03.23. Isaiah
Walking Thru The Bible
ISAIAH
Introduction
Isaiah is quoted in the New Testament more than any other prophet. There are more than 250 allusions to Isaiah’s prophesies. The New Testament says that Isaiah "saw the glory of Christ and spoke of him" John 12:41. Isaiah’s name "Yesha-Yahu" (Salvation is of Yahweh) is almost identical in meaning with Joshua (Yahweh is Salvation), which in the New Testament corresponds to "Jesus."
Isaiah -- The Man
Isaiah prophesied in Judah during the 8th century BC. It was during his ministry that the northern kingdom of Israel was taken captive by the Assyrians. It was a critical time for Judah for the Assyrians were threatening them also. The prophet Hosea had been preaching in Israel before its fall and Micah was a contemporary prophet with Isaiah in Judah. Isaiah lived in Jerusalem with his wife and two children to whom he gave significant names (Isaiah 7:3; Isaiah 8:3). The prominence of his father is seen in that the prophet is often called "the son of Amoz" (13 times). The Rabbis taught that Isaiah’s father was a brother of King Amaziah, and thus Isaiah would be a first cousin to King Uzziah and of royal blood. Isaiah was well-educated and aware of the international political scene. His wisdom from God was respected by Hezekiah and he served him as a kind of court-prophet. A tradition in the Talmud states that Isaiah when an old man denounced Manasseh’s idolatrous decrees and being put inside a hollow log was "sawn asunder" (2 Kings 21:16; Hebrews 11:37).
Isaiah -- The Author
The fabulous book of Isaiah contains 66 chapters. Radical critics in the last century have generally conceded that Isaiah may have written Isaiah 1:1-31, Isaiah 2:1-22, Isaiah 3:1-26, Isaiah 4:1-6, Isaiah 5:1-30, Isaiah 6:1-13, Isaiah 7:1-25, Isaiah 8:1-22, Isaiah 9:1-21, Isaiah 10:1-34, Isaiah 11:1-16, Isaiah 12:1-6, Isaiah 13:1-22, Isaiah 14:1-32, Isaiah 15:1-9, Isaiah 16:1-14, Isaiah 17:1-14, Isaiah 18:1-7, Isaiah 19:1-25, Isaiah 20:1-6, Isaiah 21:1-17, Isaiah 22:1-25, Isaiah 23:1-18, Isaiah 24:1-23, Isaiah 25:1-12, Isaiah 26:1-21, Isaiah 27:1-13, Isaiah 28:1-29, Isaiah 29:1-24, Isaiah 30:1-33, Isaiah 31:1-9, Isaiah 32:1-20, Isaiah 33:1-24, Isaiah 34:1-17, Isaiah 35:1-10, Isaiah 36:1-22, Isaiah 37:1-38, Isaiah 38:1-22, Isaiah 39:1-8, but argued that Isaiah 40:1-31, Isaiah 41:1-29, Isaiah 42:1-25, Isaiah 43:1-28, Isaiah 44:1-28, Isaiah 45:1-25, Isaiah 46:1-13, Isaiah 47:1-15, Isaiah 48:1-22, Isaiah 49:1-26, Isaiah 50:1-11, Isaiah 51:1-23, Isaiah 52:1-15, Isaiah 53:1-12, Isaiah 54:1-17, Isaiah 55:1-13, Isaiah 56:1-12, Isaiah 57:1-21, Isaiah 58:1-14, Isaiah 59:1-21, Isaiah 60:1-22, Isaiah 61:1-11, Isaiah 62:1-12, Isaiah 63:1-19, Isaiah 64:1-12, Isaiah 65:1-25, Isaiah 66:1-24 was added by someone else later. These are critics who reject the idea that Isaiah could have prophesied so clearly about Christ. There is no clearer evidence for the unity of Isaiah, however than the testimony of Christ and the writers of the NT. They quote from all sections of Isaiah’s book and simply attribute it to Isaiah. (In John 12:37-41, Jesus quotes from Isaiah 53:1-12 and Isaiah 6:1-13 in the same breath, crediting the prophet with both statements, even joining the two passages by saying, "Isaiah said again..." (John 12:39).
Isaiah -- His Work
A main theme running through the Book is that God is sending either judgments or comforts, depending on how people respond to Him.
I. Visions of Judgment Isaiah 1:1-31, Isaiah 2:1-22, Isaiah 3:1-26, Isaiah 4:1-6, Isaiah 5:1-30, Isaiah 6:1-13, Isaiah 7:1-25, Isaiah 8:1-22, Isaiah 9:1-21, Isaiah 10:1-34, Isaiah 11:1-16, Isaiah 12:1-6, Isaiah 13:1-22, Isaiah 14:1-32, Isaiah 15:1-9, Isaiah 16:1-14, Isaiah 17:1-14, Isaiah 18:1-7, Isaiah 19:1-25, Isaiah 20:1-6, Isaiah 21:1-17, Isaiah 22:1-25, Isaiah 23:1-18, Isaiah 24:1-23, Isaiah 25:1-12, Isaiah 26:1-21, Isaiah 27:1-13, Isaiah 28:1-29, Isaiah 29:1-24, Isaiah 30:1-33, Isaiah 31:1-9, Isaiah 32:1-20, Isaiah 33:1-24, Isaiah 34:1-17, Isaiah 35:1-10, Isaiah 36:1-22, Isaiah 37:1-38, Isaiah 38:1-22, Isaiah 39:1-8 (39 number of books in OT)
A.The Denunciation of Judah and Jerusalem Isaiah 1:1-31, Isaiah 2:1-22, Isaiah 3:1-26, Isaiah 4:1-6, Isaiah 5:1-30, Isaiah 6:1-13, Isaiah 7:1-25, Isaiah 8:1-22, Isaiah 9:1-21, Isaiah 10:1-34, Isaiah 11:1-16, Isaiah 12:1-6 B.The Denunciation of foreign nations Isaiah 13:1-22, Isaiah 14:1-32, Isaiah 15:1-9, Isaiah 16:1-14, Isaiah 17:1-14, Isaiah 18:1-7, Isaiah 19:1-25, Isaiah 20:1-6, Isaiah 21:1-17, Isaiah 22:1-25, Isaiah 23:1-18, Isaiah 24:1-23, Isaiah 25:1-12, Isaiah 26:1-21, Isaiah 27:1-13 C.The Denunciation in "Woes" Isaiah 28:1-29, Isaiah 29:1-24, Isaiah 30:1-33, Isaiah 31:1-9, Isaiah 32:1-20, Isaiah 33:1-24, Isaiah 34:1-17, Isaiah 35:1-10 D.The Denunciation of Sennacherib Isaiah 36:1-22, Isaiah 37:1-38, Isaiah 38:1-22, Isaiah 39:1-8
II. Visions of Comfort Isaiah 40:1-31, Isaiah 41:1-29, Isaiah 42:1-25, Isaiah 43:1-28, Isaiah 44:1-28, Isaiah 45:1-25, Isaiah 46:1-13, Isaiah 47:1-15, Isaiah 48:1-22, Isaiah 49:1-26, Isaiah 50:1-11, Isaiah 51:1-23, Isaiah 52:1-15, Isaiah 53:1-12, Isaiah 54:1-17, Isaiah 55:1-13, Isaiah 56:1-12, Isaiah 57:1-21, Isaiah 58:1-14, Isaiah 59:1-21, Isaiah 60:1-22, Isaiah 61:1-11, Isaiah 62:1-12, Isaiah 63:1-19, Isaiah 64:1-12, Isaiah 65:1-25, Isaiah 66:1-24 (27 number of books in NT)
A.The Deliverance -- Isaiah 40:1-31, Isaiah 41:1-29, Isaiah 42:1-25, Isaiah 43:1-28, Isaiah 44:1-28, Isaiah 45:1-25, Isaiah 46:1-13, Isaiah 47:1-15, Isaiah 48:1-22 From impending Babylonian Captivity B.The Deliverer -- sa 49:1-26, Isaiah 50:1-11, Isaiah 51:1-23, Isaiah 52:1-15, Isaiah 53:1-12, Isaiah 54:1-17, Isaiah 55:1-13, Isaiah 56:1-12, Isaiah 57:1-21 The Lord’s suffering servant C.The Delivered --Isaiah 58:1-14, Isaiah 59:1-21, Isaiah 60:1-22, Isaiah 61:1-11, Isaiah 62:1-12, Isaiah 63:1-19, Isaiah 64:1-12, Isaiah 65:1-25, Isaiah 66:1-2458-66 The coming glory
[* Isaiah 36:1-22, Isaiah 37:1-38, Isaiah 38:1-22, Isaiah 39:1-8 is a historical narrative of some events in the reign of Hezekiah and the invasion of Sennacherib.] Isaiah -- His Message
The northern kingdom of Israel became immersed in idolatry and carnality and falls to Assyria in 722 BC. The threat of invasion from Assyria is real to Judah as well. Isaiah rebukes the nation’s leadership for looking to political alliances with Egypt and others for security instead of trusting in the Lord. Isaiah charges the people of Jerusalem with sin and impiety as the cause of their troubles. Social injustice was rampant in the land, with rich landowners exploiting the poor (Isaiah 5:8). Spiritual life was at a low ebb, with both priests and prophets flattering the wealthy in hope of gain (Isaiah 56:10-12); cf. Micah 3:11). Jerusalem itself was a boiling pot of political factions, intrigue, and corruption. The prophet pleaded for repentance and genuine reformation of life (Isaiah 1:16-17). Isaiah foretells of the captivity in Babylon but prophecies of deliverance and a coming glory. He looks beyond all the events of his own troubled time to the coming, suffering, and reign of the Messiah.
Isaiah -- The Messianic Prophet
Isaiah earns this title because he increased significantly the awareness of the coming Christ. Interlaced through his messages are glorious glimpses of one who will be the Redeemer of God’s people. A few are: 1.There is the prophecy of Immanuel’s birth to a virgin in Isaiah 7:14. The Apostle Matthew certifies this passage is fulfilled in the birth of jesus (Matthew 1:22-23). 2.The rejection of the Lord (Christ) as a "stone of stumbling" and "rock of offense" is predicted in Isaiah 8:13-14. See the Apostle Peter’s reference in 1 Peter 2:8; 1 Peter 3:14. 3.The benevolence and universality of the Messiah’s reign during the Christian age is vividly portrayed in Isaiah 11:1-11. Note how the Apostle Paul uses this in Romans 15:12. 4.The precious, tried, sure foundation corner-stone to be laid in Zion is viewed in Isaiah 28:16, and referred to on several occasions in the NT (Romans 9:33; 1 Peter 2:6). 5.In Isaiah 40:3-5 we have a preview of John the Baptist and his preparatory work for the One who came to reveal the "glory of the Lord" to "all flesh." (Note Matthew 3:3). 6.The Lord’s compassionate and just mission is stressed in Isaiah 42:1-4 (See Matthew 12:18-21). 7.Isaiah 53:1-12 is a veritable galaxy of prophecies pointing to the atoning work of the Savior and many details connected with it (Acts 8:32-35; John 12:38, etc.) SOME GREAT LESSONS
1.If God is GOD then he is able to see the end from the beginning and declare it to his prophets (Isaiah 46:9-10; Isaiah 48:5). To reject predictive prophecy which has been fulfilled clearly and in detail years after the prediction (and said by inspiration to be the fulfillment) is to reject GOD, and vice versa. 2.Sin and wickedness always brings God’s disfavor. 3.The Lord has always wanted his people to put their trust in Him and not in the forces of politics. 4.God’s great plan has been to redeem man from sin. The promise was given to people long ago and we can enjoy that redemption which is in Christ Jesus.
"THE SUFFERING SERVANT"
Isaiah 52:13-15; Isaiah 53:1-6
Introduction:
1.Isaiah gives an inspired picture of what God’s Son would look like, He is called "The Suffering Servant". 2.In the section we have three paragraphs, each giving us a different pose. It begins with "Behold"-- Stop!! look, see!
I.The Faithful Servant Isaiah 52:13-15 1.He volunteered to be a servant -- Php 2:7. 2.He was a faithful servant or steward. 3.He was an enthused servant -- John 2:17 4.He was prudent, and an exalted servant. Mark 16:19; Ephesians 1:22 5.A servant that would startle many. Mark 6:2 II.The Divine Sufferer Isaiah 53:1-3 1.A proverb of his background -- John 1:46 2.King without pomp -- cf. Acts 25:1-27 3.Undesired and despised. 4.Unreceived and rejected -- John 15:25; John 17:15 5.A Man of Holiness, acquainted with grief, without esteem.
III.The Sinless Substitute Isaiah 53:4-6 1.No other substitute fitting. 2.He was Immanuel, God manifested in the flesh. John 1:1-51; John 14:1-31 3.He took our place. 4.Beaten and insulted. 5.Bruised and crushed. 6. "God laid on him the iniquity of us all." 7.Cut off for our transgressions.
Conclusion:
1.Three paragraphs and three poses of Jesus our Savior. 2.All we like sheep have gone astray. 3.What do we see as we look at His picture?