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IsaiahSurvey of the Old Testament: The ProphetsFall 2005 |
Table of Contents |
Isaiah 1:1 informs us that this book is a record of the visions of Isaiah, the son of Amoz. Isaiah was probably born to an influential upper class family, because he had access to the King [1]. (Is 7:3-4, 8:2, 30:1-7, 36-36). He was married to a prophet and had two children. (7:3, 8:3). He probably was a scribe in the employee of Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:22).. Tradition states he was executed under the reign of the evil king, Manasseh.
As will be discussed in the structure section below, the book of Isaiah divides between chapters 1-40 and 41-66. The first section deals primarily with the nations of Israel and Judah at the time of the threat of invasion from Assyria. The second section deals with the nation in exile in Babylon, and in Isaiah 45:1. the writer states that Cyrus of Persia would free Israel from its Babylonian exile.. For this reason, all but the most conservative scholars assume that chapters 41-66 were not written by Isaiah, but were written by an anonymous post-exilic author using Isaiah as a pseudonym. The supposed author of the second section is called “Deutero-Isaiah,” or second-Isaiah.
However, if one believes in the inspiration of the scripture, the mention by name of a king who would free Israel from exile two centuries prior to the even, shouldn't force us to assume a second Isaiah. Furthermore, the second section of the book does focus more on Babylon, the first half of the book also has much to say about the judgment of Babylon. Finally, while there may be some stylistic, vocabulary and grammatical differences between the two sections of the book, these are insignificant and are outweighed by the similarities [2].
According to 1:1, Isaiah wrote the book during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. This represents the major part of the 8 th century BC.
The northern kingdom of Israel was ruled by King Jeroboam II during the reign of King Uzziah, and was experiencing a military and economic revival. However, following Jeroboam's death, Israel went into a downward spiral. The kingdom was in political chaos, with kings frequently being assassinated. The nation had rejected the worship of God and adopted the pagan practices of their neighbors. This included human sacrifice and temple prostitution.
Because of the rebellion of the northern kingdom, God allowed Assyria to slowly captured the nation. First under the Assyrian king, Tiglath-Pilasser, Assyria captured Galilee and northern Israel in 740 BC. Finally the Assyrian king Shalmaneser brought about the fall of the Israelite capital, Samaria, in 722 BC, taking the inhabitants of the northern kingdom in exile.
The Judean king Uzziah sought after God. He developed a sophisticated army and was economically very prosperous. However, as Uzziah grew in strength and prosperity he quit trusting God. God struck him with leprosy after he arrogantly performed a temple ritual reserved for the priests.
Jotham, his son, ruled while he had leprosy. But while Jotham followed God, the people were corrupt and increasingly followed the pagan religion.
The next king, Ahaz rejected God and tried to build an alliance with Tiglath-Pilasser of Assyria. While he was helped militarily, he taxed the people and gave away the temple treasury to keep Assyria happy.
The next king, Hezekiah, however, followed God and eliminated destroyed the pagan temples. However, militarily Judah was weak and faced a formidable enemy in Assyria, which was a constant threat in the north.
Isaiah is writing primarily to the nations of Israel and Judah who are increasingly under the threat of invasion from the Assyrian empire. The nations have both rejected the worship of God and are increasingly relying on pagan religion and military strength for their salvation. Isaiah is also, however, writing to the generation which will be in exile, awaiting the hope of return to the Promised Land.
As previously mentioned, Isaiah is divided into two major sections:
The first section of the book has four major sections:
The second section of the book has three major sections:
Judgment from Assyria & Babylon |
Deliverance by Cyrus & the Messiah |
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Introduction |
King Ahaz's Crisis of Faith |
Judgment on the Nations |
King Hezekiah's Crisis of Faith |
Deliverance from Babylon by Cyrus |
Deliverance from sin by the Messiah |
Deliverance to future glory by the Messiah |
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| 1 | 6 |
7 | 12 |
13 | 27 |
28 | 40 |
41 | 48 |
49 | 58 |
59 | 66 |
The book of Isaiah serves as a warning to the kingdom of Judah to not arrogantly trust in their own strength in the midst of crisis, but to trust in the Holy One of Israel who will bring about deliverance from Assyria, from the Babylonian exile, and ultimately from their sins.
There is condemnation for those who arrogantly place their trust in their own might. There is deliverance for those who humbly place their trust in the Holy One of Israel.
Behold, the Lord GOD will come with might, With His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him And His recompense before Him. Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes. (Isaiah 40:10-11)
Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. He it is who reduces rulers to nothing, Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless. (Isaiah 40:21-23)
Footnotes |
Back to the Prophets : Next: Prelude & Isaiah's Calling
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