THE BOOK OF ISAIAH

INTRODUCTION:

1.TITLE / AUTHOR: ISAIAH (1:1), means “Salvation is of the Lord.”

2.DATE: Isaiah’s work extended from 740 BC to 700 BC.

3.He was a prophet to Pre-Exile Judah, at the time the Northern Nation of Israel was destroyed - 1:1,8,21,26,27.

4.Background for his work is 2Kg 15-20; 2Chapters 26-32.

5.For 150 years before Isaiah the Assyrian Empire had been absorbing other nations.

6.As early as 840 BC Israel had begun to pay tribute to Assyria.

7.Then, while Isaiah was still a young man, Assyria carried away the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 734 BC.

8.Thirteen years later, 721 BC, the Capital City Samaria fell, and the rest of Israel was carried away.

9.A few years later, Assyria invaded Judah and took 200,000 captives.

10.In 701 BC, when Isaiah was an old man, The Assyrian Army was stopped at the walls of Jerusalem.

11.Thus Isaiah lived his whole life under the shadow of the Assyrian threat, and saw the ruin of most of his Nation of Judah at their hands.

12.After Israel was destroyed, Isaiah was inspired of God to warn Judah of judgment to come, not by Assyria, but by Babylonia, even though Babylonia had not yet risen to power.

13.He warned the kings against trusting in alliances with the enemy neighbors instead of trusting God’s power.

14.He foretold the captivity of Judah in Babylon, but prophesied their restoration to the Promised Land.

15.He looked beyond his own times to the coming of the Messiah (about 700 years later), to His suffering, and His reign.

16.Isaiah spent most of his time in Jerusalem. Tradition says he was included in the martyrdom mentioned in Heb 11:37.

1.JUDGMENT OF GOD -- CHAPTERS 1-39: HOLINESS OF GOD / RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD / AND JUSTICE OF GOD.

A.ISAIAH is like a miniature (or condensed) Bible.

1.The Bible: 66 Books -- ISAIAH: 66 Chapters.

2.The Old Testament: 39 Books -- ISAIAH: 39 Chapters in his earlier discussion of the Law And Government Of God.

3.The New Testament: 27 Books -- ISAIAH: 27 Chapters in his later discussion of the Grace And Salvation Of God.

B.This first section (Chapters 1-39) pronounces judgment on the immoral and idolatrous people, beginning with Judah; Then it reaches out to the nations surrounding Judah, And finally to the whole world -- Sin ultimately leads to punishment; Judgment has to come.

C.In this section Isaiah sees God’s Government and speaks of it as
“a throne,” 6:1.

D.So he begins his two-fold message of Condemnation and Consolation by analyzing the sins of Judah and pronouncing God’s judgment -- showing man’s need for salvation.

E.For Judah, this is THE ASSYRIAN PERIOD: CONFLICT AND
VICTORY.

F.Chapters 1-35, Prophecies Relating To The Nations.

1.Chapters 1-12, The first prophecies center in Jerusalem and Judah.

a.Chapter 1, This Chapter is the BOOK condensed. Judah is
sick with moral and spiritual disease -- The whole nation is
arraigned for their various sins, but God invites them to repent and return to Him as their only Hope.

1)1:16-17, God through Isaiah pleaded for repentance and
reformation.

2)1:19-20: He warned of the fateful consequences if they made the wrong choice.

b.Chapters 2-5, The devastation Judah would experience
because of those sins is alternately contrasted with the
blessed reign of the future Messiah.

c.Chapter 6, Isaiah told about his call and commission from God.

1)6:1, He was called in the year Uzziah (Azariah) died, which was 740 BC - 2Kg 15:1-7; 2Ch 26:16-23.

2)6:5,8, The vision made Isaiah realize his unworthiness, but gave him urgency to the great work.

d.Chapters 7-12, The “Book Of Immanuel” promises the coming Messiah. Mixed with Messianic prophecies are warnings of the coming invasion of Israel, and promises of restoration in the Messianic Kingdom, which was then still future.

NOTE: The following five points concerning 7:14, and the question, “Does Isaiah predict the virgin birth?” are from an Unknown Author:

1.A great deal of controversy began to swirl when the Revised Standard Version of the Old Testament was published in 1952.

a.Isa 7:14 in the King James and American Standard Versions speaks of a “virgin” conceiving and bearing a son.

b.In the Revised Standard Version the text reads “young woman,” with “virgin” as an alternate reading contained in a footnote.

2.Liberals deny the phenomenon of predictive prophecy in Scripture; conservatives are found who argue for either a double or single fulfillment of Isa 7:14.

a.Some claim that the prophet foresaw two births -- one in his own day (a non-virgin birth) and one later in history (the virgin birth of Christ); these favor the Revised Standard Version reading.

b.Others insist that Isaiah spoke exclusively of the Messiah’s virgin birth; these favor the King James Version, American Standard Version, and New International Version renderings.

3.In my judgment, the text specifies a “virgin” and is best interpreted as having a single fulfillment in the conception and birth of Jesus Christ.

a.The word in question (Hebrew ‘almah) seems always to refer to an unmarried woman. Cf Gen 24:43; Ex 2:8; Psa 68:25; Pro 30:19; Song of Sol 1:3; 6:8.

b.Bethulah, another Hebrew word translated “maiden” or “virgin,” can refer to a married woman (Joel 1:8); thus only ‘almah could have made it evident that the mother was unmarried.

c.Thus the unmarried woman of Isa 7:14 was either a virgin or a fornicator, and there is no evidence that the latter would have been employed as a “sign” to Ahaz.

d.Ahaz was pointed forward to a birth to occur 700 years later, and the immediate promise to him was that, in the short
length of time it would take such a son to pass through his childhood (Isa 7:15-16), the two kings threatening him would
be devastated.

4.The Septuagint translators (third century BC) understood the text to refer to a virgin and translated with a very specific Greek word, parthenos.

5.That Isa 7:14 pointed ultimately to the birth of Jesus is stated at Mt 1:23.

(F.Chapters 1-35, continued):

2.Chapters 13-27b, Prophecies Of Judgment Against Nations.

a.Chapters 13-23, A series of pronouncements of judgment against eleven Gentile nations: Babylonia, Philistia, Moab,
Damascus, Egypt, Desert of Sea; Edom, Arabia, Valley of
Vision, Tyre.

b.Chapters 24-27, General prophecies about Heaven’s judgment of the whole earth, and the deliverance of God’s people.

3.Chapters 28-33, Warnings; Here are six “Woes” on Jerusalem and Judah for specific sins.

a.Judah is especially warned to trust the Lord rather than an
alliance with Egypt.

b.The prospect of joy for those who seek the Lord in
righteousness.

4.Chapters 34-35, Picture of God’s vengeance upon the nations and upon Edom; Universal blessing in the Way of Holiness.

G.Chapters 36-39, Historical Section (Sometimes called the “Historical Bridge” Of The Book of ISAIAH).

1.The early part of the BOOK relates to the Assyrian period of dominance; This interlude bridges over to the latter section’s predictions about Babylon, the new world-power coming on the scene.

2.Chapters 36-37, Jerusalem delivered from captivity by Assyria.

a.36:1-22, Sennacherib invaded Judah in 701 BC, and threatened Jerusalem - cf 2Kg 18:13-37; 2Ch 32.

b.37:1-5, Hezekiah sent for Isaiah.

c.37:6-35, Isaiah promised deliverance in the Name of the Lord.

d.37:36-38, An angel of God destroyed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers.

3.Chapter 38, Hezekiah’s life was lengthened.

a.God answered Hezekiah’s prayers and delivered Judah from Assyrian destruction.

b.He also granted a 15-year extension of Hezekiah’s life.

4.Chapter 39, Hezekiah foolishly showed all the national treasures of Judah to Babylonian messengers; Isaiah told him that the Babylonians one day would carry his treasures and his descendants to their Land of Babylon.

2.COMFORT OF GOD -- CHAPTERS 40-66: GRACE OF GOD / COMPASSION OF GOD / AND GLORY OF GOD.

A.Remember that ISAIAH is like a miniature or condensed Bible.

1.The Bible: 66 Books -- ISAIAH: 66 Chapters.

2.The Old Testament: 39 Books -- ISAIAH: 39 Chapters in his earlier discussion of the Law And Government Of God.

3.The New Testament: 27 Books -- ISAIAH: 27 Chapters in his later discussion of the Grace And Salvation Of God (Beginning here at Chapter 40).

B.Liberal scholars question the unity of the Book because of a break in tone here; They suggest there were two authors of the BOOK.

1.One reason for the challenge of the liberals: Aversion to the
possibility of inspired prophecy (supernatural prediction).

2.But it is simple to see that the break is due to a change in theme
in the Book, not a change of authors; Single authorship has been adequately vindicated.

3.The New Testament treats the entire Book as a unit with one author - Mt 3:3 (see Isa 40:3); 8:17 (see Isa 53:4); 12:17-21 (see Isa 42:1-4); 13:14-15 (see Isa 6:9-10); Jn 12:38-41 (see Isa 53:1; 6:10); etc. -- There were NOT two Isaiahs, according to the Bible!

C.After the Judgment Section and the Historical Parenthesis, Isaiah’s message of future salvation now consoles and comforts the people; This is HOPE FOR TROUBLED TIMES - 40:1-5.

D.In this section Isaiah sees God’s Grace: “A LAMB” - 53:7.

1.God is seen as Supreme Ruler, Sovereign Lord of History, and The Only Savior.

2.God’s Glory-Compassion-Grace in these 27 Chapters corresponds to His Glory-Compassion-Grace in the 27 NT Books.

3.Isaiah shows the Messiah, Who was then yet to come, as a Savior to bear a cross; And as a Sovereign to wear a crown.

a.He would bear God’s judgment for sin (Christ did); It is He who provides hope for both Jew and Gentile.

b.Thus God would remain faithful to His Covenant, and He would do this through the coming Messiah.

4.The Creator is contrasted with idols made by men; His Character is Judah’s assurance of future restoration from captivity.

5.The twenty-seven chapters are in three groups of nine chapters each -- And each group ends with the same solemn thought - 48:22; 57:21; 66:24.

6.The 53rd is at the center of the twenty-seven chapters, and is the middle chapter of the middle set of nine chapters (note the center verse, Verse 6) -- THE LAMB is central to all the Bible.

E.Chapter 40, An Introduction; The Incomparable Greatness of
Jehovah; The basis of all people’s hope is the Sovereignty and
Majesty of God - Verses 10-12,22,25-26,28-29,31.

F.Chapters 41-48, Contest Between Jehovah And The Idols;
SUPREMACY Of Jehovah Emphasized.

1.Jehovah confronts the idols and idolaters; He is victorious.

2.Of the 216 verses in these nine Chapters, 115 verses speak of God’s greatness and power.

3.44:28 and 45:1 name CYRUS (King of Persia - Ezra 1:1-3) as the one who would bring about the rebuilding of the temple; This was written about 150 years BEFORE the event! -- This is Inspiration!

G.Chapters 49-57, Glory of Zion; SERVANT Of Jehovah Emphasized.

1.Chapters 49-53, Beyond restoration to their homeland, Isaiah pointed to spiritual deliverance to come through the Suffering
Servant.

2.Chapters 54-57, The glory that would accompany the Messiah’s great work.

3.The New Testament applies this material (especially Chapter
53) to the saving work of The Messiah - Ac 8:32-35; Heb 9:28; 1Pe 2:22-25.

H.Chapters 58-66, Redemption Realized; CHALLENGE of Jehovah Emphasized. Comfort from the assurance that all who acknowledge their sins and trust in Him will be delivered - See: 59:20; 61:1-2; 62:2; 66:22-23.

**CONTRIBUTION OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH TO THE BIBLE:

1.ISAIAH is quoted in the New Testament far more than any other prophet.

2.There are sixty-six (66!) direct quotations in the New Testament; Isaiah is mentioned twenty-one times by name in the New
Testament.

3.The entire BOOK is seen in a parallel in the Book of REVELATION:

a.Rev 4: THRONE is unveiled; Rev 5: LAMB is on the throne.

b.Isa 1-39: See the THRONE; Isa 40-66: LAMB is on the throne.

**CHRIST IN THE BOOK OF ISAIAH:

1.Isaiah’s Messianic Prophecies are clearer and more explicit than those in any other Old Testament Book.

2.Isaiah is often called “The Messianic Prophet” - cf Jn 12:41.

3.A few of the many prophecies in ISAIAH that find their direct fulfillment in Jesus of Nazareth:

a.His virgin conception - 7:14.

b.Galilee the scene of His ministry - 9:1-2.

c.His rule over Gentiles - 2:2-3; 42:1,6; 49:6; 55:4-5; 56:6; 60:3-5.

d.His justice and kindness - 42:3-4,7.

e.His Deity and the Eternity of His Throne - 9:6-7.

f.God’s people were to be called by a new name - 62:2; 65:15;
Ac 11:26; 26:28; 1Pe 4:16.

g.This Center of Comfort Section shows His saving work - 52:
13-53:12.

h.He is THE SERVANT, perhaps in many passages, but without question in these: 42:1-7; 49:5-6; 5:4-10; 52:13-53:12.

**ISAIAH IN SIX WORDS:

Judgment Of God; Comfort Of God.

**CONCLUSION:

1.Isaiah was a prophet; The purpose of the prophets’ work was to try to save the nation from idolatry and wickedness - 2Kg 17:13 (“Shape up!”).

2.Failing to get the people to do right, their work was to announce that the Nation will be destroyed - cf Amos 4:12 (“Or ship out!”).

a.But they would not be completely destroyed -- A remnant would be saved.

b.From that remnant would come a Descendant of David Who would bless all nations.

3.The Old Testament shows the sinfulness of sin, Isa 1-39 - cf Gal 3:18-24.

4.The New Testament shows salvation from sin, Isa 40-66 - cf Gal 3:25-29.

5.God’s Words still ring with truth and compassion - Isa 1:18.