Isaiah: The Bible in Miniature

 

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  1. A Look at the Book:

    1. Date:

      1. The reign of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, & Hezekiah (1:1)

      2. This period encompassed about 105 years, but it is safe to assume his work began late in the reign of Uzziah as Isaiah wrote a biography of Hezekiah’s life after his death (2 Ch 32:32-33) @ 687 B.C.

      3. His work spanned over 50 years — 740 - 687 B.C.

      4. Scripture span — 2 Ki 15:1 (Azariah = Uzziah) - 2 Ki 20:21

      5. Only book found in its completeness among the Dead Sea Scrolls - 1947

    2. About the author:

      1. Isaiah means "salvation is of the Lord"

      2. Married to a prophetess and had two sons

      3. Isaiah’s contemporaries included Micah in Judah, and Amos & Hosea in Israel.

      4. Jewish tradition holds that Manasseh killed Isaiah (Sawed him in two - cf. Heb 11:37) after the death of Hezekiah, thus there is no mention of Manasseh in the book of Isaiah.

    3. Theme: Salvation - appears 26 times in the book. No other book contains more references to salvation except the Psalms.

    4. Organization of the Book - a miniature Bible

      1. 66 chapters (cf. the 66 books of the Bible)

      2. Chapters 1-39 the condemnation of the nations. Pictured are God’s dealings with the scope of humanity throughout the Old Testament.

      3. Chapters 40-66 (27 chapters) prophecies of comfort, salvation, and the future glory of Israel = the coming of the Messiah and the establishment of His kingdom. Pictured here is the New Testament which tell of the birth of Jesus, his life, death, resurrection, and establishment of his kingdom, the CHURCH.

    5. Major Divisions

      1. Chapters 1-12 judgments against Judah and Israel

      2. Chapters 13-23 pronouncements against the heathen nations

      3. Chapters 24-35 prophecies against foreign alliances, Edom

      4. Chapters 36-39 history, prophecy, song — bridges 1-35 & 40-66

      5. Chapters 40-66 prophecies of salvation

     

  2. Great Texts from Isaiah - Isaiah is quoted 58 times in the NT -more than any book other than the Psalms.

    1. Isaiah 2:2-3 — the establishment of the kingdom and inclusion of the Gentiles as citizens in the kingdom.

    2. Isa 10:5-6 — God uses Assyria to carry out His will (Jer 27:6)

    3. Isaiah 29:13 — vain worship (Matt 15:7-9)

    4. Isaiah 40:3-5 — prophecy of John the Baptist (Luke 3:2-6)

    5. Isaiah 40:12-31 — the sovereignty of God

    6. Isaiah 55:6-7 — the mercy of God

    7. Isaiah 55:8-9 — the omniscience of God

    8. Isaiah 55:9-10 — the power of God’s Word

    9. Isaiah 62:2 — the new name of God’s people

  3. Prophecies Concerning Jesus

    1. Isaiah 7:14 — the virgin birth (cf Matt 1:22-23)

    2. Isaiah 9:6-7 — the coming Ruler

    3. Isaiah 28:16 — the precious corner stone

    4. Isaiah 50:4-9 — God’s suffering servant

    5. Isaiah 53 — God’s suffering servant

 

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