The Major Prophets

Lesson 6

 

                         ISAIAH AND THE GOD WHO IS FIRST, LAST, AND ONLY

 

 

1.                  When there was no peace for the wicked, and while people were turning everywhere for something in which they might trust, Isaiah saw that only the LORD GOD is worthy of the trust of a man.

a.                   Isa. 5:15-16

b.                  Isa. 26:3-4, 7-9, 11-13

 

2.                  The burden of Isaiah is that, while other lords may have ruled over them, none, other than the Holy One of Israel, is GOD.

a.                   He uses “the Holy One of Israel” twenty-five times.

b.                  “I am he” or “I am the first and I am the last” is used frequently.

c.                   The word of the LORD in this book is often an appeal for this truth to be recognized.

i.                    Isa. 43:8-13

ii.                  Isa. 44:6-8

 

3.                  Because this fundamental truth colors all others, Isaiah aims his strongest rebukes at the one sin which is the root of all others: the evil of idolatry.

a.                   Isa. 42:17 – those who trust in idols are put to shame

b.                  Isa. 2:8 – their land is filled with idols

c.                   Isa. 10:10-11 – God will have to judge it as he has other idolatrous lands

 

4.                  The prophet addresses several forms of idol worship in this book, all of which disgrace the LORD and degrade people.

a.                   Images of silver and gold, wood or stone (10:10; 31:7; 42:17)

b.                  Nature rites, spiritualism, and astrology (8:18; 57:4-7; 1:28-29)

c.                   Human intellect and ingenuity (47:8, 10; 31:1; 2:6-8, noting the things that are parallel to the land being “filled with idols”)

 

5.                  The most striking and unforgettable images in Isaiah are the word pictures he paints to let all people for all time see the futility of idolatry.

a.                   Isa. 40:18-20

b.                  Isa. 41:21-29

c.                   Isa. 44:9-20

d.                  Isa. 45:16, 20

e.                   Isa. 46:1-2, 6-7

f.                   Isa. 57:11-13

 

 

 

6.                  In contrast to the sad and sorry scenes of idolatry, through the wonderful words of Isaiah the Living God makes himself known the One who is and who will do what no idol ever has been or ever will do.

a.                   The phrases which are mentioned in passing show something of the difference between the holy God and the idols of man.

i.                    He is the living God who alone is enthroned above all the kingdoms of the earth (37:16, 17), and he gives his glory to no other, not to any carved idol (42:8)

ii.                  Heaven is his throne and earth is his footstool, and his hand has made all things (66:1-2), and he is the God of the whole earth (54:5), the commander of all the hosts of heaven (10:16)

iii.                He is high and lifted up, and he inhabits eternity (57:15), knowing things to come before the occur (45:11), and bringing about his purposes as he has planned

iv.                He is the God of truth (65:16), who speaks the truth and declares what is right (19); he is exalted in justice, and he shows himself holy in righteousness (5:16)

v.                  He loves steadfastly (63:7), waits to be gracious to his people (30:18), and is fully able to hold the wicked to account (5:24-25)

b.                  The passages which appeal to us so strongly contrast the LORD who is at work with the dead idols which can do nothing to save us.

i.                    Isa. 48:12-13

ii.                  Isa. 45:18-19, 21-23

iii.                Isa. 46:8-11

iv.                Isa. 40:12-31

v.                  Isa. 63:7-9

vi.                Isa. 51:12-16

vii.              Isa. 41:4, 10, 13-14

 

7.                  Isaiah indicates that when God is known for who he truly is, there will come from the people an appropriate response that will allow the LORD to bless them again.

a.                   Isa. 64:4-8

b.                  Isa. 33:2, 5-6, 21-22

 

Isaiah 43:11, 25 – “I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior....I, I am he who blots

out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”

 

Isaiah 12:2 – “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD

GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”