The Book of Isaiah

Chapters 1-3

God’s discipline and our response

The Book of Isaiah

Written between 700-680 BC

Isaiah’s ministry in Judah 740-681 BC

• Qb is the Qumran (settlement) Scroll of Isaiah that is about 75% complete

• Qa, the Qumran Great Isaiah Scroll is complete - all 66 chapters

• Look at it online (includes translation): http://www.ao.net/~fmoeller/qumdir.htm

The Shrine of the Book

http://www.imj.org.il/shrine_center/Isaiah_Scrolling/index.html

Qumran and the dead sea scrolls• Settlement nearest to the hiding

place of the Dead Sea Scrolls

• Jewish sect, perhaps the Essenes or others

• Scrolls seem to have been hidden in the caves during the First Jewish Revolt.

• Written on parchment (animal skins)

Dead Sea

Parchment• Is a thin material made from

calfskin, sheepskin or goatskin. It is distinct from leather in that parchment is not tanned, but stretched, scraped, and dried under tension, creating a stiff white, yellowish or translucent animal skin.

                           

  A Sefer Torah, the traditional form of the Hebrew Bible, is a scroll of parchment.

• In cave 4 at Qumran approximately 15,000 fragments from some 574 manuscripts were found.

•Clay jar of the type the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in. From Qumran, now in the Citadel Museum, Jordan. http://www.christiananswers.net/q-abr/abr-a023.html

• The Great Isaiah Scroll was discovered in Cave 1 in 1947and identified in 1948

• Pieces of the Great Isaiah Scroll (1Qls-a) have been carbon-14 dated at least four times, including a study at the University of Arizona in 1995 and a study at ETH-zurich in 1990-91. The four studies produced calibrated date ranges between 335-324 BC and 202-107 BC. There have also been numerous paleographic and scribal dating studies conducted that place 1Qls-a at a date range of approximately 150-100 BC.

• The Great Isaiah Scroll of the Qumran community is dated at no later than 100 BC

• All Messianic Prophesy in Isaiah was written well before the birth of Jesus including Isaiah 53

• The Q text is substantially the same as the received text of the Book of Isaiah that we now read in our English Bible

Column I Isaiah Chapter 1:1-26(from Dead Sea Scoll)

1. (1) The vision of Isaiah, {&yod&} son of Amots which he envisioned about Judah and Jerusalem {&yod&} in the days {&waw&} of Uzziah, 2. Yotham, Achaz, {&Ye&}hizkiah kings of Judah (2) Hear O heavens and give ear O earth 3. because YHWH declares: I have raised and matured sons and they have transgressed against me. (3) The ox knows his purchaser 4. and the ass the feeding trough of his owner. Israel does not know and my people do not consider. (4) Woe sinning nation!

Big Picture of the book of Isaiah

Isaiah shows the two-sided nature of God’s character:

• Mercy and judgment

• Grace and discipline

• Justice and forgiveness

• Exile and salvation

Below is a chart of the words of judgment in contrast to the words of promise planted through the Book of Isaiah. The dark dripping shadows refer to the number of verses focusing on judgment

The data for the Light/darkness chart of Isaiah. Explanation of code: 1:5/31       Chapter 1 altogether has 31 verses.       5 verses speak about God’s promises or the faithfulness of Israelites.       26 verses (31-5=26) describe God’s judgment and Israel’s unfaithfulness.

Isaiah 40-48

God’s graciousdealings with man

Isaiah 49-58

God’s graciousprovision of redemption

Isaiah 59-66

God’s graciouspromises of hope

http://www.foundationsforfreedom.net/References/OT/Prophets/Isaiah

The two large themes in Isaiah show God’s character of mercy / judgment

• The two themes are evident in Isaiah’s names for his children– Judgment: Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz “Speed the

Spoil, Hasten the Booty” fulfilled with the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BC, and before that, Judah’s successive waves of deportation starting in 605 BC

– Mercy: Shear-Jashub “A Remnant Shall Return” fulfilled in 538 BC when Cyrus released the Jews from captivity. Jews returned 538, 458, and 444 BC http://www.truthnet.org/Biblicalarcheology/11/Israel_Restored.htm

Example of mercy: Nearly 160 years before King Cyrus was even born, God declared to the

prophet Isaiah that he would raise up this man to rebuild his city. Isaiah’s prophesy may have seemed strange because Jerusalem was prospering and would not be destroyed for another 100 years by Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon. God’s prophecy begins at Isaiah 44:28:

ISA 44:28 (NASB) “It is I who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd! And he will perform all My desire.’ And he declares of Jerusalem, ‘ She will be built,’ And of the temple, ‘ Your foundation will be laid.’ ”

ISA 45:13 (NIV) I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness: I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild my city and set my exiles free, but not for a price or reward, says the LORD Almighty."

 

• King Cyrus allowed citizens of the empire to practice their native religion.

• These reforms are reflected in the famous Cyrus Cylinder and Biblical books of Chronicles and Ezra, which state that Cyrus released the Israelites from slavery and granted them permission to return to the Land of Israel.

Cyrus Cylinder currently located in the British Museum

Mercy continued: Isaiah’s description of salvation and

Messiah

• Isaiah’s name means “The Lord has saved”• He uses the word “salvation” 28 times compared

to 10 other times in the other old testament prophets combined

• Salvation comes from God, not man, through Messiah

• No other Bible book contains as many references to the coming Messiah

Timeline for the Book of Isaiah Judah and Assyria

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Timeline for the Book of Isaiah

Divided Divided KingdomKingdom

Divided Kingdom of Israel

Phoenicia

Phoenicia

Philistia

Philistia

IsraelIsraelAmmonAmmon

MoabMoabJudahJudah

JerusalemJerusalem

Dea

d S

eaG

alile

eJ

ord

an

Jo

rda

nR

ive

rR

ive

r

NASA PHOTO© EBibleTeacher.com

Divided Divided KingdomKingdom

EdomEdom

SyriaSyria

SamariaSamariaMediterranean

Mediterranean

www.Studylight.org

                                                                                 

Assyrian Empire

824 BC824 BC

640 BC640 BC

Assyrian EmpireAssyrian EmpireJudahJudah

Assyrian EmpireAssyrian Empire

© EBibleTeacher.com

EgyptEgypt

www.Studylight.org

                                                                                          

Line by line analysis of Isaiah 1-3

Isaiah 1:1-17

Vs 1-4, God’s people have forsaken their master because of their sin

Vs 5-15, They are being disciplined for their hypocrisy; no prayers answered

Vs 16-17, God desires obedience, good behavior, not religiosity

Summary: God detests wrong even by very religious people

Isaiah 1:1-17 Lessons or Truth

The big idea is that God disciplines His creation:

• DT 8:5 Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you.

• PS 94:10 Does he who disciplines nations not punish?Does he who teaches man lack knowledge?

• PS 94:12 Blessed is the man you discipline, O LORD,the man you teach from your law;

Isaiah 1:1-17 Lessons or TruthThe big idea is that God disciplines those He loves:

• PR 3:11 My son, do not despise the LORD's disciplineand do not resent his rebuke,PR 3:12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves,as a father the son he delights in.

• HEB 12:5…"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,HEB 12:6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."

• HEB 12:10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.

Isaiah 1:1-17 Lessons or Truth

God disciplines us when we do wrong Religious acts do not make up for our sinsGod does not listen to the unrepentant

Question(s): Have you turned your back on the LORD because of unrepentant sin?

Have you cried out to God through prayer, fasting and confession (MK 9:29)? Will you do it today?

Isaiah 1:1-17 Hope

1JN 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

Psalm 51:1-12 Hope

• PS 51:1 Have mercy on me, O God,

according to your unfailing love;

according to your great compassion

blot out my transgressions.

Psalm 51:1-12

Vs 1-5, I see my sins against you LORD, erase them please, according to your compassion and love

Vs 6-7, God desires internal truth, only He can cleanse me making me pure

Vs 8-12, Create in me a pure heart and a willing spirit

Summary: I sin against God but He can purify me, erasing my sin, according to His love and compassion

Psalm 51:1-12 Lessons or Truth

God erases sin not because of anything we do but because of His compassion and love

Only God give us the internal purity, His truth God can give me a pure heart and a willing spirit

Question(s): Do you see that God’s forgiveness is based completely on His love and His compassion? If purity is based completely on God, can you be pure? Will you ask God to make you pure based on His nature, His mercy, love and compassion? Will you ask God to give you a willing spirit, a heart that relies on Him in humility?

Isaiah 1:18-31

Vs 18-27, The LORD has a plan to redeem Jerusalem, cleansing even the worst sins of the willing and obedient

Vs 28-31, The corrupt that resist the LORD will perish, being burned up

Summary: The LORD will purify the willing and destroy the rebellious

Isaiah 1:18-31 Lessons or Truth

God can and will cleanse even the worst sinner if they are willing and obedient

God is sovereign and Jerusalem will be a righteous, faithful city

Those who reject the LORD will perish, both he and his work burned up

Question(s): Are you willing to be cleansed? Have you taken all sins, from the most horrific to the most trivial, to the LORD? Do you believe that God can and will cleanse you? Will you ask Him today? Do you look forward to the home of righteousness that God has in store for those who love Him?

Genesis 32:22-31

Vs 22-24, Jacob plans for family then wrestles with man

Vs 25, Jacob not overpowered, hip wrenched Vs 26-28, Jacob blessed, name changed Vs 29-32, Wounded Jacob humbled, grateful

Summary: Jacob wrestled with God, changing his deceitful nature to a humble , grateful nature: “Israel”

Genesis 32:22-31 Lessons or Truth

Jacob held fast to God even when he was being disciplined

Through God’s discipline, Jacob’s deceitful nature was broken

Jacob was blessed but God answered his specific request (prayer) with a “no”

Question(s): Will you hold fast to God even when you are being disciplined? Will you fight God during His discipline? Will you need to be humbled like Jacob to change your nature? How will you react when God blesses you but says “no” to a specific prayer?

Isaiah 2

Vs 1-5, God has a vision of people living in righteousness and peace.

Vs 6-22, God’s people are no different than pagans and will be humbled for their pride and love of their work, what they have done or made

Summary: God’s people are no different than pagans, however, they will be taught and follow Him.

Isaiah 2 Lessons or Truth

Ultimately, numbers of people will follow God and this will result in peace (God’s plan).

Presently, God’s people are like pagans, proud and lovers of material things.

God will discipline His people so that they will walk in the light of the LORD and have peace.

Question(s): Do I understand God’s plan for His people? How and when will I study this to see the kind of people God wants us to be? Am I different than those who don’t love God? Am I proud? Do I love material things or my work more than God? Will I ask God to help with this?

Isaiah 3

Vs 1-7, The LORD will take from Judah food, water, and leadership.

Vs 8-11, The people bring this disaster on themselves because of their flagrant sin and rebellion although the righteous will be protected.

Vs 12-26, The men and women, especially the leaders, will be disciplined.

Summary: Judah has brought judgment on themselves because of their sin and rebellion, but the righteous will be ok.

Isaiah 3 Lessons or Truth

God can protect the righteous while disciplining the sinful rebellious.

Judgement/discipline can be a lack of food, water, leadership, freedom.

Question(s): What has God used to discipline you? Do you believe that God can discipline some yet protect the righteous? How can a leader ruin God’s vineyard? How can you protect yourself so that you won’t be a leader like this?

Now What? How should we respond to discipline and testing?

• 1 Peter, Peter’s letter to the Christians who were going through a painful trial:

“Be Holy”

And he says it over and over again

“Be Holy”

• 1 Peter 1:13-2:3 “Be Holy”• 1 Peter 2:16-17 Don’t use your freedom

as a cover-up for evil

• 1 Peter 3:8-12 Harmony, sympathetic, compassionate,

humble, peace• 1 Peter 4:1-3 Done with sin• 1 Peter 4:7-11 Pray, love each other

“Be Holy”

• 1 Peter 4:19 Continue to do good

• 1 Peter 5:5-7 Clothe yourself with humility

Result: 1 Peter 5:10-11 God will restore, making strong, firm and steadfast