2-10-19am

Intro

The Book of Isaiah: Volume 1, Chapters 1–18 a. The Vision Itself (6:1–7)

The vision of the Lord produces upon Isaiah the feeling that, since he has seen the Lord, he is undone and will perish. It seems to imply that this is the first vision of the Lord that Isaiah has had.

First he presents the heart of his message and then an account of his prophetical call

Chapter 1 General Introduction

Begin and end with hope

Isaiah 2:2–4 ESV

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, 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. He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.

Isa 2”2-4

Isaiah 4:2–6 ESV

In that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel. And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem, when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning. Then the Lord will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory there will be a canopy. There will be a booth for shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain.

Chapters 2-5 written before Assyrian power had reached the heigh of its threat

Three years before Jeroboam II had died and now Menahem was ruler of Israel

Under Jeroboam and Uzziah the boundries had been extened to their anicent extremes and their was productivity and peace between the two

Following Jeroboam’s death anarchy in Israel and Judah also declined - thus week and declining Judah

The Book of Isaiah: Volume 1, Chapters 1–18 a. The Vision Itself (6:1–7)

In the year in which the old order ended God appeared to the prophet. The great glory and national pride of Judah were now facing an end, never to rise again. The year of Uzziah’s death (possibly 739 B.C.) may not have been the actual year of the founding of Rome, but according to tradition, the great city on the Tiber arose about this time. From now on Judah declined more and more, and Rome increased.

The 12th year of Jotham’s co-regency and 13th year of Pekah of Israel

He Saw God

No one can see God

John 1:18 ESV

No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

1 Timothy 6:16 ESV

who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

It was not the physcial seeing of the eyes but spiritual seeing of the prophet

The Book of Isaiah: Volume 1, Chapters 1–18 a. The Vision Itself (6:1–7)

“There was therefore,” as Calvin puts it, “exhibited to Isaiah such a form as enabled him, according to his capacity, to perceive the inconceivable majesty of God; and thus he attributes to God a throne, a robe, and a bodily appearance.”

He did not see God because of his spiritual state but because God choose to reveal Himself to and through Isaiah

He saw the Lord (adonai)

John 12:42–43 ESV

Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

John 12

“seated upon a throne” King and Judge

He is already king

no standing room only - just flying

Glorious majesty

Silent prophet focuses our attention upon the unspeakable exaltation of the Lord

The Book of Isaiah: Volume 1, Chapters 1–18 a. The Vision Itself (6:1–7)

Isaiah is to be called to a ministry in which the sovereign power of God will be displayed, and in which judgment is to be prominent. In preparation for such a ministry there must be a vision of God’s holiness. Indeed, the entire scene befits the solemnity of the message

Vs 2