Bible

Today in the Bible room, we begin the summary of the book of Isaiah. We will cover these 66 chapters in six sessions, beginning here with Session 1, chapters 1 through 11.

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Isaiah – Session 1 of 6

Introduction to Isaiah:

Writer: Isaiah is generally recognized as the writer, however there are some scholars who posit portions of the book were penned by others.

Scope: For about forty years Isaiah offered God-given spiritual guidance and influence in the nation of Judah, the Southern Kingdom. This writing is recognized as possibly the most significant among all the prophetic writings. The book has two distinct divisions: Chapters 1-39 present the Lord’s condemnation of Judah, and her neighbors, for their failures, and chapters 40-66 offer words of encouragement for Judah’s future.   

(Note: Isaiah mentions four kings in his writings. The dates of their reigns can be found listed in the summary of the book of 2 Kings.)

Chapter 1. Rebellion

Isaiah says Judah has rebelled against the God of their fathers:

• Isaiah identifies himself as the writer of this book;
• He says he is writing from personal experience;
• He’s writing primarily about Judah and Jerusalem;
• His life experience has coincided with four kings;
• Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah;
• Isaiah asks Judah: Why are you in rebellion against God?
• The entire nation has been destroyed by its enemies;
• The Lord hates phony offerings and empty sacrifices;
• Judah only pretends to be serving God with fake piety;
• Isaiah tells Judah there is still time for redemption;
• The Lord promises forgiveness and restoration;
• If they will return to Him in obedience;
• They must turn away from the corruption prevalent in the land.

Chapter 2. Judgement

A day of judgement is coming:

• Isaiah can see into the future for Judah and Jerusalem;
• Someday there will come a great period of restoration;
• When the word of the Lord will spread to all the nations;
• There will be peace among all peoples;
• Swords will be changed into plows, spears to pruning hooks;
• Peace will govern all the land;
• Isaiah sees this future for Judah if they will repent;
• But Judah has taken up pagan customs and practices;
• They are worshipping idols crafted by their own hands;
• And the Lord will one day be bringing judgement;
• In that day people will run to look for places of safety;
• The earth will tremble under the majesty of the Lord.

Chapter 3. Catastrophe

Isaiah foresees a catastrophe coming to Jerusalem and Judah:

• The Lord will allow a catastrophic loss of people and things;
• The city and the nation will be decimated;
• All the elder leaders are going to be taken away;
• Only a few young people will be left to run the government;
• Corrupt behavior has brought death and destruction;
• The Lord condemns the women of Judah and Jerusalem;
• When disaster strikes, they will lose their finery;
• Many men will be killed by the sword;
• The nation will be left destitute.

Chapter 4. Restoration

After the great disaster. Isaiah sees a day of restoration coming:

• Seven women for each man will survive the destruction;
• Everyone remaining alive in Jerusalem will be called holy;
• The Lord will once again bless His People;
• There will come a day of rebuilding the city and nation.

Chapter 5. Expectations

The writer says God had some great expectations for His people:

• But they failed Him; they wasted their chance at blessing;
• God likens His people to a fine vineyard that He built;
• He tilled the ground and planted it with the best vines;
• He built a guard tower and a winepress;
• The vineyard was made the best, ready to grow good fruit;
• But, something terrible happened: the fruit was not good;
• So God asks His people what went wrong in His vineyard;
• He wants to know what could have been done better;
• He says He is going to dig it all up and destroy it;
• God explains: the vineyard is Israel, the vines- His people;
• His people have failed His great expectations;
• They have abandoned God entirely;
• For this reason Israel will be taken captive;
• The nation will be brought down, literally trampled;
• God is angry with Israel’s failures;
• Like a roaring lion Israel will be swept away into captivity.

Chapter 6. Calling

Isaiah writes about his calling by God to be a prophet in Judah:

• It happened in the year of King Uzziah’s death;
• In a majestic vision in the temple, Isaiah sees the Lord;
• Overcome with humility, he says he is a man of unclean lips;
• Some angelic beings bring a hot coal from the altar
• To touch Isaiah’s mouth and purge him from sin;
• The voice of the Lord asks for a volunteer to be a prophet;
• Isaiah answers the call: “Here am I, send me”;
• Then he asks the Lord: “For how long?”
• And the answer was: While Judah is taken captive.

Chapter 7. The Promise

King Uzziah has died; his son Jotham rules, then his son, Ahaz, reigns:

• Judah repels an attack by leaders from the north;
• The Lord directs Isaiah, along with his son, to meet Ahaz;
• There, he tells Ahaz about the promise of One who is coming;
• A virgin will give birth to a Son and call him Immanuel;
• But before that, the entire region will be decimated by war;
• Vineyards and farms will be overgrown by briers and thorns.

Chapter 8. Invasion

Isaiah sees the coming invasion by Assyria:

• The Lord tells Isaiah to start writing on a large scroll;
• He calls for two priests to come be his witnesses;
• He sees the Assyrian invaders coming over the land;
• They will be like a mighty flowing river covering everything;
• People will roam the land looking for food;
• Hungry, they will look upward and curse God and their king;
• Looking down, they will see anguish, despair, and darkness.

Chapter 9. Light

Isaiah says the people who once were in darkness will see a great light:

• There will be a people who are not distressed;
• They dwell in the region of Galilea;
• Those who had known darkness have seen a great Light;
• A Light has shined where once was the shadow of death;
• There will be great rejoicing as in the time of harvest;
• For unto us a Child will be born, a Son given special names;
• As: Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father;
• Prince of Peace; His government will be forever;
• But Isaiah says it’s a different story for Samaria and Ephraim;
• Their pride and arrogance have turned them against the Lord;
• The anger of the Lord will be their destruction;
• Those two will join together against Judah.

Chapter 10. Punishment

Isaiah sees a future of punishment for the wicked:

• Especially for those who deny justice to the needy;
• He asks them “Who will you turn to for help?”
• Without God, they will become prisoners;
• Those who worship idols will be punished;
• And then after that Assyria will feel the rod of God’s anger;
• Their arrogance is particularly loathsome;
• She has trampled and robbed without any resistance;
• One day God will bring severe punishment;
• Then, Zion will no longer be troubled by Assyria.

Chapter 11. Spirit

There is a Spirit from God coming out of the family of Jesse:

• He will be the Spirit of Wisdom, and understanding;
• The Spirit of Counsel and of power;
• The Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord;
• He will judge people with righteousness;
• He will restore the peace and prosperity of His people;
• His people will return to Him from all corners of the Earth;
• They will have a “highway” prepared for them;
• And Gentiles will also be drawn to Him.

End of Session 1 of 6 of the book of Isaiah