SESSION 7B: ISAIAH

QUIZ Question: What is one thing in common between Joshua, Isaiah and Hosea? Answer: Their names can all be translated “The Lord Saves.”

1. SOME THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ISAIAH –I–It is the 2 nd largest book after Psalms. –1–19 books of Isaiah are discovered in the Qumran Caves. –T–There are more than 400 quotations from Isaiah in the New Testament. –I–It is the centerpiece of the Prophetic Literature.

a.Someone said that Isaiah is like a miniature B BB Bible. i.The first chapters are filled with judgment upon immoral and idolatrous people. ii.In contrast, the final 27 chapters declare a message of hope.

a.Isaiah has always been considered the greatest of the literary prophets. Shakespeare i.He is often known also as the “Shakespeare of the prophets.” ii.And because of his incredibly clear and detailed messianic prophecies he was also called: evangelist 1.The evangelist of the Old Testament or evangelical 2.The “evangelical prophet.” 1. SOME THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ISAIAH

a.Isaiah was prophet par excellence of the classical era of prophecy. saiah is often respected as the “St Paul of the Old Testament.”

a. The Person of Isaiah i.His Name “Yahweh is Salvation” or “Yahweh saves.” 1.The name Isaiah means, “Yahweh is Salvation” or “Yahweh saves.” 2. BACKGROUND & DATE

2. BACKGROUND & DATE i.His Family Amoz 1.Isaiah the son of Amoz. 2.According to Jewish tradition, Amoz’s was a brother of King Amaziah of Judah ( BC). This would make Isaiah a cousin to King Uzziah and therefore a person of royal descent. 3.As with Hosea, Isaiah’s family life was bound up with his prophetic ministry.

3. SURVEY OF THE BOOK chronological a.The general arrangement of the book of Isaiah appears to be chronological as all the dates mentioned occur in historical sequence

3. SURVEY OF THE BOOK b.The book can also be an anthology of Isaiah’s oracles, collected by the prophet himself and perhaps some of his close disciples (cf. 8:16; 50:4; 54:13). c.The “gospel according to Isaiah” has three major sections: UDGMENT i.Prophecies of condemnation (1-35): JUDGMENT ii.Historical parenthesis (36-39) EDEMPTION iii.Prophecies of comfort (40-66): REDEMPTION

FOCUSPROPHECIES OF CONDEMNATION HISTORICAL PARENTHESI S PROPHECIES OF COMFORT REFERENCE1:113:124:128:136:140:149:1 58:1- 66:24 DIVISION PROPHECIES AGAINST PROPHECIES OF HEZEKIAH’S SALVATION, SICKNESS, AND SIN ISRAEL’S DELIVERA NCE ISRAEL’ S DELIVE RER ISRAEL ’S GLORIO US FUTUR E JUD AH THE NATIO NS THE DAY OF THE LORD JUDGME NT & BLESSIN G MESSIANIC STYLEPROPHETICHISTORICMESSIANIC TOPICJUDGMENTTRANSITIONHOPE LOCATIONJUDAH-ISRAEL TIME BC

4gi. Basis of hope: the sovereignty and majesty of God (40-48) Of the 216 verses in these 9 chapters, 115 speak of God’s greatness and power. Cyrus 2.God’s newest miracle is to employ a pagan for redemption: Naming of Cyrus as deliverer (41:2a, 25; 43:14; 44:24-28; 45:1-5; 13; 46:11; 48:14-15).

2. THE KEY PEOPLE AND THEME IN ISAIAH a.God: “The Holy One of Israel” (1:3-4)

b.Israel

c. Jerusalem

d.Assyria

e.Babylon

2. THE KEY PEOPLE AND THEME IN ISAIAH f.Isaiah: An Example of the Obedient Israel

g.Cyrus: The Political Earthly yet Pagan Savior i.A foreshadow of the real Servant whose portrait (52:13-53:12) is a striking contrast to Cyrus.

h.The Messiah

i.The Final Restoration: The Day of Redemption (2:2-4).

j.Universalism