Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Isaiah: A Prophet for All Seasons

(Isaiah 1:1-4:6)

 

by Samuel E. Ward

 

Introduction

 

As the book of Isaiah opens, Assyria was fast becoming the prevailing power in the Near and Middle East.  In order to protect themselves from falling victim to Assyria's expansion, Israel and Judah were both tempted to seek allies who were fearful of Assyria as well.

This was not the only problem Israel and Judah shared, perhaps not even its most threatening problem.  They both had forsaken God and fallen into false religious practice and moral bankruptcy.  Isaiah was appointed by God to call Israel and Judah to repent of the sin and unbelief.  It was a message of salvation to the nations generally and to each individual in  those nations. 

Let's begin our study of Isaiah's book by examining . . .

 

I.  God's Messages for Judah and Jerusalem, Isa 1:1-12:6

 

A. Jerusalem:  Present and Future, Isa 1:1-5:30

 

1. The title, Isa 1:1


Isaiah 1:1 (NIV) 1The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

 

2. Judah's sickness, 1:2-31

 

a. Judah's willful disregard of God, Isa 1:2-4 (1:4)

 
Isaiah 1:4 (NIV) 4Ah, sinful nation, a people loaded with guilt, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption!  They have forsaken the LORD; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him.

 

Proofs of their disregard:

 

1) Rebellion against God, Isa 1:2

2) Ignorance of God , Isa 1:3

3) Evil in spite of God, Isa 1:4a

4) Corruption in the sight of God , Isa 1:4b

5) Forsaking the rule of God, Isa 1:4c

 

b. Judah's stubborn denial of their condition and its cause,
    Isa 1:5-9 (1:6)

 

They had continued to rebel against God and experience His judgment.

 

1) They had been afflicted in every area of their being.

2) They had not sought treatment for their afflictions.

3) They had allowed their whole country to experience an epidemic of sin.

4) They had experienced the wasting away of all their resources and fallen into national poverty.

 

Isaiah 1:6 (NIV) 6From the sole of your foot to the top of your head there is no soundness—only wounds and welts and open sores, not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with oil.

 

c. God's  disgust with Judah's ritual, Isa 1:10-15a,b (1:13)

 

Their sacrifices, offerings, festivals, assemblies, and prayers had  become a burden to God.


Isaiah 1:13 (NIV) 13Stop bringing meaningless offerings!  Your incense is detestable to me.  New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—I cannot bear your evil assemblies.

 

d. God's  prescription for healing, Isa 1:16—20 (1:17)

 
Isaiah 1:17 (NIV) 17Learn to do right!  Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.

 

e. God's  review of Judah's fall from wholeness, Isa 1:21-23 (1:21)

 

1) Judah had become unfaithful to her God.

2) Judah had become indifferent to justice.

3) Judah had become irresponsible with its riches.

4) Judah had become tolerant of dishonest leaders.

5) Judah had become unprotective of those most at risk of exploitation.

 

Isaiah 1:21 (NIV) 21See how the faithful city has become a harlot!  She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her—but now murderers!

 

f. God's  promise to bring about change , Isa 1:27-31 (1:27-28)


Isaiah 1:27-28 (NIV) 27Zion will be redeemed with justice, her penitent ones with righteousness.  28But rebels and sinners will both be broken, and those who forsake the LORD will perish.

 

3. The day of judgment, Isa 2:1-22

 

a. What the state of God's people will ultimately be, Isa 2:1-4  (2:2)


Isaiah 2:2 (NIV) 2In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.

 

b. What the action of God's people ought to be now, Isa 2:5


Isaiah 2:5 (NIV) 5Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.

 

c. What the state of God's people was at the time, Isa 2:6-8 (2:6)


Isaiah 2:6 (NIV) 6You have abandoned your people, the house of Jacob.  They are full of superstitions from the East; they practice divination like the Philistines and clasp hands with pagans.

 

d. What the consequences of sin and rebellion shall be, Isa Isa 2:9-21 (2:12, 17, 21)

 

Isaiah 2:12 (NIV) 12The LORD Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled),


Isaiah 2:17 (NIV) 17The arrogance of man will be brought low and the pride of men humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day,

 

Isaiah 2:21 (NIV) 21They will flee to caverns in the rocks and to the overhanging crags from dread of the LORD and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth.

 

It is quite possible that Isaiah is prophesying both the near judgment upon Judah and the final judgment of all mankind in the end times.  This is especially probable since earlier God had provided the people with a view of their ultimate blessing after Israel and the nations will have been brought together in a coming universal acceptance of God's rule.  The book of Revelation uses similar imagery to describe the final days of God's judgment before the Second Coming of Christ (Rev 6:15-17).

 

e. What the command of God is for His people, Isa 2:22


Isaiah 2:22 (NIV) 22Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils.  Of what account is he?

 

4. The immediate outlook, Isa 3:1-4:1

 

a. God will take away their sustenance, Isa 3:1.


Isaiah 3:1 (NIV) 1See now, the Lord, the LORD Almighty, is about to take from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support:  all supplies of food and all supplies of water,

 

b. God will take away all their leaders, Isa 3:2-7 (Isa 3:6-7)

 

They will be desperate for someone to provide order but there will be no one capable or willing to take leadership.

 

Isaiah 3:6-7 (NIV) 6A man will seize one of his brothers at his father's home, and say, "You have a cloak, you be our leader; take charge of this heap of ruins!"  7But in that day he will cry out, "I have no remedy.  I have no food or clothing in my house; do not make me the leader of the people."

 

5. The present order, Isa 3:8-9

 

a. They defy God, Isa 3:8.


Isaiah 3:8 (NIV) 8    Jerusalem staggers, Judah is falling; their words and deeds are against the LORD, defying his glorious presence.

 

b. They parade their sin, Isa 3:9.


Isaiah 3:9 (NIV) 9The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it.  Woe to them!  They have brought disaster upon themselves.

 

c. Their youths are oppressive, Isa 3:12a.


Isaiah 3:12a (NIV) 12aYouths oppress my people, women rule over them.

 

d. Their leaders lack the experience to lead, Isa 3:12.


Isaiah 3:12b (NIV) 12bO my people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path.

 

6. The coming judgment, Isa 3:10-11; 13-26

 

a. The righteous will be spared, Isa 3:10.


Isaiah 3:10 (NIV) 10    Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.

 

b. The wicked will be made to pay for their sin, Isa 3:11


Isaiah 3:11 (NIV) 11Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them!  They will be paid back for what their hands have done.

 

In particular, God rises to judge the following:  (Isa 3:13-26)

 

1) The people as a whole, Isa 3:13


Isaiah 3:13 (NIV) 13The LORD takes his place in court; he rises to judge the people.

 

2) The plundering elders and leaders of His people, Isa 3:14


Isaiah 3:14 (NIV) 14The LORD enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people:  "It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses.

 

3) The proud, flirtatious and sensually adorned women,
Isa 3:16


Isaiah 3:14 (NIV) 14    The LORD enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people:  "It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses.

 

7. The eventual restoration, Isa 4:2-6.

 

Isaiah 4:2-6 (NIV) 2In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel.  3Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem.  4The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit£ of judgment and a spirit of fire.  5Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy.  6It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.

 

a. Those who were despised will be beautiful.

b. That which was barren will produce glorious fruit.

c. Those who remain in Jerusalem will be called holy.

d. The women will cleansed and made pure.

e. The people will be judged and made pure.

f. The God of Israel will abide as a Ruler and Protector.

 

Because these words take us to the time just preceding the establishment of the kingdom of Christ, it is widely held by conservative scholars that the cleansing of Israel referred to here is the result of the Tribulation period just prior to Jesus' second coming.  The  visible presence of the Lord therefore makes the final fulfillment of Isa 4:1-6 to be the promise of God to Israel of its ultimate promises of an eternal kingdom. 

 

Relevancy

 

1. God is persistent in pursuing His people when they turn from Him.

2. God, by His covenant with His people, is obligated to discipline His children until they return to Him.

3. God is always trying to lead us to the place of blessing.

4. God is always ready to receive sinners into His care.

 

==========================================================

 

Archive