H A I A S I Prophetic hope in the midst of destruction How do we experience hope when everything feels out of control? ISAIAH READING PLAN FOR ADVENT 2020 It's likely been awhile since we have read all of Isaiah. In addition to studying this prophetic book, we are committing to read it in it's entirety this Advent season. Daily Journal Prompts are provided as well. Date Passage Journal Prompt November 29 Isaiah 1-3:17 Listen November 30 Isaiah 3:18-5 Lament December 1 Isaiah 6-7 Holy December 2 Isaiah 8-10:4 Righteousness December 3 Isaiah 10:5-12:6 Wisdom December 4 Isaiah 13-16 Together December 5 Isaiah 17-19 Branch December 6 Isaiah 20-21 Whirlwind December 7 Isaiah 22-23 Reveal December 8 Isaiah 24-25 Inhabit December 9 Isaiah 26-27 Trust December 10 Isaiah 28-29 Dream December 11 Isaiah 30-32 Counsel December 12 Isaiah 33-35 Exalt December 13 Isaiah 36-38 Messenger December 14 Isaiah 39-40 Comfort December 15 Isaiah 41-44 Servant December 16 Isaiah 45-46 Remember December 17 Isaiah 47-48 Called December 18 Isaiah 49-51 Seek December 19 Isaiah 52-54 Awake December 20 Isaiah 55-57 Covenant December 21 Isaiah 58-60 Announce December 22 Isaiah 61-64 Anoint December 23 Isaiah 65-66 Holy #splcwesterville WHO WERE THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS? Before 8th Century BCE: Prophets served as advisors to the early kings of Israel. They were also in charge of anointing kings during their coronations. Their job was to speak God's word to the kings, to ensure the kings of Israel ruled according to God's law and not their own hunger for power, authority, and control. Examples: Nathan, Elijah, Elisha, and Michaiah Books: 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings 8th-4th Century BCE: God began calling prophets to prophesy to the entire nation of Israel, not only the kings. The entire nation of Israel is continually called to repent & turn back toward a relationship with God, following God's laws & upholding the covenant God made with Moses. The kings and rulers were still held accountable, but the prophecies expanded to the entire nation of Israel. Books: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Amos, Hosea, Micah, Zephaniah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Jonah, Haggai, Obadiah, Joel, Malachi The Babylonian Exile is a hugely traumatic event in Scripture. Up until this point, God promised to be present in the Temple in Jerusalem. Religious services & BABYLONIAN festivals happened in Jerusalem and people traveled from all portions of Israel to participate and be in God's presence. EXILE When the Babylonians conquered Israel, the temple was destroyed. The Israelites felt as though God's presence was no longer with them. As they were taken into captivity, they felt as though they were being banished from God's presence. However, one of the pieces of good news in Isaiah is that the Israelites learned that God was, 597-538 BCE in fact, present with them, no matter where they were in the world. Once the Israelites returned to Jerusalem, they rebuilt the temple so that they could worship on the same site again. 1ST ISAIAH 2ND ISAIAH 3RD ISAIAH 1-39 40-55 56-66 "HEAR, O HEAVENS, AND "COMFORT, O COMFORT "THUS SAYS THE LORD: LISTEN, O EARTH; FOR MY PEOPLE, SAYS YOUR MAINTAIN JUSTICE, THE LORD HAS SPOKEN: I GOD. SPEAK TENDERLY AND DO WHAT IS REARED CHILDREN AND TO JERUSALEM AND CRY RIGHT, FOR SOON MY BROUGHT THEM UP, BUT TO HER THAT SHE HAS SALVATION WILL THEY HAVE REBELLED SERVED HER TERM, THAT COME AND MY AGAINST ME." (1:2) HER PENALTY IS PAID." DELIVERANCE BE (40:1-2A) REVEALED." (56:1) This portion of Isaiah focuses on conflicts between Israel, Judah, Syria, and Assyria. This portion of Isaiah was written 3rd Isaiah was written after the about 100 years after 1st Isaiah. The Kingdom of Israel had split into 2 Babylonians had been defeated and the Israelites were allowed to Kingdoms: Israel & Judah. These The Babylonians had conquered return to Jerusalem to rebuild the kingdoms were in constant conflict. Jerusalem and took the majority of the Temple. population captive. Syria was roped in to help the Northern Those who returned to Israel found Kingdom of Israel and Assyria helped The voice of Isaiah changes to one of that pagan rituals had become the Southern Kingdom of Judah. comfort, written to a people who more prominent in Jerusalem Eventually, Assyria conquered Syria believed God had forsaken them and during the Exile. and then Israel. Judah remained they independent, but had been taken captive and away from This leads to the ending of Isaiah also under Assyrian rule. God’s presence. being one of judgment and not of hope and sets the stage for the Later, Judah formed an alliance with For them, God’s presence dwelled in prophets who come after Isaiah, Egypt to defeat Assyria and Israel was the Temple in Jerusalem. regained. continuing to call God's people back to relationship with God, The writer of this portion promised through following God's laws. that they would be able to return to Jerusalem and they would be free again. WHEN DO WE HEAR FROM ISAIAH DURING WORSHIP? Passage Liturgical Season Isaiah 1:1-20 Season after Pentecost Isaiah 2:1-5 Advent Isaiah 4:2-6 Easter Vigil Isaiah 5:1-7 Season after Pentecost Isaiah 6:1-13 Trinity Sunday & Epiphany Isaiah 7:10-17 Advent & Annunciation Isaiah 9:1-4 Epiphany Isaiah 9:2-7 Christmas Eve Isaiah 11:1-10 Advent Isaiah 12 Easter Vigil & Advent Isaiah 25:1-10 Easter Sunday & Season after Pentecost Isaiah 35:1-10 Advent & Season after Pentecost Isaiah 40:1-11 Advent Isaiah 40:21-31 Epiphany Isaiah 42:1-9 Baptism of Our Lord Isaiah 43:1-7 Baptism of Our Lord Isaiah 43:16-21 Lent Isaiah 43:18-25 Epiphany Isaiah 44:1-8 Season after Pentecost Isaiah 45:1-7 Season after Pentecost Isaiah 49:1-7 Epiphany Isaiah 49:8-16 Epiphany Isaiah 50:4-9 Passion Sunday Isaiah 51:1-11 Season after Pentecost Proper Isaiah 52:12-53:12 Good Friday & Season after Pentecost Isaiah 54:5-14 Easter Vigil Isaiah 55:1-13 Easter Vigil, Season after Pentecost, Epiphany, Lent Isaiah 56:1-8 Season after Pentecost Isaiah 58:1-12 Epiphany, Ash Wednesday, Season after Pentecost Isaiah 60:1-9 Day of Epiphany Isaiah 61:1-11 Advent Isaiah 61:10-62:3 Christmas Isaiah 62:1-5 Epiphany Isaiah 62:6-12 Christmas Eve Isaiah 63:7-9 Christmas Isaiah 64:1-9 Advent Isaiah 65:1-9 Season after Pentecost Isaiah 65:17-25 Easter Sunday Isaiah 66:10-16 Season after Pentecost NOTES __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ ISAIAH 2:1-5 1 The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. 3 Many peoples shall come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4 He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. 5 O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord! Isaiah begins with setting the stage for Note: The knowledge that other empires wanted to overthrow Jerusalem is the entirety of Isaiah's prophecy. We juxtaposed with this hope-filled knowledge that people outside of God's first learn how far God's people had covenants will come to Mount Zion to learn about God's ways and that God's strayed. Isaiah is prophesying in people will be sent out to be light in the world. Jerusalem, which is in the land of Judah, part of the Southern Kingdom Who do we hope God calls into our lives? ______________________________ of Israel. It was the capital city of the _____________________________________________________________________ Southern Kingdom and, we learn in Who are we fearful God will call into our lives?__________________________ this passage, will be the location _____________________________________________________________________