Background
& Overview
Of Isaiah
I. Background
II. Structure &
Content
III. Meaning &
Application
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Isaiah, the Prophet
Traditional View: Isaianic Authorship (1.1)
Modern Critical View
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Proto-Isaiah (1-39)
Deutero-Isaiah (40-55)
Trito-Isaiah (56-66)
Objections to the Modern Critical View
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Isaiah’s Superscriptions (2:1; 7:3; 13:1; 20:2;
37:2,6,21; 38:1,4,21; 39:3,5,8)
Denial of Supernatural Character of Prophesy
The Analogy of Scripture (Mat. 12:17-21; Rom.
10:16, 20; John 12:38-41)
Authorship (1.1)
Yahweh as Emperor
Benevolence
Blessings
Prophets as Diplomats
Curses
Loyalty
Israelite
King and Nation
Vassal King and Nation
Covenant Dynamics (1.2)
Yahweh as Emperor
Benevolence
Blessings
Curses
Prophets
as Diplomats
Divine
Benevolence
Great promises
to the patriarchs
(29:22,
41:8, 51:2); he had brought the nation out of Egypt (52:4ff),
given them his law (42:21,24; 51:7); he had been patient
with them as they brokeLoyalty
his law time and again (7:13, 5:24,
42:24); God had ordained Jerusalem as the place of his
throne (24:23; 31:9; 52:2) and he had established David as
Israelite
King
and
Nation
Israel’s permanent
dynasty
(9:7,
16:5).
Vassal King
and Nation
Covenant Benevolence (1.3)
Covenant Benevolence (1.2)
Human Loyalty Accused
various segments of the nation of
Yahweh as Emperor
violating their moral responsibilities. The north had turned
away from God (7:9, 9:9-10) and the south had done the
same (1:4, 21; 3:8). The priests had offered false worship
(28:7); the political leaders had failed to fulfill their roles
Benevolence
(3:14; 9:14-15). The
house of David rebelled against God
(1:23).
Blessings
Prophets as Diplomats
Curses
Loyalty
Israelite
King and Nation
Vassal King and Nation
Covenant Loyalty (1.4)
Yahweh as Emperor
Benevolence
Curses Variety of
curses in nature and
Blessings
warfare (2:5-4:1);
curse
Prophets
of exile (5:1-7, 7 13)
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as Diplomats
Curses
Loyalty
Israelite
King and Nation
Vassal King and Nation
Covenant Curses (1.5)
Blessings
Blessings Deliverance on a number of
occasions such as 4:2-6; 11:1-12:6; 27:117; 49:8-50:3; 61:1-11. He assured God’s
people in Judah that they would be spared
Yahweh as Emperor
utter defeat by the Assyrians (37:1-5). He
announced that Hezekiah would be
healed (38:1-8). Isaiah also announced
judgments on the enemies of God’s
people which were in effect a way of
blessing the people of God. For instance,
he pronounced woes over Assyria,
Benevolence
Philistia, Moab, Damascus, Ethiopia and
Egypt in 14:24-19:17. As important as
these blessings were to Isaiah, by and
large he gave a lot of attention to the
greatest blessing of all: the
unprecedented blessings that would come
to Israel when God would restore his
people after exile. Time and again, he
Curses
focused on this future event
as a time of
magnificent blessings for the people of
God. The throne of David would be
restored and glorified (9:6-7; 11:10; 16:5).
Loyalty The temple would be restored and
glorified (2:2; 66:20). The exiles would
return (11:12; 27:13; 35:1-10; 51:11; 61:111). In fact, nature will be renewed to
such an extent after exile ends that Isaiah
Israelite
King
and
Nation
the condition of restoration the “new
Vassal King andcalled
Nation
heavens and new earth” in Isaiah 65:1725.
Prophets as Diplomats
Covenant Blessings (1.6)
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Isaiah 1:1: the prophet’s public ministry took place during the
reigns of: Uzziah (792–740 B.C.), Jotham (750–731 B.C.), Ahaz
(735–715 B.C.) and Hezekiah (715–686 B.C.).
Early Assyrian Judgment: During the eighth century B.C.,
Assyria rose to dominance in the ancient Near East. Judgment
came against northern Israel from Assyria in 740–734 B.C. (6:1)
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Syrian-Israelite Coalition: (734–732 B.C.) Chpts. 7-8; Isaiah
warned Ahaz to trust the Lord, but he did not.
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Destruction of Samaria: (722 B.C.) Chpts.7-8 Isaiah warned that
God was going to destroy Samaria the capital of Israel through
Assyrian invasion.
TIMELINE
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Invasion of Judah and Jerusalem’s Siege: (705–701B.C.)
Sennacherib (705–681 B.C.) destroyed much of Judah and laid
siege to Jerusalem (36:1-37:38).
Babylonian Judgment and Restoration: (586–539 B.C.) In
Isaiah’s future. (39:1-7; 40-66)
Isaiah’s Circumstances (1.7)
Date of Writing: (37:37-38) Ascension of Esarhaddon (681 B.C.).
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Early Assyrian Judgment: During the eighth century B.C.,
Assyria rose to dominance in the ancient Near East. Judgment
came against northern Israel from Assyria in 740–734 B.C. (6:1)
PURPOSE
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Fulfillments: e.g. 7:8-9 (spoken 734; fulfilled 722); To establish
credibility for predictions not fulfilled (exile of Judah and restoration
of Israel and Judah)
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Goal: 1-6 to shock with overall picture, 7-39 to establish credibility;
39:37-39 Babylonian exile is coming; 40-66 restoration is coming.
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Summary: To encourage the prophet’s contemporaries
To be loyal to the Lord and to exhort future readers in exile to
repent of sin and trust the Lord to bring the faithful remnant of
Israel and other nations to unprecedented blessings after the exile.
of Israel and Judah after the punishment of exile.
Purpose of Book (1.8)
Clements
1:1-31 Introduction
Motyer
1-37 Book
of the King
Pratt
1:1
2:1-12:6 Concerning Judah
and Jerusalem
13-23
24-27
28-33
34-35
36-39
Against
Foreign Nations
Apocalypse
of Isaiah
Concerning
Judah
Judgment
and Salvation
Isaiah
Narratives
Superscription
1:2-6:13
Message of
Judah’s
Judgment
and
Restoration
7:1-39:8
Response to
Assyrian
Judgment
40:1-66:24
Response to
Babylonian
Judgment
38-55 Book
of the Servant
56-66 Book of the
Anointed Conqueror
Comparative Outlines (1.9)
1:1 Superscription
I. 1:2-6:13 Message of Judah’s Judgment and Restoration
A. Judgment and Restoration to Righteousness and Justice (1:2—2:5)
B. Judgment and Restoration on That Day (2:6—4:6)
C. Judgment Leading to Restoration (5:1—6:13)
II. 7:1-39:8 Response to the Assyrian Judgment
A. The Syrian-Israelite Coalition (7:1—12:6)
B. International Upheaval During the Assyrian Judgment (13:1—27:13)
C. Sennacherib’s Invasion (28:1—39:8)
IV. 40:1-66:24 Response to the Babylonian Judgment
A. Isaiah’s Call to Proclaim Restoration (40:1–11)
B. God’s Power to Restore His People (40:12—44:23)
C. God’s Instruments of His Sure Salvation (44:24—55:13)
D. Israel’s Sin, Repentance and Restoration (56:1—66:24)
The Big Picture of Content (1.10)
1:1 Superscription
I.
1:2-6:13 Message of Judah’s Judgment and Restoration
Original Meaning
Inauguration
Continuation
Consummation
Meaning and Application (A) (1.11)
II. 7:1-39:8 Response to the Assyrian Judgment
Original Meaning
Inauguration
Continuation
Consummation
Meaning and Application (B) (1.12)
IV. 40:1-66:24 Response to the Babylonian Judgment
Original Meaning
Inauguration
Continuation
Consummation
Meaning and Application (C) (1.13)