Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Lamentations © John Stevenson, 2012.

Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Isaiah, Jeremiah, and LamentationsLamentations

© John Stevenson, 2012

PentateuchPentateuchGenesis, Exodus, Leviticus,

Numbers, Deuteronomy

Historical Historical BooksBooks

Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles,

Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther

Poetic Poetic BooksBooks

Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon

Prophetic Prophetic BooksBooks

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel,

Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah,

Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

Historical Books

2000 - 1500

Period of the Patriarchs

1500 - 1000 1000 - 500

Exodus and Sinai

Judges Kings of Israel and Judah

Ret

urn

Poetic Books

Torah

Prophetic Books

What is a Prophet?What is a Prophet?• They functioned as PreachersThey functioned as Preachers

• They functioned as PredictorsThey functioned as Predictors

• Prophet versus PriestProphet versus Priest

The word which The word which came to Jeremiah from came to Jeremiah from the LORD saying, the LORD saying, 22 “Arise “Arise and go down to the and go down to the potter’s house, and there I potter’s house, and there I shall announce My words shall announce My words to you.”to you.” 33 Then I went down to Then I went down to the potter's house, and the potter's house, and there he was, making there he was, making something on the wheel.something on the wheel.

Jeremiah 18:1-3Jeremiah 18:1-3

But the vessel that he was making But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.

Jeremiah 18:4Jeremiah 18:4

Then the word of the LORD came Then the word of the LORD came to me saying, to me saying, 66 “Can I not, O house of “Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter Israel, deal with you as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Behold, does?” declares the LORD. “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.”you in My hand, O house of Israel.”


At one moment I might speak At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to uproot, to pull down, or to kingdom to uproot, to pull down, or to destroy it; destroy it; 88 if that nation against which I if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the calamity I planned relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it.to bring on it.


Or at another moment I might Or at another moment I might speak concerning a nation or concern-speak concerning a nation or concern-ing a kingdom to build up or to plant it; ing a kingdom to build up or to plant it; 1010 if it does evil in My sight by not obeying if it does evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will think better of the My voice, then I will think better of the good with which I had promised to bless good with which I had promised to bless it. it.


PredictionPrediction

If I speak If I speak concerning concerning a nation to a nation to destroy itdestroy it

ContingencyContingency

If they turn If they turn from their from their

evilevil

FulfillmentFulfillment

I will relent I will relent of the of the

calamitycalamity

If I speak If I speak concerning concerning a nation to a nation to

plant itplant it

If they do If they do evil and do evil and do not obeynot obey

I will think I will think better of better of the goodthe good

• 2 Samuel 12:22. “…for I said, ‘Who knows, the LORD may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’”

• Jonah 3:9. “Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish.”

• Joel 2:14. Who knows whether He will not turn and relent and leave a blessing behind Him

• Conditional Predictions: “If… then” Conditional Predictions: “If… then” clausesclauses

• Unqualified PredictionsUnqualified Predictions

• Confirmed PredictionsConfirmed Predictions

• Sworn PredictionsSworn Predictions

““Come now, and let us reason together,”Come now, and let us reason together,”Says the LORD, Says the LORD, “Though your sins are as scarlet,“Though your sins are as scarlet,They will be as white as snow;They will be as white as snow;Though they are red like crimson,Though they are red like crimson,They will be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)They will be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

“If you consent and obey, You will eat the best of the land; 20 But if you refuse and rebel, You will be devoured by the sword.” Truly, the mouth of the LORD has spoken. (Isaiah 1:18-20).

Then Jonah began to go through the city one day’s walk; and he cried out and said, “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” (Jonah 3:4).

Then the LORD answered me and said, “Record the vision And inscribe it on tablets, That the one who reads it may run.” (Habakkuk 2:2).

“For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay. (Habakkuk 2:3).

“Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other. 23 I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness And will not turn back, That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.” (Isaiah 45:22-23).

The Old Testament Gospel

The Bible Isaiah

Old Testament: Old Testament: 39 Books39 BooksNew Testament: 27 BooksNew Testament: 27 Books

Judgment: 39 ChaptersJudgment: 39 ChaptersComfort: Comfort: 27 Chapters27 Chapters

Total Books:Total Books: 66 Books66 Books Total: Total: 66 Chapters66 Chapters

Chapters 1-35

Judgments in the Present

Chapters 36-39 Chapters 40-66

Historical Interlude

Glory in the Future

The Judgment of GodThe Comfort of

God

Messiah the JudgeMessiah the

Servant

God’s Government

A throne (6:1)

God’s Grace

A lamb (53:6)

Northern Kingdom Ends !

UzziahJotham

Ahaz Hezekiah Manassah

Nahum

740 716735 697 687

Ministry of Isaiah

Ministry of Micah

Ministry of Hosea

Amos

The World of Isaiah’s Day

Isaiah 1A Microcosm of the Entire Book of

Isaiah

Isaiah 1:1 Genesis 1:1 Deuteronomy 32:1

Listen, Oheavens, andhear, O earth

In the beginning Godcreated the heavensand the earth

Give ear, O heavens, and letme speak; and let the earthhear the words of my mouth

Isaiah 1:2-3Isaiah 1:2-32 Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth;

For the LORD speaks,

“Sons I have reared and brought up,

But they have revolted against Me.

3 An ox knows its owner,

And a donkey its master's manger,

But Israel does not know,

My people do not understand.”

Isaiah 1:4Isaiah 1:4Alas, sinful nation,

People weighed down with iniquity,

Offspring of evildoers,

Sons who act corruptly!

They have abandoned the Lord,

They have despised the Holy One of Israel,

They have turned away from Him.

Literally “Seed of Evil Ones.”

Isaiah 1:10Isaiah 1:10Hear the word of the LORD,

You rulers of Sodom;

Give ear to the instruction of our God,

You people of Gomorrah.

Isaiah 1:11Isaiah 1:11"What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?” says the LORD.

"I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams,

And the fat of fed cattle.

And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs, or goats.

Isaiah 1:21Isaiah 1:21How the faithful city has become a harlot,

She who was full of justice!

Righteousness once lodged in her,

But now murderers.

Isaiah 1:26-27Isaiah 1:26-2726 Then I will restore your judges as at the first,

And your counselors as at the beginning;

After that you will be called the city of righteousness, A faithful city."

27 Zion will be redeemed with justice

And her repentant ones with righteousness.

Isaiah 6:1Isaiah 6:1In the year of King Uzziah’s

death, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple.

Isaiah 6:2-4Isaiah 6:2-4Seraphim stood above Him, each

having six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.” 4 And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke.

Isaiah 6:5Isaiah 6:5Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am

ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”

Isaiah 6:6-7Isaiah 6:6-7Then one of the seraphim flew to

me, with a burning coal in his hand which he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7 And he touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin is forgiven.”

Isaiah 6:8Isaiah 6:8Then I heard the voice of the

Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Child MotifChild Motif• Shear-jashub (Isaiah 7:3)

• Immanu-el (Isaiah 7:14; 8:8)

• Maher-shalal-hash-baz (Isaiah 8:3)

• Isaiah’s children (Isaiah 8:18)

• The Royal Child (Isaiah 9:6-7).

Now it came about in Now it came about in the days of Ahaz, the the days of Ahaz, the

son of Jotham, the son son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of of Uzziah, king of

Judah, that Rezin the Judah, that Rezin the king of Aram and king of Aram and Pekah the son of Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Israel, went up to

Jerusalem to Jerusalem to wage wage war war against it, but could not against it, but could not conquer it. (Isaiah 7:1conquer it. (Isaiah 7:1))

When it was reported When it was reported to the house of to the house of

David, saying, “The David, saying, “The Arameans have Arameans have

camped in Ephraim,” camped in Ephraim,” his heart and the his heart and the

hearts of his people hearts of his people shook as the trees of shook as the trees of the forest shake with the forest shake with

the wind. the wind. (Isaiah 7:2(Isaiah 7:2))

Isaiah 7:3Isaiah 7:3Then the LORD

said to Isaiah, “Go out now to meet Ahaz, you and your son Shear-jashub, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, on the highway to the fuller’s field,

Isaiah 7:4Isaiah 7:4“…and say to him, ‘Take care and be calm, have no fear and do not be fainthearted because of these two stubs of smoldering firebrands, on account of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and the son of Remaliah.’”

Isaiah 7:5-7Isaiah 7:5-7Because Aram, with Ephraim and

the son of Remaliah, has planned evil against you, saying, 6 “Let us go up against Judah and terrorize it, and make for ourselves a breach in its walls and set up the son of Tabeel as king in the midst of it,” 7 thus says the Lord GOD: “It shall not stand nor shall it come to pass.”

For the head of Aram For the head of Aram is Damascus and the is Damascus and the head of Damascus is head of Damascus is

Rezin (now within Rezin (now within another 65 years another 65 years Ephraim will be Ephraim will be

shattered, shattered, so that it is so that it is no longer a people)… no longer a people)…

(Isaiah 7:8) (Isaiah 7:8)

Isaiah 7:10-12Isaiah 7:10-12Then the LORD spoke again to

Ahaz, saying, 11 “Ask a sign for yourself from the LORD your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the LORD!”

Isaiah 7:13Isaiah 7:13Then he said, “Listen now, O

house of David! Is it too slight a thing for you to try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of my God as well?

Isaiah 7:14-16Isaiah 7:14-16Therefore the Lord Himself will

give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. 15 He will eat curds and honey at the time He knows enough to refuse evil and choose good. 16 For before the boy will know enough to refuse evil and choose good, the land whose two kings you dread will be forsaken.

Isaiah 7:14Isaiah 7:14

PartialFulfillment

UltimateFulfillment

Seen in Isaiah's daywith a young womanwho gave birth to ason

Seen in Jesus whowas born of a virginand who is "God withus"

Woes of Judgment against Judah (1-5)

A Son and A Song of Salvation (6-12)

Woes to the Nations. Babylon (13:1 - 14:23). Assyria (14:24-27). Philistia (14:28-32). Moab (15-16). Damascus (17). Cush (18). Egypt and Cush (19-20). Babylon (21:1-10). Edom (21:11-12). Arabia (21:13-17) Jerusalem (22). Tyre (23). A warning (24).

A Song of Salvation (25-27)

Woes of Judgment (28-35)

Historical InterludeHistorical Interlude

Isaiah 36-39Isaiah 36-39

Isaiah 1-35

Messages for Israel

under Assyrian struggle

Isaiah 36-37

Isaiah 38-39

Isaiah 40-66

Invasion of the

Assyrians

Hezekiah faces

death & Babylon

Messages for Israel looking

ahead to Babylon &

PersiaHistorical Section

Prophecy Prophecy

Judgment Comfort

Isaiah 40:1-2Isaiah 40:1-2“Comfort, O comfort My people,” says your God.

2 “Speak kindly to Jerusalem;

And call out to her, that her warfare has ended,

That her iniquity has been removed,

That she has received of the LORD’S hand

Double for all her sins.”

Isaiah 40:3Isaiah 40:3A voice is calling,

“Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness;

Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.”

Isaiah 40:4-5Isaiah 40:4-5Let every valley be lifted up,

And every mountain and hill be made low;

And let the rough ground become a plain,

And the rugged terrain a broad valley;

5 Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed,

And all flesh will see it together;

For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Behold, My Servant, whom I Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; uphold; My chosen one My chosen one in whom in whom My soul My soul delights. delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the He will bring forth justice to the nations.nations.22 He will not cry out or raise He will not cry out or raise His His voicevoice, , Nor make His voice heard in the Nor make His voice heard in the street. (Isaiah 42:1-2). street. (Isaiah 42:1-2).

A bruised reed He will not break A bruised reed He will not break And a dimly burning wick He will And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth He will faithfully bring forth justice.justice.44 He will not be disheartened or He will not be disheartened or crushed crushed Until He has established justice Until He has established justice in the earth;in the earth;And the coastlands will wait And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law. (Isaiah expectantly for His law. (Isaiah 42:3-4). 42:3-4).

• Look through Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12 and note the parallels to the ministry of Jesus.

• What are the needs of Isaiah’s readers that are underscored and how are those needs met in the Servant of the Lord?

The Weeping ProphetThe Weeping Prophet

IsaiahSaw the Northern Kingdom of Israel

taken into Captivity at the hands of Assyria

JeremiahSaw the Southern Kingdom of Judah

taken into Captivity at the hands of Babylon

Foretold of the judgments that would

come in the future

Explained the reasons for the judgments

Judah was experiencing

Looks primarily to the future

Looks primarily to the present

Isaiah JeremiahBold and fearless Gentle and

compassionate

Was married to a prophetess and had

children with prophetic names

Was commanded not to take a wife or have

any children

Jerusalem

Carchemish

BabylonNebuchadnezzar

PharaohNeco

Jerusalem

Megiddo

PharaohNeco

(Josiah)

Josiah dies at Megiddo and is replaced by his son Jehoahaz

Chapter 1

Prologue

Chapters 2-20Chapters

21-45Chapters

46-51Chapter

52

From Josiah to the first year of

Nebuchadnezzar

From Josiah’s

sons to the Captivity

Oracles to the

Nations

Epilogue

Judgment against Judah Nations

Call of Jeremiah

Fall of Jerusalem

Call of Jeremiah (1)Call of Jeremiah (1)

Prophecies of Judah & Jerusalem (2-35)Prophecies of Judah & Jerusalem (2-35)

Historical Historical NarrativeNarrative

Prior to the fall of Jerusalem (36-38)Prior to the fall of Jerusalem (36-38)

The fall of Jerusalem (39)The fall of Jerusalem (39)

After the fall of Jerusalem (40-45)After the fall of Jerusalem (40-45)

Prophecies of other nations (46-51)Prophecies of other nations (46-51)

Fall of Jerusalem (52)Fall of Jerusalem (52)

Jeremiah 1:4-5Jeremiah 1:4-5Now the word of the LORD came to

me saying, 5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations."


Then I said, "Alas, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth."

7 But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak. 8 Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you," declares the LORD.


9 Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.

10 "See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms,

To pluck up and to break down,

To destroy and to overthrow,

To build and to plant."

Jeremiah 5:1Jeremiah 5:1

Roam to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem,

And look now, and take note.

And seek in her open squares,

If you can find a man,

If there is one who does justice, who seeks truth,

Then I will pardon her.

Jeremiah 29:10Jeremiah 29:10"For thus says the LORD,

'When seventy years have been completed for Babylon,

I will visit you and fulfill

My good word to you, to bring you back to this place.

538 B.C.70 Years

Includes Inaugral andTerminus year

Return to land underCyrus & Feast of BoothsCelebrated at New Year

1st Deportation byNebuchadnezzar(Daniel taken toBabylon)

605 B.C.

70 YearsNot including Inaugral

or Terminus year586 B.C. 515 B.C.

Temple Destroyedat 3rd Deportation

TempleCompleted

597 B.C.

2nd Deportation(Ezekiel taken)

Jeremiah 32:6-7

And Jeremiah said, "The word of the

LORD came to me, saying, 7 'Behold, Hanamel

the son of Shallum your uncle is coming to

you, saying, "Buy for yourself my field which is

at Anathoth, for you have the right of

redemption to buy it."'

Jeremiah 31:31-32Jeremiah 31:31-32“Behold, days are coming,”

declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 31:33Jeremiah 31:33“But this is the covenant which I

will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them, and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

Jeremiah 31:34Jeremiah 31:34And they shall not teach again,

each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the LORD, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

Old Old CovenantCovenant

Let us go up to the house of the

Lord

New New CovenantCovenant

Go unto all the world and make disciples of the

nations

Jerusalem Church

LamentationsLamentations

The Song of SorrowThe Song of Sorrow

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5

3rd person plural (“they”)

1st person singular (“I”)

1st person plural (“we”)

Each verse begins with an acrostic

Each line begins with an acrostic

Each verse begins with an acrostic

No acrostic

Writer addresses himself to his readers Writer prays to God

LamentationsLamentations

Lamentations 3:40-42Lamentations 3:40-42Let us examine and probe our ways,

And let us return to the LORD.

We lift up our heart and hands

Toward God in heaven;

We have transgressed and rebelled, Thou hast not pardoned.

Lessons from LamentationsLessons from Lamentations

• God is Sovereign over the affairs of God is Sovereign over the affairs of

menmen

• Sin brings forth tragic consequencesSin brings forth tragic consequences

• There is hope in the darknessThere is hope in the darkness

Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Lamentations © John Stevenson, 2012.

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Transcript of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Lamentations © John Stevenson, 2012.