Background: Title: 1 The title is taken from the name of the author, Isaiah. His name means (Chapters 1-39) “Jehovah is Salvation,” (Heb YESHA-YAHU ). The LXX uses HESAIAS. Isaiah is the longest of the prophetic books, and stands first Dare to Discipline in the list of .

Author: Isaiah is the author of the entire book. He was the son of Amoz, married Key Text: Isa 9:6-8 a prophetess, and had two sons whose names are connected with his For to us a child is born, to us a son is prophetic office: “Shear-jashub” and “Maher-shalal-hash-baz.” (1:1; given, and the government will be on 2:1; 7:3; 8:3; 13:1) He must have been well educated judging from his his shoulders. And he will be called command of language and knowledge of the political situation. He was officially appointed historiographer during the reign of Jotham, and Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, later during the reign of Hezekiah (2Ch 26:22; 32:32). He was first Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. called to prophetic office during the time of Uzziah (2Ki 15). And a Of the increase of his government and second call is recorded in chapter six. Most of his time was spent in peace there will be no end. He will Jerusalem. Talmudic tradition says he was “sawn asunder”during the reign on ’s throne and over his reign of Manasseh; it is possible that the writer of Hebrews refers to this in 11:37. kingdom, establishing and upholding (For a further discussion of authorship, see .) it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of Date: the Lord Almighty will accomplish 740-680 B.C. Isaiah tells us that he began to preach in the reign of this. The Lord has sent a message Uzziah and continued through the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (1:1). There are several references to time in the book and all against ; it will fall on Israel. occur in chronological order. The first is the mention of the death of Uzziah (6:1), followed by the “days of Ahaz” (7:1) and a later reference to his death (14:28). Assyrian invasions are indicated in 20:1 and in the fourteenth year of the reign of Hezekiah (36:1). Isaiah outlived Theme: (Isa 1-39) Hezekiah by a few years and recorded the death of Sennacherib, king of I. To Announce the Judgment against Israel Assyria, in 681 B.C. (36:37). Most of the sermons delivered by Isaiah were during the years of Hezekiah. and Judah because of sin and disobedi- ence. Summary: God’s rebuke centers upon His own people, Judah. They had been under II. To Announce the Hope and Restoration of His special care for nearly a 1000 years but had broken faith with Him the Faithful Remnant under the Messiah. while still counting on the covenant for protection. But God’s wrath was ready to be poured out upon them. In chapters 13 to 16, the thundered Jehovah’s vengeance upon Babylon, Assyria, Philistia, and Moab. In chapters 19 to 27, God’s attention is focused upon these nations but there is added Arabia, Jerusalem, Tyre, and the world at large.

Isaiah then makes the nation of Judah the object of most of this prophecy. Priests and prophets were once trusted, but now are seen trying to hide their wickedness from others. God’s justice and judgment are pictured as an overflowing stream that will clear away the rubbish and leave the sin exposed.

Amid all this sin, there is still a righteous remnant that will be saved. Isaiah looks through the terrible dark days and sees peace in Zion and the Lord reigning as the righteous King.

69 Sermon Outline

God Works in Mysterious Ways Introduction: Outline: A. The book of is no Fishing Manual I. Assyria and Israel 1. When most people think of Jonah, they A. Background on the Assyrian Empire seem to think primarily about a prophet 1. Assyria—by the time it becomes a factor in Biblical history. eaten by a great fish. 2. The two major periods of Assyrian ascendance. 2. Since few of the people we know have en- 3. The City of Nineveh counters with man-eating marine life, 4. The Character of the Assyrians Jonah often becomes one of those books a. The brutality of their nature. The Assyrians were infamous that seems to have little relevance to modern for their cruel and bloodthirsty practices. life. b. The brutality of their policies. If they did not invent the 3. It makes a great story so long as it remains policy of mass deportations, they certainly perfected it. in the past. Bring it into the present, how- B. Israel and Assyria ever, and we struggle to know what its 1. Before Jonah (the Assyrian threat). There were constant meaning is for today. skirmishes going on between the armies of these two nations. B. Putting Jonah in Historical Context 2. During Jonah’s time (the Assyrian predictions). Both 1. Jonah only makes sense when you under- and were predicting that Assyria would carry Israel into stand the historical context in which it oc- captivity. curs. 3. After Jonah (the Assyrian invasion). Shalmaneser V invaded a. Jewish readers understood the point of Samaria and carried off her inhabitants. the book because they knew the events surrounding it. II. “Go to the great city of Nineveh . . .” b. Too often Christian readers have ig- A. Jonah Runs From God nored the history and, thus, have de- 1. Read Jonah 1:1-3 - The first half of Jonah chronicles the stroyed the book’s ability to speak mean- prophet’s reluctance to preach to this city. ingfully to them about the God whom 2. Why does Jonah not want to preach to Nineveh? Jonah hates they serve. Assyria. 2. The prophet Jonah was a real man with real 3. Jonah runs from God. roots confronting very real problems, the B. The Rest of the Story least of which was hungry fish. 1. Jonah travels to Nineveh: Read Jonah 3:1-3a a. Born in Gath-hepher (4 miles N.E. of 2. Jonah obeys God and preaches to the people of the city. Nazareth). Only prophet other than 3. Jonah is angry with God: Read Jonah 4:1-3 Hosea to come from the Northern King- 4. The parable of the vine. dom. b. Jonah was a unique individual. Conclusion: c. Served primarily during the reign of This is not a book about a great fish but about a great God. The book of Jeroboam II (approx. 800 - 750 B.C.). Jonah is not concerned with measuring the size of a fish’s stomach but of measuring the size of the heart of God. The real miracle of Jonah is not The prophet Jonah was a real man that a fish could eat a man, but that God could change the hearts of 120,000 souls. with real roots confronting very real problems, the least of which was a hungry fish.

70 Topics

Christ in Isaiah (1-39) Major Lessons The passages concerning the Messiah and His Kingdom are so 1. The Holy One of Israel requires holiness in His people (1:4; numerous in the book that it has been called “The Gospel of 5:9; 6:1-23). Isaiah.” These scriptures present a clear picture of Christ and His work among men. It is beyond the scope of this lesson to deal 2. The Lord requires righteousness and justice to be character- with each passage as we would like. The thorough student is istic of His people (1:11-15). admonished to give honest and close attention to all the pas- sages. 3. Righteousness cannot be learned by people who are doing wrong. Living in a good environment will not make one a 2:2-4. “In the last days” has reference to the last period of good person (26:10). history before the coming of the Messiah a second time to destroy the world (this age - Heb 1:1-2). The “house of the Lord” refers 3. The kingdom has a responsibility to proclaim to the world to the kingdom or church (1Ti 3:15; Eph 2:19, 3:15). It was the salvation from sin through Christ (2:1-4). established in Jerusalem on Pentecost and all nations are now coming into that kingdom (Ac 2:1-41; Ro 9-11). It is a kingdom 4. The Lord is our Judge, Lawgiver, King, and Savior (33:22). of peace (vs 4; Lk 2:14; Jn 14:27; Col 3:15). 5. The day of the Lord is a time of judgment and a time when 6:9-12 (cf. with Mt 13:14-15). Christ spoke in parables to the everything is put right (2:6-22; 11:1-16; 12:1-6; 13:9-22; multitude and most did not understand His words about the 22:5-14; 24:1-23; 25:1-9). kingdom. They expected a physical kingdom. Jesus spoke of its spiritual nature. 6. Note: :12 is not a reference to Satan.

7:14 (cf. with Mt 1:22-23). The birth of Jesus was a miracle. Though rejected by the liberal, it is none-the-less true. But more importantly, the angels announced the entrance of , “God with us,” into the world.

8:14-15; 28:16-17 (cf. with 1Pt 2:4-6; Ro 9:33, 10:11; Ps 118:11; Ac 4:11; Eph 2:20). Jesus was to be (and is) the foundation stone of the temple. The Jews (and many today) rejected this. Thus Jesus was a stone of stumbling. But to those who believed, he was (and is) the cornerstone or foundation.

28:15 (cf. with John 11:53). The Jews were intent on the death of Jesus.

9:2-7 (cf. with Mt 4:12-16). The entire passage (9:1-7) is messianic. To those who by faith accept the sign of the “almah’s” son, gloom and despair will vanish away. The great light will come from Galilee, a region abhorred by most people in Judea. The child will grow to be Wonderful Counselor, PELE See 29:18-24 and 35:4-10 for a look at the future (now present) YOETZ, (Col 2:3; 1Co 1:24); Mighty God, EL GIBBOR, (Jn 1:1- glory of the saint in Christ (Mt 9:32; 11:5; 15:30; Lk 4:18-19; Jn 4, 18; Heb 1:8; Tit 2:13); Father-Eternal, ABI AD, (Jn 14:7-12; 5:8-9; 9:6-7; Ac 3:8). Col 1:15); Prince of Peace, SAR SHALOM, (Lk 2:11; Eph 2:14- 18). 16:5; 24:23; 32:1. It is the Lord who will rule as King from Zion and Jerusalem (Zec 14:6-7; Rev 21:23; Heb 12:22, 1:5-8) 11:1-10 (cf. with Lk 3:22-23, 32; Ac 13:22-23). The Shoot or Branch is Jesus. He is anointed by the Spirit (Mt 3:16-17). 25:8. The Messiah will be the Lord God who saves the people Verses 3-5 describe the character of the Messiah. Verses 6-10 from reproach (Mt 1:21, 5:11; Ro 3:23ff; Jn 1:29) and swallows describe the condition of the believers during His reign. up death (Hos 13:14; 1Co 15:54; Heb 2:14ff).

71 Outline Small Group Study

The Volume of Judgment Passages (Isa 1-39) Warm-up: Describe the worst class you ever had in school. What made it I. Proclamation of Judgment and Salvation Upon Judah the worst? Did you do anything that contributed to the situation? (1:1-12:6) What type of personality did the teacher have? A. Disobedience and sin bring Judgment (1:1-31) B. Description of the Messianic Age (2:1-4:6) (Use the same questions only replace “worst” with “best.”) 1. Prophecy of the Kingdom (2:1-4) 2. Day of the Lord: judgment and testing (2-4:6) Look at the Book :1-9 C. Declaration Against the Vineyard of God (5:1-30) 1. Who is the “shoot” of the stock of Jesse? Who is Jesse? D. Decision of Isaiah after his Call (6:1-13) F. Destruction of Israel by Assyria (7:1-10:4) 2. What is emphasized about the “Branch?” G. Destruction of Assyria by God (10:5-19) H. Deliverance of a Remnant and the Restoration under the 3. How do you think the characteristics of the “Branch” relate Messiah (10:20-12:6) to the attitude of the believer?

II. Prophecies Against Foreign Nations (13:1-23:18) 4. What do you think is the significance of verses 6-9? Why A. Condemnation of Babylon (13:1-14:23) are they important? Why do you think they are physically B. Condemnation of Assyria (14:24-27) going to happen? Why do you think they are figuratively C. Condemnation of Philistia (14:28-32) going to happen? D. Condemnation of Moab (15:1-16:14) E. Condemnation of Damascus and Samaria (17:1-11) 5. Verse 9 says that nothing will be hurt or destroyed in “all my F. Condemnation of Ethiopia (17:12-18:7) holy mountain.” What is the holy mountain? Why do you G. Condemnation of Egypt (19:1-20:6) think it is limited to that area? H. Condemnation of Babylon (21:1-10) I. Condemnation of Dumah/Edom (21:11-12) Looking Deeper: J. Condemnation of Arabia (21:13-17 1. How would you feel about this type of ruler in the world? K. Condemnation of Jerusalem (22:1-25) Would you make every effort to get into that country? What L. Condemnation of Tyre (23:1-18) would be some of the things you would need to do to enter?

III. Pictures of the Day of the Lord: Judgment and Blessing 2. According to your present dealings with others, what do you (24:1-27:13) think the “Branch” would say to you? Why? A. Judgment of the Earth due to Universal Sin (24:1-23) “What are you doing here?” B. Exaltation of God because of Deliverance (25:1-27:13) “Out you go!” “You're still having a hard time. Need help?” IV. Pronouncement of “Woe” Upon Unbelievers Punctuated “What makes you think I wouldn’t know?” with Blessing for the Believer (28:1-35:10) “We need more people like you.” A. Woes against the Drunkards and Scoffers (28:1-29) B. Woes against Jerusalem (29:1-24) 3. What are some of the things that others could do to maintain C. Woes against the Alliance with Egypt (30:1-31:9) (Win- peace in the “holy mountain?” What could you do? dow to God’s Mercy 30:18-33) D. Reign of the Righteous King (32:1-20) 4. What could you do differently to show more respect to the E. Woes against the Spoilers of Israel/Assyria (33:1-24) “Branch” and the citizens of the “holy mountain?” F. Woes against the Nations and Edom (34:1-17) G. Praise of the Righteous Kingdom (35:1-10) Looking Around: Share with the group two ways you see Christ ruling with peace V. Prophetic Interlude: Concerning Hezekiah (36:1-38:8) in your own life. Express it in terms similar to those in verses A. Hezekiah challenged by Assyria (36:1-22) 6-9. B. Hezekiah delivered from Assyria (37:1-38) C. Hezekiah’s illness and healing (38:1-22) D. Hezekiah’s sin brings Babylonian Captivity (39:1-8)

72 © 1994 Glen Gray and Tim Woodroof, Look Press, P.O. Box 219156, Portland, OR 97225.