Ralph Porter

© 2003

AUTHOR

    The book of Isaiah claims to have been written by one author, Isaiah, the son of Amoz.

         This claim is supported by Jewish tradition and by the New Testament, including Christ

            Himself.

         While critics have suggested other opinions, the major reason for not accepting the authorship

            of Isaiah is the fulfillment of specific prophecies.

                 If God is able to reveal in advance the detailed prophecy Isaiah records, no different nor

                    additional author is necessary.

                The distinctions in style, tone and message of the two parts can be logically explained on

                    the basis of the author's argument.

    Apparently Isaiah came from a high class home.

         His vocabulary and style demonstrate that he received a good academic preparation for his

            position.

         He preached for about forty years, principally before kings.

        He spoke during one of the most decisive moments in Judah's history and kings listened to his

            wise counsel.

DATE

    The biographical information given indicates that Isaiah's prophetic ministry to Judah was

        carried out from 739 to about 700 B.C., during the reigns of kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and

        Hezekiah.

BACKGROUND

    Isaiah's ministry was carried out during the time of the divided kingdom, as Israel moved

        toward destruction.

             Only the presence of a few good kings like Hezekiah saved the southern kingdom of Judah

                from the same destruction that defeated the north.

             Both kingdoms were characterized by rebellion, unbelief and idolatry.

             God sent prophets to warn them of the danger of destruction, but they refused to listen.

            God finally brought Assyria to destroy the northern kingdom of Israel and take them into

                captivity.

    After the destruction of Israel, Assyria continued to move arrogantly against Judah.

         Hezekiah had become king of Judah and led the nation in many reforms.

         As a result, God spared Jerusalem, though the other cities of Judah had already been defeated.

        God judged Assyria for their arrogance and preserved Judah until a much later date.

PURPOSE AND THEME

    As a pre-exilic book, Isaiah speaks to Judah about her sin and idolatry, to call them to

        repentance.

             If they will turn to Him, He will bless them.

             God uses a message of judgment to call His people to repentance.

            God is going to judge Judah, destroy Jerusalem, and send His people into captivity.

    In addition to the message of judgment, Isaiah looks ahead and reveals their future restoration to

        comfort those reading the book following the destruction of Jerusalem.

             He reveals two major purposes:

                 First, God wanted His people to understand His entire program for them.

                     Therefore, He went beyond the immediate judgment to include the restoration.

                Second, the restoration promises are given along with the promise of judgment to give

                    the people a basis for faith in the promises.

    When the message was first given, the people did not believe God would judge them.

    From the perspective of the captivity, they would never believe that God would restore them.

    When God combined the two messages in one, He provided evidence that He would restore

        them.

             From the perspective of the captivity, they could see that the same God who promised them

                judgment also promised their restoration.

            Since He accomplished His first promise, they could trust Him to fulfill His second as well.

    To God's people in sin, the message served as a warning of judgment to call them to

        repentance.

    To God's people in captivity, it was a promise of restoration to encourage them to trust God.

What lessons should we learn for our lives today from this great prophecy?

GOD'S WORK OF CONDEMNATION AND CONSOLATION

Ralph Porter

Ralph Porter

What book would you choose as the most majestic literature of all Scripture?

    Psalms?    Isaiah?

Most people point to Isaiah as the most majestic writing, the greatest theological depiction

    of God, the most eloquent spokesman for God, and the broadest vocabulary of any

    biblical writer!

AUTHOR

    The book of Isaiah claims to have been written by one author, Isaiah, the son of Amoz.

         This claim is supported by Jewish tradition and by the New Testament, including Christ

              Himself.

    While critics have suggested other opinions, the major reason for not accepting the

         authorship of Isaiah is the fulfillment of specific prophecies.

              If God is capable of revealing in advance the detailed prophecy Isaiah records, no

                   different nor additional author is necessary.

              The distinctions in style, tone and message of the two parts can be logically explained

                   on the basis of the author's argument.

    Apparently Isaiah came from a high class home.

         His vocabulary and style demonstrate that he received a good academic preparation for

              his position.

         He preached for about forty years, principally before kings.

         As a member of the "diplomatic corps," he was unequalled.

    He spoke during one of the most decisive moments in the history of Judah and kings

         listened to his wise counsel.

DATE

    The biographical information given indicates that Isaiah's prophetic ministry to Judah was

         carried out from 739 to about 700 B.C., during the reigns of kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz

         and Hezekiah.

BACKGROUND

    Isaiah's ministry was carried out during the time of the divided kingdom, as the northern

         kingdom of Israel moved toward, and eventually experienced, destruction.

              Judah had been on a negative course, headed toward destruction also.

              Only the occasional light of a few good kings, especially Hezekiah, during Isaiah's

                   time, saved the southern kingdom of Judah from destruction along with the

                   northern kingdom.

    In general, both kingdoms were characterized by rebellion, unbelief and idolatry.

         God sent prophets, such as Isaiah, to warn them of the danger of destruction, but they

              refused to listen to their warning.

         God finally brought Assyria to destroy the northern kingdom of Israel and take them

              into captivity.

    After the destruction of Israel, Assyria continued to move arrogantly against Judah.

         Hezekiah had become king of Judah and led the nation in many reforms.

         As a result, God spared Jerusalem, though the other cities of Judah had already been

              defeated.

         God judged Assyria for their arrogance and preserved Judah until a much later date.

PURPOSE AND THEME

    As a pre-exilic book, Isaiah speaks to Judah because of her sin and idolatry, in order to call the

        people to repentance and obedience to God.

              If they will turn to Him, He will fulfill His covenant and bless them.

              The message God uses to call His people to repentance is a message of judgment.

              God is going to judge Judah, destroy Jerusalem, and send His people into captivity.

    Isaiah, in addition to the immediate message of judgment, projects himself into the future

         and completes the story, revealing the future restoration of God's people as a comfort to

         those who read the book following the destruction of Jerusalem.

              There are two major purposes for this additional revelation:

                   First, God wants His people to understand His entire program for them.

                        Therefore, He went beyond the immediate judgment to promise the restoration

                             to follow.

                   Second, the restoration promises are given together with the promise of judgment

                        in order to give the people a basis for faith in the promises.

                             When the message was first given, the people did not understand any of it.

                                  They did not believe God was going to judge them.

                             From the perspective of the captivity, they would never believe that God

                                  would restore them to the land.

                             When God combined the two prophecies in one message, He provided

                                  confirmatory evidence that He would restore them.

         From captivity, they would be able to see that the same God who promised them

            judgment had also promised their restoration.

                   Since He accomplished the first promise, they could also trust Him to fulfill the

                    second.

                   The two aspects of the judgment and restoration of God were especially significant

                        in the light of the contemporary fall of Israel in 722 B.C.

    The book, then, has a double message:

        To God's people in sin, it serves as a warning of judgment to call them to repentance.

        To God's people in captivity, it's a promise of restoration to encourage them to keep

            trusting God.

    The book encourages God's people to trust God in the dark-when everything's going

         wrong!

              From the pre-exilic perspective, it looks ahead to God's judgment   1-39

                   --180 year interval between initial fulfillment of events.

              From the exilic perspective, it provides comfort, by promising restoration   40-66.

    The two parts together speak to people who:     

•     Initially didn't believe judgment would ever come against GOD's people.

 

•     Once judgment comes, they won't believe restoration is possible.

    The two parts come together-same God-same author.

         If part 1 is true, we can believe part 2 will be fulfilled also!

ORGANIZATION

    Isaiah is composed of the two major sections previously described, tied together by an

        historical interlude.

              The first major section contains prophecies of condemnation, warning people to turn

                from their sin to avoid God's judgment   1-35

              An interlude follows the prophecies of condemnation which presents several

                historical demonstrations of God's intervention in and control of history-even

                over pagan nations   36-39.

                        This section explains why God postponed the judgment at the time of Hezekiah.

                        It also demonstrates that God would bring the Babylonians later to cause their

                        destruction.

                    God was never defeated by the Assyrians nor by the Babylonians.

              Finally, the last major section predicts the restoration of God's people in order to

                control and encourage them 40-66.

         The promise of restoration ought to cause God's people to trust Him and to turn back to

            Him.

CONCERNING JUDAH   1-12

    Summary   1

              Isaiah gives a brief summary of the book.

         Author   1:1

         Their condition   1:2-15

              Their condition has degenerated to the point where they have rebelled against God,

                   even though they continue to offer sacrifices.

         God's invitation   1:16-20

              He urges them to repent and return to Him so that He can cleanse them and bless

                   them again.

         Illustration of the harlot   1:21-23

              Rather than turn back to God, they have continued in their evil ways and become as

                   harlots.

         Punishment   1:24-25

              Therefore, God is going to send judgment on them to correct them.

         Restoration   1:26-31

              Once the judgment has passed, He will restore them.

    Coming Judgment   2-4

              Isaiah spells out in greater detail what's involved in the coming judgment.

         God's plan   2:1-4   He describes His original plan-His dream for His people.

              His plan was that Jerusalem would be a center where people would come to learn

                   about Him and about justice.

         Contrary condition   2:5-9

              Rather than serve as an example to the other nations, Israel has become an imitator.

              They have adopted the worst traits from all the pagan nations around them.

         Resultant judgment   2:10-4:1

              Because of the arrogance of the people, God is going to send judgment against them.

              Some of the specific things God will accomplish by means of the coming judgment:

                   2:17-18; 3:1-4

              They will become desolate.

         Concluding restoration   4:2-6

              However, when they get to that point, God will restore them, cleanse them and again

                   become their refuge.

    Cause of Judgment   5

         Illustration of the vine   5:1-7

              The causes of judgment are graphically portrayed by the parable of the vine.

              God is the vine dresser (the Gardener); Israel is the vine.

                   God planted and carefully cared for a vineyard.

                   In spite of all His care, it produced bad fruit.

              He asks Himself why He should continue to hope for good fruit, when all it produces

                   is bad fruit.

              Finally, He decides to destroy it.

                   That is just what Israel is like.

                   Therefore, He is going to judge them.

         Six fatal sins   5:8-23

              Six fatal sins are cited as the basis for the coming judgment:

                   Empire building   5:8-10

                   Drunkenness and parties   5:11-17

                   Hypocrisy   5:18-19

                   Misleading people   5:20

                   Pride   5:21

                   Open sin without shame   5:22-23

                        . . . flaunted with a hardened attitude and without any sense of shame.

         Means of judgment   5:24-30

              Since these attitudes and actions do exist, God will judge His people.

              He will bring a nation from far away to fight and to defeat them.

    Call of the Prophet   6

              Out of the midst of these sad conditions among God's people, God calls Isaiah to be

                   His spokesman to the nation.

              Isaiah was discouraged because of the death of king Uzziah-a good king that he

                   loved.

         His vision   6:1-4

              God reveals Himself to Isaiah . . .

         His confession   6:5

              . . . making him aware of his own sin and unworthiness to serve God.

         His purification   6:6-7

              God uses His angelic messenger to purify Isaiah and to prepare him for his task.

         His call   6:8

              Now he is prepared to serve as God's spokesman and God calls him.

              Isaiah is ready to accept the challenge.

         His mission   6:9-13

              Its definition   6:9-10

                   God reveals to him the message which he is to proclaim.

              Its limits 6:11-13

                   He is to proclaim the message God gives him to a people who will not listen nor

                        understand (compare Romans 10-11).

                   In the end his message will be one of judgment, for that will be its result.

              God taught Isaiah two main lessons:

                   1.    We are not worthy to be His servants.

                   2.    We should be willing to serve Him, wherever He sends us.

    Plan for the Future   7-12

              Having related how God called him to be His spokesman, Isaiah reveals the plan

                   which God designed for the future of Israel.

              Ahaz, king of Judah, was concerned about an alliance which had been formed by

                   Israel and Syria, which was threatening to attack Judah.

         Comfort for Judah   7:1-16

              Comfort is given to Judah by Isaiah's assurance that the alliance will not prevail

                   against them.

              It will be destroyed.

              A sign is given to Ahaz as proof:       7:14

                A virgin would give birth to a son and call him "God is with us."

                Before that child knows enough to distinguish right from wrong-before he reaches seven to

                    twelve years old, captivity would come to Israel and Syria.        7:16

                             Matthew points to a similar sign which was given at Christ's birth: a virgin has

                                  a Son Who demonstrates that "God is with us!"

         Invasion by Assyria   7:17-25

              At that time God was going to bring the king of Assyria against all the people in

                   Israel, including Judah.

         Captivity of Syria and Israel   8:1-8

              Assyria would take Israel and Syria captive.

              At the same time, they would continue on to occupy Judah.

         Warning to seek God   8:9-22

              This should serve as a warning to them to seek God.

              If they turn to Him, He will defend them.

         Promise of restoration   9-12

                   The reference to repentance for deliverance motivates Isaiah to look ahead into the

                        future to the time when God will restore His people.

              Deliverance from affliction   9:1-7

                   Ultimately, their final deliverance will come when the people understand God's

                        truth and receive their Messiah.

                   He will bring deliverance and establish God's kingdom.

       &nb