Ahaz, to whom the second prophecy was
delivered, saw that fulfilled as to the two kings his enemies, but
also the house of David, to whom the first prophecy as addressed, saw
_that_ fulfilled in JESUS CHRIST.