In 735 or 743BC the Syro-Ephraimite war took place, and Aram (Syria) and the northern kingdom (Israel, or Ephraim) joined forces to attack Judah. They wanted Ahaz, king of Judah, to join them in an alliance against Assyria. Judah was making overtures to Assyria. This alliance against Judah put fear in their hearts.
Events and circumstances can make us afraid, and fear leads us to make wrong decisions. Isaiah goes to the king and says "be careful, keep calm and do not be afraid". Although Aram and Israel had joined forces against them, neither of these nations was strong. Many of the things that seek to put fear in our hearts are actually weak. Both Aram and Israel would be defeated.
Verse 9b is crucial: "if you do stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all". In all circumstances we need to live by faith. Living by faith is God's chosen way.
God then told Ahaz to ask for a sign. He appreciated the difficulty of the situation for Ahaz and sought to encourage him. Ahaz, however, refused to ask for a sign. We can be very perverse. In Jesus' time the people were forever asking for signs when they had actually seen quite enough. Here Ahaz refuses to ask for a sign, despite being told to ask for one.
So Isaiah tells Ahaz that God will give him a sign, and we get the promise of the virgin birth. This prophecy would have both an immediate fulfilment in Isaiah's time, and a complete fulfilment in Jesus. The immediate outcome would be that Aram and Ephraim would be defeated, and Assyria would attack Jerusalem.
Assyria would be the Lord's instrument. Note that the prophecies do not talk about complete defeat. Much of the land would be taken, but Jerusalem itself would not in the end fall.
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