Isaiah Lesson 1

Isaiah the Prophet

Name means: Yaweh is Salvation

A “major” prophet - due to length (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel

“Son of Amoz” (not Amos) - rabbinic tradition the brother of Amaziah, making Isaiah a member of the royal family

Chart - the Israelite Monarchies

Yellow - Israel, Green - Judah

Kings - Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh

Empires - Assyria (721 BC), Babylon (597, 586)

Isaiah was a highly educated man as shown by the breadth of his vocabulary and the quality of his lit. His book has been called “the climax of Hebrew literary art.” The Shakespeare of his day?

Death - martyred, sawn in half by Manasseh - Hebrews 11:35–38 (CSB) Hall of Faith — 35 Other people were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36 Others experienced mockings and scourgings, as well as bonds and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they died by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, and mistreated. 38 The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and on mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.

Isaiah the Book

Isaiah, Deuteronomy, and Psalms were the three most-used books in the Qumran community (from where we get the dead sea scrolls

Isaiah scroll - significant find, on prominent display in the Israel Museum; 150-200 years BC, compared with MT, 1000 years AD. No significant differences, changes.

Prophecy

Virgin birth - Isaiah 7:14 (CSB) — 14 Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.

Crucifixion - Isaiah 53:4–5 (CSB) — 4 Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds.

Cyrus - Isaiah 44:24 (CSB) — 24 This is what the LORD, your Redeemer who formed you from the womb, says: I am the LORD, who made everything; who stretched out the heavens by myself; who alone spread out the earth;

- who says to Cyrus, “My shepherd, he will fulfill all my pleasure” and says to Jerusalem, “She will be rebuilt,” and of the temple, “Its foundation will be laid.”

Eschatological

Isaiah 2:1–4 CSB

1 The vision that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: 2 In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s house will be established at the top of the mountains and will be raised above the hills. All nations will stream to it, 3 and many peoples will come and say, “Come, let’s go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us about his ways so that we may walk in his paths.” For instruction will go out of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4 He will settle disputes among the nations and provide arbitration for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives. Nation will not take up the sword against nation, and they will never again train for war.

The Day of the Lord - a time of judgement as well as vindication

Isaiah 2:11–17 CSB

11 The pride of mankind will be humbled, and human loftiness will be brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted on that day. 12 For a day belonging to the Lord of Armies is coming against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up—it will be humbled— 13 against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up, against all the oaks of Bashan, 14 against all the high mountains, against all the lofty hills, 15 against every high tower, against every fortified wall, 16 against every ship of Tarshish, and against every splendid sea vessel. 17 The pride of mankind will be brought low, and human loftiness will be humbled; the Lord alone will be exalted on that day.

God Confronts

The Wickedness of Judah

Isaiah 1:1–9 CSB

1 The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah. 2 Listen, heavens, and pay attention, earth, for the Lord has spoken: “I have raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. 3 The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s feeding trough, but Israel does not know; my people do not understand.” 4 Oh sinful nation, people weighed down with iniquity, brood of evildoers, depraved children! They have abandoned the Lord; they have despised the Holy One of Israel; they have turned their backs on him. 5 Why do you want more beatings? Why do you keep on rebelling? The whole head is hurt, and the whole heart is sick. 6 From the sole of the foot even to the head, no spot is uninjured— wounds, welts, and festering sores not cleansed, bandaged, or soothed with oil. 7 Your land is desolate, your cities burned down; foreigners devour your fields right in front of you— a desolation, like a place demolished by foreigners. 8 Daughter Zion is abandoned like a shelter in a vineyard, like a shack in a cucumber field, like a besieged city. 9 If the Lord of Armies had not left us a few survivors, we would be like Sodom, we would resemble Gomorrah.

Judah is on trial. Why? “they have rebelled against me”

Is this a light sin? One of the worst sins in the law

Deuteronomy 21:18–21 CSB

18 “If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father or mother and doesn’t listen to them even after they discipline him, 19 his father and mother are to take hold of him and bring him to the elders of his city, to the gate of his hometown. 20 They will say to the elders of his city, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he doesn’t obey us. He’s a glutton and a drunkard.’ 21 Then all the men of his city will stone him to death. You must purge the evil from you, and all Israel will hear and be afraid.

One of the 10 commandments

Empty Rituals

Isaiah 1:10–15 CSB

10 Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah! 11 “What are all your sacrifices to me?” asks the Lord. “I have had enough of burnt offerings and rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I have no desire for the blood of bulls, lambs, or male goats. 12 When you come to appear before me, who requires this from you— this trampling of my courts? 13 Stop bringing useless offerings. Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons and Sabbaths, and the calling of solemn assemblies— I cannot stand iniquity with a festival. 14 I hate your New Moons and prescribed festivals. They have become a burden to me; I am tired of putting up with them. 15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will refuse to look at you; even if you offer countless prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.

v. 10 “rulers of Sodom, people of Gomorrah” - way to get the people’s attention

but…they were destroyed for their wickedness (yes - they were!)

v. 11 “What are all your sacrifices to me?”

some - for sin and guilt

some - to express thankfulness

some - a fellowship meal shared in the presence of God

v. 14 “I hate your New Moons and prescribed festivals”

“New Moons” - lunar calendar, many feasts were at the beginning of a month

v. 15 “I will not listen” (to your prayers)

Why? v. 15 - “your hands are covered in blood”

Example - Is it a good thing for a wife to have supper prepared for her husband? But what if she then goes out with another man?

True Followers

Isaiah 1:16–17 CSB

16 “Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from my sight. Stop doing evil. 17 Learn to do what is good. Pursue justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause.

How can our worship be acceptable?

Symbolically - come to God with clean hands, not bloody ones

Practically

Justice - see to it that evil is punished (and what is evil? see the law)

Defend the defenseless - the orphan, widow

Why is this important?

The law reflects God’s character

God is love

Repentance Required

Isaiah 1:18–20 CSB

18 “Come, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are crimson red, they will be like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land. 20 But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

v. 18 - “settle” - setting things right, bringing an end to a quarrel

How would this be settled? By repentant sacrifices

v. 19 - “eat the good things of the land” - from Deut 30:15-20, the blessings of obedience. Not new information.

v. 20 - “devoured by the sword” - and this was coming; was going to be their fate.

Applications

God cares about justice (so should we!)

God values repentance over religious deeds (prayer, giving, church attendance)

Complete pardon, forgiveness is available (“white as snow”)