The Book of Isaiah A Message of Hope, Comfort and Salvation. Week 1 10/27/13

Transcription

1 The Book of Isaiah A Message of Hope, Comfort and Salvation Week 1 10/27/13 1

2 Plan for Today Brief overview of the Old Testament how does the book of Isaiah fit into the overall context? Talk about who the O.T. prophets were and what they were called to do. Review a few facts about the book of Isaiah Take a quick look at Isaiah, Chapter 1 2

3 Old Testament Context OT is literary history of nation of Israel from its founding (~ 2000 B.C.) to its return from exile in Babylon (~ 500 B.C.) 1. Abraham (2000 B.C.) God called him to a new land and promised him he would become the father of a great nation. Abrahamic Covenant God promised that through his family all the nation of the world would be blessed. 4 generations later famine in the land; moved to Egypt 3

4 1. Abraham (2000 B.C.) 2. Moses (~ 1500 B.C.) Old Testament Context This family, now named for Abraham s grandson, Israel, grew and became enslaved to the Egyptians After 400 yrs of slavery, God rescued them through Moses On the way back to the promised land, God gave Moses the Law Mosaic Covenant I ll be your God if you promise to obey the Law Wandered in wilderness for 40 years 4

5 1. Abraham (2000 B.C.) 2. Moses (~ 1500 B.C.) 3. Time of the Judges Old Testament Context Joshua led them into the land promised to Abraham and conquered the people there but they eventually forgot God 400 year period of various Judges who governed Israel Israel was characterized by immorality and idolatry 5

6 1. Abraham (2000 B.C.) 2. Moses (~ 1500 B.C.) 3. Time of the Judges 4. David and Solomon (~ 1000 B.C.) Old Testament Context God raised up David united the tribes of Israel into one kingdom Age of prosperity and religious revival Solomon (David s son) ascended to throne. In his old age, turned to the worship of other gods and oppressed people with heavy taxation. After he died, Israel split into two kingdoms. 6

7 1. Abraham (2000 B.C.) 2. Moses (~ 1500 B.C.) 3. Time of the Judges 4. David and Solomon (~ 1000 B.C.) 5. The Divided Kingdom Old Testament Context Ten northern tribes became Israel (capital city of Samaria) Israel rejected the worship of the true God; God allowed them to be conquered by Assyria in 722 B.C. Taken into captivity; exiled. Two southern tribes became Judah (capital city of Jerusalem). Judah had several good kings who followed after God, but it eventually fell into idolatry. God allowed them to be conquered by Babylon. Taken into captivity; lived in exile for 70 years. 7

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9 1. Abraham (2000 B.C.) 2. Moses (~ 1500 B.C.) 3. Time of the Judges 4. David and Solomon (~ 1000 B.C.) 5. The Divided Kingdom 6. Post-Exile (~ 500 B.C.) Old Testament Context Persia conquered Babylon. Persian King Cyrus allowed the Israelites to return to their homeland. Under the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah, they rebuilt their society and their religion. End of the Old Testament 9

10 Old Testament Context 1. Abraham 2. Moses 3. Time of the Judges 4. David and Solomon 5. The Divided Kingdom 6. Post-Exile Isaiah lived and prophesied during the period of the Divided Kingdom 1 and 2 Kings; 1 and 2 Chronicles tell history of these two kingdoms. Globally, they are insignificant, little nations. Assyria was the dominant power in the 7 th, 8 th and 9 th centuries B.C. 10

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12 Old Testament Context So why does the Old Testament focus on Israel? 12

13 Old Testament Prophets: Who were they? All of them were based out of Judah and Israel Came from all different walks of life All had a calling from God and a willingness to pursue it Prophesied between the 9 th and 5 th centuries B.C. prophets existed before this, but the prophetic books in the Old Testament were written during this period 13

14 Old Testament Prophets: What were they? God s direct representative and messenger to the people Ones who called on Israel and Judah to remember and keep their covenant with God Primary role was to proclaim God s word to the people concerning current events and specific situations concerning future events 14

15 Old Testament Prophets: Where in scripture? Last 17 books of the Old Testament (Isaiah thru Malachi). Each book bears the prophet s name (except Lamentations which was written by Jeremiah) Major and Minor prophets arbitrary classification based on the length of their book, not on their relative importance. Major Prophets: Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Minor Prophets: Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi 15

16 2 nd longest book in the Old Testament Some Facts About Isaiah s Book Quoted more times in the New Testament than any other book o quoted in 20 of the 27 New Testament books o Paul referred to it or quoted it over 80 times in his letters Structure is an interesting parallel to the Bible: o Isaiah has 66 chapters Bible has 66 books o Isaiah has two main sections Bible has 2 main sections (OT and NT) o 1 st section of Isaiah has 39 chapters OT has 39 books similar themes of Law, Judgment, Rebuke o 2 nd section of Isaiah has 27 chapters NT has 27 books similar themes of Salvation, Hope and Grace 16

17 Some Familiar Verses from Isaiah s Book Isaiah 1.18 Isaiah Isaiah 9:6 Isaiah Isaiah Isaiah Isaiah Isaiah 66:1-2 Isaiah

18 Isaiah Chapter 1 Chapter 1 is a microcosm of the entire book The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Isaiah

19 Isaiah Chapter 1 2 Heaven and earth, you re the jury. Listen to GOD s case: I had children and raised them well, and they turned on me. 3 The ox knows who s boss, the mule knows the hand that feeds him, But not Israel. My people don t know up from down. 4 Shame! Misguided GOD-dropouts, staggering under their guilt-baggage, Gang of miscreants, band of vandals My people have walked out on me, their GOD, turned their backs on The Holy of Israel, walked off and never looked back. 5 Why bother even trying to do anything with you when you just keep to your bullheaded ways. You keep beating your heads against brick walls. Everything within you protests against you. 6 From the bottom of your feet to the top of your head, nothing s working right. Wounds and bruises and running sores untended, unwashed, unbandaged. Isaiah (Message) What s the relationship between the Lord and Judah? 19

20 Isaiah Chapter 1 Listen to my Message, you Sodom-schooled leaders. Receive God s revelation, you Gomorrah-schooled people. Why this frenzy of sacrifices? GOD S asking. Don t you think I ve had my fill of burnt sacrifices, rams and plump grain-fed calves? Don t you think I ve had my fill of blood from bulls, lambs, and goats? When you come before me, whoever gave you the idea of acting like this? Running here and there, doing this and that all this sheer commotion in the place provided for worship? Quit your worship charades. I can t stand your trivial religious games: Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings meetings, meetings, meetings I can t stand one more! Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them! You ve worn me out! I m sick of your religion, religion, religion, while you go right on sinning. When you put on your next prayer-performance, I ll be looking the other way. No matter how long or loud or often you pray, I ll not be listening. And do you know why? Because you ve been tearing people to pieces, and your hands are bloody. Isaiah (Message) What s the root issue God is trying to address? 20

21 Isaiah Chapter 1 Come now, let s settle this, says the LORD. Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. 19 If you will only obey me, you will have plenty to eat. 20 But if you turn away and refuse to listen, you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies. I, the LORD, have spoken! Isaiah (NLT) What settlement is the Lord offering Judah? 21

22 Isaiah Chapter 1 Therefore, the Lord, the LORD of Heaven s Armies, the Mighty One of Israel, says, I will take revenge on my enemies and pay back my foes! 25 I will raise my fist against you. I will melt you down and skim off your slag. I will remove all your impurities. 26 Then I will give you good judges again and wise counselors like you used to have. Then Jerusalem will again be called the Home of Justice and the Faithful City. 27 Zion will be restored by justice; those who repent will be revived by righteousness. 28 But rebels and sinners will be completely destroyed, and those who desert the LORD will be consumed. Isaiah (NLT) What is God s purpose in judging Judah? 22

23 Isaiah Chapter 1: Application How would God describe my relationship with Him right now? Do I make it a practice to regularly confess my sins to God and ask for His forgiveness? Am I depending on participation in religious services or rituals to win God s favor? Have I experienced God s justice and mercy in my life? What kind of response should I have? 23