journey through the bible: isaiah part 1- crisis and faith

Journey Through The Bible

Isaiah Part 1: Crisis and Faith

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Readings:Isaiah 42:1-9 (Page 513)Matthew 12:1-21(Page 689)

Thursday, 2 October 2014

Dead Sea ScrollsDead Sea scrolls are a collection of ancient OT books of Scripture that were found by accident in 1949 in a cave in the cliffs over looking the Dead Sea in Israel at a place called Qumran.

One group of scrolls contain the complete text of the book of Isaiah copied more than 200 years before Christ.

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The Book of Isaiah The Bible in miniature

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The Book of Isaiah Bible66 chapters 66 books



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Two sections: 1 - 39 (39 chapters) 40 – 66 (27 Chapters)

Two parts: Old Testament 39 books New Testament 27 books



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Two sections: 1 - 39 (39 chapters) 40 – 66 (27 Chapters)

Two parts: Old Testament 39 books New Testament 27 books

The focus in Chs 1 – 39 is on God's righteousness and justice

The focus of the Old Testament is on God's righteousness, holiness and justice



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The Book of Isaiah Bible

The focus in chs 40 - 66 is on God's glory, compassion, and grace

The focus of the 27 books of the New Testament is on God's glory, compassion, and grace



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Chs 1 -39 show Israel's need for restoration

The Old Testament shows man's need for salvation



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Chs 40 – 66 predict God's future provision of salvation.

The NT shows God's provision of salvation in the Messiah.



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Chs 40 – 66 predict God's future provision of salvation.

The NT shows God's provision of salvation in the Messiah.

Isaiah begins with a description of Israel's rebellion and ends with a prediction of restoration.

The Bible begins with a description of man's rebellion and ends with the restoration of all things under Christ.



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Central Message: A holy God will gain glory by judging sin and restoring His people.

Central Message: A holy God will gain glory by judging sin and saving those who call on the name of His Son Jesus.


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Uzziah(Azariah)

Jotham Ahaz Hezekiah

Isaiah and the Kings of Judah 2 Kings 15 – 20

740 B

C

750 B

C

732BC

Isaiah Chapters 1-39

687BC

Chapters 40-66

Tradition says that Isaiah was murdered by Hezekiah’s evil son King Manasseh some time after 687 BC


The Call of Isaiah “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts.”


The Call of IsaiahThen one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.” Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”” (Isaiah 6:1–8, NKJV)


Isaiah the Man“Then I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the Lord said to me, “Call his name Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz; for before the child shall have knowledge to cry ‘My father’ and ‘My mother,’ the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be taken away before the king of Assyria.”” (Isaiah 8:3–4, NKJV)

His other son also had a prophetic name given by the Lord, “Shear-Jassub” meaning “The remnant will return”.


Isaiah the ManAt the same time the Lord spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go, and remove the sackcloth from your body, and take your sandals off your feet.” And he did so, walking naked and barefoot. Then the Lord said, “Just as My servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder against Egypt and Ethiopia, so shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians as prisoners and the Ethiopians as captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.” (Isaiah 20:2–6, NKJV)


How does a prophet prophesy? 2 Peter 1:21 tells us that “Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” The word ‘moved’ is the same word that is used to describe how the wind blows on a boat's sails to move it along in the water.

The prophet is not like a voice recorder that God just speaks into and the prophet mechanically reproduces.

A complex interplay between the mind and character of the prophet and the Holy Spirit.


How does a prophet prophesy?The Lord shows the prophet a picture, a vision in his mind which the prophet then describes using his own words.

“The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it.” (Isaiah 2:1–2, NKJV)


How does a prophet prophesy?The Lord puts His thoughts and feelings into the prophet's mind and heart. The prophet then clothes them with his own words to express what the Lord has given him.

“The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness’ sake; He will exalt the law and make it honourable. But this is a people robbed and plundered; All of them are snared in holes, And they are hidden in prison houses; They are for prey, and no one delivers; For plunder, and no one says, “Restore!” Who among you will give ear to this? Who will listen and hear for the time to come?” (Isaiah 42:21–23, NKJV)


How does a prophet prophesy?The Lord will speak directly to the prophet and the prophet then simply quotes the words the Lord has placed in his mind.

“Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist,” Says the Lord. “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.” (Isaiah 66:1–2, NKJV)


The Majesty of the Lord“Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold, He takes up the coastlands like fine dust. Lebanon would not suffice for fuel, nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering. All the nations are as nothing before Him, they are accounted by Him as less than nothing and emptiness. To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with Him?” (Isaiah 40:15–18, ESV)


The Compassion of the Lord“Oh, what a sinful nation they are— loaded down with a burden of guilt. They are evil people, corrupt children who have rejected the Lord. They have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him. Why do you continue to invite punishment? Must you rebel forever? Your head is injured, and your heart is sick. You are battered from head to foot— covered with bruises, welts, and infected wounds— without any soothing ointments or bandages.” (Isaiah 1:4–6, NLT)


The Mercy of the Lord

““Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”” (Isaiah 1:18–20, ESV)


The Message RejectedEach time the nation’s rulers rejected the word of the Lord their hearts became harder. The wealthy sophisticated élite mocked Isaiah.

“Dull the minds of these people; deafen their ears and blind their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their minds, turn back, and be healed.” (Isaiah 6:10, HCSB)

Every time Isaiah proclaimed the words of God they hardened their hearts still more until they became incapable of repenting. It is a solemn warning to all


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The Geo-Political Situation in the Time of Isaiah


Policy Crisis

Ahaz made a treaty with Assyria and Judah became a puppet kingdom.

Isaiah prophesied that the nation should trust in the Lord not in alliances.

Assyria itself would be crushed by Babylon in the future. Only in the Lord is there true security.


The Message RejectedAhaz and his luxury loving court didn't believe Isaiah and made fun of him.

“These also reel with wine and stagger with strong drink; the priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, they are swallowed by wine, they stagger with strong drink, they reel in vision, they stumble in giving judgment. For all tables are full of filthy vomit, with no space left.” (Isaiah 28:7–8, ESV)

These drunkards think they know it all. They make fun of Isaiah saying his words are baby talk;

““Who does the Lord think we are?” they ask. “Why does he speak to us like this? Are we little children, just recently weaned? He tells us everything over and over— one line at a time, one line at a time, a little here, and a little there!”” (Isaiah 28:9–10, NLT)

The original Hebrew is a bit like saying “Blah! Blah! Blah!”


Hezekiah’s Crisis

The Assyrian army under the powerful leadership of Sennacherib has invaded Judah and only the city of Jerusalem is left like a sand castle when the tide comes in.

Read about this great crisis in Chs 36-39 which are the only narrative passages in the book


Hezekiah’s Crisis““Do not listen to Hezekiah. This is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat from his own vine and fig tree and drink water from his own cistern, until I come and take you to a land like your own—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards. “Do not let Hezekiah mislead you when he says, ‘The Lord will deliver us.’ Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria? Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Have they rescued Samaria from my hand?” (Isaiah 36:16–19, NIV84)


Hezekiah’s FaithBecause the King humbled himself before the Lord the Lord answered him through Isaiah

“When the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah, Isaiah said to them, “Say to your master, ‘Thus says the Lord: Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the young men of the king of Assyria have reviled Me. Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumour and return to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.’ ”” (Isaiah 37:5–7, ESV)


Who Do You Turn To?

When you face a personal crisis what do you do? What is your first reaction? Who or what do you turn to?

Our first reaction should be to turn the the Lord in prayer.

It pleases the Lord when your first reaction to a crisis is to turn to Him. He delights to answer because you have shown that your faith and trust in Him is great.

Too often people turn to prayer as a last resort after they have tried everything else and it has failed.


Future Visions of Restoration

Chapters 40-66 record the prophecies that look beyond the contemporary events.

Chapter 39 ends with a prediction that the Babylonians will capture Jerusalem.

Then the Lord shows Isaiah a series of visions about a time of restoration. These are prophecies about the days after the time of exile in Babylon when the exiles would return to begin again.

Chapters 44 and 45 contain a detailed prophecy that a king called Cyrus would destroy Babylon, take over its empire and give the order to rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem.



“Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath.” (Isaiah 45:22–23, NKJV)



“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the Name which is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,” (Philippians 2:8–10, NKJV)


journey through the bible: isaiah part 1- crisis and faith

Spiritual

book of isaiahthe bible

gracethe focus

gods glory

booksthe focus

justicethe focus

booksnew testament

gods provision ofsalvation

needfor salvationchs