Through The Bible

Session #20

Isaiah 40-66

October 16, 2002

Who was Isaiah? (Comments from 10-2-02)

• Look at the chart – 8^th century prophets at a glance.
• A prophet to Judah and Jerusalem during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Dates Isaiah during the years 740 BC – 700 BC.
• Coincides with the rise of Tiglath-pileser (Assyria) - year of ascension: 744 BC.
• The man Isaiah

- Citizen of Jerusalem in Judah.

- Married man with two children (at least).

- Influential in the court of Jerusalem.

What do we know about Isaiah’s day?[1]

• Time of prosperity.
• Judah regaining military and economic strength under leadership of Uzziah.
• Despite prosperity, trouble was on horizon – Tiglath-pileser of Assyria.
• As the Assyrians continued to march in the direction of Judah, a pro-Assyrian party was gaining power in Judah encouraging the people to make peace with Assyria. Here’s where Isaiah began speaking out (see 7.1ff).
• Ahaz (son of Jotham, son of Uzziah) formed an alliance with Tiglath-pileser at Damascus and cult worship was introduced in the Temple at Jerusalem. We don’t know if Ahaz ever acknowledged Isaiah as a man of God or a prophet. We do know he didn’t listen to him.
• When Hezekiah came to the throne, it was a new beginning for Isaiah. Hezekiah cleansed the Temple and re-introduced a national celebration of the Passover and invited Israel to join Judah.
• Isaiah’s prophetic career continued into the reign of Manasseh. Tradition credits Manasseh with killing Isaiah. Isaiah was sawn in two pieces while hiding in a hollow tree trunk (not supported in Scripture though.). He could have died around 680 BC.

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) (covered 10-2-02)

- 2^nd Isaiah (chapters 40-55)

- 3^rd Isaiah (chapters 56-66)

Overview of Isaiah 1-39 that we looked at on October 2^nd.

• Isaiah 7:9 > “If you do not stand firm in faith you shall not stand at all.”
• God is sovereign over all nations (Isa. 13-23).
• God is looking out for those on the margins of the world (Isa. 24-27).
• God will restore (Isa. 34-35).

Isaiah 40-55

• Known as deutero-Isaiah (2^nd Isaiah)
• Most scholars today think that someone other than the historical Isaiah wrote these chapters. It was not uncommon for someone to write in someone else’s name. If this is someone other than the historical Isaiah, who is it? We don’t know.
• Why do we think it’s someone other than the Isaiah of chapters 1-39?

- There’s a difference in language and style.

- Message is different too.

• Period: The Babylonians have replaced the Assyrians as Judah’s taskmasters. This section of Isaiah takes place during the Babylonian exile, or shortly after it, and the prophet is working among the exiles.
• Message: restoration will happen but there’s probably going to be more trouble first.

- The fall of Jerusalem meant that the 8^th century prophets were right.

- Once the city fell, the message turned from that of doom to one of deliverance.

• Selected passages:

- Isaiah 40 > comfort, messianic (v. 3), wings of eagles (v. 31).

- Isaiah 42 > people are bruised but not broken (vv. 3-4); note the gentleness of the restoration (v. 6).

- Isaiah 52 > welcome the good news of deliverance (v. 7).

- Isaiah 53

Ø Of the 12 verses in this chapter, all but one are quoted in the New Testament. Quotations are found in all the gospels, Acts, Romans, Philippians, Hebrews, and 1^st Peter.

Ø The wide use of this chapter shows the New Testament writers felt it was vital to understanding the Gospel.

Ø This is considered the 4^th of the Servant Songs in Isaiah. The others are: 42:1-4; 49:1-6; and 50:4-9.

Ø The author’s primary concern is not that the person suffered, but that he triumphed over suffering. All references to suffering are in the past tense. All references to triumph are in the future tense.

Ø There continues to be a great deal of mystery surrounding this section, i.e., how to interpret, who is the servant, etc.

- Isaiah 55 > the grace of God; the mystery of God.

Isaiah 56-66

• Known as Trito-Isaiah or 3^rd Isaiah.
• Usually dated between the return of the exiles in 538 BC and the completion of the Temple in 515 BC (cf. 60.13; 64.11; 66.1).
• Again, the author of this final section is unknown. Most scholars would not attribute it to the historical Isaiah of chapters 1-39 but to someone who uses his name. Many have considered 3^rd Isaiah to be the work of 2^nd Isaiah’s author.
• What was going on in Jerusalem at this time?

Ø The exiles have returned from Babylon

Ø The people had arrived with the promises of restoration and renewal from 2^nd Isaiah ringing in their ears. The Temple would be restored (44.8), Zion would be overflowing with inhabitants (49.19-21; 54.1-3), the wealth of all nations would be theirs (45.14), and kings would come and pay tribute to them (49.22-23).

Ø The fulfillment of these promises fell short of the people’s expectations. They lacked resources to rebuild; opposition from neighbors forced them to postpone rebuilding (cf. Ezra 4.1-5); economic conditions went from bad to worse as drought, plague, hail storms resulted in crop failures (cf. Hag. 1.6, 9-11; 2.16-17). They also were forced to pay heavy tribute to Persia and provide quarters for the soldiers quartered in their land (Neh. 5.15). The people saw themselves dominated by the Persian overlords.

Ø As the years of disappointment in renewal became decades, people began to doubt the Lord loved them (Malachi 1.2) and whether there was any benefit to serving God (Malachi 3.14).

• 3^rd Isaiah’s task was to be the voice of God in this time of transition.

- Transition one of the hardest times in the midst of change.

- One wonders whether going back might be easier than moving ahead.

• Task of 3^rd Isaiah was twofold:

1. Furnish a satisfactory explanation for the delay in the renewal process.
2. Rekindle people’s confidence in God and that God’s promises would become reality.

• Selected passages:

- Isaiah 57 > God’s anger will not continue and the wicked will not continue to prosper.

- Isaiah 58 > the people will be like a watered garden (v. 11) and God’s chosen fast (vv. 6-9).

- Isaiah 61 > (v. 1) connected to Luke 4.16ff.

- Isaiah 62 > called by a new name (v. 2) > connected to Revelation 2.17.

- Isaiah 66 > Imagery of God as a mother who comforts her child.

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[1] This information comes from Samuel J. Schultz’s work, The Message of the Old Testament (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1986), pp. 139ff.