Isaiah

Time line from divided Kingdom to destruction of Jerusalem

After the death of King Jehoshaphat, the kingdom of Judah entered into a long period of decline in religion and morality. Joram, the son of Jehoshaphat, married the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, rulers of Israel. The daughter’s influence in the Southern Kingdom was similar to that of her mother in the north, and it could be summed up in two words, all bad.

Years later Judah continued its sinking into a state of moral degradation during the reign of Ahaz, but she was lifted from her quagmire of defeatism by Hezekiah, the able and pious son of Ahaz. Isaiah aided Hezekiah’s reform program with enthusiasm and good sense. (from Dickson Bible] Isaiah prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

Isaiah’s Vision of Judah I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. A sinful nation loaded with guilt, a brood of evildoers have forsaken the Lord; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him. Therefore, stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. I cannot bear your evil assemblies. Your hands are full of blood; so, wash and make yourselves clean. Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, and encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, and plead the case of the widow. The actions of Jerusalem and Judah are against the Lord, defying his glorious presence. The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide

• They have no regard or respect for Jehovah God. They have brought disaster upon themselves. Since they will not repent the Lord Almighty will take from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support: all supplies of food and all supplies of water.

Isaiah saw another vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem: In the last days (the time of Christ], the mountain of the Lord's house will be the highest of all—the most important place on earth. It will be raised above the other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship. People from many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob's God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths." For the Lord's teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem.

In the days of Uzziah Isaiah saw the Lord seated on His Throne and heard a voice asking who will warn all the nations of coming disaster. Isaiah answered as all of God’s children should answer, “Hear am I send me.”

Isaiah Proclaiming God’s Message Judah The king of Assyria will have plundered the wealth of Damascus and the riches of Samaria as a river in flood, bursting its banks, pouring into Judah, and sweeping everything before it.

Babylon Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms, like nations massing together! The Lord Almighty is mustering an army for war. The Medes, who do not care for silver and have no delight in gold will strike down the young men; they will have no mercy on infants nor will they look with compassion on children. Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the Babylonians' pride, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah. She will never be inhabited or lived in through all generations.

Moab Moab will be destroyed at night. In love, a throne will be established a man from the house of David will sit on it judging the cause of righteousness.

Damascus Damascus, representing the Northern Kingdom, will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins. You have forgotten God your Savior; you have not remembered the Rock, your fortress.

Cush Woe to the land of whirring wings along the rivers of Cush (probably Ethiopia), which sends envoys by sea in papyrus boats over the water. Before the harvest, when the blossom is gone and the flower becomes a ripening grape, he will cut off the shoots with pruning knives, and cut down and take away the spreading branches. They will all be left to the mountain birds of prey and to the wild animals.

Egypt The Lord rides on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt tremble before him, and the hearts of the Egyptians melt within them. "I will stir up Egyptian against Egyptian — brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom. The Egyptians will lose heart, and I will bring their plans to nothing; they will consult the idols and the spirits of the dead, the mediums and the spiritists. I will hand the Egyptians over to the power of a cruel master, and a fierce king will rule over them," declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.

Tyre

Wail, O ships of Tarshish! For Tyre is destroyed and left without house or harbor. From the land of Cyprus word has come to them. The Lord has stretched out his hand over the sea and made its kingdoms tremble. He has given an order concerning Phoenicia that her fortresses be destroyed.

Jerusalem, the City of David Your worship of me is nothing but made-up rules taught by men. You are full of revelry saying eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow you may die. But you will all be captured and taken prisoner. The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord. And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

Comment: Israel’s focus was on pleasure rather the on God.

Hope for Redemption Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins.

Comment: They will receive salvation from Babylon and then when the Messiah comes in the last days the Covenant God gave through Moses will end. A new covenant will be established by the Messiah, Jesus the Christ, the atoning sacrifice, with forgiveness of sins.

Speaking of the Messiah to come – “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope.” This is what God the Lord says “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles.”

To people God chose to bring the Messiah into the world, Isaiah recants many of the things God had done for them in making them a nation, things they had forgotten. In all of Isaiah’s proclaiming God’s message, he constantly mentions the coming Messiah who would sit on David’s throne forever.

Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.

Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, you who are far from righteousness. I am bringing my righteousness and salvation sometime in the future and it will not be delayed.

Comment: “My righteousness and Salvation” – The Messiah, Jesus, Christ, the Atoning Sacrifice - was to come in the future. Forgiveness and salvation would be offered to everyone including the Gentiles.

“I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best and directs you in the way you should go. Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord - The law will go out from me; my justice will become a light to the nations. My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations. I will beckon to the Gentiles, I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 49)

My word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Isaiah’s Messianic Prophesies Prophecy Prophesied Fulfilled Was scourged and spit upon

• 1:6

Mark 14:65; John 19:1

His law went forth from Zion and His word from Jerusalem Isa 2:1-3 Luke 24:46-49; Acts

2:1-40

Born of a virgin

• 7:14

Matt. 1:18; Luke 2:7 He was called Immanuel

• 7:14

Matt. 1:22-23 A stone of stumbling and rock of offense

• 8:14
• 9:32; 1 Pet. 2:8

He is the light to Zebulun and Naphtali

• 9:1-3

Matt. 4:12-16 The righteousness of His reign

• 9:6-7

John 5:30; Rev.19:11

The Gentiles should be admitted into His service

• 11:10; 42:1;

John 10:16; Acts 10:44- 48; Rom. 15:9-12 He was extended upon the cross and His hands and His feet were nailed to the wood

• 25:10-11

John 19:18; 20-25

Introduced by John the Baptist

• 40:3;

Matt. 3:1-3; Luke 1:17

His compassion

• 40:11; 42:3

Matt. 12:15-20; Heb.

4:15

He was sent as a deliverer to the people

• 41:1-3

Luke 4:16-21; Luke 4:43 He was meek and with ostentation

• 42:1-2

Phil. 2:7-9 Hated by the Jews

• 49:7

John 15:24-25 He shall suffer, abuse

• 50:6

Matt. 26:67 His visage was greatly marred

• 52:14; 53:3

John 19:1-5 Rejected by His brethren

• 53:3

John 1:11; John 7:5 He suffered that He might bear away our sins

• 53:4

Matt.20:28; 26:28 He shall be whipped

• 53:5

Matt. 27:26,29 He was patient and silent in all His sufferings

• 53:7

Matt.26:63; 27:12-14 Was without guile

• 53:9
• 2:22

He was buried with the rich

• 53:9

Matt. 27:57-60 He made intercession for the murderers

• 53:12

Luke 23:24 This agony was increased by being numbered among thieves

• 53:12

Mark 15:28

He suffered alone; even the Father's presence was withdrawn

• 63:1-3

Matt. 27:46

• R. Duncan; Hermeneutics Cincinnati, n.d. pp. 395-99 and Dr. Hawley O. Taylor; Modern Science and

Christian Faith pp. 179-183

Key points from Isaiah ➢ God expects reverence, respect, honor and obedience because of your love of Him. ➢ There is always disappointment and consequences as a result of sin and rebellion. ➢ Following sin, God is always ready to forgive after one’s recognition of sin, repentance evidenced by a change in lifestyle and a return to His loving care. It is man’s choice. ➢ To those under the covenant given by God through Moses, there was a promise of forgiveness. Forgiveness is in Christ. ➢ To those in the covenant of Christ, He offers forgiveness to those who put their trust and obedience in Him.