Course Name: [ Old Testament Survey ] Lesson Ten: [ Introduction to the Prophets, Isaiah ] The Major Prophets, Part One NOTES:

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1 Course Name: [ Old Testament Survey ] Lesson Ten: [ Introduction to the Prophets, Isaiah ] The Major Prophets, Part One So far in our survey we have looked at the Old Testament books in the following categories: The Beginnings The Books of the Law The Historical Books The Poetry and Wisdom Books Now we turn our attention to the books of the Prophets. 1. Introduction to the Prophets These seventeen books are often identified as five major prophets and twelve minor prophets. The term major does not indicate greater importance; it simply means these writings are generally longer. The word translated prophet (Hebrew nabi ) refers to someone who proclaims or announces on behalf of another. In biblical terms, a prophet announced God s message to His people. This involved both: Forth-telling: the prophets called and exhorted God s people to love, worship and serve Him alone. Fore-telling: at times the prophets spoke about things that would take place in the future as God gave them insight to understand these events. A true prophet in the Old Testament was divinely appointed and spiritually qualified to be a mouthpiece for God. Their godly character, calling and commitment to the Lord prepared them for this vital ministry and the Holy Spirit empowered them to speak and write God s Word.

2 2 Peter 1:20-21 (NLT) Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet s own understanding, 21 or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God. In contrast there were severe warnings and punishments associated with false prophets and false prophecies. Deuteronomy 13:1-5 (NLT) Suppose there are prophets among you or those who dream dreams about the future, and they promise you signs or miracles, 2 and the predicted signs or miracles occur. If they then say, Come, let us worship other gods gods you have not known before 3 do not listen to them. The Lord your God is testing you to see if you truly love him with all your heart and soul. 4 Serve only the Lord your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him. 5 The false prophets or visionaries who try to lead you astray must be put to death, for they encourage rebellion against the Lord your God, who redeemed you from slavery and brought you out of the land of Egypt. Since they try to lead you astray from the way the Lord your God commanded you to live, you must put them to death. In this way you will purge the evil from among you. Deuteronomy 18:21-22 (NLT) But you may wonder, How will we know whether or not a prophecy is from the Lord? 22 If the prophet speaks in the Lord s name but his prediction does not happen or come true, you will know that the Lord did not give that message. That prophet has spoken without my authority and need not be feared. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, these seventeen prophetic books were penned by sixteen writing prophets who ministered in the following eras (with approximate dates): Pre-exilic ( B.C. ) Exilic ( B.C. ) Post-exilic ( B.C. ) It is helpful to understand that Old Testament prophecies often had different levels of application and meaning. There are at least four possible ways a prophet may have been speaking through a message: He was speaking of contemporary events. He was speaking of events connected to the captivity (exile) or restoration period. He was speaking of events connected to the coming of the Messiah. He was speaking of events connected to the consummation of God s Kingdom and His ultimate judgments the last days. Pastor Dale O Shields // The Major Prophets, Part One // Page 2

3 In our study of the prophetic writings, we will first review the books of the major prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations (which was also written by Jeremiah), Ezekiel and Daniel. 2. Isaiah The Hebrew name of the prophet Isaiah means the Lord is salvation and his book is a masterful proclamation of God s saving work. Because of the beauty and majesty of Isaiah s ministry and message, he is often referred to as the Prince of Prophets. It is interesting to consider how this prophetic book is something of a miniature Bible that parallels the layout and message of the Old and New Testaments. Biblical scholar Norman Geisler describes it this way: [Isaiah] has 66 chapters; the Bible has 66 books. The first 39 chapters correspond to the 39 books of the Old Testament, speaking largely about Israel before the coming Messiah. The last 27 chapters parallel the New Testament, speaking largely about the Messiah and His Messianic Kingdom. Isaiah was written during one of the most critical periods in the history of both Israel and Judah (approximately B.C.). Assyria was expanding its empire. The Northern Kingdom (Israel) was in severe moral and spiritual decline. Isaiah warned Judah that captivity would soon be her lot and his message was primarily directed toward this Southern Kingdom. The chapters of Isaiah can be divided into two main sections: The Book of Judgment (1-39) The Book of Comfort (40-66) In the first 39 chapters Isaiah speaks prophetically of God s judgment on His people because of their wickedness. Isaiah 2:5-11 (NLT) Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord! 6 For the Lord has rejected his people, the descendants of Jacob, because they have filled their land with practices from the East and with sorcerers, as the Philistines do. They have made alliances with pagans. 7 Israel is full of silver and gold; there is no end to its treasures. Their land is full of warhorses; there is no end to its chariots. 8 Their land is full of idols; the people worship things they have made with their own hands. 9 So now they will be humbled, and all will be brought low do not forgive them. 10 Crawl into caves in the rocks. Hide in the dust from the terror of the Lord and the glory of his majesty. 11 Human pride will be brought down, and human arrogance will be humbled. Only the Lord will be exalted on that day of judgment. Pastor Dale O Shields // The Major Prophets, Part One // Page 3

4 Interspersed among the prophecies of judgment are many glimmers of light and hope. Some of the most familiar Messianic prophecies are located in this portion of the book. Isaiah 7:14 (NLT) All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means God is with us ). Isaiah 9:6-7 (NLT) For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven s Armies will make this happen! Comfort is the clarion theme of the final 27 chapters. While great judgment has been predicted, great comfort is also promised. Isaiah 40:1-2 (NLT) Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Tell her that her sad days are gone and her sins are pardoned. Yes, the Lord has punished her twice over for all her sins. This last section of Isaiah can be studied in three groups of nine chapters each: Chapters contrast Yahweh, the true God, with the idols that represent false gods. Israel must reject idol worship and worship and serve the Lord alone. Isaiah 43:9-11 (NLT) Gather the nations together! Assemble the peoples of the world! Which of their idols has ever foretold such things? Which can predict what will happen tomorrow? Where are the witnesses of such predictions? Who can verify that they spoke the truth? 10 But you are my witnesses, O Israel! says the Lord. You are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God there never has been, and there never will be. 11 I, yes I, am the Lord, and there is no other Savior. Chapters include wonderful promises about the coming Messiah, especially in the Servant Songs (49:1-6; 50:4-9; 52:13-53:12; 42:1-4 is also one of these songs). Isaiah 49:5-6 (NLT) And now the Lord speaks the one who formed me in my mother s womb to be his servant, who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him. The Lord has honored me, and my God has given me strength. 6 He says, You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me. I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth. Pastor Dale O Shields // The Major Prophets, Part One // Page 4

5 Chapters describe the final restoration of God s people. The book comes to a beautiful, redemptive and triumphant conclusion as the Lord creates new heavens and a new earth and displays His glorious authority and ultimate reign over all. Isaiah 65:17-19 (NLT) Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and no one will even think about the old ones anymore. 18 Be glad; rejoice forever in my creation! And look! I will create Jerusalem as a place of happiness. Her people will be a source of joy. 19 I will rejoice over Jerusalem and delight in my people. And the sound of weeping and crying will be heard in it no more. Because of his strong Messianic emphasis, Isaiah has been referred to as an evangelist. His book is sometimes called the fifth gospel and is quoted more than 60 times in the New Testament. Through this faithful prophet and his writings, God spoke powerfully about the One who would suffer and die for our sins. What an amazing portrait he painted, 700 years before the coming of Jesus the Messiah, about His redemptive work on the cross for us. Isaiah 53:3-6 (NLT) He was despised and rejected a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. 4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! 5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. 6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. Pastor Dale O Shields // The Major Prophets, Part One // Page 5

6 Small Group Discussion Guide Getting Started Read 2 Peter 1: What do these verses tell us about the messages of the Old Testament prophets? How should this affect our response to them? Talking It Over What is the difference between forth-telling and fore-telling in the ministry of the prophets? Why are both of these important as part of their proclamation of God s Word to His people? Read Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6-7. What do these passages tell us about the hope God promised in the midst of troubled times? How did He fulfill these promises? How does Isaiah 40:1-2 set the tone for the message of chapters 40-66? How do these verses speak to you about God s grace in your life? What is the ultimate hope for God s people as described in Isaiah 65-66? Putting the Word to Work We have seen that Isaiah provides great prophetic insight about the work Jesus would accomplish for us on the cross, especially in Isaiah 53. Take time to read through and meditate on this important chapter to appreciate more deeply all that God has done to pay for your sins and thank Him for His gracious provision. Memorizing the Word Isaiah 53:5-6 (NLT) But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. 6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. Pastor Dale O Shields // The Major Prophets, Part One // Page 6