Transcript Old Testament Survey: The Book of Isaiah

Old Testament Survey:
The Book of Isaiah
“Come now, and let us reason
together, says the LORD,
though your sins are like
scarlet, they shall be as white
as snow; though they are red
like crimson, they shall be as
wool.” {Isaiah 1:18}
Background
• Isaiah prophesied during the years between 740
and 701 BC. His work was in Jerusalem where he
revealed God’s will.
• His work began during the last year of King
Uzziah’s reign.
• God called him to preach to Jerusalem.
– “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall
I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I!
Send me.’“ (6:8)
Background
• During the years of Isaiah’s ministry, Assyria was
becoming a powerful nation.
• Two political groups emerged in Judah.
– One sought an alliance with Egypt
– The other with Assyria
• Isaiah warned that the nation should rely on Jehovah,
not on human alliances and weapons of war.
• Isaiah was instructed to walk naked and barefoot
through the streets of Jerusalem for three years. Why?
What would happen if Judah made an alliance with
another nation?
Background
• During the reign of Ahaz, king of Judah, Pekah,
king of Israel and Rezin, king of Syria, wanted him
to join their anti—Assyrian alliance. Ahaz refused.
• The kings marched against Ahaz to remove him
and put a vassal in his place.
• God instructed Isaiah to tell Ahaz not to fear these
“two tails of smoking firebrands.”
• Isaiah told Ahaz to ask for a sign from God—(7:14).
• Ahaz refused Isaiah’s counsel and set up an
Assyrian god in the temple of the Lord!
Background
• Isaiah warned that Assyria was the rod of God to
punish Israel and Judah for their sins.
• Israel would be cut off and Judah severely
punished, but not destroyed, by Assyria.
• After God used Assyria to punish His people they,
too, would be punished for their sins!
• Along with them: Egypt, Ethiopia, Edom, Babylon,
Moab, Syria.
Keys to the Book
• Salvation is the “key word.” It is used 26 times in
Isaiah and only 7 times in other prophetic books.
The phrase “Holy One of Israel,” is used 25 times.
• The name Isaiah = ”salvation is of the Lord.”
• Key verses:
– “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and
shall call His name Immanuel.” (7:14)
Keys to the Book
• The name Isaiah—
”salvation is of the Lord.”
• Key verses:
– “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given;
and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His
name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of
His government and peace there will be no end, upon
the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it
and establish it with judgment and justice from that
time forward, even forever...” (9:6,7)
Keys to the Book
• The name Isaiah—
”salvation is of the Lord.”
• Key verses:
– “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have
turned, every one, to his own way; and the
LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
(53:6)
Keys to the Book
• The name Isaiah—
”salvation is of the Lord.”
• Key chapter: 53—The Suffering Servant
– Despised rejected (1-2)
– Man of sorrows (3)
– Sinner’s substitute (4-9)
– The triumphant Christ (10-12)
– Atonement for the sins of the world! Rich
blessings and provisions in salvation
through Christ!
Subject
• Isaiah wrote of God’s glory and man’s salvation
through Jesus Christ.
• Prophecies of consolation and condemnation
• Pronounced God’s judgment on immorality and
idolatry
• In Judah and 11 other surrounding nations
• Last 27 chapters record God’s assurances of
Israel’s restoration after captivity.
Subject
• Isaiah is called:
– “Evangelical prophet”
– “Messianic prophet”
– “Prophet of redemption”
• He speaks of God’s protecting love and care for
His people.
• Appeals for them to repent.
• His judgment of evil and sin, deliverance and
restoration of the faithful remnant, and promise of
a Redeemer.
His Appeal
• Isaiah’s main purpose was to utter
prophecies whose certain fulfillment
proved God’s Deity, Christ’s Messiahship,
and the Bible’s full inspiration and
truthfulness.
• 43 NT references to Isaiah
• Conveys to every generation the need for
righteous living.
Isaiah—The Miniature Bible
• Isaiah has 66 chapters.
• Two main divisions:
– The first division contains 39 chapters, just as the OT
contains 39 books. It emphasizes God’s judgment upon
immoral and idolatrous men.
– The last division contains 27 chapters, just as the NT
contains 27 books. It presents God’s grace through the
promise of a Redeemer, and concludes with final
judgment. As does the NT, these chapters declare a
message of hope in the promise “to bear a cross and
wear a crown.”
Isaiah—The Prophet
• “Prophet of Redemption” and the book, “Gospel of
Isaiah”
• 38 years before the northern kingdom fell
• Continued to prophesy during reigns of Judah’s
kings—Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah
• Contemporary with Micah in Judah— Amos and
Hosea in Israel
• Messianic prophecies and God’s judgment on
heathen nations
The Book’s Main Divisions
• Three divisions in Isaiah:
– Prophetic (1-35)
– Historic (36-39)
– Messianic (40-66)
• First contains judgments against Judah and Israel (1-12),
predictions against foreign nations (13-23), announcements
of judgments and deliverance (24-35).
• Historic division relates to Assyria and Babylon during
Hezekiah’s reign (36-39).
Isaiah and Hezekiah
• During Hezekiah’s reign, the Assyrians destroyed
Samaria (Israel) and marched against Judah.
• A messenger from Assyria demanded Judah’s
surrender.
• Isaiah’s counsel—do not be afraid; God will deliver
you from their hands.
• The Lord’s angel went and killed 185,000 soldiers
and forced Assyria’s retreat!
• Sennacherib returned home in disgrace and was
assassinated!
Isaiah and Hezekiah
• Later, Hezekiah become mortally ill.
• Isaiah told him he would die and not live (38:1).
• Hezekiah prayed fervently, and the Lord extended
his life by 15 years.
• As a sign that God had heard Hezekiah’s prayer,
the sun dial returned backward 10 degrees.
• Babylonian messengers brought letters and a gift
to show pleasure at the king’s recovery.
Isaiah and Hezekiah
• Hezekiah showed the messengers all of Judah’s
wealth and treasures.
• Isaiah told Hezekiah that Judah’s treasures would
someday belong to Babylon (39:6).
• Occurred in 536 BC when Babylon took Judah into
captivity.
• Having mentioned the captivity, Isaiah turned his
attention to foretelling Judah’s return from
captivity. Would occur 200 years later, and Isaiah
named the king--Cyrus!
– Isaiah 44:28
Isaiah’s Prophecies
• Christ’s
miraculous
birth to a virgin
“Therefore the
Lord Himself will
give you a sign:
Behold, the virgin
shall conceive and
bear a Son, and
shall call His name
Immanuel.” (7:14)
Isaiah’s Prophecies
• Establishment of
God’s kingdom —
the church (place)
“Many people shall come
and say, ‘Come, and let us
go up to the mountain of
the LORD, to the house of
the God of Jacob; He will
teach us His ways, and we
shall walk in His paths. For
out of Zion shall go forth
the law, and the word of the
LORD from Jerusalem.’”
(2:3)
Isaiah’s Prophecies
• Divine government
would rest on the
shoulders of a child.
“For unto us a Child is
born, Unto us a Son is
given; and the
government will be upon
His shoulders. And His
name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace.”
(9:6)
Isaiah’s Prophecies
• The price of the
suffering servant—
the anointed one of
God!
“Surely He has borne our
griefs and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed Him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our
transgressions, He was
bruised for our iniquities; the
chastisement for our peace
was upon Him, and by His
stripes we are healed.” (53:4,5)
Isaiah’s Prophecies
• Foretold a new
name!!
“The Gentiles shall
see your
righteousness, and
all kings your
glory. You shall be
called by a new
name, which the
mouth of the LORD
will name.” (62:2)
The Dead Sea Scrolls
• Discovered by a Bedouin in a cave near
the north end of the Dead Sea
• A complete manuscript of Isaiah, written
in Hebrew about 100 BC—1000 years
earlier than the oldest known Hebrew text!
• Confirmed the remarkable accuracy of the
book of Isaiah!
The Nation’s Spiritual Condition
• Only 38 years after Isaiah’s work began, Israel’s
wickedness brought on Assyrian captivity (722
BC).
• Rod of His anger (10:5-11)
• He would also punish Assyria (10:12-19).
• Spared Judah from the onslaught (10:20-27)
• Isaiah continued to teach the people to follow God;
then turned his attention to the glorious hope of
the future—Christ!
Everlasting Things
• Salvation (45:17)
• Light (60:19)
• Joy (35:0)
• Strength; rock of ages (26:4)
• Kindness (54:8)
• Covenant (55:3)
• Judgment (33:14)
Fulfilled Prophecies
• One who would preach good tidings to
the poor (61:1-3)
– Fulfilled—Luke 4:16-21
• His victory over death (25:8)
– Fulfilled—1 Corinthians 15:53,54
• Christ, the tried stone rejected by the
builders (28:16)
– Fulfilled—Romans 9:33
• Would be a branch of Jesse (11:1)
– Fulfilled—Romans 15:12
Characteristics of Christ
• Anointed with the Spirit of God (11:2-4)
• A Man of silence, gentleness, truth,
perseverance, and light (42:2-6)
• In His suffering for sinners, He showed
compassion, meekness, sinlessness,
submission, greatness, and saving power
(53:4-12)