Bible 110 Old Testament
Prophecy
Isaiah
A. Isaiah was a southerner, a prophet in the court of kings of Judah. Historical summary of the southern kingdom:
The southern kingdom was fairly quiet and stable until the fall of Northern
Kingdom 722 BC to Assyria. Judah also had problem with Assyria.
735 – Ahaz became king. He was asked to join the coalition against
Assyria. Isaiah advised him not to join coalition nor to seek aid from the
Assyrian king (Tiglath-Pileser). Ahaz made an alliance with Tiglath; when the Samarians fell, Judah remained intact.
715 – Hezekiah became king, a good king. A revolt was attempted against Assyria in 701. Hezekiah stripped the temple of Assyrian cult objects and declared himself independent. Sennacherib came quickly and savagely, sacking 45 of 46 fortified cities in Judah. Hezekiah resisted
Sennacherib’s intimidation and trusted God. God delivered Judah from
Sennacherib, who returned to Nineveh (on pressing business elsewhere in the empire or a plague hit Sennacherib’s corps).
Hezekiah finally sued for peace and died, 687-686. Son Manasseh came to the throne and ruled 55 years.
Isaiah worked actively primarily 735-701 BC.
B. Book of Isaiah or books of Isaiah? Prophetic anthology
Isaiah as three books not feasible “Exilic Isaiah” new term for Deutero-Isaiah.
Outline:
1. Isaiah 1-12 – oracles dealing with Judah and Jerusalem. Most of this section is attributed to Isaiah, but there are some independent sections.
2. Isaiah 13-23 – oracles against foreign nations, Ch 15-17, 19 Isaianic
3. Isaiah 24-27 – “little apocalypse” late materials included in Isaiah.
Eschatological theology
4. Isaiah 28-31 – oracles to Judah and Jerusalem dated 701; last public crisis of Isaiah, the invasion of Sennacherib. Isaiah felt Jerusalem would be destroyed. Warned against alliances with Egypt.
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Bible 110 Old Testament
5. Isaiah 32-33
– Obligation of kingship; Isaiah 34-35 are Exilic Isaianic
6. Isaiah 36-39
– historical insertion paralleling II Kings 18-20. Tells of
Isaiah’s relationship to Hezekiah 701 BC. Isaiah here predicts that
Jerusalem will be saved and Sennacherib will withdraw (contradicts Ch
28-31?)
Similarities to Elijah-Elisha material: prophet reprieve for king; prophet as miracle-worker. Isaiah 36-39 covered up by legend.
Isaiah 6 Temple vision – call of Isaiah 742 C. Contains message of Isaiah in miniature (6:9-11). Isaiah overwhelmed by majesty of God. Isaiah 6:8 is a cultic response. This is redirection of Isaiah’s prophetic ministry. 6:13 – remnant: are these the disciples of Isaiah?
Isaiah 7 – Immanuel section; Syro-Ephraimatic war 735-734 BC. Attempts to force Ahaz into coalition, conquer Judah, depose Ahaz, set up a puppet king.
7:7ff oracle of Yahweh. Lord tells Ahaz to ask for a sign. The sign is 7:14.
Meaning is that God is with Judah and she shall stand. Ahaz does not take this but aligns with Tiglath. The promised child is not supernatural but has royal connotation. Only function of the child is to grow up; before he knows the difference between right and wrong, Syria and Ephraim will be gone.
Young woman of marriageable age?
Virgin?
Isaih knew of pregnancy and tried to keep Ahaz to keep his cool. Sign was significant to Ahaz.
Isaiah 9 – a royal psalm relating to kingship; more hymnic than prophetic.
Verses 27 “deep darkness” a future event, national calamity or misfortune. The light which has already dawned may be the lifting of foreign oppression. The reason for the light is the birth of child; he is Davidic king, royal heir. When he ascends the throne, he will establish justice and righteousness. Four fold naming is custom at coronation.
Only in Jesus Christ was this hope fulfilled.
Isaiah 11 is a prophetic oracle. “Stump of Jesse” could mean Davidic dynastic tree, and the shoot could be a new king. “Spirit of the Lord resting upon
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Bible 110 Old Testament him” is reference to his coronation. The hope is that this will come to pass immediately. Chapter 11 Davidic king is to restore peace; was his to be
Hezekiah? Isaiah Ch 11 written for coronation of Hezekiah?
7. Isaiah 40-55; Deutero-Isaiah or Exilic Isaiah much later than Ch 1-39.
References to Cyrus (45:1) indicate an exilic date. Special feature of this portion is the suffering servant poems. Identity of the servant: individual, corporate, or both? (Ch 42,44,49, 52:13-53:12) Does this predict or foreshadow the Messiah?
Jesus identified strongly with the servant poems, fulfilling them.
8. Isaiah 56-66; post exilic in nature? A more universal mission; invitation to the nations to come to Zion. Zion is future glory revealed.
Isaiah 61 – used by Jesus as “prelude to gospel” in Luke 4; a ministry to build up that which was broken down; God’s vengeance against evil doers; a new heaven and a new earth
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