ISAIAH, PART 1BS601 — Prophetic Books, Rev. Aaron Decker

Semenari Theoloji Malaysia, Second Semester 2019

THE BOOK(S) OF ISAIAH

Ch. 1 Ch. 66One Isaiah: Covers ~500 Years

Ch. 1 Ch. 66Ch. 40First Isaiah Is. of Jerusalem

~730-680

Second Isaiah During Exile

~575-525

Ch. 1 66Ch. 40First Isaiah Is. of Jerusalem

~730-680

2nd Exile

~575-525

55 3rd Rebuilding

~500

EVIDENCE: TIMELINE

Ch. 1 Ch. 66Ch. 40

Predicts Exile

Therefore your pursuers shall be swift! (30.15)

Until cities lie waste without inhabitant (6.11)

His anger has not turned away, and his hand is outstretched still. (5.25)

Assumes Exile and Predicts Release [The people] have become a prey with no one to rescue (42.22)

Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt (58.12)

I bring deliverance; it is not far off (46.13)

EVIDENCE: LANGUAGE

Ch. 1 Ch. 66Ch. 40Occasional Words With New Weight

Isles, coasts (synechdoche)

Nothing Create

Offspring

Justice The arm of Yhwh

Adorn yourself

Covenant

New Stock Words/Phrases My chosen (43.20) Praise (42.8ff) Shoot, Spring forth (44.4) To break out into song (49.13) Pleasure (46.10) God’s good will (49.8) Your (Zion’s) children (51.20) Rejoice (61.10) I am Yhwh and there is no other (45) I am the first and the last (48.12) I am your God, your savior (41.10)

Changes in Style Double words for emphasis Word-for-word parallelism Change in sentence structure

EVIDENCE: THEOLOGY

Ch. 1 Ch. 66Ch. 40

God is Majestic A Remnant will be Preserved

A Shoot from Jesse

God is Infinite A Remnant is Chosen and Important

A Suffering Servant

And one more thing: Isaiah’s name appears sixteen times in chapters 1–39.

It never appears after that.

COUNTERARGUMENT

Ch. 1 Ch. 66Ch. 40

But there are similarities, too! That only shows that Second Isaiah builds on First

But it’s scary! Because Jesus! How Many Isaiahs, Public Lecture, Tonight, 7:30 p.m., Multipurpose Hall

7Jul 11 Isaiah Print.key - July 16, 2019

FINAL NOTE ON BOOK UNITY

Ch. 1 Ch. 66Ch. 40

Postmodern canonical criticism (And related disciplines) says: “But it’s still one book in our Bible.” So, several Isaiahs or just one?

Twelve Minor Prophets or one Book of the Twelve? Many theological voices in the Bible, or one great revelation of God culminating in Jesus Christ?

THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE… WHO?

Son of Amoz(whoever that is) Lived in Jerusalem During the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah Ascension of Isaiah (3rd Century) said he was sawn in half while false prophets laughed at him

STRUCTURE OF ISAIAH

1–5 Prophecy about Judah and Jerusalem

6–9 Isaianic Denkschrift Memorial, Syro-Ephramite War

10–12 Anticipating the Exile and Deliverance

13–23 Oracles Against the Nations

24–27 Isaianic Apocalypse

28–33 Prophecy Against Jerusalem, Return

34–35 Little Isaianic Apocalypse

36–39 Narrative of King Hezekiah — See 2 Kings 18:17–20:19

1QIsaiaha 38:21–22 THE GREAT ISAIAH SCROLL FROM QUMRAN

ISAIANIC DENKSCHRIFT CHAPTER 6: ISAIAH’S CALL

In the year that King Uzziah (yay) died (boo)

Seraphim Sanctus “Me! Me! Oh, pick me!” Infinitive Absolute ,שמעו שמוע ואל תבינוReally hear, and don’t understand

Lot of good it will do them. They won’t listen anyway I’ve judged them, and it’s the right judgment They probably won’t hear you, but at least you tried This is going to be a hard job, Isaiah God must have wanted this all along This isn’t a command; they just are not ready to hear They’re responsible for my hardening their hearts Things have to get worse before they can get better

ISAIANIC DENKSCHRIFT CHAPTER 6: ISAIAH’S CALL

Possible Interpretations of “Really hear, but don’t understand”

7Jul 11 Isaiah Print.key - July 16, 2019

Context: Syro-Ephraimite War (Verse 1) God will help Ahaz

So don’t ask Assyria! Ahaz won’t listen God will still help Ahaz God will also judge the House of Judah (x4) Immanuel: God is with us in this war and in our own judgement — Not Messiah!

ISAIANIC DENKSCHRIFT CHAPTER 7: ISAIAH AND AHAZ

1–4: Maher-Shalal-Chash-Baz (Quick booty, speedily prey). Property deed?

5–15: Faithlessness means Assyria is coming 16–22: Disciples save his prophecy (vs. useless divination)

ISAIANIC DENKSCHRIFT CHAPTER 8: ISAIAH’S PROOF

For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is called: Wonderful Counselor, Divine Warrior God, Everlasting Father, Captain of Peace

Not very Israelite, or very Isaiah

God, the divine warrior, is planning a wonder; the everlasting Father is giving us a captain of peace

Much more Israelite, much more confusing

ISAIANIC DENKSCHRIFT CHAPTER 9: MESSIAH

In the Old Testament: The death of the Messiah, if it happens, isn’t a saving event (1 Cor 1:23) The Messiah isn’t God, but only God-sent The Messiah brings transformation, once and done (no second coming)

So, is Jesus the fulfillment of Isaiah’s Messianic prediction?

Yes! God’s promise is still alive!

ISAIANIC DENKSCHRIFT CHAPTER 9: MESSIAH

7Jul 11 Isaiah Print.key - July 16, 2019