ISAIAH

Isaiah is called by God to be a prophet to Judah during the days of King Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah and Manasseh (approximately 739-686 BC). He thus is a voice for God for about sixty years, and sees his country both thrive under good kings (Uzziah, Jotham, Hezekiah) and deteriorate under bad kings (Ahaz, Manasseh). During Isaiah’s life time Judah is first at war with Israel and the northern neighbor Syria, but when these two nations are conquered and exiled by the powerful and violent Assyrian empire, Judah is itself threatened, partially conquered and enslaved by Assyria.
At such a time the temptation for small Judah to enter smart political alliances is great, but Isaiah warns against doing so repeatedly. Isaiah makes clear that the real problem behind a military threat on the horizon is not a a lack of strength, inferior military equipment or smaller numbers, but that Judah has been unfaithful to God. It is God who has let the military threat arise.
Already in the Law of Moses God has made this clear: ‘But if you will not obey the LORD your God… the LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies; you shall go out against them one way and flee before them seven ways’ (Deu 28:15,25). Military threats are one way God’s partial judgments can look. Partial judgments are meant to catch their attention and bring them to repentance. Therefore when the threat of Assyria looms on the horizon, Judah should not put their hope in political alliances but rather cry out to God, repent with their whole heart and turn from idolatry to the living God, who is powerful to save them.
Isaiah challenges several of Judah’s kings with this message. He assures King Ahaz that the threat of Israel and Syria will come to nothing ‘it shall not stand and it shall not come to pass… Ephraim will be shattered, no longer a people’ and challenges him ‘If you do not stand firm in faith, you shall not stand at all‘ (Isa 7:7-8). King Ahaz cannot muster the courage, he doesn’t rise up in faith and is defeated.
Some thirty years later king Hezekiah finds himself facing a far greater threat: Assyria has overrun Judah, conquered forty-six of its walled cities and is about to besiege Jerusalem, the only city remaining unconquered. Assyria literally has Hezekiah by the throat and demands that he surrenders. Hezekiah in his distress calls on God. The prophet Isaiah gives him this word: ‘Thus says the LORD: Do not be afraid of the words that you have heard… I myself will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumour and return to his own land; I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land’ (Isa 37:5-7). Unlike Ahaz, Hezekiah believes in God’s promise, refuses to surrender to Assyria and is gloriously delivered. The prophecy comes true: Assyria’s king Sennacherib returns to his country and is killed by two of his own sons in 681 BC.
Isaiah’s short-term prophecies thus come true before everyone’s eyes (Isa 1-39). This proves Isaiah as a true prophet of God (Deu 18:22) and builds the foundation for his hearers (and later his readers) to also believe his long-term prophecies (Isa 40-66). For of all the prophets, Isaiah is given the most detailed and the most far-reaching predictions of the Messiah to come.
Isaiah predicts God bringing about an unprecedented restoration, a ‘new thing’ (Isa 43:19), a new age of comfort, security and well-being. Isaiah predicts a ‘servant of God’, an expression partially referring to Israel itself, partially to Cyrus (the Medo-Persian military deliverer he foretells, Isa 44:26-45:7), but ultimately to the Messiah himself.
He describes the Messiah as the one who truly serves God, one truly humble, truly faithful, fully trusting in God and willing to suffer for others. The ‘servant of God’ is the deliverer to come, but also he is already now a model for those who seek God. The servant of God’s character is ultimately what God is looking for in all his followers: humility, an allegiance to God alone, a willingness to serve others and a deep trust in God. And as such first and foremost He – but also all his followers – will be a ‘light to the nations’ (Isa 49:6).

The author
The author identifies himself as Isaiah, son of Amoz (Isa 1:1, 2:1). No other biblical person by the name of Amoz is known (the spelling is different than that of the prophet Amos), so no information can be gleaned from this. The meaning of the name Isaiah in Hebrew is ‘Yahweh has saved’. In Isa 30:8, God commands Isaiah to commit his prophecies to writing: “Go now, write it before them on a tablet, and inscribe it in a book, so that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever”, resulting in the work we have in our hands now.
Isaiah’s second division (Isa 40-66) has truly stunning and highly specific prophecies about the Medo-Persian conqueror Cyrus and about Jesus. Therefore those who do not believe in prophecy (in the fact that God foreknows and therefore can foretell the future) declare that Isa 40-66 must have been written much later, after these events had already happened. They establish a ‘Deutero Isaiah’, a later writer of Isa 40-66.
But the internal witness of the Bible does not agree with this. In 2 Chr 32:32 the writer of Chronicles references “the vision of the prophet Isaiah”. Jesus quotes Is 53:1 and Is 6:9-10 in Jn 12:38-40 identifying Isaiah as the author. This counters the Deutero Isaiah theories. Isaiah is also quoted and acknowledged as author of both divisions in Romans by Paul and in Matthew by Matthew.
2 Chr 26:22 mentions that Isaiah also wrote historical records about kings (at least about king Uzziah), a writing that hasn’t been preserved.

The historical situation

Isaiah dates his prophecies to king Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah of Judah (Isa 1:1). Is seems that he wrote during:
Uzziah       767 -739 BC     chapters 1-5
Jotham      739 -731 BC     chapter 6          (Isa 6:1)
Ahaz           731 -715 BC     chapter 7-12     (Isa 7:1)
Hezekiah   715 -686 BC   chapters 13-66
last mentioned event 681 BC death of Sennacherib (Isa 37:37-38)

Isaiah’s vision of God (Isa 6) is in the year king Uzziah died (739 BC). His first prophecies may have come a little bit earlier. Jewish tradition says Isaiah is killed as an old man by being sawed in two during the reign of evil king Manasseh (686-642 BC, possibly Heb 11:37 refers to this). It seems he received no new prophecies at this time, but the need for his prophecies was all the greater for those still fearing God under this evil king’s reign. The last mentioned event in Isaiah is the death of the Assyrian king Sennacherib (681 BC, Isa 37:37-38). If this is not a later editorial comment, Isaiah speaks over a range of about sixty years, 740-681 BC.
Isaiah addresses Judah, its kings and its people with his prophecies. He writes them down for the current and even more for future generations of faithful in Judah. Since Isaiah’s prophecies are so far-reaching, future generations are definitely important as readers.

The books of Kings and Chronicles give some background on the kings Isaiah prophecies under:

Uzziah                767 – 739 BC             2 Ch 26, 2 Ki 15:1-7
Uzziah is a mostly good king, following God and gaining military victories over Philistia and Ammon. He fortifies cities, has a great peace-time army, develops high tech weapons and the country’s agriculture. Later he grows proud over his strength and reputation. When he wants to sacrifice incense, God hits him with leprosy. No repentance is mentioned.

Jotham           739 – 731 BC             2 Ch 27, 2 Ki 15:32-38
King Jotham is a godly king, who becomes “strong for he ordered his ways before the LORD his God” (2 Chr 27:6).

Ahaz                731 – 715 BC             2 Ch 28, 2 Ki 16
Jotham’s son Ahaz is an evil king. He builds a shrine to Baal, makes his sons pass through the fire, sacrifices on high places and under every green tree (2 Chr 28:1-4). King Pekah of Israel (740-732 BC), who newly allied himself with his old arch-enemy king Rezin of Syria (Aram), attacks and sorely defeats Ahaz. One hundred twenty thousand warriors of Judah are killed, and another two hundred thousand civilians are taken captive (2 Chr 28:5-8). Through the intervention of a godly man, Oded, some captives are returned (2 Chr 18:8-15). Ahaz, rather than humbling himself and trusting God for his protection, as Isaiah challenges him to do (Isa 7:7-9), tries to buy an alliance with Assyria, which ultimately backfires (2 Chr 28:16-28). In his distress “he became yet more faithless to the LORD” and imports Assyrian idolatry, shuts the temple of God and makes idolatrous altars at every corner of Jerusalem (2 Chr 28:22-27).
Micah prophesies the total destruction of Samaria (Mic 1:6-7). And indeed, Pekah and Rezin’s victory and alliance is short lived. King Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria invades from the North and conquers, destroys and exiles Syria in 732 BC. Assyria makes Hoshea king of Israel (732-722 BC), but later he rebels against King Shalmaneser. In response the newly enthroned king Sargon II of Assyria besieges Samaria and completely conquers and destroys Israel in 722 BC, as had been predicted by the prophets Hosea, Amos and Micah. The remaining Israelite population is exiled, forcefully mixed with other nations and lost as a separate identity from history.

Hezekiah            715 – 686 BC             2 Chr 29-32, 2 Kin 18-20
Ahaz’ son Hezekiah is a godly king, who tries to undo the damage his father has done: He removes idols, pillars, sacred poles, shrines and high places. He re-opens, cleanses and repairs the temple of God, reorganizes the Levites and priests and celebrates a great Passover. In 715 BC King Sennacherib of Assyria attacks and conquers most of Judah, including forty-six walled cities. He exiles a vast amount of people and threatens siege to Jerusalem. In this greatest challenge of his reign, Hezekiah manages to trust God and obey his word through the prophet Isaiah (Isa 37) to see God supernaturally defeat the Assyrian army (2 Chr 32:1-23) in 703 and 701 BC. There were likely two defeats, one due to hearing a rumor (Ethiopia attacking), one due to God’s slaughter of one hundred eighty-five thousand Assyrian soldiers. This leads to a strengthening of Judah in terms of economy, military and international reputation.
As for the spiritual situation in the Judah of his time, Isaiah addresses mostly idol worship (Isa 41, 44-48), religiosity (Isa 58) and faith in military alliances (many chapters). Micah is a contemporary prophet of Isaiah.

An Overview over the Book

Isaiah’s writing has two big divisions, chapters 1-39 and chapters 40-66.
First division The first division, – though it already contains some Messianic elements -, mostly focuses on judgment and is largely concerned with the Judah of Isaiah’s day. Isaiah is addressing both the kings and the nation.
The major sin he addresses is to not trust God, which leads to two major wrongs: the worship false gods and – on the political plain – the engaging in political alliances to ensure security and victory. These are exactly the twin sins the prophet Hosea had spoken against in the twin picture of adultery: adultery, meaning worshiping idols rather than trusting God and adultery, meaning making political alliances rather than trusting God. Isaiah predicts judgment (most chapters) and also an amazing renewal beyond the judgment (Isa 2:1-4, 11-12, 24-27).
The first division includes two historical parts: King Ahaz and his reaction to the threat of the Israel-Syria alliance (Isa 7-8, around 730 BC) and King Hezekiah and his reaction to the threat of the Assyrian invasion (Isa 37-39, around 700 BC).
The first division also contains prophecies of judgment on the surrounding nations (Isa 13-23).
Second division The second division focuses on the restoration beyond. Isaiah is giving prophecies of hope beyond the judgment. He predicts a military deliverer named Cyrus, whom God will use to free up his exiles. He predicts a return of the exiles to their land and he predicts something more far-reaching an amazing: Messianic prophesies where God’s people become what they were meant to be: God’s servant and a light to the nations.
Isaiah speaks about the ‘servant of God’, a term which is used for Israel itself, for Cyrus but ultimately for the Messiah.
Though these divisions are very different in nature, they are also multiply linked. In the first division Isaiah’s short-term prophecies come true before the eyes of everyone. The fulfillment of these prophecies attests Isaiah as a true prophet of God (Deu 18:22), which is the basis of believing his mid-term prophecies as well as his amazing and far-reaching Messianic prophecies. In this way the first division builds the faith that will be required for the second division – faith and trust in God – which is the main message of the book.

Isaiah’s vision Chapter 6

In chapter six Isaiah describes his formative vision of God. “I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him…An one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory.” The pivots of the threshold shook at the voiced of those who called, and the house filled with smoke” (Isa 6:1-3). Isaiah sees an overpowering vision of the greatness and the holiness of God, such holiness that even the seraphs have to cover their faces before it. Interesting is the triple “holy” that the seraphs pronounce, maybe for emphasis, but probably also acknowledging the Trinity that is enthroned. Interesting also the link between seeing God in his majesty and realizing that the whole earth is full of his glory.
Isaiah’s reaction is one of appropriate conviction and terror: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” (Isa 6:5). Once in the presence of holiness, conviction of sin and the realization that there is nothing a human can do, is immediate. God gives the remedy, here symbolically by a seraph touching Isaiah’s mouth with a coal from the altar by a pair of tongs. Actually, that is a picture of the cross: “Your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out” (Isa 6:7). Now justified and admitted into fellowship with God, Isaiah hears God’s heart “Who shall I send, and who will go for us?” (Isa 6:8). Again Isaiah’s reaction is immediate: obedience and self-offering “Here am I; send me!” (Isa 6:9).
God shares with him how difficult it is to reach his people and that judgment will be unavoidable (Isa 6:10-13).
Out of this vision comes Isaiah’s life message: How not to trust such a God? How to ever think that an idol is anything? How not to see how justified the judgment is? How not to believe that he will bring restoration?

Identifying the root problem Chapter 1-5ff

If Judah was asked what they think their problem is, the answer would probably be that God doesn’t seem to do what he is supposed to do and that powerful and violent Assyria is threatening them. Isaiah brings the perspective of what God thinks it the problem: “I have reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib; but Israel does not know, my people do not understand. Ah, sinful nation, people laden with iniquity, offspring who do evil, children who deal corruptly; who have forsaken the LORD, who have despised the Holy One of Israel, who are utterly estranged” (Isa 1:2-4). The comparison with a donkey is no compliment, but a donkey at least knows who feeds it, which can’t be said of Israel.
God is razor sharp in his assessment: “Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the teaching of your God, you people of Gomorrah!…I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams… I do not delight in the blood of bulls… Trample my courts no more… I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity. … even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hand are full of blood…remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow” (Isa 1:10-17). For Judah to be called Sodom and Gomorrah would be a severe insult to their pride, they think themselves religious after all.
Very similar to Amos and Micah before him, Isaiah denounces social injustice in combination with a false religiosity. Who are they thinking they are fooling? “How the faithful city has become a whore! She that was full of justice, righteousness lodged in her – but now murderers!…Your princes are rebels…everyone loves a bribe” (Isa 1:21-23). Here Isaiah picks up on Hosea’s metaphor of Israel as a whore, unfaithful to God, her husband.
Because of the deteriorating morality there is also a leadership crisis: “For now the LORD of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah…warrior and soldier, judge and prophet, diviner and elder, captain… I will make boys their princes, and babes shall rule over them…the people will be oppressed, everyone by another” (Isa 3:1-5). Immorality always leads towards anarchy, where nobody’s right is granted anymore.
A big recurring theme, both in the first and the second division, is the absurdity of idol worship: “All who make idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit, their witnesses neither see nor know. And so they will be put to shame. Who would fashion a god or cast and image that can do no good?… The carpenter… cuts down cedars… part of it he takes and warms himself; he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Then he makes a god and worships it, makes it in a carved image and bows down before it… he prays to it and says, “Save me, for you are my god!” (Isa 44:9-17). Idolatry is a disaster in two ways: It will hurt the one who trusts falsely in something that cannot carry or save, but also because it is a terrible insult against the real God.
But Judah isn’t listening, another recurring theme, and it doesn’t bring the fruit it should bring (Isa 5:1-7). It is sliding towards the point of no return, towards judgment.

Historical Interlude: Whom do you trust, Ahaz? Chapter 7-9

Chapter 7-8 are a historical interlude. King Pekah of Israel is anti-Assyrian and forms a coalition against Assyria with king Rezin of Syria, and also with Ashkelon and Gaza (2 Chr 28:18). Since Judah isn’t joining, Pekah and Rezin attack in 735 BC, still during the reign of Jotham (2 Ki 15:37). They attack separately (2 Chr 28:5-6) and jointly (2 Kin 16:5). Ahaz, inheriting this conflict, is afraid of a renewed attack. When going out to inspect the water supply, Isaiah meets him with a prophetic word, “Take heed, be quiet, do not fear and do not let your heart be troubled because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands, at the anger of Rezin and Syria, and the son of Remaliah” (Is 7:6).
Isaiah offers Ahaz the prophetic sign of his choosing, to confirm his word. Ahaz refuses God’s offer of a sign but also also can’t mount trust in God. Instead he sends money to Assyria, calling them to assist him in defeating his enemies (2 Kin 16:7-9, 2 Chr 28:16).
Assyria gladly accepts Ahaz’s request and invades Syria and Israel in 734 BC and completely conquers it by 732 BC (2 Kin 16:9). Israel falls to Assyria in 722 BC and is completely destroyed. But Assyria doesn’t stop their sweep south, and overruns Judah. So Ahaz’ smart alliance – in spite of initial successes – backfires badly (2 Chr 28:20-21, Isa 7:17).
Yet woven into Ahaz’s tragedy is a Messianic prophecy. When Ahaz doesn’t want to see a sign, God declares that he will give a unilateral sign: A young women will have a child, name him Immanuel, and before the child is of the age of moral accountability, the land of those two kings will be emptied by Assyria’s hand. This is spoken in 735 BC, and fulfilled in 732 BC for Syria and in 722 BC for Israel, some three and thirteen years later (Isa 7:14-19).
The child referred to is most likely Isaiah’s next son Maher-shalal-hash-baz (‘the spoil speeds, the prey hastens’, Isa 8:1-4). But it is also a – quite surprising – Messianic prophecy, fulfilled in Jesus, as quoted by Matthew (Mth 1:23). More Messianic prophecies follow: “Zebulun, Naphtali, the Galilee of the nations will see a great light” (Isa 9:1-2, quoted in Mth 4:15-16). “A child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice” (Is 9:6-7).

Judgment on the nations Chapter 13-35

Isaiah pronounces many words of judgment not only against Judah, but also against the surrounding nations (Isa 13-35). With the threat of an Assyrian invasion looming large, the temptation for small Judah – and other nations – to enter smart political alliances is great. Isaiah warns against doing so repeatedly. Isaiah asserts that the real problem behind a military threat on the horizon is not a lack of strength, inferior military equipment or smaller numbers, but that Judah has been unfaithful to God. It is God who lets the military threat arise. Already in the Law of Moses God announced: “But if you will not obey the LORD your God… the LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies; you shall go out against them one way and flee before them seven ways” (Deu 28:15,25). Military threats are one way God’s partial judgments can look. They are meant to catch people’s attention and bring them to repentance. Therefore when the threat of Assyria looms on the horizon, Judah should not put their hope in political alliances but rather cry out to God, repent with their whole heart and turn from idolatry to the living God, who is powerful to save them.
The judgments on the nations have two parts. In the first round (728-711 BC, Isa 13-27) God warns several foreign nations (Babylon, Philistia, Moab, Aram, Ethiopia, Egypt, Edom, Arabia) who are forming alliances against the Assyrian kings Shalmaneser V and Sargon II. Judah is not part of the alliance at this point and Isaiah warns them not to join. The chapters 24-27 are messianic or apocalyptic. Here some historical information pertaining to that time:
728 BC Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria dies, Shalmaneser V ascends the throne
727 BC many conquered areas rebel against Assyria, alliance lead by Ashdod
725 BC Egypt and Israel form an alliance, no help though
723 BC Siege of Samaria started, Shalmaneser dies, Sargon II ascends throne
722 BC Sargon II finishes siege, destroys and exiles Israel
711 BC Assyria invades Syria, Ashdod
709 BC Assyria conquers rebelling Babylon, expels their King Merodach-Baladan

In the second round (705-701 BC, Isa 28-35) Judah has joined the alliance against King Sennacherib of Assyria, which promptly backfires. Isaiah warns not to rely on an alliance with Egypt. The chapters 34-35 are messianic or apocalyptic. Here some historical information:
705 BC Sargon II killed, Babylon rebels against Assyria, seeks allies
705 BC Babylon sends envoys to Hezekiah of Judah
703 BC Assyria defeats Babylon’s rebellion
702 BC Assyria defeats Ekron, Egypt, Hezekiah repents of alliance, Assyria
imposes heavy tribute, Hezekiah refuses, trusts God
701 BC Assyria conquers Phoenicia, Philistia, 46 cities of Judah, exiles 200’000
people, threatens Hezekiah by siege to Jerusalem.
Isaiah predicts and interprets the 701 BC Assyrian invasion as a partial judgment of God on Judah but also gives hope that God will save Judah. He predicts that Assyria will be judged as well and that this will bring about a time of spiritual restoration in Judah.

Historical Interlude: Whom do you trust, Hezekiah? Chapter 36-39

Some thirty years after Ahaz’ challenge, King Hezekiah finds himself facing a far greater threat: Assyria has overrun Judah, conquered forty-six of its walled cities, has taken captive about two hundred thousand Judeans and is about to besiege Jerusalem, the only city remaining unconquered. Assyria literally has Hezekiah by the throat and demands that he surrenders.
Hezekiah in his distress calls on God and informs Isaiah. Isaiah gives him this word: “Thus says the LORD: Do not be afraid of the words that you have heard… I myself will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land; I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land” (Isa 37:5-7). Unlike Ahaz, Hezekiah manages to trust God’s promise, refuses to surrender and is miraculously delivered (Isa 37:36-37). The prophecy comes true: Sennacherib returns to his country and is killed by two of his own sons in 681 BC (Isa 37:38).
Hezekiah’s sickness and request for recovery (Isa 38) as well as the visit of the Babylonian envoys (Isa 39) may actually happen before the Assyrian threat. It is interesting that during this requested life-extension Hezekiah’s son Manasseh is born, who becomes the new king, and it the most evil king Judah has ever seen. It is unclear whether Hezekiah was childless till then, or whether there were other brothers that were demoted in favor of the twelve year old Manasseh (2 Kin 21:1). Whatever the details, it proved a very bad choice, maybe reflective of the careless attitude Hezekiah displays in Is 39:8.

Prophecies of restoration Chapter 40-66

Isaiah had predicted Assyria’s immanent invasion, that alliances would backfire and that God will save Judah because of Hezekiah’s trust. All these predictions fulfill by 701 BC before the eyes of everyone. Isaiah is therefore a proven prophet (Deu 18:22) and the foundation to trust his mid- and long-term prophecies are laid: He predicts
the downfall of Assyria about 100 years upfront (fulfilled 605 BC)
the rise and invasion of Babylon about 150 years upfront (fulfilled 586 BC)
the rise of Cyrus and the return about 200 years upfront (fulfilled 539, 536 BC)
the Messiah about 700 years upfront (fulfilled in Jesus).

Already in the first division (Isa 2:2-5) Isaiah had shown a picture of the mountain of the temple being raised and peoples streaming to it “Come, let us go up …that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths” and God bringing about peace between nations. In Isa 4:2-6 he predicted fruitful and glorious survivors of Israel in the land. In Isa 11:1-10 he predicted that from Israel’s felled tree stump a branch would come, a man lead by the Spirit of God, bringing righteousness and peace. In Isa 11:11-16 he had predicted a gathering of his people out of all the nations.
Now in the second division further layers of future restoration are laid on top of each other. God will show up, he will prove that there is no other God like him. He will reveal himself as the first and the last, he will be known for what he is, the powerful Creator and the one who knows the future, the Lord of history, active and involved, the Redeemer (Is 40-48).
And this Redeemer, Isaiah declares, will bring about an unprecedented restoration, a ‘new thing’ (Isa 43:19), a new age of comfort, security and well-being “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and cry to her that she has served her term” (Isa 40:1).
How will this be? He predicts a victor from the East with name, Cyrus, the Medo-Persian deliverer (Isa 41,45,48), who will humble and defeat Babylon (Isa 46-47), resulting in a return from the Babylonian exile (Isa 48:20-22) and a restoration of God’s people to their land.
He predicts a ‘servant of God’ and describes him in several ‘servant songs’ (Isa 42:1-7, 49:1-9 50:4-9 52:13-53:12 and 61:1-3). But who is the ‘servant of God’? It is an expression Isaiah uses partially referring to Israel itself (the people of God doing God’s will), partially to Cyrus (the deliverer accomplishing God’s will to free his people from exile) – but ultimately to the Messiah himself.
Isaiah describes the Messiah as the one who truly serves God, truly does his will and is what God desires, he is the one truly humble, truly faithful, fully trusting in God and willing to suffer for others. The ‘servant of God’ is the deliverer to come in the future. But already now, in the meantime, he is a model for those who seek God. The ‘servant of God’s’ character is ultimately what God is looking for in all his followers: humility, an allegiance to God alone, a willingness to serve others and a deep trust in God.
And as such the Servant will be a “light to the nations” (Isa 49:6), and he will make his people, his followers a light to the nations (Isa 60:1-3). He will ultimately redeem all things, his entire creation, and make everything new (Isa 65:17).
Isaiah leaves Judah and generations to come with a stunning vision of a future restoration beyond belief or merit. God seeks those who will be humble, have faith in these God’s promises and trust in his character.

Color coding Suggestions for studying Isaiah

• Who / peoples / groups / leadership … Bracket coloring also, write in main people this is addressed to
• Where
• When especially also in connection with anti-idolatry / God’s sovereignty over history
• Negative and positive Emotions

Repeated Themes

• Judgement / invasion / war / death / destruction
• Reasons for judgment / sin / injustice
• War / Victory / Conquest / Weapons / Armies / siege
• Suffering / oppression
• Salvation / Restoration / Deliverance / Forgiveness
• Trust / Security / Faith / Dependency / Waiting / Standing
• Pride / haughtiness / self-reliance / smartness / alliances
• Justice words
• teach / communicate / speak / understand / see / hear /
• Descriptions of God vs idols / idolatry

Background Information

Who wrote?

• Isa 1:1 “the vision of Isaiah, son of Amoz”
• Isa 2:1 “the word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw”
• Isa 6:1 “I saw the Lord”
• Isa 30:8 “Go now, write it before them on a tablet, and inscribe it in a book, so that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever” > direct command to record, write, preserve … thinking of future generations.
• 2 Chr 26:22 “now the rest of the acts of Uzziah … the prophet Isaiah wrote” … Isaiah writing historical records
• 2 Chr 32:32 “the rest of the acts of Hezekiah … written in the vision of the prophet Isaiah in the book of the Kings of Judah and Israel”
• Length of prophesying (over 4 kings) and amount of prophesy suggests the need for recording
• In historical parts (prose) Isaiah is mentioned as “he …” … maybe these are inserts / quotes of historical records which requires 3rd person.
• Jesus quotes Isa 53:1 and Isa 6:9-10 in Jhn 12:38-40 identifying Isaiah as the author (this counters the Deutero Isaiah theories stuff). Also in Romans, in Matthew.
• Some object to the accurate & detailed prophecies about Cyrus as written later. But then how about Jesus prophecies?

When written?

• probably continual writing / recording throughout Isaiah’s life
• Isa 1:1 Uzziah         chapter 1-5            767 – 739 BC           Isa 6:1 vision, calling in year King Uzziah died
  
• Jotham                    chapter 6               739 – 731 BC
• Ahaz                         chapter 7-12         731 – 715 BC
• Hezekiah                 chapter 13-66       715 – 686 BC
• Manasseh                                               686 – 635 BC
• Maybe no more new prophecies under Manasseh, but greater need for them to be heard by God fearers in a deteriorating Judah
• Isa 37:37-38 mentions Sennacherib’s death in past tense > those passage after 681 BC (his death year) > 739 – 681 BC ++ (range), which is 58 years

Written to whom?

• basically to Judah: current, soon-future and far future generations (Isa 30:8)
• Israel is idolatrous and quickly gone (within 17 years of Isaiah’s calling)
• to Judah under Manasseh, to Manasseh, to leaders, priests, elders? Jewish tradition: Manasseh sawed Isaiah in two (Heb 11:37)

From where?

• Judah, probably Jerusalem
• Isa 37:5 shows Isaiah to be known in the palace, easily accessible, a person of name and weight, quite clearly related to the kings. Also the Chronicles describing his as recording history presupposes Jerusalem

Political background

Uzziah                  767 – 739 BC                    2 Chr 26, 2 Kin 15:1-7

• mostly good, military victories over Philistines and Ammonites, fortifying cities, great peace-time army, high tech weapons, technology, agriculture development … later pride over strength, reputation … wants to sacrifice incense > leprosy.

Jotham                739 – 731 BC                     2 Chr 27: 2 Kin 15:32-38

• good king, continues father’s policies, defeats the Ammonites, gets tribute, grows in strength.

Ahaz                     731 – 715 BC                     2 Chr 28, 2 Kin 16

• bad king, > idolatry of all kinds, attacked and severely defeated by Syria (Rezin) and Israel (Pekah) alliance, many deported, pays money to Assyria for alliance (Tiglath-Pileser) …conquers Syria 732 BC, Israel 722 BC.

Hezekiah            715 – 686 BC                     2 Chr 29-32, 2 Kin 18-20

• good king, attacked by Shalmaneser V of Assyria, 46 cities in Judah taken (all except Jerusalem), 200’000 people deported in 703 / 701 BC. Probably two retreats, one due to hearing rumor (Ethiopia attacking), one due to God’s slaughter of 185’000 soldiers. Strengthening of country economically, militarily, reputation.

Religious Background

• Isaiah seems to fight plain idol worship (ch 41, 44-48), religiosity (ch 58), faith in military alliances (all chapters)
• Reigning kings? Here is the historical timeline with major kings and events:
  • 767 BC    Uzziah of Judah starts his reign
  • 752 BC   Pekah of Israel starts his reign
  • 750 BC   Rezin of Syria starts his reign
  • 745 BC   Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria starts his reign
  • 739 BC   Jotham of Judah starts his reign, Isaiah is called
  • 735 (31) BC Ahaz of Judah starts his reign, Syria and Israel together attack Judah
  • 734 BC   Hoshea of Israel starts his reign, Assyria invades N & NE of Israel
  • 732 BC   Syria is conquered by and exiled to Assyria, NE Israel is deported by Assyria
  • 727 BC   Shalmaneser V blockades Tyre till 722 BC
  • 722 BC   Israel is conquered and exiled to Assyria by Sargon II
  • 715 BC   Hezekiah starts his reign
  • 711 BC   Assyria invades Syria, Ashdod
  • 709 BC   Babylon defeated, Merod
  • 705 BC   Sargon of Assyria is murdered, Sennacherib starts his reign
  • 703 BC   Assyria defeats Babylon
  • 701 BC   Invasion: Assyria conquers Phoenicia, Philistia, Judah
  • 687 BC   Manasseh of Judah starts his reign
  • 681 BC   Sennacherib of Assyria murdered

Contemporary prophets?

• Amos, Hosea to Israel a bit earlier
• Micah to Israel & Judah contemporary

Literary kind?

• mostly poetry (> figurative) for the prophesies
• some prose (> literal) for the historic parts Isa 1:1, 4:2-6, ch 6-8, 9:1, 10:20-27, 14:1-2, 17:7-9, ch 20, ch 36-39

Structure?

• Prophecy, 2 parts > judgement on Israel, Judah & surrounding nations … > restoration of Medo-Persia and the Messiah

Composition?

• many blatant contrasts, triplets, similes, metaphors, enacted symbol of going naked for 3 years … just about anything
• constant interchange of judgement & restoration (even in the same sentence)
• Isaiah is (after Psalms) the 2nd most quoted book in the NT > generally well known and importance given

Main Ideas?

• trust in God and salvation through him, not in idols, military power, political alliances
• describing and announcing the Messiah
• God’s hear of compassion for Israel (meaning his people in general)
• God’s searching for trusting, humble, obedient servants, from Israel or other nations

Main Reasons?

• to challenge Judah to wholehearted faith and obedience in God only
• to shake up religiosity, sin, world-mindedness, false security
• to correct misconceptions of God’s character and power
• to challenge Judah to realize their calling as ‘light to the nations’ … to strengthen the faithful under Manasseh

Isaiah – Overview

1st Division                        Judgment                              chapter 1-39

• A The Lord’s indictment of the nation                      chapter 1-5
  • The Lord’s lawsuit against the nation            chapter 1
  • An affirmation of restoration, survivors         chapter 2 -4
  • The worthless vineyard, indictment on sin    chapter 5
• B Prophecies of deliverance                                      chapter 6-12
  • Isaiah’s commission                                         chapter 6
  • The birth of Immanuel / coming Deliverer    chapter 7:1 – 9:7        historical part: Ahaz
  • Exile for the Northern Kingdom                      chapter 9:8 – 10
  • Assyria’s fall and the great kingdom’s rise    chapter 11 – 12
• C Judgment on the nations                                       chapter 13-23
  • Babylon, Philistia                                               chapter 13 – 14
  • Moab                                                                   chapter 15-16
  • Damascus, whirring wings, Egypt                   chapter 17 – 20
  • The desert, Edom and Arabia                          chapter 21
  • Jerusalem                                                           chapter 22
  • Tyre                                                                      chapter 23
• D Punishment and kingdom blessing                      chapter 24-27
  • A time of judgment                                           chapter 24
  • A time of blessing in the kingdom                 chapter 25
  • Judah’s song of victory                                    chapter 26
• E The woes                                                                   chapter 28-33
  • Woe to Ephraim, Judah, Jerusalem                chapter 28 – 29
  • Woe to obstinate children, Egyptian alliance chapter 30 – 32
  • Woe to destroyers, day of vengeance, blessing chapter 33 – 35
• F Historical interlude: Hezekiah                                chapter 36-39           historical part: Hezekiah
  • God’s superiority to Assyria                             chapter 36-37
  • Judah’s captivity in Babylon                            chapter 38-39

2 Division                     Restoration by God                        chapter 40-66

• A Deliverance of God’s People                                  chapter 40-48
  • The majesty of God, challenge to nations    chapter 40 – 41
  • The individual Servant vs the servant nation, promise to regather the unworthy servant chapter 42 – 43
  • The Lord’s uniqueness as the only God        chapter 44
  • The Lord’s superiority over Babylon              chapter 46-48
• B Restoration by the Suffering Servant                   chapter 49-57
  • The Servant to be rejected                              chapter 49-50
  • The remnant to be exalted                              chapter 51:1-52:12
  • The Servant to be exalted                               chapter 52:13-53:12
  • Salvation to come from the Servant             chapter 54-55
  • Covenant extended to the obedient              chapter 56
• C Restoration realized and completed                   chapter 58-66
  • The restoration to come by God’s initiative chapter 58-59
  • The coming of the Messiah & Father           chapter 60 – 62
  • The nation’s prayer and the Lord’s response chapter 63 – 64
  • The Lord’s fulfillment of His promises         chapter 65 – 66

ISAIAH – TEXT

Chapter 1              The real problem: sin

• Isa 1:2-4   God complains about the estrangement of his children, historical reminder. Contrasted with ox / donkey, witless animals but they do know their owner / crib … they do know what does them good
• Isa 1:5-7   why seek further eating, whole land is sick, no soundness … country desolate unless for the grace of God like Sodom & Gomorrah (evil cities overthrown by God Gen 18-19). Abraham interceded for the unrighteous, now Israel is itself Sodom > painful analogy!
• Is 1:10-15 Israel addressed as Sodom (more direct now) … “you are Sodom, and you are devoted to destruction”
• This is a Amos like denunciation of religiosity (sacrifices, incense, new moon, Sabbath, solemn assemblies, many prayers …) in combination with bloodshed, iniquity: “trample my courts no more … offerings futile … incense an abomination … cannot endure your assemblies with iniquity … weary, a burden … I will hide my eyes … will not listen.”
• Call to wash yourselves, make yourselves clean, remove evil, learn to do good, seek justice, rescue the oppressed. You cleanse yourself? … proclamation of will. Then Isa 1:18-20 sin even is like scarlet > become like snow … there is forgiveness still and always for the repentant
• Isa 1:21-31 faithful city become a whore … will be called city of righteousness again, Zion redeemed by justice, oaks and gardens, which usually is a positive metaphor, but here in connection with idolatry and negative … they will burn.

Chapter 2            Vision of Golgotha, pride humbled

• Isa 2:2-4   mountain of Lord’s house > highest mountain … all nations stream to it … teaching going out … He will judge … peace > a vision of Golgatha, Jesus, the spread of the gospel, the effect it will have of nations
• Isa 2:5-22  call to walk in the light of the LORD, to forsake idols … pride, haughtiness brought low and humbled, god exalted … judgment on the proud

Chapter 3             leadership crisis

• Isa 3:1-3    God will take away support, staff, provision, warriors, judge, prophets, diviners, elders, magicians
• Isa 3:4-7    utter leadership crisis
• Isa 3:8-12  sin > leadership crisis … blatant sin, flaunted sin like Sodom … Woe! Fortunate are the innocent, unfortunate are the guilty … the Lord will see to it. children, women leading them, misleading and confusing leaders
• Isa 3:13-15 Lord’s court case … oppression of poor
• Isa 3:16-20 haughty, proud, luxury-loving women … God will know to humble them
• Isa 4:1         women is despair, grabbing men … war? Humiliation?

Chapter 4                holy survivors

• Isa 4:2-6     “branch of the LORD beauty & glory of survivors … be called holy, recorded in book of life … cleansed” … God’s presence like in Exodus. God’s presence himself will be shade, refuge, shelter

Chapter 5                 Song of the unfruitful vineyard

• Isa 5:1-7    “I did everything … no fruit … so now I will make it a waste … vineyard of the LORD is Israel, he expected justice, but bloodshed”
• Isa 5:8-13   social economic injustice … luxury … do not regard God
• Isa 5:14-17 nobility going down to Sheol … pride humbled … but God’s justice exalted.
• Isa 5:18      “Ah, you who drag iniquity along … insulting God … calling evil good and good evil … darkness for light and light for darkness”
• Isa 5:25-30 therefore: announcement and description of exile

Chapter 6                     Isaiah’s calling

• Isa 6:1-8      Isaiah’s calling … revelation of God, his holiness, leading to a conviction of sin. Isaiah’s sin problem is solved by God’s unilateral intervention. Only then can Isaiah hear what God says, listen to his heart, volunteer his services … Trinity is revealed by the triple seraph declaration “holy, holy, holy”
• Isa 6:9-13    “stop their ears, shut their eyes so that they may not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears and comprehend and turn and be healed.”
  Meaning? contradiction with all other words given? … extreme provocation, showing to Judah their predicament, their disastrous state … calling for serious repentance.

Chapter 7                    Whom do you trust, Ahaz?

Historical setting of Isaiah 7-8

• While Ahaz reigned in the south, Pekah reigned in the north. Pekah was anti-Assyrian and formed a coalition with Syria, Askelon and Gaza against Assyria (2 Chr 28:18). Ahaz was invited to join them, but he refused so Pekah and Rezin decided to attack 735 BC.
• Attacks began under the reign of Jotham (2 Kin 15:37). They attacked separately (2 Chr 28:5-6) and jointly (2 Kin 16:5). Ahaz was afraid (Isa 7:2). As he was going to inspect the water supply, Isaiah met him with a prophetic word, “Take heed, be quiet, do not fear and do not let your heart be troubled because of these two smouldering stumps of firebrands, at the anger of Rezin and Syria, and the son of Remaliah” (Isa 7:6).
• Isaiah offered Ahaz the prophetic sign of his choosing, to confirm his word concerning Samaria and Rezin was true. Ahaz refused God’s offer of a sign but also couldn’t mount trust in God. Instead he called on Assyria to assist him in defeating his enemies (2 Kin 16:7-9, 2 Chr 28:16). Contrast to Hezekiah.
• Assyria accepted Ahaz’s request and invaded Syria and Israel > 734 BC Galilee captured by Assyria, (2 Kin 15:29), Reuben, Gad and East Manasseh captured (2 Chr 5:26), Pekah assassinated > King Hoshea comes to power. Syria taken, Rezin killed, 734 BC (2 Kin 16:9) > 732 BC. Samaria held out until 722 BC. Ahaz’s alliance backfired on him. Assyria turned around and invaded Judah (2 Chr 28:20-21, Isa 7:17)

Text

• Isa 7:1-2     the heart of Ahaz and the people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind … fear … an emotional reality.
• But what to do with it? Excuse “I was so afraid”? Fear is not a good counselor, and not a good driver … Be guided by principle, by the word of God. Stand on the word of God.
• Isa 7:3-9     God’s assurance to Ahaz: promise that this will come to nothing. Isaiah’s son called “Shear-Jashub”, which means “a remnant shall return”. Like Hoseah the family is part of the message.
• Isa 7:10-13 God offers Ahaz to ask for a sign (not a common thing, a concession already, a help to an old sinner), he doesn’t ‘want to put God to the test’ … don’t be ‘respectful’ by disobeying. Don’t be more spiritual than God.
• Isa 7:14-17  Unilateral sign: a young women will have a child, before the child is morally accountable (what age?) Assyria will have deported Israel. Spoken 735 BC, fulfilled 722 BC, 13 years later.
• Isa 7:18-25  description of the totality of the destruction & exile by Assyria … the few remaining ones will eat curds and honey … land emptied.

Chapter 8               Isaiah’s son as a sign for the Assyrian invasion

• Tablet, attested to belong to “Maher-shalal-hash-baz” (the spoil speeds, the prey hastens), who turns out to be Isaiah’s next child. Isaiah went to the prophetess (description of his wife, joinig in ministry? mutual support? just a referral?) and she gives birth to a son.
• Prophecy: before the child knows how to call ‘my father’, ‘my mother’ Damascus & Samaria’s spoil will be taken away. Spoken 735 BC, fulfilled 734 BC when Assyria conquers and exiles Syria, conquers and exiles
• Transjordan, conquers Israel and replaces Pekah with puppet Hoshea, probably including spoiling. This is fulfilled within 1-2 years (9m pregnancy, around 1 to 2 years old for first words)
• Isa 8:5-8      “Because you melt in fear before Pekah and Rezin, I will make you melt before Assyria.”
• Isa 8:9-10    nothing can be done by banding together, conspiracy, military alliances against God’s will for … God is with us – Immanuel.
• Isa 8:11-15  “do not call a conspiracy all that this people calls a conspiracy, do not fear all it fears … fear God!” We need to see more, have a different perspective, march to a different trumpet, be able to respond differently.
• Prophetic gifting: to see the hand of God, to so understand the will and working and ways of God that I can bring a godly perspective to the people.
• Isa 8:16-22   “bind up testimony, seal this teaching among disciples / own children” … The word has been given, people have responded in one of two ways. Those who refuse to hear will have no dawn.

Chapter 9              Messiah’s authority growing – Israel’s doom deepening

• Isa 9:1-2       Zebulun, Naphtali, Galilee of the nations > seen a great light … Mth 4:15-16, interpreting it to refer to Jesus appearing in Galilee.
• Isa 9:3-5       freeing of people from darkness, yoke of burden, rod of their oppressor, tramping warriors
• Isa 9:6-7        Jesus, the child born to us, “authority rests upon his shoulders; his name is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father” (the child is called that! picture of unity in Trinity), Prince of Peace (prince of shalom, salem, Jerusalem … literally not fulfilled, but deeply fulfilled figuratively, Jesus is the son of David enthroned again in Israel … see Isa 9:7). “His authority shall grow continually” (a powerful picture of the word conquering the world, not a gloom ‘flee the earth’ scenario) … he will establish and uphold throne with justice and righteousness … a wonderful figurative prediction of Jesus’ coming
• Isa 9:8-12     Samaria’s pride in rebuilding after a defeat in 732 BC will be short-lived. 732 BC Pekah killed and removed, puppet Hoshea installed. Later gaining courage, rebelling against Assyria … 722 BC he is finished off by Assyria.
• Isa 9:13-21   In spite of these partial punishments (pre-runs of the coming big one, 734 BC Galilee looted, 732 BC Galilee lost, 722 BC all lost), in spite of this pointing to the fact that Hosea and Amos spoke the truth, and so is Micah … people keep choosing pride … > “prophets teach lies, led people astray, left in confusion … Lord did not have pity, every mouth spoke folly” … attacked each other.

Chapter 10               Israel is unrepentant, except for few, Assyria will be judged as well

• Isa 10:1-4      “iniquitous decrees, oppressive statutes” (institutionalized corruption, abuse of power, oppression of the weak) … economic preying on needy, widows, orphans … punishment predicted
• Isa 10:5-11    Assyria is “the rod of God’s anger” but it doesn’t understand that God is using them, there is no acknowledgment of God, pride in their strength, superiority, thinking they can do to Judah what they did to all other gods
• Isa 10:12-14  “when God is finished punishing Judah, he will punish Assyria for its arrogant boasting and haughty pride” … description of Assyria’s arrogance in their conquest
• Isa 10:15-19  “shall the ax vaunt itself over the wielder? As if the rod should raise the one who lifts it … as if the staff should lift the one who is not wood!” … arguments like later against idolatry > the stupidity of pride or superiority before the Giver of victory … prediction of wasting, destruction of both soul and body, so few left a child can write them down
• Isa 10:20-23   “survivors of Israel will lean on the LORD in truth, only a remnant will return” … is this Israel joining Judah at the last minute/ or returning from exile later?
• Isa 10:24-27   “Zion do not be afraid of Assyrians … shortly God’s indignation will come to an end > then his anger directed against Assyria” … prediction: Destruction of Assyria, removal of their burden, yoke … fulfilled in 701 BC? or ultimately in 605 BC?
• Isa 10:28-34    prediction of the route taken by Assyria in coming close to Jerusalem

Chapter 11                The Messianic Kingdom

• Isa 11:1-5       Messiah from stump of Jesse (stump seems to say that the tree really got cut off!) … “spirit of the LORD, of wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, fear of the LORD on him … He will judge justly, not impressed by appearances” (again looking for the real, the important!) … “strike the earth, kill the wicked” (less common metaphors for Jesus!) … righteousness and faithfulness
• Isa 11:6-9        creation restored to peace, safety … no destruction, for “the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”
• Is 11:10-16      Messiah as signal, nations inquiring of him … remnant restored … assemble outcasts … gather dispersed of Judah … peace between Judah and Israel, together plunder Philistines, people of the East, Edom, Moab, Ammon … highway of return from Assyria as from Egypt during Exodus.

Chapter 12              God is my salvation

• Isa 12:1-5      “God’s anger turned away… God my salvation, I will trust and will not be afraid” … thanksgiving, proclamation of his deeds among the nations.

Judgment on the nations – Isaiah 13-35

Words of warning against revolt attempts against Assyria. Do not make conspiracies with other nations, rather trust God.

1st Cycle – chapters 13-27                   728-711 BC                   Shalmaneser V, Sargon II Judah out

• 728 BC Tiglath-Pileser dies, Shalmaneser V new king
• 727 BC many conquered areas rebel against Assyria, alliance lead by Ashdod
• 725 BC Egypt & Israel form alliance, no help though
• 723 BC Siege of Samaria started, Shalmaneser dies, Sargon II becomes king
• 722 BC Sargon II finishes siege, destroys & exiles Israel
• 711 BC Assyria invades Syria, Ashdod
• 709 BC Assyria conquers rebelling Babylon, Babylonian King Merodach-Baladan expelled
• Warnings to 9 foreign nations … and a warning to Judah to not trust in political alliances. chapters 24-27 are messianic / apocalyptic

2nd Cycle – chapters 28-35               705-701 BC                  Sennacherib Judah in

• 705 BC Sargon II killed, Babylon rebels against Assyria, seeks allies
• 705 BC Babylon sends envoys to Hezekiah of Judah
• 703 BC Assyria defeats Babylon’s rebellion
• 702 BC Assyria defeats Ekron, Egypt, Hezekiah repents of alliance, Assyria imposes heavy tribute, Hezekiah refuses, trusts God
• 701 BC Assyria conquers Phoenicia, Philistia, Judah (46 cities), exiles 200’000 people, threatens Hezekiah
• 701 BC Angel of the Lord kills 185’000 Assyrians, Assyria departs
• Predictions of Assyria’s advance, God saving Judah miraculously, effect on Judah. chapters 34 – 35 are messianic / apocalyptic

Chapter 13 – 14                         Babylon

• Isa 13:1-14:23 Warning not to rebel against Assyria … which Babylon repeatedly did.
• Far-reaching prophecy of Babylon coming to power (by 605BC) and Babylon’s fall (fulfilled in 539BC).
• Isa 13:17        Medes will conquer the city fulfilled 539BC, Medes & Persians together
• Isa 13:20        Babylon uninhabited not fulfilled until about 60BC, but still true today
• Contrast Babylon eternally uninhabited <=> Judah inhabited again (Isa 14:1-2)
• Isa 14:1-2      Judah restored to their land … aliens will join… nations will bring them to their place
• Fulfilment? Cyrus 539BC? … NT picture of other nations joining the people of God?
• Isa 14:3-11    violent King of Babylon Prediction: downfall, death, Sheol all the earth is at rest, rejoicing
• Isa 14:12-22   Satan or King of Babylon? Description of pride, ambition, superiority, refusal to acknowledge God
• It is a real description of the King of Babylon. I think it also is a description of pride, so Satan fits this, as does every other proud tyrant. … C.S.Lewis “how boringly similar are all tyrants, how gloriously different are the saints!”
• Isa 14:24-27    God himself will break Assyria fulfilled 701BC, when God killed 185,000 of the army.
• Isa 14:28-32    Tiglath-pileser (rod that struck you) dies 728 BC, Sargon II (adder) will come forth … to Ashdod, leader of the rebellion, fulfilled 711 BC

Chapter 15-16                           Moab

• Moab joined the rebellion with Ashdod Sargon II attacks them along with Ashdod in 711 BC
• Isa 16:14      in 3 years > this dates the prophecy to about 713BC
• Isa 16:5b      messianic interlude
• Isa 16:2-4     Judah commanded to accept war-fugitives from Moab, especially women (very vulnerable)

Chapter 17                                Syria and Israel

• Isa 17:1-11   Kingdom will disappear from Damascus (732BC conquered and exiled by Tiglath-Pileser)
• fortresses will disappear from Israel (734-732 BC, conquered, still remaining by Tiglath-Pileser)
• Isa 17:7-8     Return to God still repentance option for Israel? Judah learning something?
• Hezekiah’s reforms? What will happen when disaster strikes?
• Isa 17:9         comes back to 722BC, the day of grief and incurable pain.
• Isa 17:12-14 Prediction of God’s intervention fulfilled 701 BC? … or later when Assyria falls entirely 605 BC?

Chapter 18                             Ethiopia

• Isa 18:1-6     Prediction of defeat fulfilled 701 BC when Assyria defeats Egypt, Philistia, Judah
• Isa 18:7        Ethiopians bringing gifts to Zion restoration under Hezekiah? messianic?

Chapter 19                              Egypt

• Isa 19:1-24    Prediction of defeat fulfilled 701 BC when Assyria defeats Egypt
• Isa 19:2, 10   Prediction of civil war, economic confusion fulfilled 525BC, by Persia (King Cambyses)
• Isa 19:18-19 Jewish community in Egypt fulfilled 160BC, Onias IV builds a copy of temple in Heliopolis
• Isa 19:18-25  Redemption after judgment God will reveal himself, Egypt, Assyria, Israel will be a blessing
• Isa 19:24b-25 Unity under God fulfilled in NT, Eph 2, breaking down the dividing wall

Chapter 20                       Dramatizing conquest of Egypt & Ethiopia

• Isa 20:2-6      Isaiah walking naked > portent message to Judah > do not trust in Egypt / political alliances
• Isa 20:1-6      Prediction of Egypt’s defeat, exile fulfilled by Assyria (Ashurbanipal) in 663BC sacking Thebes

Chapter 21                       Babylon, Edom

• Isa 21:1-10    Prediction: Babylon destroyed fulfilled 539BC … Isa 21:2 mentions Media and Elam doing it
• Isa 21:11-12  unclear, distress on Edom Edom was part of the Ashdod revolt in 711 BC
• Isa 21:13-17  Arabs in the Arabian desert Sargon II attacked them in 715 BC

Chapter 22                    Jerusalem, bad & good officials

• Isa 22:1-14     Prediction of defeat, panic, war prep 701 BC
• Isa 22:15-25   Shebna corrupt removed
• Eliakim faithful overburdened. See Isa 36:22 we find Eliakim in charge of the palace, and Shebna as secretary, Isa 37:1

Chapter 23 Tyre

• Isa 23:1-18     Tyre (Phoenicia), unclear role earlier, will lead the 705 BC rebellion 701 BC conquered by Sennacherib
• Isa 23: 12        Ludi, King of Sidon fled to Cyprus only to be murdered there
• Isa 23:13-18    later revival of Tyre attacked by Babylon in 544 BC until 573 BC destroyed in 332 BC by Alexander

Chapter 24 Judgment over the whole earth apocalyptic

• Isa 24:1-13     Judgment announced over all the earth and its inhabitants ….
• Isa 24:2           stress on everybody …
• Isa 24:5           Reason: sin, pollution, violation of statutes, broken everlasting covenant > therefore curse, no inhabitants
• Isa 24:14-16   praise, singing over the majesty of God from the west, the east, the ends of the earth
• Isa 24:16b-23 lament over evil, judgment ‘on that day’ announces … punish host of heaven / kings of earth … God reigns

Chapter 25                 Praise to God for judgment, deliverance, shroud removal apocalyptic

• Isa 25:1-5        judgment on evil is good news for the righteous, God is a refuge to the poor & needy
• Isa 25:6-10      on this mountain a rich feast for all people … remove the shroud (2 Cor 3:14-16, 4:3-4) … remove death … praise to the Deliverer
• Isa 25:10b-12  judgment on Moab

Chapter 26               Song of victory apocalyptic

• Isa 26:1-19     song of deliverance for those who trusted God
• Isa 26:2           reminds of Psa 24:7-10
• Isa 26:4           reminds of Psa 62:6-7
• Isa 26:9           when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness
• Isa 26:10         if favor is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness
• Isa 26:20-21    hide from the judgment in God

Chapter 27 Pleasant vineyard

• Isa 27:1-6        opposite to chapter 5, the fruitless vineyard that gets judged
• Isa 27:7-11      judgment on idolatrous Israel … 28:8 by expulsion, by exile you struggled against them
• Isa 27:12-13    re-gathering of Israel from Assyria and Egypt

Isaiah 28-33 Emphases

Mainly related to the period of 711 BC to climactic advance of Sennacherib in 701 BC. The Assyrian advance was brought about by a rebellion lead by Tyre, hoping for Egyptian help that did not materialize. Hezekiah was part of this rebellion.

1 Trust in the Lord and do not rely on Egypt (or any other human alliance) for help

• Isa 28:14-22    A covenant had been made, not sure with who, v15, v18, but the call is to trust, not to make alliances 16.
• Isa 30:1-5        Making alliances, but not asking for the council of the Lord.
• Isa 30:6-7        It’s no use taking treasures to Egypt.
• Isa 30:8-18      v12 They were trusting in oppression and deceit, God wanted them to trust in Him v18.
• Isa 31:1-5        Don’t trust in Egypt, trust God.
• Isa 33:7-9        The result of the broken treaty.

2 Judgement of God on Judah (fulfilled in 701 BC, Sennacherib destroying 46 cities)

• Isa 28:11-13   The judgement of God from a people of strange language cf Isa 33:19
• Isa 28:17-22 When the scourge (of the Assyrians) passes through, the treaties will not stand.
• Isa 29:1-4 The siege works will be against the city, v3, and there will not be much left of Judah, just a whisper, v4.
• Isa 30:1-5 Egypt failed to protect Judah.
• Isa 30:13-14 Judah will be smashed like a potters vessel.
• Isa 30:16-17 Defeat, 1000 flee at the threat of one, only flagstaff left.
• Isa 31:1-3 God will rise against the house of evildoers.
• Isa 32:9-14 In a little more than a year, destruction.

3 Assyria will be judged by God as well, resulting in deliverance (most verses of prediction in “Isaiah”)

• Isa 29:5-8 Suddenly you will be visited by the Lord of Hosts.
• Isa 29:17 In a little while you will be visited by the Lord of hosts.
• Isa 30:30-33 Assyria will be terror-struck.
• Isa 31:4-9 God will protect Zion, and Assyria will fall by a sword not of mortals.
• Isa 33:1-4 You who destroy, will be destroyed.
• Isa 33:18-19 No longer will you see the insolent people.

4 A time of spiritual restoration (after Sennacherib, before Manasseh)

• Isa 29:18-24 People will exalt in the Holy One of Israel.
• Isa 30:18-26 & 29 You will weep no more.
• Isa 31:7 Throw away idols.
• Isa 32:15-20 The effect of righteousness will be peace.
• Isa 33:5-6 Zion filled with righteousness.
• Isa 33:17,20-22, 24 Zion, a quiet habitation.

Chapter 28                learning from God, trusting God’s ways

• Isa 28:1-8 judgment on drunkards, self-indulgent, priests, prophet …
• Isa 28:6 God will be a spirit of justice to the one who sits in judgment, and a strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.
• Isa 28:9-13 To whom will God teach knowledge? … to the young he teaches knowledge, precept upon precept, line upon line … but those who would not hear will miss it
• Isa 28:14-22 judgment on scoffers, self-sufficient, self-secure (covenant with death), make lies their refuge … judgment
• Isa 28:18-22 covenant with death will not stand … probably referring to Assyria’s invasion of 701 BC.
• Isa 28:16 God laying in Zion a foundation stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation. One who trust will not panic … Similarity to another passage in Psa 118:2, which Jesus quoted in Mrk 12:10-11: rejected stone
• The main focus: Where will you put your trust? In what do you take security? What do you rely on?
• Isa 28:23-29 God’s excellent wisdom, his wonderful counsel: plowing continually? dill threshed with a sledge? grain made to powder?

Chapter 29              Siege of Jerusalem         

• Isa 29:1-4 Jerusalem besieged
• Isa 29:5-8 the multitude of foes shall be like a dream … gone in the morning … fulfilled with God turning back the Assyrian threat in 701 BC by killing the 185’000 soldiers.
• Isa 29:9-14 wisdom of the wise shall perish, utter non-understanding … lip service only
• Isa 29:15-16 ridiculing those who hide a plan too deep for the Lord … rebuke for the alliance makers? shaking up fake religiosity?
• Isa 29:16 made thing rebel against Maker? … parallel in the rebuke to Assyria in 10:15, in the 701 crisis
• Isa 29:17-24 Promise of future fruitfulness, joy of the meek, tyrants & scoffers no more, no longer ashamed > children

Chapter 30-31          Do not rely on Egypt

• Isa 30:1-5 alliance against the will of God … taking refuge in Egypt … it will come to shame
• Isa 30:6-7 animals of the Negeb … watching Israel carrying their riches to Egypt!
• Isa 30:8-12 write a book as witness to a rebellious people & generations to come, intentional rejection of God’s word
• Isa 30:13-17 therefore complete destruction … in quietness, rest, trust would have been strength and salvation .. but you refused
• Isa 30:17b-26 promise of God’s renewed grace, presence, guidance, closeness in relationship, flagstaff & signal on a hill
• Isa 30:27-33 Assyria will be judged
• Isa 31:1-5 reliance on Egypt is futile .. God promises to protect mount Zion
• Isa 31:6-9 turn back to him whom you have deeply betrayed … then Assyria will fall

Chapter 32               king will reign with justice

• Isa 32:1-8 prediction of Jesus … and blessing of godly leadership / just judgement … clarity of thought, right judgment
• Isa 32:9-14 warning to complacent women … exile, populous city forsaken
• Isa 32:15-20 promise of justice reigning … peace, nature at ease

Chapter 33                 treaties break, God proves true

• Isa 33:1 destroyer … has dealt treacherously, will be dealt with treacherously
• Isa 33:2-6 prayer of trust in God
• Isa 33:7-9 treaties broken
• Isa 33:10-16 God will arise, a devouring fire, who can live with everlasting flames? … those who walk righteously
• Isa 33:17-24 Promise of future peace, security, Zion a quiet habitation, immovable … no ship can come, God saves

Chapter 34                Judgement on the nations, on Edom apocalyptic?

• Isa 34:1-4 God’s rage & judgement on the nations
• Isa 34:5-17 Edom shall be desolate, never inhabited again except by animals

Chapter 35               return of the redeemed to Zion (messianic, church, apocalyptic)

• Isa 35:1-10 God come with vengeance & deliverance … blind see, lame leap … waters in the wilderness … highway for the redeemed … return with singing.
• Highway / returnees from among the nations … overlaid picture of Jews returning to Judah 536 BC and believers from all nations NT … only the willing returned … only those with faith are saved … Jews scattered among all nations … those who have faith from all nations

Chapter 36-39            Historical Background Assyrian Invasion by Sennacherib 701 BC

• Isa 36 – 39 Words of encouragement delivered to Hezekiah concerning 2 historical narratives on the Assyrian threat.
• Isa 36 – 37 This describes the actual attack of Sennacherib in 701BC during which Isaiah reversed his former counsel of submission to Assyria into a ringing declaration for resistance.
• Isa 38- 39 These chapters belong chronologically before the above, and date to the time of certain plots against Assyria by Merodach-baladan of Babylon
• After the death of Tiglath-pileser III in 727 BC, revolts broke out in the Assyrian empire. Samaria formed alliance with Egypt, which was no help, and Samaria fell 3 years later in 722 BC. Ethiopia (southern Egypt) gained strength and gained control over Egypt. Egypt emerged as the champion of the nations subjugated by Assyria (Isa 20:5 – Egypt their boast, Ethiopia their hope).
• Isaiah warns against trusting in Egypt (Isa 18:1). Isaiah removed his sackcloth and shoes as a sign that Egypt and Ethiopia would become captives of Assyria (Isa 20). Ashdod (Philistia) lost her battle against Assyria, being defeated in 711/713 BC. Judah did not participate in this battle.
• Babylon rebelled against Assyrian rule, tried to get Judah to join them in their effort to throw off the Assyrian yoke, 705 BC. Merodach-baladan of Babylon visited Hezekiah to congratulate him on his recent recovery from sickness, but his real motive was to make an alliance with Hezekiah against their joint oppressor, Assyria (Isa 38:6, Isa 39).
• Hezekiah co-ordinated the resistance movement, using Egypt’s strength. (Isa 30:1-7, 31:1-3). Everyone except Isaiah rejoiced at the alliance. Hezekiah turned to Egypt, just as Ahaz trusted in Assyria (Isa 30). Possibly this was the time when Isaiah told Hezekiah to get his house in order because he was about to die (Isa 36:1). Assyria came in his 14th year and took the fortified cities. He had 15 years added to his life, a total reign of 29 years. Promise to Hezekiah (Isa 38:6-7).
• In 703 BC, Sennacherib dealt with Merodach-baladan, the rebellious king of Babylon. He then defeated the combined forces of Egypt and Ekron, as Egypt had come to help Ekron. Instead of marching into Egypt, Sennacherib attacked Judah, taking 46 walled cities. At his headquarters in Lachish, Sennacherib received a message that Hezekiah had repented for his rebellion and that he had asked for peace at any cost (2 Kin 18:14). Sennacherib imposed a heavy tribute which Hezekiah refused to pay.
• Sennacherib had Hezekiah like a bird in a cage, Isaiah told Hezekiah to trust God. Hezekiah trusted God. After over 50 years of ministry, someone finally believed Isaiah’s word to trust God. God proved faithful to Hezekiah and gave miraculous deliverance.
• From Annals of Sennacherib“As to Hezekiah the Jew, he did not submit to my yoke, I laid seige to 46 of his strong cities, walled forts and to the countless small villages in their vicinity, and conquered them by means of well stamped earth ramps, and battering rams brought thus near the attack by foot soldiers. I drove out 200,150 people, young and old, male and female, horses, camels, mules, donkeys, big and small cattle beyond counting and considered them booty. Bird in cage. Tribute from Hezekiah, 30 talents of gold & 300 talents of silver.”

Chapter 36                         Assyria’s psychological warfare

• Isa 36:4 not impressed with word’s only daunting
• Isa 36:5 you have rebelled accusing
• Isa 36:6 Egypt will not help isolating
• Isa 36:7 rely on God? … Hezekiah has removed his altars (false!!) confusing
• Isa 36:8-9 intimidation / shaming … you have no strength shaming
• Isa 36:10 We have been victorious by God intimidating
• Isa 36:13-15 speaking to people on wall in Hebrew dividing
• Isa 36:16-17 make peace > allowed to remain till exiled by Assyria
• Isa 37:11-13 other gods toppled
• God’s answer: Isa 37:26 Assyria, you were given permission by God, predicted by God

Chapter 38                      Hezekiah’s sickness

• How good was it to request this? …he is a better king than his son. Manasseh would never have been born if he died (other sons??). Hezekiah rather deteriorates during the extension

Chapter 38                     Hezekiah befriends Babylon

• Isa 40:8       reveals lack of care, foresight, care for next generation … selfishness
• 2 Kin 21:1    Manasseh 12 years old when he starts reigning … no son before life extension? Spoiled son of old age?

Isaiah chapters 40-66 Comfort

Quotes (Kaisar)

• “Second part of Isaiah work is a veritable OT Biblical theology in itself.”
• “It could be called “The Old Testament book of Romans”.
• “New Testament written in the Old Testament.”
• “Systematic OT theology as Romans is in New.”
• 27 chapters cover same scope as NT 27 books
  • Isa 40:4-5          Prediction of John the Baptist
  • Isa 52:17-53:12 Cross, the greatest theological statement of the meaning of atonement
  • Isa 65-66           Climax of a new heaven and earth (Rev 21-22)

Structure

• First segment: Isa 40-48    Ending: No peace for wicked          Central figure: Cyrus      
• Second segment: Isa 49-57    Ending: No peace for wicked      Central figure: Servant          
• Third segment: Isa 58-66      Ending Isa 66:24                           Central figure: Messiah
• Isa 44:28- 45:10         Person of the God-head focused on: Father                Lord of History     
• Isa 52:13- 53:12         Persons of the God-head focused on: Son (Servant)    Redeemer  
• Isa 61:1 – 63:6            Persons of the God-head focused on: Holy Spirit

Work of God-head Creator-Lord of History Redeemer Sovereign Ruler @ end of age

40:2warfare ended Iniquity pardoned Received double for sins.

Context of Chapters 40-66

Isaiah predicts

• Assyria’s immanent invasion     735 BC ff       fulfilled 701 BC                     30 y upfront
• Assyria’s downfall                        735 BC ff       fulfilled 605 BC                     130 y upfront
• Babylon’s invasion & exile           735 BC ff      fulfilled 605, 597, 586 BC    150 y upfront
• Babylon’s downfall                        735 BC ff     fulfilled 539 BC                      200 y upfront
• Return to Judah                             735 BC ff     fulfilled 536 BC                      200 y upfront
• Suffering Servant                           735 BC ff     fulfilled during NT                 770 y upfront

The second division are words of consolation for the faithful under Manasseh, for future generations who would see this events come to pass in order to console them and strength faith in God, steadfastness in great upheaval, future hope.

• The nation had been destroyed and Jerusalem destroyed.
• The people were in a foreign land, a refuge people.
• They were given freedom to live in communities, build houses and engage in trade.
• They would have had the scars of the exile, all having lost loved ones, friends, and seen Babylonian atrocities
• There would have been a temptation to idolatry for the Jews in exile.
• The religion of the people was going through a major change as there was no temple and sacrifice any more.
• The universal belief in the near east was that a god and his people were inextricably bound together. The god (or gods needed his people as much as they needed him for he needed the sacrifices they brought him – this view is violently attacked in Psa 50:7-13. The conquest of his people meant the conquest of their god by the god of the conqueror, and he was bound to fade away into impotence, starved as he was by the ending of his sacrifices.
  This world view would have been held by many in Israel, therefore the shock would have been great when Jerusalem and the temple was destroyed. `The Babylonian gods greater than Jehovah?’ Jehovah had been humbled in the eyes of the nations. In this part of the book God, through the prophet Isaiah, vindicates himself, especially in chapters 40-48.

Chapters 40-48             The Vindication of Jehovah

God allowing a proud & independent nation like Assyria to bring judgement > this shows his humility.
He will rather be understood as ‘one more god’ by others than not addressing the sin of Judah.
Even as Jehovah has been “humbled” in the sight of the other gods, He now seeks to vindicate his name.
He does this by proclaiming His uniqueness among all the gods.

• No other God                           (6x)  Isa 44:6,8 … 45:5,6,21 … 45:14 … 43:11 … 46:6 … 44:24
• To whom will you liken me? (5x)  Isa 40:18,25 … 46:5,9 … 44:7.
• I am the first & last                 (3x)  Isa 41:4 … 44:6 … 48:12
• I am He                                      (5x) Isa 41:4 … 43:10-25 … 46:4 … 48:12
• I am God                                   (4x)  Isa 43:13 … 46:9 x 2 … 41:10 your God
• Self-sufficient God                           Isa 40:12-14 … 44:24 stretched out heavens above

To prove His uniqueness, He compared Himself with idols, pointing to four things to prove that.

• He is Creator – Isa 40:12-17, 40:21-22, 40:25-26, 40:28, 42:5, 44:24, 45:12, 45:18, 48:13
• He is Sovereign Lord of history – Isa 40:15,17, 40:23-24, 41:1, 41:2-4, 41:25-29, 42:9, 42:24-25, 45:1, 45:9-13, 46:11, 47:11, 48:3-5
• He is the one that is going to restore Israel to their homeland – Isa 40:1-2, 40:3-5, 40:10-11, 41:8-20, 43:1-7, 43:14-21, 43:25, 44:22-23, 45:13, 46:1-2, 48:14, 48:20-21
• He is going to declare beforehand what He intends to do, so that when it happens they will know it was Him that did it and not an idol. In this, He challenges the idols in that Jehovah can foretell the future, they can not. He then names Cyrus The Great, by name, and declares that He has raised him up for His purposes.
• Idolatry is ridiculous – Isa 40:18-20, 41:5-7, 41:24&29, 42:8, 42:17, 43:11-12, 43:17, 43:8-9, 44:6, 44:9-21, 45:16, 45:20, 46:5-7 and 48:3-5
• God’s power to predict – Isa 41:21-24, 41:26, 42:9, 43:9-10, 44:7, 44:26-45:7, 45:13, 46:8-11, 47:1-4, 47:5-7 and 48:3-5. Prediction of Cyrus Isa 41:2, 41:25, 44:26-45:13, 46:11 and 48:15

God in all of this is not far off but personal and close to us
As faithful people are caught in big judgements and national apostasy, God still seeks the individual and his faith.

• Isa 40:1    Comfort, comfort my people
• Isa 40:11  Feed flock like shepherd, gather lambs, gently lead
• Isa 41:8ff   Jacob my chosen, took from ends of earth, I have chosen you, not cast you off, fear not I am with you. I will strengthen you.
• Isa 41:14   Fear not, I will help you
• Isa 43:1    Fear not I have redeemed you, I have called you, you are mine.
• Isa 43:2   When you pass through the waters I will be with you.
• Isa 43:4   Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored and I love you.
• Isa 43:5   Fear not for I am with you.
• Isa 43:20-21 People formed for myself that they may declare my praise.
• Isa 44:1   Chosen, formed from womb. Fear not whom I have chosen.
• Isa 44:3   Pour out Spirit.
• Isa 48:17  I am the Lord your God who teaches you to profit, who leads the way to go.
• Isa 49:14-16 Compassion of Son.

Comfort for the exiled people
Isaiah foresees and addresses the questions that exiles would have

• Isa 40:27   my right disregarded?
• Isa 41:8-10, 14 I chose you, called you
• Isa 42:24 exile is brought about by God himself
• Isa 43:3-5 you are loved
• Isa 44:21-22 you are not forgotten, return!
• Isa 44:26-28 Surely return & rebuild Zion
• Isa 48:20-22 return from exile

Chapter 40                  Cry!

• Isa 40:1-2    Cry – warfare ended, pardoned, received double for sin > comfort, hope, re-acceptance, new start
• Isa 40:3-5    Cry – Prepare way of the Lord > quoted by John the Baptist Mrk 1:2
• Isa 40:6-8    Cry – things are transient, God’s word will stand forever > judgment fulfilled, restoration will fulfill also
• Isa 40:9-11    Cry – here is your God, good tidings heralded, shepherd > Jesus, gospel
• Isa 40:12-31  who is like the LORD? … greater than creation, all knowing, superior to idols, creator, mighty in power …
• Isa 40:27-31  Lord, everlasting God, Creator, never wearied, gives power to faint & strength to those waiting for him

Chapter 41                  Victor from the East

• Isa 41:1-7     Cyrus, God gives nations to him … God, the first and last … acting & powerful, not like nailed down idols
• Isa 41:8-10  Cyrus chosen, called, God with him, strengthened by God
• Isa 41:11-16  all striving against Israel … I hold you, do not fear, make you a threshing sledge
• Isa 41:17-       God answering & providing for the poor & needy, rivers on the bare heights
• Isa 41:21-29   idols are a delusion … cannot predict, have no knowledge, cannot act … contrast: God acting by Cyrus

Chapter 42                Servant, a light to the nations

• Isa 42:1-9     Description of the servant … God’s spirit on him, bring justice to nations … gentle … will faithfully work … not fail … called by God, covenant to nations, light to the nations, sight to blind, release to prisoners … pre-anounced
• Isa 42:1         I have put my Spirit on him … a revelation of the Trinity
• Isa 42:10-13  hymn of praise … God going forth like soldier
• Isa 42:14-17   I will cry out … will waste mountains … dry up pools … turn darkness into light … idolators put to shame
• Isa 42:18-20 blind, deaf messenger (?) … maybe Jesus’ identification?
• Isa 42:21-25 God magnified his teaching .. but people refuse to give heed > do not understand

Chapter 43                  God’s caring love for Israel

• Isa 43:1-4   do not fear, you are mine, I am your Savior, you are precious in my sight and honored, and I love you
• Isa 43:5-6  I will bring back your offspring
• Isa 43:7-13  Who foretold this? you are my witnesses, no one can deliver from my hand
• Isa 43:14-21  Babylon will fall, I will do a new thing, water in the wilderness, for my chosen people
• Isa 43:22-28  You did not call upon me, I have not burdened you with offerings, I blot out transgression, will not remember your sin … accuse me!

Chapter 44                  Spirit poured out, absurdity of idol worship

• Isa 44:1-5 Promise of God’s spirit poured out
• Isa 44:6-8 I am the first and last, besides me there is no god … who is like me? … who has predicted? … witnesses
• Isa 44:9-20 absurdity of idol worship … idols don’t see, know, cannot act, cannot save … false hope … idolators become like idols > can’t see, hear, understand, minds shut … delusion, lead astray … idols = fraud
• Isa 44:21-23 Israel not forgotten, forgiven
• Isa 44:24-28 God, your Redeemer, confirms the word of his servant, fulfils predictions … ruins raised up, Jerusalem inhabited, temple rebuilt … Cyrus

Chapter 45                 Cyrus, anointed, lead by God

• Isa 45:1-2   Cyrus, anointed, lead forth, given victory by God
• Isa 45:3-7   Cyrus called for the sake of Israel, he doesn’t know God, yet used by God … no other besides God … from East & West they will know that there is no other < through the fulfillment of this promise? through receiving favor though Medo-Persians? Through returned Israel? Through the One Cyrus foreshadows? … see next verse
• Isa 45:8   “heaven raining righteousness, earth let’s salvation spring up … I the LORD have created it.”
• Isa 45:9-13  “do you dare to question you about my children? about my choice of Cyrus?” Testimony: child on Ritalin
• Isa 45:14-17  “Egypt shall follow you … God is with you alone … idol makers confounded … Israel saved by the LORD.”
• Isa 45:18-19  God created earth no as chaos, Israel doesn’t need to seek God is chaos.
• Isa 45:20-25  idols vs God who alone is God, who knows the future, who alone can save, who will alone be exalted Chapter 46 Babylonian idols vs God
• Isa 46:1-2    Babylonian gods Bel & Nebo … carried by weary animals … unable to prevent them toppling
• Isa 46:3-4   God carrying Israel since birth, able to carry, sustain, save
• Isa 46:5-7   with what will you compare me?
• Isa 46:8-13  Remember this and consider: no other god from of old, no other surely fulfilling his purpose Chapter 47 Babylon will be humbled
• Isa 47:1-15  Babylon will be humbled, shamed, defeated … self-sufficiency, pride, reliance on sorcery, secure in wickedness “no one sees me” Chapter 48 Creator, Redeemer by Cyrus
• Isa 48:1-8  God proving to obstinate Israel that it was him who did it, not some idol … from of old, not predicting
• Isa 48:9-11  For my name’s sake … defer anger > not cut you off … refine you some … why should my name be profaned? … my glory I will not give to another
• Isa 48:12-19  I am God, first & last, Creator … listen to me … Cyrus announced … I teach you for your own good … o that you paid attention, then your prosperity would have been like a river
• Isa 48:20-22  Go out from Babylon … God has redeemed … Prophecy of the return in 536 BC … there is no peace for the wicked

Chapters 49-58                     Central Figure: the servant

What is the meaning of the term servant? In Acts 8:34 the eunuch asks: “about whom pray does the prophet speak, about himself or about someone else?” Servant/Servants used 31x in chapter 40-66 … 20x in chapters 40-53 … 11x in chapter 54-66. Who is being spoken about?

chapter 40-48 always singular 9x

• Isa 41:8 Israel
• Isa 41:9 Israel
• Isa 42:1 Jesus “Servant song”
• Isa 42:19 Israel
• Isa 43:10 Israel
• Isa 44:2 Israel
• Isa 44:26 The Prophet
• Isa 45:4 Israel
• Isa 48:20 Israel

chapter 49-57 Singular for first 6x referring to “The Servant” Messiah

• Isa 49:3   Isaiah? Israel? Jesus?     “Servant song”
• Isa 49:5   as above                            “Servant song”
• Isa 49:6   as above                            “Servant song”
• Isa 50:4-9                                          considered a Servant songs though no mention of the word “Servant”.
• Isa 50:10 Jesus?
• Isa 52:13 Jesus                                “Servant song”
• Isa 53:11 Jesus                                “Servant song”
• Isa 54:17  Israel (plural)
• Isa 56:6    Israel (plural)

chapter 58-66

• in all but one reference the plural is used in this section and all but one are speaking of Israel. References:
• Isa 63:17 Israel (plural)
• Isa 65:8   Israel (plural)
• Isa 65:9    Israel (plural)
• Isa 65:13 Israel (plural)
• Isa 65:14 Israel (plural)
• Isa 65:15 Israel (plural)
• Isa 66:14 Israel (plural)
• Isa 63:11 Moses (singular) the servant of the Lord.
• The term servant is a collective term as well as an individual one. There is consolation between the servant Israel, and the Messiah. Jesus fulfills the role of Israel / the Jews to the fullest.

Referring to an Individual                  Referring to all Israel

• Isa 42:1 “my chosen”                        Isa 41:8-9
• Isa 49:3 “my servant”                        Isa 44:21
• Isa 49:6 “a light to the nations”        Isa 44:2,24 43:1
• Isa 49:1 “named by My name”         Isa 43:16

Reason
God chose a nation – Abraham made a covenant. Not because He wanted a nation but because from that nation would come a man who would save the world. God’s purpose was salvation of the world. Starts:

• Gen 3:15   “seed”
• Gen 12:1-3 God chooses Abraham
• Exo 19        God chooses the nation, makes a covenant
• 2 Sam 7      God chooses a family, David and promises everlasting kingship.

Jesus was part of nation, but separate, specially chosen to save the world. Other metaphrases used about Jesus:

• Root      Isa 11:10, 53:2
• Branch  Isa 11:1 (also used of the people of Israel Isa 60:2), Jer 23:5, 33:15, Zec 3:8
• Stone    Isa 8:14

The promise was to descendants but particularly one descendant. The terms used for the promise are all inclusive of Israel, but they simultaneously focused on one representative who depicted the fortunes of the whole group. The servant was the Messianic person in the Davidic line then and finally last new David, the coming Messiah.
(After the fulfillment of the purpose of the Messiah in Isa 53, there is no longer any need for the corporate solidarity expression so servants (in plural) is used.). So this section is about the One who is coming from Israel, fully identified with Israel but destined to save Israel, to die in its place. The blessing will go worldwide Isa 49:6

In Isa 49:6 the Servant is called Israel, and this helps to explain why he and Israel both bear the title of Jehovah’s Servant. The history of Israel is not merely the preparation for the coming of Christ. Jesus the Messiah is the fulfillment of all that Israel ever stood for in the purposes of God.
Isaiah had experienced the failure of Israel and the choice of a remnant

• Looking out over the exile, he sees the failure there of the remnant.
• But beyond all the centuries of suffering and failure he sees one who is both Jehovah’s Servant and the fulfillment of all that Israel had longed to be but never was.

The Servant Songs in Isaiah

The so called “Servant Songs” are a group of passages that are considered to point to Jesus, the most famous being Isa 53. They are Isa 42:1-7, 49:1-9 50:4-9 52:13-53:12 and some would include Isa 61:13. From these we learn of the Messiah:

• He is to have a normal birth, through a normal human mother, Isa 49:1 and Isa 49:5. He is to have normal growth, Isa 53:2.
• In His ministry is to “sustain with words, him that is weary” Isa 50:4.
• His word is like a sharp sword, and polished arrow Isa 49:2.
• And His task is to bring Israel back to God, Isa 49:5-6.
• His ministry is non self-assertive, Isa 42:2-3.
• He meets unbelief Isa 53:1-2.
• His career becomes one of suffering and death, Isa 50:4-9, 52:14 53:3, 4b, 9b, 12b, 52:15a, 53:5-6, 8b 10a,11b,12c.
  • His death is to be with the rich, Isa 53:9 … His days shall be “prolonged” Isa 53:10.
  • He is then to be a light to the nations, (the Gentiles), to the ends of the earth, Isa 42:6b, Isa 49:6
• It is interesting to note that the very next chapter after the high point of Isa 53, is the inclusion of the Gentiles in Isa 54:1ff.

Chapter 49                             Servant Song (one of them)

• Is 49:1-7 servant … called, mouth like sharp sword, formed to bring Jacob back to him, but also as a light to the Gentiles … deeply despised, abhorred … yet honored by kings
• Is 49:8-13 servant as covenant to the people, apportions desolate heritages, frees prisoners, gently leads, bring back, comfort
• Is 49:14-18 Israel thinks it is forgotten & forsaken by God … yet inscribed on palms of hands
• Is 49:19-21 desolate places … > too crowded … shall bring sons & daughters … prey of the tyrant will be rescued

Chapter 50                         The Teacher / Who trusts God?

• Isa 50:1-3 mother’s divorce paper? … God powerful to save
• Isa 50:4-9 God has given me the tongue of a teacher … to sustain the weary with a word … I did not turn back
• Isa 50:7-9 confident in God’s help, vindication, victory … Rom 8:31
• Isa 50:10-11 Who trusts God? … kindlers of fire … organizing for myself alternative guidance … > lie down in torment

Chapter 51                      Reminder of / Promise of God’s redemption

• Isa 51:1-8 Listen to me … I will comfort, make the desert a garden, five teaching, justice, deliverance, salvation
• Isa 51:9 Reminder of God’s redeeming power from Egypt, from oppressors … I have put my words in your mouth
• Isa 51:17-23 Jerusalem has drunken the wrath of God, destruction, death … but now God will give wrath to tormentors

Chapter 52                      Promise of return / good news

• Isa 52:1-6 Rejoice, walk out of captivity, my people shall know my name
• Isa 52:7-12 how beautiful are the feet of the messengers bringing good news … Return to Zion … all nations will see … depart from Babylon
• Isa 52:13-15 suffering servant

Chapter 53                     Suffering Servant

• Clearest atonement theology in the Old Testament, Isa 53:4-5 especially.

Chapter 54                  the barren & forsaken redeemed & covenanted with

• Isa 54 turning around of barrenness, unfruitfulness, uselessness … probably referring to Israel … > hope

Chapter 55                      Come, buy, eat, listen, seek the LORD

• Isa 55:1-5 come, buy, eat what is good, listen carefully to me … see … nations that do not know you shall run to you > a reinstating of the Ex 19 purpose
• Isa 55:6-11 seek the LORD while he may be found, forsake evil ways … God’s higher ways & thoughts
• Isa 55:12-13 promise of joy, peace, fruitfulness

Chapter 56                     Covenant extended to all nations

Repeated Theme “all”

• Isa 40:5 all shall see
• Isa 43:6-7 all my sons will come back
• Isa 45:22 turn and be saved all
• Isa 49:6 not just for Israel but also for Gentiles
• Isa 49:22 peoples will bring sons
• Isa 51:4 light to the peoples
• Covenant extended
• Isa 56:1-2 maintain, justice, do what is right, keep sabbath, refrain from evil … > happy is the mortal who does this
• Isa 56:3-8 covenant extended to foreigners (Deu 23:3), eunuchs (Deu 23:1) welcome, blessed, made joyful
• Isa 56:7-8 house of prayer for all nations … quoted by Jesus when he cleans out temple (Mrk 11:17) … Eunuch that Philip instructs reads Isa 54, not far from Isa 56!
• Isa 56:9-12 Israel blind, sentinels & shepherds blind, have no knowledge, reject knowledge

Chapter 57                          destructive idolatry yet God’s grace on the humble

• Isa 57:1-13 Idolatry, child sacrifice, temple prostitution & adultery … persistently unrepentantly so
• Isa 57:14-21 yet still: build up the way … the high God will dwell with those of humble & contrite spirit … peace & healing to far and near … no peace for the wicked
• OT > NT a shift is seen: : national >> remnant >> individual

Chapters 58-66                The God of all history

Chapter 58                         true fast, sincere repentance

• Isa 58:1-5 the fast I do not choose: religious, bargaining, meriting
• Isa 58:6 the fast that I choose: righteousness … again an if > then passage, a re-inforcement of the law

Chapter 59

• Isa 59:1-15           sin, separating us from God
• Isa 59:15-end    God will bring judgement himself … = redemption

Chapter 60                      Gentiles coming to the light

• Gentiles coming to Israel’s > God’s > Jesus’ light … Jesus, NT, church, 2nd coming restoration

Chapter 61                   bringing a message of salvation

• Isa 61:1-3 messianic, quoted by Jesus in Luk 4:16-17
• Isa 61:4    restorers, repairers

Chapter 62                       Zion no longer forsaken but restored

• Zion no longer forsaken, but restored … blood & flesh Jews only? Or all who believe & are willing to join?

Chapter 63-64              God intervening, calling for God to rule

• Isa 63:1-6     God judges Edom by himself … Edom standing for evil humans? Unwilling? Proud?
• Isa 63:7-14   history remembered
• Isa 63:15-19 also chapter 64 … calling for God in intervene, rule

Chapter 65                     God is willing, a new creation is coming

• Isa 65:1-7     God is willing, humans are the problem …
• Isa 65:8-16   mixed judgement & restoration
• Isa 65:17-25 new creation, complete peace and well being

Chapter 66                  final, inclusive restoration … or judgement

• Isa 66:10-24  new heaven and earth
• Isa 66:18-21  inclusion of the Gentiles