"THE BOOK OF ISAIAH"
Introduction To The Entire Prophecy (1)
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS SECTION
1) To begin our study of Isaiah, with an introduction and sample of the
entire prophecy
2) To observe God's condemnation of Judah for lack of compassion and
justice for the fatherless and widows, along with idolatrous worship
3) To see the redemption God offered for those willing to repent, and
the destruction promised to those who persist in their rebellion
SUMMARY
The book of Isaiah begins with a heading that defines the nature of
Isaiah's message as a 'vision' concerning Judah and Jerusalem received
during the reigns of four kings of Judah: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and
Hezekiah. This would place the date of Isaiah's work approximately
739-690 B.C. (1).
The first chapter serves as an introduction to the entire prophecy,
especially the first section of the book (Prophecies Concerning Judah
And Jerusalem, chs. 1-12), and provides an example of the messages God
wanted Isaiah to deliver. It begins with what has been described as
"The Great Arraignment", in which the Lord indicts Israel for rebellion.
The corrupt condition of the nation and city is described and their
hypocritical worship condemned (2-15).
Even so, the Lord offers a call to repentance. For those willing to
cleanse themselves and replace their evil doings with justice and
compassion, they can be forgiven and eat the good of the land. For
those who refuse and continue in their rebellion, they will be devoured
by the sword (16-20).
The last half of chapter contains an announcement of the coming judgment
upon Judah and Jerusalem. The corrupt condition of Jerusalem is
described, for the 'faithful' city has become a 'harlot.' The city is
full of murderers and rebellious princes who care not for the widows and
fatherless, but only rewards and bribes. The Lord promises to purge the
city of His enemies and restore good judges and counselors, that she
might once again be the 'faithful' city. Those who repent will see Zion
redeemed with justice and righteousness, but those who continue to
forsake the Lord will be consumed. The gardens in which they worshiped
idols will be burned like dry vegetation (21-31).
How the Lord will carry out His judgment will be revealed later in the
book.
OUTLINE
I. THE HEADING (1:1)
A. NATURE OF THE BOOK...
1. Called a 'vision'
2. Prophets were originally called 'seers' - 1Sa 9:9
3. Therefore the "vision of Isaiah...which he saw" refers to the
'sight' or 'word' inspired from God; i.e., a prophecy
B. AUTHOR OF THE BOOK...
1. "Isaiah the son of Amoz", possibly a kinsman to the king
2. His name means "Salvation is of the LORD", very much in keeping
with the theme of his prophecy
C. SUBJECT OF THE BOOK...
1. "concerning Judah and Jerusalem"
2. The moral conditions of Judah and Jerusalem, and what God plans
to do with them
D. DATE OF THE BOOK...
1. "in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah"
2. Approximately 739-690 B.C.
II. JUDAH'S SINFUL CONDITION (1:2-15)
A. "THE GREAT ARRAIGNMENT"...
1. In which the LORD 'indicts' Israel in the presence of witnesses
(heaven and earth)
2. The 'indictment' - 1:2-3
a. Rebellious children who do not know their Father
b. Unlike the ox that knows its owner, and the donkey its
master's crib
B. THE CONDITION OF THE NATION...
1. A sinful, corrupt nation that has turned away from God - 1:4
2. Like a body festering with wounds and sores, yet asking for
more - 1:5-6
3. The countryside overthrown by strangers, Jerusalem besieged
- 1:7-8
4. Except for a small remnant, would have become like Sodom and
Gomorrah - 1:9
C. THEIR HYPOCRITICAL WORSHIP...
1. God can no longer endure their religious activities - 1:10-14
2. God will not answer their prayers, for blood is on their hands
- 1:15
III. THE CALL TO REPENTANCE (1:16-20)
A. AN APPEAL TO REPENT...
1. Cleanse yourselves, put away evil - 1:16
2. Do good, seek justice, reprove the oppressor, defend the
fatherless and widow - 1:17
B. GOD'S GRACIOUS INVITATION AND WARNING...
1. An invitation to be made "white as snow" and "white as wool"
- 1:18
2. Blessings for those who obey, dire consequences for those who
rebel - 1:19-20
a. Those who heed will eat of the land
b. Those who refuse will be devoured by the sword
IV. ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE COMING JUDGMENT (1:21-31)
A. THE CORRUPT CONDITION OF JERUSALEM...
1. Once faithful, now a 'harlot' - 1:21a
2. Once full of justice and righteousness, now murderers - 1:21b
3. A 'polluted' city - 1:22
4. Her princes corrupt and heartless, caring not for fatherless
and widows - 1:23
B. THE CITY TO BE PURIFIED...
1. The Lord to get rid of His enemies - 1:24
2. The Lord to purge away the "dross" - 1:25
3. The Lord to restore good judges and counselors - 1:26a
4. Once again it will be called "the righteous city, the faithful
city" - 1:26b
C. PENITENTS REDEEMED, TRANSGRESSORS CONSUMED...
1. Those penitent will be redeemed with justice and righteousness
- 1:27
2. Those who forsake the Lord will destroyed and consumed - 1:28
a. They will be ashamed of their trees and gardens (where
idolatry was practiced) - 1:29
b. Despite their strength, they shall be consumed like dry
vegetation - 1:30-31
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THIS SECTION
1) How does Isaiah describe his message? Who does it concern? (1:1)
- As a vision; Judah and Jerusalem
2) During what kings did Isaiah proclaim his message? Approximately
when? (1:1)
- Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah; 739-690 B.C.
3) Whom does God call as witnesses against Israel? (1:2)
- Heaven and earth
4) What charges does He bring against her? (1:2-3)
- His children have rebelled against Him, they do not know Him
5) How is the nation described? (1:4)
- A sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of
evildoers, children who are corrupters
6) How is the condition of the nation depicted? (1:5-6)
- The head is sick, the heart faint
- The body covered with untreated wounds and festering sores
7) What is the condition of the countryside? The city of Jerusalem?
(1:7-8)
- Desolate, cities burned with fire, strangers devouring the land
- Like a booth in a vineyard, a besieged city
8) If God had not left them a remnant, what would they have been like?
(1:9)
- Sodom and Gomorrah
9) What is it that God can no longer endure? (1:10-14)
- Their worship with its sacrifices and assemblies
10) Why will God not accept their worship and prayers? (1:15)
- Their hands are full of blood
11) What does God want them to do? (1:16-17)
- Put away evil, do good, seek justice, rebuke the oppressor, defend
the fatherless and widow
12) What comforting promise does God offer regarding their sins?
(1:18)
- "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool."
13) What is promised to the obedient? To the rebellious? (1:19-20)
- They shall eat the good of the land
- They shall be devoured by the sword
14) How is the city of Jerusalem described? (1:21-23)
- A harlot, a place of murderers
- Silver mixed with dross, wine mixed with water
- Rebellious princes, companions of thieves who care more for bribes
than the helpless
15) What does God promise to do with Zion, that is, Jerusalem
(1:24-27)
- Take vengeance on His enemies
- Purge away the dross
- Restore good judges and counselors
- Redeem the city with justice, her penitents with righteousness
16) What will happen to the transgressors and sinners? (1:28-31)
- Those who forsake the Lord will be consumed
- They will be ashamed of their trees and gardens
- They shall be burned like dry vegetation