Isaiah Introduction
Synopsis:
Isaiah lived during the decline of Israel in the shadow of Assyria. He spoke the word of God to a people who were "deaf and blind" (see 6:10), who refused to listen to his warnings of looming disaster. He warned that the sin of the people of Judah would bring God's judgment, yet he also declared that God is sovereign and would use Cyrus the Persian to return them from exile. The book speaks of a "servant," a "man of sorrows," who would be "wounded for our transgressions," accomplishing God's purposes of salvation (52:13-53:12). The final chapters give a beautiful description of a new creation in which God will rule as King, judging the wicked and establishing eternal peace. Isaiah prophesied about 740-700 b.c. (possibly till the 680s).
Authorship: Isaiah
- Hebrew - Yeshaiah “Yahweh is Salvation”
- Very scrutinized is the authorship of Isaiah because of the accurate prophecies concerning the Fall of Babylon by Cyrus. The naming of Cryus 200 years before the Fall of Babylon in 539 BC has led critics to split Isaiah up into 3 sections: 1) Proto-Isaiah (Ch 1-39) 2) Deutero-Isaiah (Ch 40-55) 3) Trito-Isaiah (Ch 56-66). The failure of this is that it can't account for the numerous Messianic prophecies that came hundreds of years before Jesus.
- Jewish tradition says that Isaiah was sawn in half by King Manasseh. (cf Heb 11:28)
Date: 740-680 BC
Based upon the Thiele's Chronology.
Simple Outline:
1. Prophecies of Jugment (Is 1-36)
A. Judah (Ch 1-12)
B. Nations (Ch 13-23)
C. Day of the Lord (Ch 24-27)
D. Judgment and Blessing (28-35)
2. Historical Interlude (Is 36-39)
A. Sennacherib's Invasion (Ch 36-39)
3. Prophecies of Hope (Is 40-66)
A. Israel's Deliverance (Ch 40-48)
B. Israel's Deliverer (Ch 49-57)
C. Israel's Future (Ch 58-66)
4 Servant Songs:
1) Is 42:1-4
2) Is 49:1-6
3) Is 50:4-9
4) Is 52:13-53:12 (Suffering Servant)
1st Stanza: Is 52:13-15 His humiliation & exaltation
2nd Stanza: Is 53:1-3 His experience of rejection
3rd Stanza: Is 53:4-6 His vicarious suffering
4th Stanza: Is 53:7-9 His sacrificial death
5th Stanza: Is 53:10-12 His reconciling atonement & resurrection
Messianc Prophecies (Ch 11-12):
- Is 11:1,10 Descendent of David, stem of Jesse
- Is 11:2 Filled with Holy Spirit
- Is 11:3 Fear the Lord
- Is 11:4,5 Merciful & Righteous Judge
- Is 11:10 The Gentiles will seek Him
- Is 11:11-16 Remnant of Israel will be gathered
- Is 12:1-6 Joy in God’s salvation
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