Isaiah: A History

My wife and I decided that we wanted to do a bible study and I really wanted one I could sink my teeth into. So we decided to do Isaiah. I really want to gain an understanding of prophets. It's hard to determine when they go between past, present and future at a moments notice. So as we go through I will update the blog with our insights.

Author: Isaiah (740-687 bc)

It was a time of significant political, military, economic, and social upheaval. It was a time of having a very high level of unfaithfulness and disregard to the Mosaic law (the laws passed down by Moses). It was a time of enormous shits in power on the international scene.

Israel was divided into the north (Israel/Ephriam) and the south (Judah). The main focus is on Judah and it's capitol of Jerusalem.

Theological Significance of Isaiah:
1) Yahweh as the Holy One
2) Israel as Yahweh's Holy People
3) Zion as God's Holy City
4) the inclusion of the nations (Gentiles, or non Jews) in His people.

The 5 acts of deliverance shown in Isaiah:
1) Judah from Assyrian invasion
2) Nation from Babylonian captivity
3) Future deliverance of Jews from Gentiles
4) Lost sinners from judgement
5) Final deliverance of creation from the bondage o sin when the Kingdom is established.

So who is Isaiah?
Isaiah is the son of Amos (no clue who he is). He is the father of two sons, Sehar-jashub (a remnant shall return [7:3]) and Maher-shalal-has-baz (quick to plunder, swift to spoil [8:1-4,18]). Isaiah's wife is known as the prophetess, for being married to him. He served under many kings (listed below). He is thought to have been sawn in half by Hezekiah's successor (Heb 11:37).

The Kings in Isaiah:
Uzziah - smitied with leprosy when he tried to interfere with priests in the temple.
Jetham - a good king, son of Uzziah, during his reign Assyria became a threat.
Ahaz - son of Jetham, not a good king, brought Judah into bondage.
Hezekiah - a great king, the last of the godly kings, brought Judah out of bondage and back to the lord, he's famous for the water system he established (which still exists today).
All the kings sense Hezekiah have led Judah into political and spiritual decay, ending in captivity to Babylon (city on Euphrates river, capitol of Babylonia in southern Mesopotamia).

Theme: The salvation (deliverance) of the Lord

Outline:
I Condemnation
1 sermons against Judah and Israel (1-12)
2 Burdens of Judgement against Gentiles (13-23)
3 songs about future glory (24-27)
4 woes to coming judgement by Assyria (28-35)
5 historical interlude (36-39)
a) Hezekiah delivered from Assyria (36-37)
b) Hezekiah delivered by Babylon (37-38)
II Consolation (40-66)
1 God's greatness (40-48)
2 God's grace (49-57)
3 God's glory (58-66)