Background 1-39
Damascus and Northern Kingdom have aggressively moved against Judah,
and Judah (King Ahaz) sumons Assyria (Tigleth-Pileser) to police area.
As a result, Damascus is conquered and her people deported. Sections of
the Northern Kingdom are annexed. Israel's and Damascus' move against Judah
is a threat to the survival of the Davidic Kingdom. Several years later,
Israel again rebels against Assyria, and the capital city of Samaria is
destroyed (721/722).
Judah is invaded by Assyrian Sennacherib in 701. Hezekiah (Judah)
is involved in an anti-Assyrian coalition. Jerusalem is attacked, but Hezekiah
trusts in God, and the Assyrian army is destroyed.
Brief Outline
- Introduction
- Overture (1-5) Oracles
- Commissioning (6) People are not going to pay attention to Isaiah;
his unheeded preaching will stand as confirmation of the guilt of Israel
established in chapters 1-5.
- Assyrian context
- Oracles at time of Syria-Ephramite condition (7-12) Highlights failure
of Ahaz to trust Yahweh and the results of that failure. Oracles of judgment
are interspersed with glimpses of future hope.
- Oracles against nations (7-12) Demonstrates Yahweh's sovereign control
over all nations. Damascus and Israel are going to be unsuccessful in their
attempt to overthrow the Davidic line. Assyria successfully invades invades
the west.
- Apocalyptic conclusion (24-27) Generally speaks of deliverance of
Israel and the destruction of her enemies.
- Woe oracles at time of siege of Jerusalem. Shifts attention to Hezekiah.
Oracles indict nation for its failure to trust Yahweh. Chapter 33 speaks
of deliverance in Zion for the righteous and judgment enemies.
- Apocalyptic conclusion of Woe oracles (34-35) Hezekiah calls on
Yahweh to overthrow Sennacherib. Rabshaketh tells Hezekiah's envoys that
the Egyptians will not be of any help to Israel. He also says Hezekiah's
reforms are making God angry and pointed out that no other armies had been
able to withstand Assyria. Yahweh's deliverance demonstrates Yahweh's power.
- Resolution of Assyrian crisis (36, 37)
- Transition to Babylon
- Oracles addressing exiles (40-55). Exile is not result of any inability
on Yahweh's part to deliver but rather is part of Yahweh's overall divine
plan. After the period of judgment, restoration will come.
- Oracles addressing post-exiles (56-66)
Themes
Sovereignty of Yahweh
Trust in Yahweh: illustrated in two kings Ahaz and Hezekiah. Ahaz
did not trust Yahweh but sent for the Assyrians to aid him in time of political
crisis; this resulted in replacing one crisis with another. Hezekiah initially
counted on Egyptian help but depended on Yahweh and was delivered. Hezekiah's
example became important as a lesson for the Israelites in exile, who were
encouraged to respond to their crisis with trust.
Covenant of Yahweh
Sons' names as signs. Shear-Jashub: a remnant will return; Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz,
quick to plunder, swift to the spoil. Immanuel, God with us (7.14, 8.8,
10, 9.6)
Servant songs: 42. 1-7, 49.1, 50.4-11, 52.13-53.12, and 61.1-3 is
similar to Servant song. Israel is referred to as Yahweh's servant, and
Cyrus plays a role in the program of deliverance. The role of the Servant
reaches into the ideal Davidic kingdom.
The Holy One of Israel. Shows emphasis on holiness of God, concern
over seriousness of Israel's offenses, and punishment as effecting reconciliation.
Yahweh is the redeemer of Israel.
Eschatology. Addresses conclusion of Yahweh's agenda, with emphasis
on the future kingdom of Israel centered in Jerusalem. The world will come
to Jerusalem where peace and prosperity will abound.
Significant Verses
1.2 I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled.
1.11 Yahweh is weary with empty ritual and sacrifice.
1.21 Rebellion of faithful city is compared to the unfaithful whore.
2.21-31 Justice does not now (but will) abound.
2.3 Nations will stream to Jerusalem.
3.1 Yahweh is sovereign even when Judah and Jerusalem are enduring
crisis.
- On a future day, Jerusalem will be purified, and a new messiah will
reign, one capable of justice.
5.8 Emphasis of people has been on gaining possessions.
6 Prophet's mission is not an easy one: he is to make the mind of
the people dull, stop their ears, and shut their eyes; Isaiah can only
ask, "for how long?"
8 Sons' names as signs
9 Righteousness of a coming king, a child to be born, a son, who
will establish justice and righteousness.
10.5 Assyria is to be used as a rod for Yahweh's anger over offenses
of Israel.
11 Depicts an ideal Davidic King and his rule (root of Jesse, Davidic
line)
13 Proclamation against Babylon; evil is punished.
14 Yahweh's compassion
14. 3 ff Babylon will fall.
15 Oracle against Moab.
17 Oracle against Damascus.
18 Oracle against Ethiopia.
19 Oracle against Egypt.
20 Isaiah dramatizes conquest of Egypt.
21 Oracle concerning Babylon, Duhmah, and Arabia.
22 Warning of the destruction of Jerusalem.
23 Oracles concerning Tyre.
24 Addresses impending judgment on earth.
25 Emphasizes deliverance.