Wednesday Night Bible Study | 01.20.2021

Audio

Notes

Big Picture Overview of Understanding Isaiah: 

(1) The Old Testament (including Isaiah) & the History of Israel, Judah, and God’s People in the context of the power politics & spiritual warfare of the Ancient Near East.

(2) The Structure, Flow, and Main Issues & Themes of the Book of Isaiah.

Main Segments of Israel’s History Leading Up to & Through Isaiah & at least, his “Former Things” Prophecies.

- Patriarchs &YHWH’s Covenant & Covenant Promises with Abraham, reiterated & developed with Isaac & Jacob a/k/a Israel.  

- Exodus & YHWH’s Sinai/Horeb Covenant via Moses with the Sons of Israel & with the Sons of Aaron. 

- Joshua & “Conquest” of (some of) the Promised Land.

- Tribal Period of the Judges leading to the anointing of Saul and then to YHWH’s special choosing of David, son of Jesse.

- Saul, then David & Solomon as kings of a United Kingdom – YWWH’s special covenant with David (2 Sam. 7).

- Divided Kingdoms of (2) Judah with David’s line and (b) Israel/Samaria with various short-lived dynasties.  

- Fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel/Samaria to the Assyrian Empire, and the resulting diaspora of the tribes [722/21 B.C.]

- Final Fall of Jerusalem & the Kingdom of Judah to the Neo-Babylonian Empire, and the resulting destruction of the Temple & Jerusalem walls, further large-scale Exile of the people of Judah to Babylon [586 B.C.]

Major Parts of the Book of Isaiah:

Chapters 1-39, 40-55, and 56-66 

[or, alternatively, per Motyer: 1-37 (“The King”), 38-55 (“The Servant”), and (The Anointed Conqueror”)

Chapters 1-39 - Mainly addressed directly to Isaiah’s Own Generations and regarding “Former Things” & Judgment, however with some Messianic & Other Hopeful Prophecies. [For term “former things” and “things to come” terminology see, e.g., Isaiah 41:22, 42:9, 43:6-21, 46:9, and 65:17.]

The Book of Isaiah begins with Covenant Lawsuit Chapter 1 and/or all of Chapter 1-5 [the Lawsuit is re Mosaic/Sinai Covenant]. Also, add the Theophanic Call Vision of Chapter 6, and Chapters 1-6 serve as the Book’s Introduction & a Summary of the Unfaithfulness of God’s People …but also with His Call to Repentance & Reconciliation.

Add 7-12 to complete the 1st Main Segment of the Book [with 7-12 really highlighting the juxtaposition of (a) the unfaithful King Ahaz vs. (b) the prophesied Immanuel-child (Ch. 7)/Son (Ch. 9)/Shoot from the stump of Jesse (Ch. 11).