Charles Spurgeon Commentary Isaiah 7:9-12

"and the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah`s son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established. And Jehovah spake again unto Ahaz, saying, Ask thee a sign of Jehovah thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt Jehovah." — Isaiah 7:9-12 (ASV)

If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established.

Moreover the LORD spoke again to Ahaz, saying, Ask you a sign of the LORD your God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD.

He put his refusal very prettily, as men often do when they want to say an evil thing. He refused to accept a sign from the Lord, under the idle pretense that it would be tempting God. We never tempt God when we do what he bids us. There is no presumption in obedience. It was an idle compliment, to conceal the impudence of his heart.

The Lord invited him to acknowledge Jehovah as his God: Ask you a sign of Jehovah your God. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt Jehovah. He did not say, "Jehovah, my God"; and his silence meant dissent.