Introduction Part Three

Continued from Last Week:

An Introduction to Isaiah, Part 3

The Name YHWH___________

Yahweh is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, Jehovah in the English and Greek Bible is a modern scholarly Invention: (the old timers were not very good at Hebrew and they thought that the Y sound in Hebrew should sound as an English "J" but they were wrong). Hebrew scripts write it as four consonants, rendered in Roman letters as YHWH, due to the fact that most alphabets, prior the Greek alphabet, did not display vowels, and required that vowels be mentally pronounced in the proper places. The most likely meaning of the name may be “He Brings Into Existence Whatever Exists," but there are many theories and none is regarded as conclusive by scholars.[1]

The Bible describes Yahweh as the one true God who delivered Israel from Egypt and gave the Ten Commandments: "Then God spoke all these words. He said, ‘I am Yahweh your God who brought you out of Egypt, where you lived as slaves. You shall have no other gods to rival me.’”[2] Yahweh revealed himself to Israel as a jealous God who would not permit his people to make idols or follow gods of other nations[3] or worship gods known by other names, "I am Yahweh, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, or My praise to idols."[4] Yahweh demanded the role of the one true God in the hearts and minds of Israel, "Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God; Yahweh is one: and you shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might."[5]

Reasons to Believe that Isaiah was Written by a single Writer.

Note: Many modern scholars divide the book of Isaiah into two parts and two authors. Primarily they attribute chapters 1-39 as written by one author and chapters 40-66 written by a different author. Here is why it is reasonable to believe they are incorrect.

A. Consider several quotations from Isaiah found in the NT.

a. Matthew 3:1-3 quotes Isaiah 40:3

Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,

2"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

3For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said,
         "THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS,
         'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD,
         MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!'"

b. Matthew 4:13-16

13and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.

14This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet:
    15"THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI,
         BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES--
    16"THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT,
         AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH,
         UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED."

c. Matthew 8:17; Isaiah 53

17This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: "HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES."

d. Concerning Gentile Salvation: Matthew 12:15-18 from Isaiah 42:1-4

5But Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. Many followed Him, and He healed them all,

16and warned them not to tell who He was.

17This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet:
    18"BEHOLD, MY SERVANT WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN;
         MY BELOVED IN WHOM MY SOUL is WELL-PLEASED;
         I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM,
         AND HE SHALL PROCLAIM JUSTICE TO THE GENTILES.

e. Concerning the hardness of the Jews: Matthew 13:13-14; Isaiah 6:9-10.

13"Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

14"In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,
'YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND;
YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE;

f. Concerning hypocritical worship: Matthew 15:7; Isaiah 29:13.

7"You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you:
    8'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS,
         BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.
    9'BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME,
         TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.'"

g. Concerning the anointed Jesus.....Luke 4:17 from Isaiah 61:1-2.

17And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,

h. Concerning the unbelieving Jews: John 12:37-40; Isaiah 53 and 6.

37But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him.

38This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: "LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT? AND TO WHOM HAS THE ARM OF THE LORD BEEN REVEALED?"9 (Isaiah 53:1, John thought that Isaiah wrote this material).

39For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again,

40"HE HAS BLINDED THEIR EYES AND HE HARDENED THEIR HEART, SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT SEE WITH THEIR EYES AND PERCEIVE WITH THEIR HEART, AND BE CONVERTED AND I HEAL THEM."

41These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him.

I. Concerning the Eunuch's conversion: Acts 8:28 ff. from Isaiah 53

28and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.

29Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot."

30Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"

31And he said, "Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:
         "HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER;
         AND AS A LAMB BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT,
         SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH.
    33"IN HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY;
         WHO WILL RELATE HIS GENERATION?
         FOR HIS LIFE IS REMOVED FROM THE EARTH."

j. Other passages : Romans 9:27 from Isaiah 10:22-23; Romans 9:29 from Isaiah 1:9; Romans 10:16 from Isaiah 53:1; Romans 10:20-21 from Isaiah 65.

B. Reason Two: The Jewish Nation Has Always Accepted the Unity of Isaiah.

1. The Jews were the custodians of the Book of Isaiah and they thought it was written by one author.

a. The Dead Sea Scrolls present Isaiah as one Book.

b. The entire book is titled "Isaiah" in every known scroll.

c. His name is used 15 times in the book besides the title page.

C. Reason Three: The Uncertainty of those who oppose the one author.

1. Reasons Given for More than One Author.

a. The same old, tired, Linguistic argument.

Response Isaiah speaks to more than one audience which would demand a different style.

b. Different Prophetic methods used in the book.

Response All authors, inspired or not, write in different styles in the very same work (i.e. Shakespeare, Will S. Durant and Ariel Durant).

c. The historical setting of chapters 40 through 66.

1) Prophecy is usually written in future tense.

2) Isaiah 40 through 66 speaks to people as if they were already in captivity.

3) The argument goes something like this. "This proves this section was written in the 6^th century since that was when they went into captivity.

4) The liberal element searches the Bible for material for verb tenses to prove their point. (That it should be future tense).

5) Then they will say that since Isaiah son of Amoz was not alive in the 6^th century that means chapters 40 through 66 must have been written by different people.

Response.

1) The "historical perfect" tense is found in scripture and other grammar.

2) Large sections of scripture which deal with future events and yet describe them as present and sometimes even past are scattered through out the Bible. (See Daniel 7 and 8; Ezekiel 9-11).

3) It isn't clear that all or even most of Isaiah 42:66 speaks of generations and events beyond the life time of Isaiah.

4) The impression is left that the idea of the Babylonian captivity and rescue from it isn't from the 8^th century at all. This is completely false. Micah 4:10 explicitly mentions the Babylonian captivity and speaks of plowing Judah under. Isaiah says the same thing in chapters 13 and 14.

The Scope of the Book from the Late Homer Hailey (Selected Sections).

Within his own kingdom Isaiah saw the results of apostasy from God: political, moral, and social decay. He saw Assyria a nation from afar as the instrument of God used to chasten the people in an attempt to save a remnant. Isaiah opens his prophecy with a description of Judah's apostasy. God's call to come and reason together and His offer of pardon is found in chapter 1. This is followed by a vision of the latter days in which God's ideal for His city of Zion will be realized (2:1-4). Immediately drawn back to the present condition in Judah, the prophet denounced the ungodly rulers and judges, the false prophets and the wanton women who contributed to the moral decay of society (2:5-4:1). But it was not always to be this way. God will eventually have a "purged" and "purified" remnant who would rejoice in Him (4:2-6). Isaiah then proceeds to pronounce "woes" on different segments of society and to warn of impending judgment (chapter 5). At this point we read that upon the death of Uzziah, the prophet receives his call from YHWH and his is to carry a message of doom and hope to the people (6).

There had been both good and bad rulers in Judah, but even among the best there were serious flaws. Look no further than King David who was an adulterer and murderer. Solomon did not fare much better. He introduced idolatry into the nation and established slavery as a staple of life. Uzziah was one of the best, yet still with serious faults. He violated the office of the priest. Even Hezekiah was in trouble. He wanted to trust in Egypt and not God. He showed the Babylonians the temple treasures and for this sin Judah was carried into captivity (Isaiah 39).

In light of all these failed kings, Isaiah will announce that God will raise up a king who will rule in righteousness. This becomes a major theme of Isaiah (chs. 7-12). This king will be born of a virgin, a sign to the house of David (ch.7). This event will be preceded by the scourge of the Assyrians (ch.8), bringing darkness to Israel. But eventually, those who sit in darkness will see light, the light of a new King and kingdom (9:1-7). Severe judgments are then pronounced on Ephraim and Judah (9:8-10:4). These judgments are followed by the announcement that Assyria will invade the land and in turn destroy it (10:5-34). The prophet reaches a climax with the coming of the Branch from Jesse's root and His rule (ch.11) and a song of thanksgiving (ch.12).

Before the coming of this new spiritual king and His kingdom, all the heathen nations of that time, from the least to the greatest will be judged and brought to an end (chs. 13-23). With their destruction the kingdom of God will stand even more glorious. This proclamation of judgment on the heathen nations and especially the great world city, which will be left a waste and desolation. This foreshadows the fall of Babylon in Revelation 17 and 18. In this world judgment YHWH will protect those who put their trust in Him (chs. 24-27). Ephraim, Judah, and Jerusalem are given warnings and threats from YHWH on the danger of making alliances with Egypt. There is assurance however that YHWH will reign in a gracious manner over His people (chs. 28-33) The futures of Edom (a symbol of the world) and of Zion (the kingdom of God) are contrasted (chs. 34-35). The first of the two major sections of Isaiah closes with a historical section. Divine intervention thwarts Assyria's effort to take Jerusalem. Faith wins the final battle this time. This is followed by Hezekiah's sickness and recovery and his showing the treasures of the kingdom to Merodach-baladan's messengers, whereupon YHWH pronounces that Judah will be carried off to Babylon (chs. 36-39).

With victory over Assyria and the assurance by YHWH of Babylonian captivity at some future date, the prophet's work was now to prepare the people for captivity at some future date and assure them of the return of a remnant. The second major part of the book is the record of this phase of Isaiah's work. The prophet entered into an all out war against the idols setting YHWH as the sole deity (chs. 40-48). He named Cyrus as the deliverer whom God was to raise up (44: 28-45:7). Amid words of encouragement, assurances, and inclusion of the Gentiles in God's plan, we find songs of the Messiah who was to come and warnings as to the consequences of further sins against YHWH. With the coming of the Servant there will be a glorious kingdom which has borders far beyond what they knew (chs. 49-57). Again, the glorified Zion is described and salvation is assured. The old order was to pass away and there will be a new order where the saints will behold the dead bodies of their enemies (chs. 58-66).

Thus, it was given to Isaiah to see the hand of God in the affairs of his day and to behold Him working out His purpose in history as wave follows wave, the prophet will see an emerging remnant of faithful, purified saints through whom YHWH will bring forth His righteous King, Immanuel _"God with us." His indestructible kingdom will fill the earth from sea to sea. The coming of the Servant King and His Kingdom is the essence of this man's prophecy.

PART ONE

THE ASSYRIAN PERIOD: CONFLICT AND VICTORY (1-39).

Discourses and Prophecies Centering in Jerusalem and Judah (1-12)

Oracles of Judgment Against Individual Nations (13-23)

World Judgment and Deliverance of God's People (24-27)

Jerusalem-Zion: Warnings and Promises (28-35)

A Historical Reminder (36-39).

Chapter One:

1. The Sin Sick and Rebellious nation (vv.2-9)

2. Corruption and hypocritical worship (vv. 10-15)

3. God's call to reformation of life (vv. 16-20)

4. The lament over Jerusalem (vv. 21-23)

5. Redemption through purging (vv.24-31)

The Personal Introduction. ________

V.1___We have a great deal of information in this passage. This is a vision. In 2:1 it is called the "word" that he saw. This man's name is "Isaiah" (YHWH saves). This vision is not just for this chapter but for the entire book (See Deut. 18:18-19).

Although the vision was concerning Judah and Jerusalem according to 9:1-10:9 it was also for Israel (called Ephraim) and the heathen nations of the day (chs. 13-23; 24-27). The focus is on Judah and Jerusalem. Judah occurs 29 time in this book, twenty five times in part one (chs. 1-39) and four times in part two (chs. 40-66). Jerusalem occurs 49 times, thirty in the the first section and nineteen in the second section.

In the Days of Uzziah who was also known as Azariah (2^nd Kings 15) and that dates the book about 740 B.C.___Jothan was a co- regent with his father Uzziah. Remember Uzziah died a leper. Ahaz was wicked man and we will come back to him. Hezekiah was a good man.

A. God's Complaint Against His People___

1The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz concerning Judah and Jerusalem, which he saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz andHezekiah, kings of Judah.

2Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth;
         For the LORD speaks,
         "Sons I have reared and brought up,
         But they have revolted against Me.
    3"An ox knows its owner,
         And a donkey its master's manger,
         But Israel does not know,
         My people do not understand."
    4Alas, sinful nation,
         People weighed down with iniquity,
         Offspring of evildoers,
         Sons who act corruptly!
         They have abandoned the LORD,
         They have despised the Holy One of Israel,
         They have turned away from Him.
    5Where will you be stricken again,
         As you continue in your rebellion?
         The whole head is sick
         And the whole heart is faint.
    6From the sole of the foot even to the head
         There is nothing sound in it,
         Only bruises, welts and raw wounds,
         Not pressed out or bandaged,
         Nor softened with oil.
    7Your land is desolate,
         Your cities are burned with fire,
         Your fields--strangers are devouring them in your presence;
         It is desolation, as overthrown by strangers.
    8The daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard,
         Like a watchman's hut in a cucumber field, like a besieged city.
    9Unless the LORD of hosts
         Had left us a few survivors,
         We would be like Sodom,
         We would be like Gomorrah.

God Has Had Enough.

VV.__(1-9)

1. The complaint (vs. 1-3) It is based on 4 things.

a. He is their God (v.2a). He is the one who created them.

b. He is their Father (v. 2b). He has begotten them.

c. He is their Master (v.3a).

d. He is their Teacher (v. 3b). He taught them but they do not understand.

2. The Demand (vs. 4-9). That they listen to Him and pay attention to Him. This is intended to produce two results.

a. Conviction of their sin. (4-6) A list of those sins.

1) Given to corruption.

2) They have forsaken the Lord

3) They have scorned His Holy name.

4) They have turned their backs on Him.

b. Fear of Punishment (vs. 7-9). Notice the nature of their judgment.

1) "Their country will be desolate, their cities burned with fire, their fields stripped by foreigners right before them."

2) They would be like Sodom and Gomorrah, totally and absolutely destroyed were it not for the love and mercy of God.

B. God's Rejection of Their Ritual (Vs. 10-15)

10Hear the word of the LORD,
         You rulers of Sodom;
         Give ear to the instruction of our God,
         You people of Gomorrah.
    11"What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?"
         Says the LORD.
         "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
         And the fat of fed cattle;
         And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats.
    12"When you come to appear before Me,
         Who requires of you this trampling of My courts?
    13"Bring your worthless offerings no longer,
         Incense is an abomination to Me
         New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies--
         I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.
    14"I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts,
         They have become a burden to Me;
         I am weary of bearing them.
    15"So when you spread out your hands in prayer,
         I will hide My eyes from you;
         Yes, even though you multiply prayers,
         I will not listen
         Your hands are covered with blood.

1. The Nature of the worshipers (v.10). They are compared to the rulers of Sodom and Gomorrah.

2. The nature of their sacrifices (vs. 11-13a). They are said to be meaningless, detestable and profane.

3. The nature of their assemblies (vs.13b-14). God does not accept their assemblies. He hates and cannot bear their feast days.

4. The nature of their prayers (v.15). Because prayers are offered with bloody (unclean) hands. God neither sees or hears their petitions.

C. God's Requirement: Repentance and Correction (vs. 16-20).

    16"Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;
         Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight
         Cease to do evil,
    17Learn to do good;
         Seek justice,
         Reprove the ruthless,
         Defend the orphan,
         Plead for the widow.

"Let Us Reason"

    18"Come now, and let us reason together,"
         Says the LORD,
         "Though your sins are as scarlet,
         They will be as white as snow;
         Though they are red like crimson,
         They will be like wool.
    19"If you consent and obey,
         You will eat the best of the land;
    20"But if you refuse and rebel,
         You will be devoured by the sword "
         Truly, the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Zion Corrupted, to Be Redeemed

1. In a Negative sense: Repentance means to cease doing evil (v.16).

2. In a Positive sense: Repentance means to learn to do well (v.16).

3. Ultimately: Repentance means to learn to reason in the manner that God reasons.

a. It is the process of anti-thesis.

b. Things are either red or white. There is no "in between."

Notice: If repent: Forgiveness (v. 18b).

Physical Blessing (v.19)

If You rebel__National Destruction (v.20).

D. God's Description of Jerusalem (vs. 21-23).

21How the faithful city has become a harlot,
         She who was full of justice!
         Righteousness once lodged in her,
         But now murderers.
    22Your silver has become dross,
         Your drink diluted with water.
    23Your rulers are rebels
         And companions of thieves;
         Everyone loves a bribe
         And chases after rewards
         They do not defend the orphan,
         Nor does the widow's plea come before them.

1. Degenerate in Character (vs. 21-23)

a. In the past: They were faithful, full of justice, materially blessed.

b. Now__A harlot, for of murderers, materially cursed ("dross" and "diluted").

2. Degenerate power (v.23).

a. Rebellious.

b. Greedy

c. Unjust

E. God's Judgment of Zion (Vs. 24-31)

    24Therefore the Lord GOD of hosts,
         The Mighty One of Israel, declares,
         "Ah, I will be relieved of My adversaries
         And avenge Myself on My foes.
    25"I will also turn My hand against you,
         And will smelt away your dross as with lye
         And will remove all your alloy.
    26"Then I will restore your judges as at the first,
         And your counselors as at the beginning;
         After that you will be called the city of righteousness,
         A faithful city."
    27Zion will be redeemed with justice
         And her repentant ones with righteousness.
    28But transgressors and sinners will be crushed together,
         And those who forsake the LORD will come to an end.
    29Surely you will be ashamed of the oaks which you have desired,
         And you will be embarrassed at the gardens which you have chosen.
    30For you will be like an oak whose leaf fades away
         Or as a garden that has no water.
    31The strong man will become tinder,
         His work also a spark.
         Thus they shall both burn together
         And there will be none to quench them

Two Thoughts are included in this section

1. Punishment for the wicked including:

a. Personal ruin (vs. 24,28)

b. Shameful disgrace (v.29)

c. Fading Glory (v.30).

d. Total and irrevocable destruction (v.31).

2. Purification for the righteous.

a. The impurities will be removed. (v.25)

b. Leadership restored.(v.26)

c. Justice recovered. (v.27)