1. Celebrating the Servant-Savior
The Gospel of Isaiah
Jason S. DeRouchie, PhD
Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Theology
Bethlehem College & Seminary
Bethlehem Baptist Church, 2017

2. The Old Testament Prophets Wrote for Our Instruction
Rom 15:4. For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Cf. Ps 69:9)
1 Cor 10:11. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

3. 1 Pet 1:10–12. Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

4. 1 Pet 1:10–12. Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

5. Isaiah’s Book Was for Us, Not for His Contemporaries
The spiritual disability of Isaiah’s contemporaries:
Isa 42:20. He sees many things, but does not observe them; his ears are open, but he does not hear.
Isa 43:8. Bring out the people who are blind, yet have eyes, who are deaf, yet have ears!
Isa 44:18. They know not, nor do they discern, for he has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand.

6. Isaiah’s mission of judgment:
Isa 6:9–10.  And [the LORD] said, “Go, and say to this people: “‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ 10 Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”
Mark 4:11–12. And [Jesus] said to [his disciples], “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, 12 so that “‘they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.’”

7. Isaiah’s contemporaries could not read his book.
Isa 29:9–11. Astonish yourselves and be astonished; blind yourselves and be blind! For the LORD has poured out upon you a spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes (the prophets), and covered your heads (the seers). 11 And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed. When men give it to one who can read, saying, “Read this,” he says, “I cannot, for it is sealed.”
Rom 11:7–8. Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, 8 as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.”

8. Isaiah’s book was for future generations that would see and hear:
Isa 29:18–19. In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see. 19 The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD, and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.
Isa 30:8, 20–21. And now, go, write it before them on a tablet and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever…. Your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ”This is the way, walk in it.”

9. Isaiah’s book was for future generations that would see and hear:
Isa 29:18–19. In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see. 19 The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD, and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.
Isa 30:8, 20–21. And now, go, write it before them on a tablet and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever…. Your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ”This is the way, walk in it.”
Question: When would blindness and deafness be overcome?

10. Isaiah’s book was for future generations that would see and hear:
Isa 29:18–19. In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see. 19 The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD, and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.
Isa 30:8, 20–21. And now, go, write it before them on a tablet and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever…. Your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ”This is the way, walk in it.”
Question: When would blindness and deafness be overcome?

11. When would eyes see and ears hear?
Isa 2:2–3. It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, 3 and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

12. Isa 54:2–3, 7–8, 10, 13. “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. 3 For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities…. 7 For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. 8 In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD, your Redeemer…. 10 “For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you…. 13 “All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.”

13. Eyes would see and ears here in the days of the royal servant.
Isa 42:1, 4, 6–7. Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations…. 4 He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law…. 6 I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, 7 to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.

14. Isa 51:4–5. Give attention to me, my people, and give ear to me, my nation; for a law will go out from me, and I will set my justice for a light to the peoples. 5 My righteousness draws near, my salvation has gone out, and my arms will judge the peoples; the coastlands hope for me, and for my arm they wait.

15. Jesus is the royal servant through whom eyes see and ears here.
John 6:44–45.  No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets, “And they will all be taught by God.” Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. (Cf. Isa 54:13)
Luke 4:18–19.  The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. (Cf. Isa 61:1)

16. Matt 4:13–17. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Cf. Isa 9:1–2)

17. Isaiah’s Book Was for Us, Who See and Hear
Isa 29:18–19. In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see. 19 The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD, and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.
Isa 30:8, 20–21. And now, go, write it before them on a tablet and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever…. Your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ”This is the way, walk in it.”