OT Survey II Isaiah – Part II

“Story” of Isaiah 1-5 The setting: Sin, judgment, calls to repentance then “call” to distant nation (Assyria) 1-5 The setting: Sin, judgment, calls to repentance then “call” to distant nation (Assyria) 6 Isaiah’s call: The proper response to God’s holiness and impending judgment on sin 6 Isaiah’s call: The proper response to God’s holiness and impending judgment on sin {Whitespace between chapters 6 & 7} Israel and Syria’s response to God’s impending judgment {Whitespace between chapters 6 & 7} Israel and Syria’s response to God’s impending judgment 7:1-12 Ahaz’s response: Despite God’s promise, I’ll trust in the one sent to judge me! 7:1-12 Ahaz’s response: Despite God’s promise, I’ll trust in the one sent to judge me! 7:13 - 8:18 Result of Ahaz’s response: Israel/Syria will fail, and Assyria will devastate all of Judah except Jerusalem. 7:13 - 8:18 Result of Ahaz’s response: Israel/Syria will fail, and Assyria will devastate all of Judah except Jerusalem A better future: A coming ruler who will trust in Yahweh A better future: A coming ruler who will trust in Yahweh

“Story” of Isaiah (cont…) Oracles against the nations: Other nations not trustworthy because they too are going to be judged Oracles against the nations: Other nations not trustworthy because they too are going to be judged The Lesson: So, don’t trust in them! The Lesson: So, don’t trust in them! The Illustration: Hezekiah exemplifies trust, but unfortunately trusted in Babylon first The Illustration: Hezekiah exemplifies trust, but unfortunately trusted in Babylon first Return: God will send Cyrus to bring Israel home Return: God will send Cyrus to bring Israel home Redemption: God will send a suffering servant to bring Israel atonement for their sins Redemption: God will send a suffering servant to bring Israel atonement for their sins Restoration: God Himself as a conquering avenger will destroy rebels and restore justice Restoration: God Himself as a conquering avenger will destroy rebels and restore justice.

Structure “What makes these books [i.e., Jeremiah and some other prophetic books] particularly, and one might say needlessly, difficult is the very manner of their arrangement—or to be more accurate, their apparent lack of arrangement. The reader who meets them for the first time is likely to be quite at a loss. All seems confusion. There is no narrative for him to follow, nor can he trace any logical progression running through them and binding their parts together into a

Structure coherent whole. No sooner has he grasped a line of thought, and prided himself that he is following it tolerably well, than it breaks off and something quite different is being discussed. The impression he gains is one of extreme disarray; and one can scarcely blame him for concluding that he is reading a hopeless hodgepodge thrown together without any discernable principle of arrangement at all.” John Bright, Jeremiah, Anchor Bible, lvi. (quoted in Dorsey, Literary Structure of the Old Testament, 236).

Martin Luther on the Prophets [The prophets] have a queer way of talking, like people who, instead of proceeding in an orderly manner, ramble off from one thing to the next, so that you cannot make head or tail of them or see what they are getting at.

Chiasm C

Chiasm: Some Examples C “The last shall be first and the first last” “The last and the first last” shall be first “The last shall be first and the first last”

Chiasm: Some Examples C The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. “The heavens are telling of the glory of God the work of His hands is declaring their expanse”

Chiasm: Some Examples C Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed “Whoever sheds the blood of a man by man shall his blood be shed”

Chiasm in Esther Taken from: Gordon H. Johnston, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Gallows! Irony, Humor, and Other Literary Features of the Book of Esther,” in Giving the Sense: Understanding and Using Old Testament Historical Texts, p. 384

“Story” of Isaiah (cont…) Oracles against the nations: Other nations not trustworthy because they too are going to be judged Oracles against the nations: Other nations not trustworthy because they too are going to be judged The Lesson: So, don’t trust in them! The Lesson: So, don’t trust in them! The Illustration: Hezekiah exemplifies trust, but unfortunately trusted in Babylon first The Illustration: Hezekiah exemplifies trust, but unfortunately trusted in Babylon first Return: God will send Cyrus to bring Israel home Return: God will send Cyrus to bring Israel home Redemption: God will send a suffering servant to bring Israel atonement for their sins Redemption: God will send a suffering servant to bring Israel atonement for their sins Restoration: God Himself as a conquering avenger will destroy rebels and restore justice Restoration: God Himself as a conquering avenger will destroy rebels and restore justice.

Structure of Isaiah This material is modified from David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament: A Commentary on Genesis- Malachi. See pages

Structure of Isaiah 1-12: Introductory messages of condemnation, pleading, and future 1-12: Introductory messages of condemnation, pleading, and future restoration restoration 13-27: Oracles to nations: Humiliation of proud king of Babylon 13-27: Oracles to nations: Humiliation of proud king of Babylon Babylon Babylon 28-35: Collection of woes: Don’t trust in earthly powers! 28-35: Collection of woes: Don’t trust in earthly powers! 36-39: Historical narratives 36-39: Historical narratives 40-48: Yahweh’s supremacy over idols: Don’t trust in idols! 40-48: Yahweh’s supremacy over idols: Don’t trust in idols! 49-57: Servant messages: Exaltation of the humble servant 49-57: Servant messages: Exaltation of the humble servant 58-66: Concluding messages of condemnation, pleading, and future 58-66: Concluding messages of condemnation, pleading, and future restoration restoration

Structure of Isaiah 1-12: Introductory messages of condemnation, pleading, and future restoration : Oracles to nations: Humiliation of proud king of Babylon Babylon : Collection of woes: Don’t trust in earthly powers! : Historical narratives : Yahweh’s supremacy over idols: Don’t trust in idols! 9-57: Servant messages: Exaltation of the humble servant 58-66: Concluding messages of condemnation, pleading, and future restoration

Structure of Isaiah (cont…) At the beginning has a call to repentance and a promise of forgiveness (1:18) At the beginning has a call to repentance and a promise of forgiveness (1:18) Speaks of God hiding from them and not answering their prayers since their hands covered with blood (1:15) Speaks of God hiding from them and not answering their prayers since their hands covered with blood (1:15) “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb…and the lion shall eat straw like the ox…They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain” (11:6-9) “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb…and the lion shall eat straw like the ox…They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain” (11:6-9) [First Verse] “Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth; For the LORD speaks, "Sons I have reared and brought up, But they have revolted ( [vP ) against Me” [First Verse] “Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth; For the LORD speaks, "Sons I have reared and brought up, But they have revolted ( [vP ) against Me” Isaiah 1-12Isaiah At the beginning has a call to repentance and a promise of forgiveness (55:1, 7) At the beginning has a call to repentance and a promise of forgiveness (55:1, 7) Speaks of God hiding from them and not answering their prayers since their hands are defiled by blood (59:1-3) Speaks of God hiding from them and not answering their prayers since their hands are defiled by blood (59:1-3) The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox…They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain (65:25) The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox…They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain (65:25) [Last Verse] Then they shall go forth and look On the corpses of the men Who have transgressed ( [vP ) against Me. For their worm shall not die, And their fire shall not be quenched; And they shall be an abhorrence to all mankind. [Last Verse] Then they shall go forth and look On the corpses of the men Who have transgressed ( [vP ) against Me. For their worm shall not die, And their fire shall not be quenched; And they shall be an abhorrence to all mankind.

Structure of Isaiah (cont…) 1-12: Introductory messages of condemnation, pleading, and future restoration : Oracles to nations: Humiliation of proud king of Babylon Babylon : Collection of woes: Don’t trust in earthly powers! : Historical narratives : Yahweh’s supremacy over idols: Don’t trust in idols! 9-57: Servant messages: Exaltation of the humble servant 58-66: Concluding messages of condemnation, pleading, and future restoration

Structure of Isaiah (cont…) King of Babylon (KOB) vs. Suffering Servant (SS) KOB smote peoples (14:6); SS was smitten (53:4-5, 10) KOB smote peoples (14:6); SS was smitten (53:4-5, 10) KOB oppressed peoples; SS was oppressed (53:7-8) KOB oppressed peoples; SS was oppressed (53:7-8) KOB is wicked (14:5), filled with pomp and splendor (14:11), and is feared by all (14:16); SS is righteous (53:11), has no form or comeliness (53:2), and is despised and not esteemed (53:3) KOB is wicked (14:5), filled with pomp and splendor (14:11), and is feared by all (14:16); SS is righteous (53:11), has no form or comeliness (53:2), and is despised and not esteemed (53:3) KOB begins with high aspirations (14:13-14) but is brought down to Sheol (14:15); SS begins in humility (53:2) but is later highly exalted (52:13) KOB begins with high aspirations (14:13-14) but is brought down to Sheol (14:15); SS begins in humility (53:2) but is later highly exalted (52:13) KOB dies and his life is over (14:18-20); SS dies but shall prolong his life and even later have great reward (53:10-12) KOB dies and his life is over (14:18-20); SS dies but shall prolong his life and even later have great reward (53:10-12) Seed of KOB will be cut off (14:20-22); SS is cut off but will see his seed (53:8-10) Seed of KOB will be cut off (14:20-22); SS is cut off but will see his seed (53:8-10) Neither buried in own tomb, but KOB cast out (14:18-20) whereas SS buried in tomb of rich (53:9) Neither buried in own tomb, but KOB cast out (14:18-20) whereas SS buried in tomb of rich (53:9) Dead kings of earth arise to meet KOB then mock him (14:9-20); Kings of earth see servant, arise and bow down before him (49:7) Dead kings of earth arise to meet KOB then mock him (14:9-20); Kings of earth see servant, arise and bow down before him (49:7)

Structure of Isaiah (cont…) 1-12: Introductory messages of condemnation, pleading, and future restoration : Oracles to nations: Humiliation of proud king of Babylon Babylon : Collection of woes: Don’t trust in earthly powers! : Historical narratives : Yahweh’s supremacy over idols: Don’t trust in idols! 9-54: Servant messages: Exaltation of the humble servant 55-66: Concluding messages of condemnation, pleading, and future restoration

Structure of Isaiah (cont…) Historical Narrative (36-39) a Arrival of the hostile Assyrian emissary Assyrian Assyrian king sends envoy to Hezekiah with threatening msg & army Hezekiah Hezekiah does not receive them into the city or give them a reply b Hezekiah’s distress and appeal to Yahweh for help Begins: Begins: Hezekiah hears bad news of Assyrian message Hezekiah Hezekiah asks Isaiah to pray to Yahweh for help Isaiah Isaiah reassures Hezekiah that Yahweh will deliver him from king c Sennacherib’s blasphemous message: Yahweh can’t deliver you! d Hezekiah’s prayer to Yahweh: “Save us…that all may know that you alone, Yahweh, are God. c’ Yahweh’s response to Sennacherib: Yahweh delivers Jerusalem! b Hezekiah’s sickness and appeal to Yahweh for help Begins: Begins: Hezekiah hears bad news of his approaching death Hezekiah Hezekiah prays directly to Yahweh for help Isaiah Isaiah reassures Hezekiah that Yahweh will deliver him from king and add 15 years of life a Arrival of the friendly Babylonian emissaries (irony!) Babylonian Babylonian king sends envoys to Hezekiah with peacefull msg & gift Hezekiah Hezekiah welcomes them into the city and shows them all his treasures.

Major Themes The holiness of Yahweh The holiness of Yahweh “Holy” (or some form of this word) used 68 times in 66 chapters “Holy” (or some form of this word) used 68 times in 66 chapters “Holy one of Israel” used 25 times, only 6 other times in all of OT (once by Isaiah himself, 2 in Jeremiah, 3 in Psalms) “Holy one of Israel” used 25 times, only 6 other times in all of OT (once by Isaiah himself, 2 in Jeremiah, 3 in Psalms) On the one hand, His holiness bespeaks His separation from sin (Isaiah 6!, e.g.) On the one hand, His holiness bespeaks His separation from sin (Isaiah 6!, e.g.) On the other hand, His holiness bespeaks His separation from all creation. He is different from and greater than all nations or idols, so His people should trust in HIM! On the other hand, His holiness bespeaks His separation from all creation. He is different from and greater than all nations or idols, so His people should trust in HIM!

Major Themes (cont…) The salvation (=deliverance) of Yahweh The salvation (=deliverance) of Yahweh “Isaiah” means Yahweh is salvation “Isaiah” means Yahweh is salvation Deliverance offered to Ahaz (7) Deliverance offered to Ahaz (7) Deliverance from Sennacherib for Hezekiah (37) Deliverance from Sennacherib for Hezekiah (37) Deliverance from exile through Cyrus (40-48) Deliverance from exile through Cyrus (40-48) Deliverance from sin from suffering servant (49-57) Deliverance from sin from suffering servant (49-57) Deliverance from sinners through conqueror (58-66) Deliverance from sinners through conqueror (58-66) Deliverance for Gentiles (e.g., 11:10; 19:21-25)! Deliverance for Gentiles (e.g., 11:10; 19:21-25)! Jerusalem (Zion) Jerusalem (Zion) The center of God’s future kingdom (2:1-4; 4; 66:20-24) The center of God’s future kingdom (2:1-4; 4; 66:20-24) The location of the spared remnant (1:8; 10:20-34; 36-37; cf. 8:8) The location of the spared remnant (1:8; 10:20-34; 36-37; cf. 8:8)

Major Themes (cont…) The sinfulness of Judah (e.g., 1; 3; 5; 49; 56; 58-59) The sinfulness of Judah (e.g., 1; 3; 5; 49; 56; 58-59) The Sovereignty of Yahweh The Sovereignty of Yahweh Ability to declare things yet future (41:21-23; 42:9; 44:6-8; 45:21; 46:9-11) Ability to declare things yet future (41:21-23; 42:9; 44:6-8; 45:21; 46:9-11) Ability to declare things from/in the past (41:21- 23; 43:9; 44:6-8; 48:3) Ability to declare things from/in the past (41:21- 23; 43:9; 44:6-8; 48:3) Trusting in Yahweh and no one else Trusting in Yahweh and no one else Other nations Other nations Other gods Other gods

Purpose Statement As the holy God, Yahweh must punish those who rebel against Him. In addition, as the holy God, He is also—unlike the nations and other, false gods—able and willing to save those who trust in Him. As the holy God, Yahweh must punish those who rebel against Him. In addition, as the holy God, He is also—unlike the nations and other, false gods—able and willing to save those who trust in Him.

Interpretive Issues Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel Isaiah 65:17; 66:22 – New heavens and new earth.

Next Week Jeremiah and Lamentations