Through The Bible

Session #19

Isaiah

October 2, 2002

Why are the prophets so hard to read and understand?[1] Think about this and it may help...

1. Don’t think about prophetic material as a ‘book’ in the modern sense of the word. Prophets were activists. They were more involved in preaching than in writing. They didn’t do their work so that a cohesive book could be written about their work and their life.

2. Think about the context in which speeches are given. If you take a modern speech from any person delivering it, it is delivered in a specific context for a specific reason. You need to understand as much as you can about that context in order to understand the speech. Much of the prophetic material is like that.

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Prophetic Material – some characteristics and misconceptions.[2]

1. Misconception #1: “The minor prophets are not as important as the major ones.”

• The designations only reference the length of the books.
• Major: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel.
• Minor: Amos, Hosea, Micah, Joel, Jonah, Obadiah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi. (All written on 1 scroll).

2. Misconception #2: “There are two types of prophets – those who spoke, and those who wrote.”

• All of the prophets were primarily speaking prophets. Remember this was first an oral tradition.

3. Misconception #3: “The Old Testament prophets were merely, or even mainly, social reformers.”

• Dominant concern was the relationship of people to their God. Sure, they were active for social change but that wasn’t their primary focus.

4. Misconception #4: “The prophets were mystics.”

• They were not people living detached from the real world. They very much lived in the real world.

5. Misconception #5: “The prophets were primarily interested in the future.”

• The heart of prophecy is connected to one’s present relationship to God. Prophets may have spoken about the future, but it was always contingent on the present. The future was not set in stone but was conditioned by the present.

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The Character and Position of Isaiah[3]

• Isaiah has always had a position of prominence among Israel’s prophets. Why?

- Isaiah is a book that speaks about the future and the coming of the Messiah.

- Isaiah is not only regarded by many as the first and greatest prophet but as the first apostle and evangelist.

- Isaiah is cited more than any other book in the Old Testament.

- Problem: Isaiah’s prominence has never translated into ease of interpretation of the book!

Divisions of Isaiah

• Attempts at understanding Isaiah on historical grounds has led to dividing Isaiah into three separate collections:

- 1^st Isaiah (chapters 1-39)

- 2^nd Isaiah (chapters 40-55)

- 3^rd Isaiah (chapters 56-66)

Concepts which seem to bind together the three sections: (Seitz, p. 3)

• Emphasis on Zion
• God as the ‘holy one of Israel’
• Sin and forgiveness
• Deafness and recovery of sight
• Plays upon the name Isaiah
• Promise of salvation
• Exodus motifs
• Divine Council
• Prophetic commissioning

Historical Considerations in Isaiah

• Look at the chart – 8^th century prophets at a glance.
• In 1:1 we learn Isaiah prophesied to Judah and Jerusalem during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. This would place Isaiah ministering during the years 740 BC – 700 BC ....approximately.
• Isaiah’s prophetic career coincides with the rise of Tiglath-pileser (Assyria) whose year of ascension is 744 BC.
• The man Isaiah

- Citizen of Jerusalem in Judah.

- Married man with two children (at least).

- Influential in the court of Jerusalem.

• During Uzziah’s reign, the threat of Tiglath-pileser of Assyria became real and constant. See 2 Kings 15:19 where Menahem, king of Israel tried to buy off Tiglath-pileser – hence, the threat was real or he wouldn’t have tried to buy him off! (Note: King Pul of Assyria and Tiglath-pileser are one in the same). Also of note here, Isaiah is on record as being against such alliances – Isaiah 7:4-9 – “If you do not stand firm in faith, you shall not stand at all” (v. 9).

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Isaiah 1-39

The content of the first 39 chapters varies widely but there are certain overarching themes binding the whole thing together:

1. Isaiah is concerned about the religion and faith of Israel but these are so intertwined with politics and national life. He addresses sin and evil in society but also addresses matters of foreign policy.

2. The holiness of God is a predominant theme in chapters 1-39. The holiness of God is in sharp contrast to the unholiness of Israel.

Outline of Isaiah 1-39[4]

General Observations:

• This material is from the latter half of the 8^th century. References to Assyria (7.17, 20; 8.4, etc.) and the confrontation with King Ahaz (7.1-25) help us date.

I. Isaiah 1-12

A. Summons to a radical trust in Yahweh even when the neighbors think it’s better to trust the Assyrians. See 7.9 > “If you do not stand firm in faith, you shall not stand at all.”

B. Isaiah felt trusting Assyria was a wholesale rejection of Yahweh.

C. The primary tone of these chapters is judgment.

D. The destiny of Judah and Jerusalem is the primary sphere of vision.

E. Unfruitful vineyard > 5.1-7; Isaiah’s call > 6.1-13; the coming of the righteous king > 9.1-7 (note: could have originally been describing Hezekiah = 2 Ki. 18).

II. Isaiah 13-23

A. God is not only involved and sovereign over Judah and Jerusalem, but is sovereign over the rest of the world too.

B. All nation/states are under God’s hand. Assyria was the textbook definition of a superpower in the 8^th century. Application for us today is that no nation/state is autonomous. We’re all under God’s hand.

C. Isaiah 20 > How far would you go for God?

III. Isaiah 24-27

A. God’s judgment on the power of evil in the world system. The ‘system’ is whatever has been set up to run, administer, and abuse people in the world.

B. This section lacks the historical specificity that the previous sections had.

C. Summary of section: The present world system – which is arrogant and endlessly exploitative and which creates hardships for Jews – is under assault from God and will be brutally nullified.

D. Message for today: We should be cautioned about abusing those who remain on the margins in this world. God is looking out for them.

IV. Isaiah 28-33

A. These chapters have close links to chapters 1-12. Most scholars believe they come from the Isaiah of the 8^th century.

B. There’s a 2-stage view to history in this section:

1. Jerusalem and Judah will be subjected to a severe judgment.

2. Jerusalem and Judah will be restored to full well-being by God’s gracious hand.

V. Isaiah 34-35

A. God will not leave the world as it is, in bondage, drought, and oppression, but will set it right.

B. Chapter 35 the ultimate theme is homecoming.

C. There’s a judgment – grace pattern to the section.

VI. Isaiah 36-39

A. This section stands in close relationship to 2 Kings 18-20.

B. The historical reality they present: the threat of Assyria, the emergence of Babylon as a new power, and the important interaction of king and prophet.

C. More narrative in this section.

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[1] Some of this information comes from Peter C. Craigie, The Old Testament, Its Background, Growth, & Content (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1986), pp. 148ff.

[2] Some of the basic information about characteristics and misconceptions comes from Celia Brewer Marshall’s, A Guide Through The Old Testament (Louisville: Westminster / John Knox Press, 1989).

[3] This information comes from Christopher R. Seitz’s commentary, Isaiah 1-39, Interpretation (Louisville: John Knox Press, 1989).

[4] This outline comes from Walter Brueggemann’s commentary, Westminster Bible Companion, Isaiah 1-39 (Louisville: Westminster / John Knox Press, 1998).