The Major Prophets

Lesson 3

 

                                                                 MEET ISAIAH

                                            The Life, Times and Work of the Prophet

 

 

1.                  “The prince of the prophets”

a.                   The wonderful writer of the beautiful book (8:1; 30:8)

b.                  The N.T. cites him by name 21 times, and quotes or refers to the book 308 times

i.                    Saw the glory of Christ and spoke of him (Jn. 12:37-41)

ii.                  So bold in what he said of the people (Rom. 10:20-21)

iii.                Straightforward about the problems, sure about the promises

c.                   Has been called “the Gospel according to Isaiah”

 

2.                  A man who says little about himself

a.                   Name means “the LORD is salvation”

b.                  The son of Amoz (37:2; 1:1; 2:1; etc.)

c.                   Married and had at least two children (7:3; 8:3, 18)

d.                  Present in Jerusalem speaking to kings (7:3; 37:21)

e.                   Active from at least 740 (6:1) to 681 B.C. (37:38)

f.                   Contemporary of Amos, Hosea and Micah

g.                  Tradition and Hebrews 11:37

 

3.                  Consequential times for Judah and Jerusalem

 

a.                   His prophetic work extended through the reigns of four kings (1:1)

i.                    Uzziah, 791-739 B.C.– 52 years of prosperity, but grew proud and became a leper (2 Chron. 26)

ii.                  Jotham, 750-735/730 B.C.– did what was right for 16 years, but the people practiced corruption and enemies began to arise (2 Chron. 27:2; 2 Kings 15:37)

iii.                Ahaz, 735/730-715 B.C.– ruled 16 years like the kings of Israel, and engaged in idolatry even to the burning of his son as an offering, becoming still more faithless in time of distress (2 Chron. 28:1-4, 22; 2 Kings 16:1f)

iv.                Hezekiah, 715-687/686 B.C.– reigned 29 years and did what was right, but acted unwisely in showing future enemies all his house (2 Chron. 29-32; 2 Kings 18-20)

 

b.                  The major events mentioned show the times shaping up

i.                    The call of Isaiah in Uzziah’s last year, 740 (6:1)

ii.                  Rezin of Syria and Pekah of Israel come up against Ahaz of Judah, 734 (7:1)

iii.                Sargon of Assyria invades, threatening the area, 711 (20:1)

 

iv.                Sennacherib takes the fortified cities of Judah and surrounds Jerusalem, 701 (36-37)

v.                  Merodach-baladan of Babylon sends envoys to Hezekiah, who welcomes them, c. 700 (39)

 

c.                   Isaiah: center stage at a critical time in the nation’s history

i.                    A militant Assyrian empire rising to power in the east

ii.                  The Northern Kingdom in turmoil and would fall in 721

iii.                The prophet could see the same sin and faithlessness in Judah

iv.                His land was being sandwiched between the ascending Assyria and a declining Egypt

v.                  Leaders were inclined to form alliances for security at the moment, while even worse threats in the future were looming on the horizon.

vi.                The question for Judah: in whom, or in what, to trust?

(1)               Isaiah 7:2

(2)               Isaiah 12:2-3

vii.              The prophet’s people needed to learn “the LORD is salvation!”

 

4.                  The prophet’s writing addresses three historical settings

 

a.                   In his own time, the dominating power of Assyria had to be met with respect for God’s sovereignty and with humble trust in him(1-39; cf. esp. 10:5).

 

b.                  But the hints of coming Babylonian influence made it necessary to think of captivity in the land of idols, and of God’s highway home to the renewed glory of his mountain (40-55; cf. 39:6-7).

 

c.                   Finally the days of Cyrus the liberator would prepare them to trust the faithful God,  who yet promised to send on who is mighty to save from a far worse enemy, providing life in a new heavens and a new earth (56-66; cf. 44:24-28).

 

5.                  What Isaiah is all about

 

a.                   The point of the book is God himself!

i.                    “The Holy One of Israel” (1:4)

ii.                  “The One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity...and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit...” (57:15)

iii.                The first and the last, besides whom there is no Rock (44:6, 8)

 

b.                  The news of the book is that God has a surprising plan of grace for the world through confronting his people with his holiness

i.                    They are heirs of his promises to Abraham and David.

ii.                  Many of them no longer trust the promises of God, and are closer to the promises and fears of the nations.

 

iii.                God will purify his people in a manner which will increase his glory and attract the nations.

(1)               Sinfulness will be met with justice.

(2)               Forgiveness will be given with grace.

(3)               This can only be done through the victory of the Suffering Servant of the LORD, whose kingdom will be established

 

c.                   The message of the book may be summarized in 1:2-2:5.

i.                    The people who should have been grateful children have become a sinful nation, utterly estranged from God (1:2-4).

ii.                  Their sin will strike them down until only a penitent remnant is left (1:5-9)

iii.                The situation will have to be reversed by their becoming genuinely willing and obedient (1:10-20).

iv.                God would have to smelt away their faithlessness until they could become a city redeemed by justice who would repent by righteousness (1:21-31).

v.                   Then he would establish his mountain as the place where people learn the ways of God walk in the light of the LORD (2:1-5).