OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY By Rev. LeRoy Davis BSc. and Glenn Davis copyright 2003 by Rev. LeRoy Davis and Glenn Davis Lesson 18 THE ERA OF THE PROPHETS The prophets mean very little to the majority of the people because they don't understand where they fit, or what they are talking about. In Lk.24:25-27 Jesus called the disciples fools and slow of hear because they did not understand what the prophets meant. We shall endeavour to condense foundational knowledge in order that we can understand the prophets. Prophet - speaks God's will, not his own - names used of a prophet are: man of God 1 Kgs. 13:1 Seer 1 Sam.9:9; Isa.2:1 prophet Purpose - to war and direct God's people - prophets seldom spoke to the heathen but primarily to God's people - prophets were called 1 Sam.3 - prophets were trained 1 Sam.19:18-20 - prophets had authority over kings 2 Sam.12 Noah would be classified as a prophet. Considerations 1. The prophets deal with a. past events b. present events c. future events 2. We must understand the prophets in the original setting first of all. 3. The prophets most likely did not understand all they said. 4. We need to understand the captivities of Israel in history. Four Captivities We Need to Understand to Clarify the Prophets Do not confuse the captivities or you will misunderstand the prophets. 1. Egyptian Captivity - prior to Moses Prophesied Gen.15:13-14 Fulfilled Ex.12:40 2. Assyrian Captivity Prophesied by Isaiah 3. Babylonian Captivity - Deut. 28:49-52 Prophesied Jer.25:11,12;32:38;20:4; Isa.39:6 Fulfilled 2 Kings 25:1 4. World Dispersion - accomplished in AD 70. Prophesied Deut.28:63-68; Jer. 16:13; Deut. 4:26 [Also see Revelation] Fulfilled Ezek.36:19-20
The most well known captivities are the Babylonian and the World Dispersion. Since the rejection of Christ, Israel was rejected as a nation. Their house was left desolate Mt.23:37-38. The kingdom was taken away and given to the nation bringing the fruits of it Mt.21:43,44; 1 the. 2:16. This fulfilled the words of the prophets Deut.18:15-19 (Acts 3:22-23); Hos.1:9,10; 2:23. They cannot be made whole again Jer.19:11; 18:4-6. They are the corrupt vineyard Isa.5:1-7 esp. 5,6 compare with Mt.21:33-46. For more detail on this take the Covenants course. ISAIAH Isaiah means salvation of Yahweh or Yah is helper. The Hebrew title was: the vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz. The book is sometimes called the Gospel according to Isaiah. It is a book of salvation. Augustine said, me thinks he writes a gospel. Handel drew much of his imagery in the famous Messiah from Isaiah. A complete Isaiah scroll was found at Qumran dating from the 2nd century BC making it the oldest known complete Hebrew manuscript of any Biblical book. It agrees in almost every way to the later manuscripts from which our Bible were translated showing the integrity of our texts. Isaiah is called the king of the prophets. Tradition says he was sawn in two with a wooden saw in the reign of Manasseh - possibly referred to in Heb. 11:37. In addition to the Book of Isaiah, he wrote at least two other books: The Life of Uzziah [2 Chr. 26:22] and The Book Of The Kings Of Judah And Israel [2 Chr. 32:32]. 1. The book contains 66 chapters, as many chapters as there are books in the Bible. It is divided into two sections of 39 [same as books in OT] and 27 [same as books in NT] chapters [some say 3 sections but most agree on 2].. 2. It was written by Isaiah who lived during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah (1:1). He saw the failure of Uzziah, the glory of Jeroboam II give way to chaos as Assyrian power interfered in Israel, and finally the siege and destruction of Samaria and the capture of the 12 tribes. When Sennacherib of Assyria attacked Jerusalem, Hezekiah prayed to the Lord and God answered him through Isaiah. During the night 185,000 Assyrian soldiers were killed by an angel and Sennacherib retreated [i Kings 19]. 3. He was the prophet of redemption. He prophesied concerning the house of Israel but mainly to the house of Judah. 4. Isaiah is quoted some 80 times in the New Testament. He is the most quoted prophet in the New Testament. On the average every six pages of the New Testament has five references to Isaiah. 5. It was written between 740 and 690 B.C. and covers a period of about 62 years. Liberal scholars divided the book up and have parts of it being written after the fact. They do this because they refuse to believe in predictive prophecy. John 12:38-41 quotes from both sections of Isaiah and attribute the quotes to him which proves the unity of the book. Jesus referred to Isaiah as the author at least four times [Matt. 13:14-15, 15:7, Mark 7:6-7, Luke 4:17]. 6. He warns Israel of judgment and tells of the Messiah. One moment he is black with thunder and darkness of storm, the next the rainbow shines through and sweeps the readers to a golden age.
7. He prophecies the gospel, the Messianic age. THEME The theme of the book of Isaiah is the justice and grace of God. He also speaks of the Messiah and redemption. CHRIST Christ is seen as the Messiah, the Holy One of Israel. He is seen as our Salvation, righteousness, comfort, and judge. KEY WORDS The key words are judge(s,ing, ment) [52] and righteous(ly,ness) [64]. Other important words are save(d) salvation Saviour [55], deliver(ed,eth, ance) [32], and comfort(ed,eth, edst, s, ably) [18]. A key phrase is Holy one (of Israel) [30]. KEY VERSE Isa.12:6 Cry aloud and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy of Israel in the midst of thee. Isa.56:1 Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. Isa.61:1-3 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; because He hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; (2)to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; (3) To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness the planting of the Lord that He might be glorified. PURPOSE 1. Isaiah shows that Judah had a form of godliness but it was really corrupt morally, religiously and politically. 2. It was written to give the hope of the coming Messiah and to give us a view of the promises. 3. Isaiah was written so that it could form part of the record of the prophetic regarding redemption. 4. It was written to show us that through judgment comes salvation, righteousness and comfort. EVENTS AND CHARACTERS 1. The book begins with the prophet, his times, and his call (1-6:13). 2. Then comes the kingdom, its prospects contemporary and future (7-12:6). 3. We next have a panoramic view of the nation (13-23:18) 4. There is a view of Israel in relation to the world (24-27:13). 5. The true and false hopes of Zion is given (28-35:10). 6. The Assyrian invasion is mentioned but it is only a delaying of judgment (36-39:8). 7. There is the promise of deliverance (40-56:8).
8. The Messianic kingdom is established (56:9-66:24). 9. Both the suffering and the glory of Christ are revealed: Suffering Glory Isa.53:10 Isa.9:2 52:14 9:6-7 53:7 32:1 42:2 7:14 53:4 61:1 53:6 42:7 53:12 11:3,4,5 53:5 10. Chapters 1-35 were to contemporaries and predicted the Assyrians would overwhelm Judah but not take Jerusalem. 11. Chapters 36-39 are a historical interlude (36,37). The Assyrians were destroyed and Jerusalem was delivered as was prophesied (38,39). 12. Hezekiah in pride shows the treasures of his house and the temple to the envoys of Babylon. The Babylonian captivity was prophesied. 13. Chapters 40-66 provide consolation to the future captives in Babylon. The prophecies of Isaiah had application to the Gentiles, Judah, and Israel in his day. They also looked forward to Messiah and the Church. Isaiah gives one of the most complete overviews of the life of Messiah of all the prophetic books. He refers to Messiah, His kingdom, and the bringing in of the Gentiles more than all the other prophets combined. Consequently he is quoted in the New Testament more than any other prophetical book. 1:1 - gives us the time of Isaiah 1:10-20 - false religion has never impressed God. In the in OT ceremony was never enough - there had to be a heart which led to actions. The choice was repentance and forgiveness or destruction. 3:4 - one of the judgments God gives to a land is to have the immature rule over them - people get the government they deserve - the solution is not so much reform as repentance. 5:20 - we see this confusion even in our own day with disastrous results. Chapter 6 could be the call to a special mission as he was already a prophet when the book opens. 6:5 - no matter how good we may think we are, when we really see God we are undone. 6:8 - unlike Moses and some others, Isaiah was a willing messenger. 7:8 - fulfilled in the destruction of Israel by Assyria in 721 BC 7:14 - Some Liberals say that the word used here for virgin only means a young woman. This is only partially true. It mean a young woman who is a virgin. This also makes sense in the context for a young woman having a baby is not much of a sign. That has been happening ever since Abel was born.
8:12-13 - We are not to be afraid of conspiracies but to look to God. He will bring the works of the wicked to nothing. 8:20 - The testimony was the Spirit of Christ speaking through the prophets. Notice, those who forsake the law and the prophets have no light in them. Today much of the Christian church has abandoned the law of God and confused the prophets applying things to natural Israel and the end times that were never intended to be applied that way. With the church in such confusion and darkness is it any wonder the world is stumbling around lost? Where is the clear gospel light that requires men and nations to live according to the Word of God? 9:1-2 - Galilee, Gilead [way of the sea] first to go into captivity and darkness of Assyrian tyranny - first to see the light - Matt. 4;12-19 9:6-7 famous verse which also shows the Divinity of the coming Messiah. I don t know how the JW s get around this. 11 - used by some as a picture of heaven but that is not the context Vs.1 & 10 show that it refers to the first coming of Christ and the bringing in of the Gentiles. Both the sheep [true Israel] and the lions [heathen, violent Gentiles] shall be brought into the kingdom of God and live together in peace. The knowledge of God will continue to expand until it fills the whole earth. 12:2-3 Salvation equals Yeshuwah: Jesus...When the word salvation appears in the Hebrew text of the Old Testament, it is often some form of Yeshua, thus Jesus is named. [ Yeshua became Jesus through language translations.] C. Weston 13:17-20 - fulfilled in 459 BC when Cyrus the Mede took Babylon in the time of Daniel. 14:4, 12-16 - literally referring to King of Babylon - but often, probably correctly, considered to be an allusion to the fall of Satan. 14:31 - fulfilled 644BC with the destruction of Philistia 15:1 - fulfilled 642BC with the destruction of Moab by the Assyrians 17:1 - fulfilled 721BC with the destruction of Israel by the Assyrians 19:4 - fulfilled 668BC 20:2-4 - fulfilled 668BC when Egypt was defeated by Assyria 26:3 - promise of peace and how to get it. 27:1 - possible reference to dinosaurs 28:10 - important educational principle 28:16 - prophecy of Christ 29:13 - God hates outward form - no matter how correct - and looks at the heart. 29:16 - God does as He wills and we have no right to judge Him.
30:14-15 - Jerusalem is destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar on Sept. 8, 586 BC and later by Rome on Sept. 8, 70AD 33:6, 15-17 - how to walk in troubled times. 35 - a beautiful picture of Christ s ministry in His kingdom. 37 - Assyria attacks Jerusalem and Hezekiah seeks Isaiah who encourages him and the angel of Lord kills 185,000 Assyrians - 710BC 38 - Hezekiah gets sick, pleads with God and Isaiah tells him God has added 15 years to his life, sun returns 10 degrees - 710BC 39 - Hezekiah shows the Babylonian ambassadors his treasures and Isaiah predicts the Babylonian Captivity - fulfilled 507BC 40:3 - predicts John the Baptist 40:31 - famous verse 42:21, 24-25 - The Lord honours His law. Those who forsake it wander in darkness and judgment. Some Christians forsake the law just as natural Israel did and wonder why everything seems to fall apart. 43:2 - we don t always escape problems but God is with us and protects us. Perhaps this verse was an encouragement to Daniel s three friends. 43:25 - God does not remember our sins also 44:22 44:3 - God s promise to our descendants. 44:6 - The first and the last. 45:7 - God is in total control and operates all things according to His will. 48:17-19 - God s desire is for obedience so that He can bless us. 49:16 - God is not going to forget you. 50:1 - through sin we bring judgment on ourselves. 52:7 - famous verse for those who encourage and bring the gospel. 52:14 - The horror of the Cross 53 - the suffering of Christ 54:17 - The enemy s plans will not succeed. 55:8-9 - We will never completely understand God - ours is to trust and obey even when it seems foolishness to us. 57:15 - want to know God? Have a humble heart.
58:4-14 - what is the fast God wants? To turn from wickedness and to righteousness. 59:1-2 - if we are walking in deliberate sin there is no use praying unless we are coming in genuine repentance. 59:17 - Paul in Eph 6 builds on this imagery 59:19 - The enemy may come in as a flood but God will defeat him. 60:2 - shows the Gentiles coming into the Kingdom of God 61:1 - quoted by Jesus at the beginning of His ministry 65:1, 15 - shows rejection of Israel for the church 65:17-25 - some refer this to heaven. It will be complete with the return of Christ but it begins now as there is still death[20] and childbirth [23]. LESSONS TO REMEMBER 1. When God gives a revelation of Himself He holds us responsible and desires to send us (6:1-9). 2. The way salvation will come is through the Messiah, who was willing to suffer for our sakes. 3. Pride brings captivity. 4. God requires a complete and full repentance if we are to avoid the judgment of God. OUTLINE I Predictive Statements 1-35 A. Prophetic Concern 1-4 1. Wrong standards of the nation 1 2. Wretched state of the nation 2-4 B. Prophetic Convictions 5 1. Judah's complete failure 5:1-7 2. Judah's common faults 8-23 3. Judah's coming foes 24-30 C. Prophetic Call (Special Mission) 6 D. Prophetic Concepts 7-12 1. Judah's monarch 7-8 2. Israel's misery 9-10:4 3. Assyria's mastery 10:5-34 4. God's Messiah 11-12 E. Prophetic Compass 13-24 F. Prophetic Chorus 25-27 1. Song of God's faithfulness 25 2. Song of God's favour 26 3. Song of God's forgiveness 27 G. Prophetic Cries 28-35 II Practical Statesmanship 36-39
A. King of Assyria 36-37 B. King of Judah 38 C. King of Babylon 39 III Prophetic Stature 40-66 A. Judah's miseries 40-48 B. Judah's Messiah 49-57 C. Judah's message (new covenant era) 58-66 OUTLINE (ALTERNATIVE) I Book of Judgment (Prophetic) 1-35 (Judah, Israel, and the Gentiles) A. Judgments 1-12 B. Burdens 13-27 C. Woes 28-35 II Book of Deliverance (Historic) 36-39 (Assyria, Judah, and Hezekiah) III Book of Comfort 40-66 (Yahweh, Messiah, and the Kingdom)