Day 1 Introduction to the Text Isaiah 2:1-22

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1 Day 1 Introduction to the Text Isaiah 2:1-22 Chapters 2-12 of Isaiah can appear to be quite complex. In order to read it more clearly, it is helpful to break it down into smaller units. Gary Smith notes a chiastic pattern in this section which he presents as follows: A 2:1 4:6 God will be exalted, the proud humbled B 5:1 30 Destruction of Judah C 6:1 13 The Holy King s Calling of Isaiah B 7:1 8:18 Destruction of Judah A 9:1 11:16 A Righteous King will be exalted, the proud humbled (Smith, 122). Smith also identifies a chiastic pattern in 2:1 to 4:6 with the condemnation of the pride of Israel (2:6-4:1) being sandwiched between the establishment of God s kingdom (2:1-5 and 4:2-6). While it is often difficult to place a date on much of Isaiah s prophecy, there is some evidence in Chapter 2 which points to the reign of Uzziah (Azariah). Uzziah built towers and fortified them (compare 2:15 with 2 Chron 26:9-10), he organized a significant fighting force (compare 2:7b with 2 Chron 26:11-13), and he became proud, yet was humbled by God (compare 2:9 with 2 Chron 26:16-21). Second Kings 15 says that Uzziah did right in the sight of the LORD, Only the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places (15:4), which could be what Isaiah is referring to in 2:8. If Isaiah chapter 2 is indeed referring to the time of Uzziah, then it helps us to see more clearly Isaiah s message to the people. Uzziah did right in the sight of the LORD, and as long as he sought the LORD, God prospered him (2 Chron 26:5). However, Uzziah like most people could not handle prosperity and fell prey to pride, for when he became strong, his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to the LORD his God (26:16). Thus, Isaiah s message to the people seems quite clear walk in the ways of the LORD (Isa 2:5) and stop exalting man (2:22). For a day is coming when the LORD will completely do away with everything that man lifts up, because HE alone will be exalted (2:11, 17). Scripture Memory: Isaiah 2:22 1

2 Day 2 Observe the Text Read Isaiah 2: How did Isaiah receive the word? (v1) 2. What happens in verse 2 and when does it take place? 3. What do the people say in verse 3? 4. Why will the people no longer need swords or spears? (v4) 5. Why does God abandon His people? (vv6-9) 6. How will the people respond in that day? (vv10-11) 7. What will the LORD have a day of reckoning against? (vv12-18) 8. What will men do in that day and why will they do it? (vv19-21) 2

3 Day 3 Interpret the Text Read Isaiah 2:1-22 again Verse 1: The word which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw These were words he saw, perceived through divine revelation (ḥāzâ). The meaning of this word is evident in Lam 2:9 and Ezek 7:26, for both texts associate this concept with the special insight that prophets received from God s supernatural revelation of his will. The claim gave special meaning and power to the words of the prophet, for his spoken and written words carried the authority of God s power, guidance that could lead to life, the wisdom to make wise choices, and results that were absolutely sure (Smith, 128). Verses 2-4: In the last days In the last days (v. 2) is a technical eschatological expression, so its introduction here relates the vision to the period when God s purposes will find fulfillment. The NT, making explicit the fact that the Messiah comes twice, applies the phrase both to the period of his first advent (e.g., Ac 2:17; Heb 1:2) and to his second (e.g., Jas 5:3; cf. 1 Pe 1:5) (Grogan, 481). That He may teach us The God of Israel will be the main speaker and he will teach those who accept his ways and follow his truth. Isaiah does not reveal the detailed contents of what God will say, but part of his instruction will be to explain his law, instruction (tôrâ). This Hebrew root points to God s will for mankind (Exod 18:16; Ps 105:45) and should not be given a legalistic definition of law (Smith, 130). Verse 5: Isaiah views the future obedience of the nations to the true God as a challenge to the house of Jacob to walk in his ways. The nations are not yet coming to Jerusalem to be taught by the Lord, but Israel already has his word. How unthinkable then that she should continue to walk in darkness (Grogan, 482). Verses 6-8: The causes of this judgment remind us of the divinely given constitution for the kingdom laid down in Deuteronomy 17:14 20, set in a context (Dt 16:18 18:22) that refers not only to the leadership of the people (which becomes an explicit theme in Isa 3), but also to the need for separation from the abominable practices of the nations. The kings of Judah may have been native born, but this did not prevent the people 3

4 from being contaminated by foreign religious and semireligious practices (Grogan, 484). Verse 9: But do not forgive them. [An] approach that seems more consistent with the surrounding statement about humbling the proud would not understand these words as an abrupt prayer by Isaiah, but a simple concluding statement that you (God) should not lift up/exalt them. In light of what was said about the sinfulness of these people, it is logical to reach the conclusion that the sinful person should not be exalted. This interpretation avoids the difficulty of having a one-line, fragmentary prayer and removes the theological idea that Isaiah did not want God to forgive these people (Smith, 138). Verses 10-11: The splendor of his majesty (mēhadar gĕʾônô) is an attempt to describe the visible appearance of the glorious presence of God in its exalted fullness. This revelation of God s glory in many ways exceeds human comprehension (139). Verses 12-18: Much of the imagery of this passage can be viewed as Phoenician. It was in the hinterland of Tyre and Sidon that the cedars grew (v. 13); it was there, too, that the highest mountains (v. 14) were found and the grand designs of stone masons (v. 15) and shipwrights (v. 16) were to be seen in its ports. Every trading ship is a free translation of ships of Tarshish (NIV mg.; cf. Eze 27:25), and these were based in Phoenicia. This land was notorious as a malign religious influence (v. 18), not only on Israel but also on Judah; for Jezebel s family became part of the dynastic stock of both kingdoms for a while (cf. 2 Ki 8:16 11:21) (Grogan, 485). Verses 19-21: Picking up themes from 2:10, the text describes the people as hiding in fear and shame (2:19) and throwing away their useless idols to unclean bats and rodents (2:20). God knows that the rebellious people who worship idols will eventually realize the truth when they see the majesty and terror of God (Smith, 141). Verse 22: Interestingly the prophet s aim is not merely to stop idol worship but to address the sinful hearts of people. People make themselves gods by giving themselves center stage and glorifying their importance. They tend to measure everything by how it is related to or how it affects them not how it affects God ( ). 4

5 Read Isaiah 2:1-22 one more time. Day 4 Apply the Text 1. After describing a future time when all the nations will stream to the LORD so that they can be taught by Him (v2-4), Isaiah challenges the Israelites to come and walk in the light of the LORD (v5). As a believer in Jesus Christ, how well are you walking in the light of the LORD? 2. One of the things God accuses the Israelites of doing is trusting in horses and chariots (v7). While there is nothing inherently wrong with having a large military force, how do we balance between wanting a strong military and trusting in God for protection? 3. In verse 22, Isaiah tells the Israelites to stop regarding man as more important than God. Why are we so prone to exalt people rather than God? How can we reverse this trend? 5

6 Day 5 Implement the Text Review and reflect on your study of the passage 1. How are you resting in the promise that one day, God s kingdom will be established as the chief kingdom? 2. We have a tendency to create idols in our lives. Examine your life and determine where you need to put your trust in God instead of worthless idols. 3. How do you plan to walk in the light of the LORD this week? 6

7 Bibliography Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are taken from the New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update. Grogan, Geoffrey W. Isaiah. In The Expositor s Bible Commentary: Proverbs Isaiah (Revised Edition), edited by Tremper Longman III, Garland David E., Vol. 6. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, Smith, Gary V. Isaiah Edited by E. Ray Clendenen. The New American Commentary. Nashville: B & H Publishing Group,

8 Sermon Notes