Introduction to ISAIAH

Transcription

1 Introduction to ISAIAH

2 Isaiah the Book Isaiah is like a sermon that begins in the 8 th century and concludes in the sixth century, reaching even further into the future. It has, however, three distinct units (1-39; 40-55; 56-66) that are thought to address three different time frames (8 th century, 7 th century conquest, 6 th century return) Should it be understood as three books or one? If a sermon, does it apply only to the times in which it was written? The early Christians clearly thought otherwise.

3 Several historical events to take account of: The war between the Northern Kingdom and Assyria ( BC) Isaiah 20.1 The Philistine rebellion against Assyria (713-11) Isaiah Hezekiah and the siege of Jerusalem by Assyrian King Sennacherib (701 BC) Isaiah The time of Merodach-baladan, ruler of Babylon (721-10) Isaiah 39 The conquest of Jerusalem and exile into Babylon ( BC) Isaiah Persian King Cyrus s decree and return to Israel (538 BC) Isaiah 45.13

4 Outline Isaiah of Jerusalem Chapters 1-39 Isaiah of the Exile Chapters Isaiah of the Restoration Chapters 55-66

5 GOVERNING THEME Chapter 1, Chapter 66 People have fallen into iniquity, abused the sanctuary Zion become like Sodom and Gomorrah Jerusalem purged with exile fire; hope rests with the remnant Jerusalem destroyed but will be restored to become a citadel of justice and righteousness

6 Isaiah the Prophet A well-known public figure with a family and children (chs. 6-9) Well-versed in his religious tradition and worship Compassionate toward those facing destruction (6.11) Depends on God s warning and encouragement in a time of crisis ( ) But the Lord of hosts, him you shall regard as holy; let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. He will become a sanctuary, a stone one strikes against; for both houses of Israel he will become a rock one stumbles over a trap and a snare for the inhabitants of Jerusalem. (8:13 14)

7 Isaiah the Prophet Message: Judah s security provided by righteousness and trust in God rather than by international alliances. In spite of external opposition and personal despair, Isaiah finds the courage to hope in the Lord and record his teaching as a source of hope for later generations. His consistency, eloquence and fearless confrontation of kings has led to speculation that he was highly educated, and/or stately and/or a royal-like figure. His compassion more detached than Hosea and his wisdom not biting like Amos A unique and distinctive prophet voice.

8 Isaiah and the Christians Three important themes developed in the New Testament: Isaiah (Incomprehension of the people) Isaiah (The Corner Stone) Isaiah 53 & 53 (The Identity of the Messiah)

9 Incomprehension Isaiah And he said, Go and say to this people: Keep listening, but do not comprehend; keep looking, but do not understand. Make the mind of this people dull, and stop their ears, and shut their eyes, so that they may not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and comprehend with their minds, and turn and be healed.

10 Incomprehension Matthew : With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says: You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive. For this people s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn and I would heal them. Also: Mark 4:12; Luke 8:10; John 12.40; Acts ; Rom

11 Incomprehension Peter J. Leihart Isaiah is told to prophesy in order to make deaf and blind Israel more deaf and blind. How does that happen? Perhaps it works like this: Prophets speak in extremes. Prophets shout. Prophets "draw large and startling figures" (Flannery O'Connor). Yet nothing happens. They keep shouting and drawing. Still nothing happens. They shout louder, their colors get bolder. Years, then decades, pass. Nothing happens. Eventually, the prophetic shouts blend into the background, the white noise of traffic that we no longer hear. Their startling figures begin to look normal, and we might even hang a few in museums. It's the patience of God that deafens and blinds, that leaves the numb number. Beware the knowing smile at the crazy wearing a "The End Is Near!" sandwich board. Yours may be the smile of the deaf and blind. For there is a God who judges in the earth.

12 The Cornerstone Isaiah therefore thus says the Lord God, See, I am laying in Zion a foundation stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: One who trusts will not panic. also, Isaiah 8.14 He will become a sanctuary, a stone one strikes against; for both houses of Israel he will become a rock one stumbles over a trap and a snare for the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

13 The Cornerstone 1 Peter 2.6,8: For it stands in scripture: See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.... and A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall. They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. Also: 1 Corinthians 10.4; Romans 9.33.

14 Identity of the Messiah Isaiah : Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching.

15 Identity of the Messiah Isaiah Acts : Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth. The eunuch asked Philip, About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else? Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus.

16 Identity of the Messiah Identity of the Messiah Isaiah 61.1: The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners;

17 Identity of the Messiah Identity of the Messiah Luke , 21: and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to [Jesus]. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord s favor... Then he began to say to them, Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.

18 Identity of the Messiah Identity of the Messiah Isaiah 52 & 53: Therefore my people shall know my name; therefore in that day they shall know that it is I who speak; here am I. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, Your God reigns. (Isaiah 52:6 7, NRSV)

19 Identity of the Messiah Identity of the Messiah Isaiah 52 & 53: See, my servant shall prosper; he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high. (Isaiah 52:13, NRSV)

20 Identity of the Messiah Identity of the Messiah Isaiah 52 & 53: Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4 5, NRSV)

21 Identity of the Messiah Romans 4.25 It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.

22 Identity of the Messiah Bishop Tom Wright: Why did Paul, our earliest witness by far, come to this view?... Jesus lived, taught, and acted as though Israel were summed up in him. He would be the Israel who would go into exile on behalf of the Israel in exile. He would suffer the fate which summed up perfectly the present exilic condition of God s people. And he would do so in the belief that God would raise him from the dead, inaugurating the real return from exile which would be the sign that sins had indeed been forgiven, not only for Israel but also for the world.