#955 Introduction to Isaiah "The Lord is Salvation"

It's hard to explain how much I have been looking forward to studying Isaiah, and I am often in here throughout the course of studying other books. Isaiah provided many a hang up for me when I wanted the Bible not to be true, or at least more negotiable, a mere wisdom book perhaps, but not the Word of God. It is one thing to believe that a god exist, but quite another to believe that He is the God of the Bible. This book was a great mountain for others throughout history to ascend as well. Before the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls some scholars insisted that the book could not have been written before the time of Christ. There reasoning, well they had no copies that they thought could be dated B. C., and this especially applying to it's very detailed descriptions of Messiah, Who came some 600 to 700 years after the time of Isaiah. Isaiah 52:13 (The suffering Messiah) - chapter 53 are a light that shines far too bright for those of us described in Scripture this way:

…18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light, because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.… John 3: 18-20

The copies found in the Dead Sea Scrolls were not only dated to some 200 years B.C., but they also lined up so well with the copies of modern text that there is no argument left for mishandling or additions that would change the content or it's clear meaning. So with that stumbling block removed, then what was their hang up now? Why did I still not want to believe? 

…10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one. 11 There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”… Romans 3: 10-12

…6 The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s Law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God.… Romans 8: 6-8

It was also interesting to note how much the Dead Sea Scrolls were coveted and sought after by collectors, but was that the purpose of God? If these are the words of the Creator, Who spoke the universe into being, was it for marketability, a Mona Lisa to be forged, a plaque to be hung? So you own a piece of God's word, as does everyone who owns a copy of the Bible, but do you love it, or is it collecting dust?

1 Of David. I give You thanks with all my heart; before the gods I sing Your praises. 2 I will bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your loving devotion and Your faithfulness; You have exalted Your name and Your word above all else. 3 On the day I called, You answered me; You emboldened me and strengthened my soul.… Psalm 138: 1-3

…10 With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me stray from Your commandments. 11 I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You. 12 Blessed are You, O LORD; teach me Your statutes.… Psalm 119: 10-12

…15 From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.… 2 Timothy 3: 15-17

That God has placed His Word with His name, then all His integrity lies there, and everything He has spoken must come to pass. Messiah would have to come, would have to suffer, and sin would have to be defeated, if God is a God of His word. 

About Isaiah:

• His name means "The Lord is Salvation"
• He was a prophet in Judah and Jerusalem from approximately ca. 740-686 B.C.
• He prophesied during the reins of 4 primary kings: Uzziah , Jotham , Ahaz , and Hezekiah.
• Jewish tradition holds that he was sawn in half with a wooden saw at the order of King Manasseh.

…36 Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated. 38 The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground.… Hebrews 11: 36-37

• He was married and had two sons - "Shear-Jashub" meaning (a remnant shall return), and "Maher-Shalahash-baz" meaning (hasting to the spoil, hurrying to the prey).
• He prophesied during the time of the divided kingdom, Israel to the north and the southern kingdom of Judah. 
• His prophecies concerning Sennacherib and Hezekiah were fulfilled during his ministry, so his credentials as a prophet were great even then. Is. 37 and 2 Kings 20
• It is interesting that there are 66 canonical books in the Bible and 66 chapters in Isaiah.
•  He prophesies and names Cyrus of Persia as Judah's deliverer from Babylon.
• Isaiah is referenced or quoted by all four of the gospel writers, by Jesus, and the Apostle Paul. I will try to include those passages as they come up in each of the chapters.

Outline

I. Judgment (1:1–35:10)

A. Prophecies concerning Judah and Jerusalem (1:1–12:6)

1. Judah’s social sins (1:1–6:13)

2. Judah’s political entanglements (7:1–12:6)

B. Oracles of Judgment and Salvation (13:1–23:18)

1. Babylon and Assyria (13:1–14:27)

2. Philistia (14:28–32)

3. Moab (15:1–16:14)

4. Syria and Israel (17:1–14)

5. Ethiopia (18:1–7)

6. Egypt (19:1–20:6)

7. Babylon continued (21:1–10)

8. Edom (21:11, 12)

9. Arabia (21:13–17)

10. Jerusalem (22:1–25)

11. Tyre (23:1–18)

C. Redemption of Israel through World Judgment (24:1–27:13)

1. God’s devastation of the earth (24:1–23)

2. First song of thanksgiving for redemption (25:1–12)

3. Second song of thanksgiving for redemption (26:1–19)

4. Israel’s chastisements and final prosperity (26:20–27:13)

D. Warnings against Alliance with Egypt (28:1–35:10)

1. Woe to drunken politicians (28:1–29)

2. Woe to religious formalists (29:1–14)

3. Woe to those who hide plans from God (29:15–24)

4. Woe to the pro-Egyptian party (30:1–33)

5. Woe to those who trust in horses and chariots (31:1–32:20)

6. Woe to the Assyrian destroyer (33:1–24)

7. A cry for justice against the nations, particularly Edom (34:1–35:10)

II. Historical Interlude (36:1–39:8)

A. Sennacherib’s Attempt to Capture Jerusalem (36:1–37:38)

B. Hezekiah’s Sickness and Recovery (38:1–22)

C. Babylonian Emissaries to Jerusalem (39:1–8)

III. Salvation (40:1–66:24)

A. Deliverance from Captivity (40:1–48:22)

1. Comfort to the Babylonian exiles (40:1–31)

2. The end of Israel’s misery (41:1–48:22)

B. Sufferings of the Servant of the Lord (49:1–57:21)

1. The Servant’s mission (49:1–52:12)

2. Redemption by the Suffering Servant (52:13–53:12)

3. Results of the Suffering Servant’s redemption (54:1–57:21)

C. Future Glory of God’s People (58:1–66:24)

1. Two kinds of religion (58:1–14)

2. Plea to Israel to forsake their sins (59:1–19)

3. Future blessedness of Zion (59:20–61:11)

4. Nearing of Zion’s deliverance (62:1–63:6)

5. Prayer for national deliverance (63:7–64:12)

6. The Lord‘s answer to Israel’s supplication (65:1–66:24)