the latter prophets - isaiah

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Isaiah

✦ Title – Isaiah means “Yahweh is Salvation”

✦ Date of Events – 739–681 b.c.

✦ Uzziah (791–740)

✦ Hezekiah (716–687)

✦ Canon

✦ book of Sirach (190 b.c.), aka Ecclesiasticus

✦ Qumran

✦ placed directly after Kings

Introductory Issues

…it stands, in the Hebrew ordering of the books, back-to-back with Kings, the last book of the Former Prophets. That interface … is fortuitous because the books of Kings and Isaiah are together preoccupied

with the destiny of Jerusalem. The books of Kings end with an account of the sorry end of the destruction of

Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonians and the ensuing deportation and exile. The book of Isaiah, in

its turn, is a meditation, albeit in complex configuration, about the destiny of Jerusalem into the

crises of exile and the promise of Jerusalem out of exile into new well-being.

The Structure of IsaiahThe Structure of IsaiahThe Structure of IsaiahThe Structure of Isaiah

Threat of Judgment

Historical Connecting LinkHistorical Connecting LinkPromises of Deliverance

Chapters 1–35 Chapters 36–37 Chapters 38–39 Chapters 40–66

Coming of Assyrians

AnticipatedAssyrian Attack

Coming of Babylonians Anticipated

Babylonian Conquest Assumed

1. Judgment & Salvation of God’s People (1–12)

2. Judgment & Salvation for the Nations (13–39)

3. Prophecies Relating to the Return from Babylon (40–55)

4. Isaiah’s Final Prophecies (56–66)

Working Outline of Isaiah

Thus says the LORD, “Preserve justice and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come And My righteousness to be

revealed.”Isaiah 56:1

1–39� Righteousness  &  Justice� 1:21,  27� 5:7� 16:5� 26:9� 32:1,  16� Human  Behavior

� Righteousness  &  Salvation

� 45:8,  21� 46:12–13� 51:5–8� God’s  Acts/Character

Comparing  1–39  with  40–55

40–55

Here the imminent becoming-revealed of the divine saving righteousness is the reason for the demand to human beings to bring about

justice and righteousness themselves.

1 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, And for Jerusalem's sake I will not keep quiet, Until her righteousness goes forth like brightness, And her

salvation like a torch that is burning. 2 The nations will see your righteousness, And all kings your glory; And you will be called by a new name

Which the mouth of the LORD will designate.Isaiah 62:1–2

Isaiah 13–39

And in that day you will say, “Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; Make them remember that

His name is exalted.”Isaiah 12:4

✦ Why follow reunification & praise with scene of massive judgment on nations?

✦ Why is Babylon first?✦ Not primarily oracles of salvation for Israel.

✦ Rather, establish God’s sovereignty over the nations, particularly human pride.

✦ The judgment of these nations would result in peace and tribute for Yahweh (16:5; 18:7; 19:21–25; 23:15–18).

Judgment & Salvation of the Nations (13–23)

✦ Words of salvation and blessing:✦ Moab – 16:5✦ Damascus – 17:7✦ Cush – 18:7✦ Egypt – 19:18–25✦ Tyre – 23:17–18

Judgment & Salvation of the Nations (13–23)

✦ 24–27: Eschatological focus on destruction of all nations and humankind (cf. ch. 13)

✦ means God’s kingdom is established in Jerusalem (24:23)

✦ response of praise by Isaiah (25:1–12) and by inhabitants of Judah (26:1–21)

✦ return of God’s people (ch. 27)

Apocalyptic Vision (24–27)

Woes (28–33)

✦ Edom is used as an example, as the archenemy of the nation.

✦ According to the scroll (34:16–17)✦ Note the connections between chs. 35 & 40 … so

why are they separated by 36–39?

Justice (34–35)

✦ see 10:12

✦ When would Isaiah’s earlier prophecies happen?

✦ The narrative shifts the focus from Assyria to Babylon.

✦ The point is to locate the prophecies in the future rather than the past or present.

✦ The scope is messianic and eschatological, a time after the exile.

✦ Hezekiah becomes an example of the trust God desired.

Historical Insertion (36–39)

Isaiah 40–55

✦ 42:1–7

✦ 49:1–9

✦ 50:4–11

✦ 52:13–53:12

Servant Songs

Isaiah 56–66

✦ addresses post-exilic situation

✦ In 56:1–8 salvation is close at hand and extends beyond Israel.

✦ Even after the exile, many would forsake Yahweh (57:3–11). Those who did live righteously would suffer (vv. 1–2).

✦ The only recourse was to trust in Yahweh (vv. 12–13).

✦ Sin had separated them from the Lord (59:1–8), which Isaiah acknowledged (vv. 9–15).

✦ Since they could not help themselves (vv. 16–19), God would send His Redeemer to Zion (v. 20).

✦ New Covenant (v. 21)

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