Isaiah Prophet of Judgment, Hope, & Renewal

Who Was Isaiah? From the Priestly/Royal Family? –Jewish tradition makes Isaiah a relative of Uzziah.

Who Was Isaiah? Family –Married to a prophetess (8:3)? –Two sons: Shear-Jashub (“A remnant shall return”—7:3) Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz (“Speed spoil, hasten prey"—8:3)

When Did He Preach? 740 BC, “Year of Uzziah’s death” (6:1) BC, Syro-Ephraimite War (7- 8) 701 BC, Sennacherib Crisis (36-37)

Structure & Unity Isaiah 1-39Is Is Audience8 th centuryExileJudah ThemesJudgment Remnant Messiah Trust Comfort Deliverance Redemption Repent Idolatry Sabbath Historical References Isaiah, Uzziah, Ahaz, Hezek., Sennacherib, Isaiah’s sons CyrusNone

The Message of Isaiah God’s Holiness –“Holy One of Israel” = qadosh yisra’el (25 of 31 uses)

The Message of Isaiah Isaiah 6:1-4 –In the same year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a grand throne way up high with a flowing cape that filled the whole temple. Bright flaming creatures waited on Him. Each had six wings: two covering its face, two covering its feet, and two for flying. Like some fiery choir, they would call back and forth continually. –Flaming Creatures: Holy, holy, holy is the Eternal, the Commander of heavenly armies! The earth is filled with His glorious presence! –They were so loud that the doorframes shook, and the holy house kept filling with smoke.

The Message of Isaiah Israel’s Sin & the Coming Judgment –Isaiah 1:2-3 Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth! For the LORD has spoken: “I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” (NIV)

The Message of Isaiah

Israel’s Sin & the Coming Judgment –“Justice” and “righteousness” See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her—but now murderers (Is 1:21 NIV)

The Message of Isaiah Israel’s Sin & the Coming Judgment –“Justice” and “righteousness” For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he 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. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. (Is 9:6-7 NIV)

The Message of Isaiah Coming Judgment and Peace –A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. –The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD—and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. –Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. (Is 11:1-5 NIV)

The Message of Isaiah

Trust in the LORD (Is. 7-8) –Historical vs. doctrinal meaning

Micah What does God Require?

Micah: Who was he? His name ( מִיכָה ֙ = Micah) –“Who is like Yahweh?” From Moresheth Moresheth

Micah When did he preach? –Jotham, Ahaz, & Hezekiah— –Jeremiah 26:18 “Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. He told all the people of Judah, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: “‘Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets.’” (NIV)

Micah What was his message? –Judgment is coming. Why? Sin, rebellion, iniquity –A remnant will survive

The Book of Micah I. 1:1Superscription II. 1:2-2:13Judgment & Hope III. 3:1-5:15Judgment & Hope IV. 6:1-7:20Judgment & Hope

Micah Micah 5:2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

Micah Micah 6:6-8 With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? act justly love mercy To act justly and to love mercy walk humbly and to walk humbly with your God.

“To say that God requires ultimately nothing that man can bring does not mean that men ought not to worship Him. Worship is necessary for man, because it is the outward expression of true humility before God, of that humble trust which is essential. It is when worship ceases to be this that it is a hindrance and not a help; so long as it is the outcome of true and humble conscious devotion to God, it can and does strengthen those bonds which bind God and man together through Christ. Worship is also necessary because a man should be full of praise and thankfulness to God; but as soon as the aim of hymns and songs and music generally becomes aesthetic, it is the time to beware.” --Norman Snaith