Panorama of the Prophets
Isaiah Overview Part 1, Chapters 1-39
Intro: In
A)One of the
things that he said to them there – was that while he was with them – He had
been faithful to declare to them the Whole counsel
of the word of God.
B)Now does
that mean that Paul had been faithful to teach the entirety of the OT
scriptures to them? –
1)Could be –
but he was only there 3yrs
C)More likely
it meant that Paul had been faithful to declare to them the whole counsel of
the Word of God
1)By revealing to them the Story line that runs
throughout the Scriptures – Genesis to revelation { Scarlet thread of
redemption
D)Man’s need and God’s remedy are highlighted over
and over again.
1)The heart of
God and the Doctrine of God is revealed
Paul the
Apostle said a very interesting thing in
But
God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the
heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.
That is a very interesting verse and at first glance it is
easy to read it the wrong way especially that last line.
A)It is easy
to read or interpret that last line as saying the form of Doctrine that has
been delivered to you.
B)That is not
what it says: It says that we have been delivered to a form of Doctrine. A system of beliefs
1)The idea is
given over to.
C)The word
Form = a mold – clay or Wax form – God was
created in the scriptures a Form of doctrine a mold of Belief
A system of
belief called the Bible – God’s heart His plan – for man
We have been
given over to that mold –and once you start getting the mold – understanding
the mold – it starts molding you.
That is really what is the theme and the purpose of what we
are doing right now on Wednesday nights here at CCV
A)The First
Wed night of the month – Credo – Communion night
B)Each month
on that night we are going to Tackle one major Doctrinal topic of the Bible.
1)The studies
will follow the story line of the Bible revealing to us the Mold – Starting
with who God is – going all the way to End times scenarios
C)Then on the
other three Wednesday nights of each month we are going to take a Panoramic
view of the Prophet books – Overview
1)But as we go
through it we are going to see this form of
Doctrine that we have been given to- laid out clearly in every book
D)First week overview followed by 2nd week –
Focus Jesus {Isa 2wks overview
1)Common theme
– Man sinned lost – But a Savior is coming
Tonight Isaiah
Isaiah has been called “the prince of the prophets”. His ministry was longer, his style more
eloquent, his message more sweeping than any of the other prophets.
He served
through the reigns of 4 different
kings. Isaiah was on prophetic duty for nearly 60
years his watch lasted almost 6 decades - from 740-680
BC.
Isaiah’s
writing style suggests he was highly educated. According to tradition he was a
man of rank - a member of the royal family – cousin of King Uzziah.
Quote from Ray Stedman “The books of the Bible are
like national parks. They are open to everyone to roam in, and are a delight to
explore all by yourself. But each park has a characteristic peculiar to itself
that distinguishes it from the others; and you appreciate a park better if you
know what that characteristic is. I have learned to appreciate some of the
distinct characteristics of the great national parks in the West. For instance,
if you want to see nature's various moods, go to
If you want
to see mountain grandeur and cool lakes,
Sometimes I think of these books of the Bible like this. The book of
Revelation is to me very much like
How many books
does the Bible have? Sixty-six.
How many
chapters does Isaiah have? Sixty-six.
How many books
are there in the Old Testament?
Thirty-nine,
Twenty-seven
in the New Testament.
And the book of Isaiah divides exactly in that way.
The first half of the book comprises thirty-nine
chapters.
There is a distinct division
at chapter 40, so that the remaining
twenty-seven chapters constitute the second half of this book.
Chapters 1-39 Focus is on Condemnation
40-66 Consolation
1st 39 chapters are Denunciatory
Last 27 Chapters are Conciliatory
The first 39 chapters the emphasis is on Govt and
law the last 27 chapters emphasize Love
and Grace
The New Testament begins with the history of John
the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, as he came to announce the coming of the
Messiah, and it ends in the book of Revelation with the new heaven and the new
earth.
Chapter 40 of Isaiah, which begins the second half,
contains the prophetic passage that predicts the coming of John the Baptist: The voice of one
crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord;
And when you read on to the end of the book you will find
that chapter 66 speaks of the new heavens and the new earth that God is
creating.
A)
So you find here in the book of Isaiah a remarkably close analogy that parallels the entire Bible. THREE WEEKS TO COVER 1-39/ 40-66/ JC
Isaiah is
quoted far more in the New Testament than any other prophet. Isaiah is
mentioned by name 21 times, and chapter 53 alone is quoted or eluded to some 85
times.
The book of Isaiah has been called “The Fifth Gospel”.
A)Some of the clearest Messianic prophecies come
from the pen of Isaiah. 121 Messianic
prophesies
Jesus’ virgin birth, His sinless character - His
life, miracles, suffering, death, resurrection, second coming, and future
Kingdom are all addressed by Isaiah.
In fact, the
word “Isaiah” means “Jehovah is salvation”. His book proves Jesus
is God’s Savior.
Only book in
the Bible that gives Satan the name Lucifer and it is one of only two books
that Describe his fall.
The book begins, “The vision
of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning
Isaiah first served
under King Uzziah
A)Uzziah was a
good and godly king who reigned 52 years. His obedience to God created a
stability that led to a season of prosperity.
For the next
18 years his son, Jotham, followed in his father’s footsteps. But Jotham’s
successor, Ahaz, rebelled against God.
His 19 years
of idolatry set the nation up for judgment…
And God’s
means of discipline came in the form of the Babylonian army.
Tradition
tells us that Isaiah the prophet was martyred under the reign of Manasseh, one of the most
wicked kings recorded by the Old Testament.
The story is that he hid in a hollow tree to escape
the reign of Manasseh
Soldiers Sawn in half –
One of the greatest modern Bible Discoveries has been the
discovery of the dead sea Scrolls
A)In that
Discovery truly amazing is the 24foot long Scroll of the entire book of Isaiah.
B)Why is it so important? – Well prior to this find in 1947 – bediom boy rocks – Cave –finds this
scroll that was written in 200 BC
C)Suddenly we
have a book of the Bible that is 1100 yrs older
than the oldest manuscript that we had. {Ben hauser….
Here is what the best part is: The best part about the dead
sea scrolls isn’t in what they found – it is in what they didn’t find
A)What they
didn’t find with this manuscript written 1100 yrs before our earliest complete manuscript is they didn’t find errors
B)1100 yrs of
perfect continuity and scholarship. In fact there were only 9 letters that were
different from the one manuscript to the other.
C)No other
ancient writing holds up to that kind of Scrutiny
– Not the philosophers/ not Shakespeare
1)Way more
errors when those writings were past down
Amazing find
for the evidence of the realiability of the Bible
Tonight focus
Ch. 1-39 Theme is Condemnation
Here is how
the first 39 chapters break down
1-12 Condemnation
on
13-23
Condemnation of the other nations
28-35
Condemnation of
36-39
Condemnation of
Now if you are paying close attention you will notice that
we left out v. 24-27 Why is that ?
A)Parenthesis
– 24-27 Isaiah’s little Apocalypse
B)Isaiah takes
a break to speak about a way off future set of Judgments and glory that the
world has not yet seen.
Isaiah writes in verse 2, “Hear,
O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the LORD has spoken: "I have nourished
and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me.”
Following
their exodus from
Yet
they refused to respond to His instruction.
At times God
would punish His people with famine – at other times He rewarded them with
prosperity – neither worked for very long.
They were perpetually rebellious. They broke his
Law, and pursued idols.
In verse 3 God bemoans their
tendencies, “The ox knows its owner and the donkey its
master's crib; but
A few years back Israeli
policeman in
And just as Isaiah said, it returned to “its master’s crib.” The crooks were arrested.
You’ve heard the old metaphor, “as dumb as an ox” – apparently,
an ox is not so dumb. Isaiah is saying that
An ox knows where to turn when it gets hungry -
where to find the sustenance it needs the OX knows where its bread is buttered,
where it gets blessing and help.
But he says, "Not
What about you, are you dumber than an ox? Where do
you turn when a spiritual hunger sets in?
A)Do you take a pill? Run up a bill? Take a
drink? Consult a shrink?
B) Hey, it doesn’t take a smart guy to figure out the place to turn is
Jesus. Even an ox returns to its owner’s crib.
1)At the feet of Jesus you’ll find what you need.
In verse 4 God says, “Alas,
sinful nation, a people laden (or loaded down) with
iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who are corrupters! They have forsaken
the LORD, they have provoked to anger the Holy One of Israel, they have turned
away backward.” Guys, if you’re not pursuing God you’re going backwards.
Phillip
Yancey makes an accurate observation about God’s approach in the Old Testament,
“Jehovah does not think like a social worker. He
behaves, instead, like a holy God trying desperately to communicate to
cantankerous human beings.”
He vents His frustration. He gets upset. He’s not
always delicate or diplomatic.
Notice in
verse 4 the phrase “the Holy One of
In
light of God’s holiness,
In verses
11-14 God takes issue with their worship. Their sorry attitude and hypocrisy had
rendered their sacrifices and feasts meaningless.
They’re acts of worship were
worthless to God.
They offered a lamb with evil in their heart. Rituals are never a substitute for
sincerity. The heart of the offerer is always more important than the offering
God says in verse 13, “Bring
no more futile sacrifices.”
Guys, we can be guilty of the same offense. Don’t
come to church - raise your hands, sing praises, pray a prayer, drop off an
offering – then ignore the Lord the other 7 days of the week.
Now despite
their hardness of heart their hypocrisy and rebellion God doesn’t give up on
them. V.18
In verse 18 God makes an
offer to His people, “Come now, and let us reason
together," says the LORD, (in other words, let’s settle this out of
court) "though your sins are like scarlet, they
shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as
wool. If you are willing and obedient…”
Guys, if
you’re willing to let the Lord have His way in your life, He’s willing to
forgive and forget.
He’ll take a
sin-stained heart, and wash it white as snow.
Greg Opean /
Brian Newberry Youth kid – God ever given up on You?
In the last of chapter 1
The rest of Chapters 1-5 deal with Woes and warnings
Vineyards were familiar sights in
In chapter 5 Isaiah plays off this imagery. Here’s
the song of the vineyard in a nutshell… God plants it. Sin ruins it. God lifts its protection and
judgment comes.
Guys, this analogy is not only significant to
But if we disconnect, we’re left on our own, and
taken away.
Let’s
remain attached to the vine, and be a vineyard that bears much fruit.
The rest of
chapter 5 consists of 6 woes or warnings. God will judge man’s sin.
Verse 8, “Woe to those who
join house to house…” or developers who produce crowded conditions. God
will thin out the crowd with His coming judgment.
Verse 11, “Woe to those who
rise early in the morning that they may follow intoxicating drink; who continue
until night, till wine inflames them!”
Woe to the party crowd who drink away their days and nights.
Did you know the only cells your body can’t reproduce are brain cells.
You’re born with 17 billion such cells, and every
time you consume a large quantity of alcohol you kill off 10,000 cells. This is
one of the reasons I don’t drink. I need all the brain cells I can get!
Verse 18, “Woe to those who
draw iniquity with cords of vanity…” Here’s a person mocking God. He’s
pulls his sin along, daring God to bring judgment.
Verse
20, “Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes…”
Verse 21, “Woe to men mighty at drinking wine…
Verse 22, “Woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating wine…” They
get men drunk in order to bribe officials and pervert justice. God is angry
with
Something
Changes in Chapter 6 – In the midst of the Woes Isaiah is given a vision of God
Chapter 6 begins, “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on
a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.”
A)Uzziah was a great King – National reform and
Revival – Uzziah was loved – and admired by the people
B)The older Uzziah taught and loved and guided the
younger Isaiah. But now Uzziah is gone! Isaiah had lived his whole life
in the shadow of Uzziah, now he finds himself on his own!
C)Eyes on men – God removes them – Confidence in
mentor / pastor / Church parent – God
removes them from your life
It’s been said, "When
you have nothing left but God, then for the first time you become aware that
God is enough." That's exactly what Isaiah learned.
It was time to dial God direct. It was time for Isaiah to forge
a firsthand relationship with God.
In that year, Isaiah was given a glimpse of God’s
throne room. He saw the Lord in all His glory. Seraphim hovered around the
throne praising God for His holiness.
We need a
vision of God -
You’d think Isaiah would say “Wow”, instead his
reaction was “Woe”.
Up against God’s glory all he could focus on was his
own sin man of unclean lips
That’s when one of the angels took a coal from off
the altar and purified his lips.
SPECIAL CLEANSING IS NEEDED BEFORE SPECIAL SERVICE
Suddenly, Isaiah was in a place where he could hear
God speak, and he heard the voice of the Lord saying, V.8 “Whom shall I send,
and who will go for Us?” (Notice the Lord referred to Himself by the
plural pronoun a reference to the trinity.)
Who will I send ? Here and I send him – Lord send
that guy
See problem you are meant
to be a part of the Solution.
Isaiah volunteered immediately, “Here am I! Send me.” I hope we’re as eager to be sent? And
the Lord told him, “Go…”
God’s word to us all is go, but before we go,
there first comes a woe! Guys, we’re not fit to be used by God until
we’re first broken – and it takes a vision of God to strip away our pride and
selfishness.
At the end of chapter 6 God gives Isaiah a message.
We’ve been given good news to share, but Isaiah had a tougher mission. God told
him his persistent preaching would harden people’s heart, and make them immune
to His warnings.
Isaiah’s
ministry was not intended to deliver, as much as to prepared
Chapter 7-9 The Hope for
A)Special
Child – Savior – Conqueror and a King
B)Look at
these Chapters more in our 3rd Study on Christ in Isaiah.
Ch.8 Isaiah has two sons
Isaiah had two sons, and both boys were given
prophetic names.
The older boy was named “Shear-Jashub”
which means “a remnant will return”. Isaiah predicts judgment, but God
always leaves a remnant for a new beginning.
In chapter 8 Isaiah has another son who gets the
name “Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz”. I think I’d rather
be the boy named “Sue”.
His weird name means, “speed the plunder, swift
to the spoils”. Isaiah explains it in verse 4, “for
before the child shall have knowledge to cry 'My father' and 'My mother,' the
riches of
It stood for
the haste with which God would judge the enemies of
Another word
of Hope in Chapter 11 “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem
of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots
All through the Bible God is saying I am going to
judge man for his sin. Sin brings consequences – Rebellion brings judgment
But there is this ray of Hope that is not in some
political agenda – but the ray of hope is in a person the Person of Jesus – Here he refers to as the Branch from the
root of Jesse
V.10 Even for the Gentiles
Verse 2 describes the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of the Lord
that rested on Jesus.
Here’s
the sevenfold ministry of the Holy Spirit. This is the work of the Spirit in
Jesus’ life and in our’s. “The Spirit of the LORD
shall rest upon Him,”
Notice
first, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus. The Spirit reveals Jesus.
He also is “the Spirit of wisdom and
understanding”
How we need supernatural insight. And discernment
The Holy Spirit is also “the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” God’s Spirit and God’s
Word provide us all we need.
The rest of chapter 11 looks
beyond
Jesus will end the hostility between humans and
animals.
Verse 9 says, “They shall
not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of
the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”
Notice we’re told in verse 11, “It shall come to pass in that day that the LORD shall set His hand
again the second time to recover the remnant of His people who are
left…”
The first time was after
A)Since then the Jews remained dispersed among the
nations. Not until this last century did they begin to return to their land a
second time.
We’re seeing Isaiah’s prophecy fulfilled before our
very eyes. In our day, God has begun a second time to “assemble
the outcasts of
God’s people will thank Him for His salvation.
I
hope you’ve thanked the Lord for your salvation.
I
love 12:5, “Sing
to the LORD, for He has done excellent things…”
Ch.13-23
Condemnation on the nations around
Ch.23
Chapter 14 focuses on the King of Babylon at the
time of the city’s fall. Ultimately though, the person in view is not just Belshazzar – ancient
The real king of
Demons in
other cities
Satan’s
judgment is described in ominous terms in 14:9, "Hell
from beneath is excited about you, to meet you at your coming…” What
a thought! Everyone the devil deceived and led into hell will rise up to
meet him when he arrives.
They’ll
get excited!
They’ll finally get the opportunity to vent their anger, and take out their
frustrations.
Verse 10
records their taunts, “Have you also become as weak as we? Have you
become like us? Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, and the sound of your
stringed instruments; the maggot is spread under you, and worms cover you.'”
And that’s when God takes us on a flashback. He
recounts Satan’s former glory, and how far he has fallen. Verse 12, "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the
morning!” Satan did not begin as the epitome of evil.
And he had a vital role in the worship of God. He
was an anointed cherub. Ezekiel calls him “the
seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty”.
We’re wrong to think of Satan as a slimely creature
in a red suit, with pointed ears and horns. He’s a creature of glamour. He can
come to us today in the most attractive forms. He’s the gorgeous blonde in the string bikini
–
the hip professor with his cool sounding arguments.
Beware! Paul calls him “an angel of light.”
One day hell will get
excited. They’ll greet him with the words, “How you are
cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations!” Satan is now the
weak one.
Isaiah goes back to the
beginning – the angel Lucifer’s colossal mistake.
Here are the
five “I wills” of Satan.
He says in verses 13-15, “For
you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne
above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the
farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I
will be like the Most High.”
Pride entered his heart. Remember, the middle letter
in the word sin is “I”.
Satan wanted to exalt himself… to be like God. Yet
God tells him in verse 15, “Yet you shall be brought
down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.” Jesus sentenced Satan
on the cross, and when He returns He’ll lock up the devil.
Verses 16-17 speak of Satan, "Those who see you will gaze at you, and consider you, saying: 'Is
this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, who made the world
as a wilderness and destroyed its cities…?”
Amazed that
was him? See him in Comparison to Jesus
– NOTHING
At the end of chapter 14 two kings are judged – the
Assyrian and Philistine.
In chapter
20 Isaiah delivers a unique sermon. Perhaps you’ve heard sermons on nudity,
but this was a nude sermon. The Lord tells Isaiah in verses 2-4,
"Go,
and remove the sackcloth from your body, and take your sandals off your
feet." And he did so, walking naked and barefoot. Then the LORD said,
"Just as My servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a
sign and a wonder against Egypt and Ethiopia, so shall the king of Assyria lead
away the Egyptians as prisoners and the Ethiopians as captives, young and old,
naked and barefoot, with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.”
Often
the prophets acted out their messages – sometimes in bizarre fashion. They
would preach in what we could call “living
parables”. Ezekiel laid on his side. Hosea married a prostitute.
Paul bound himself with a belt.
Here Isaiah walked naked for
three years to communicate the bare facts to
For
3 years Isaiah wore nothing but his birthday suit as a warning to the nations
in the Assyrian warpath. Because of their sin and idolatry, God will turn them
over to the ruthless Assyrians who will take them away naked into slavery.
Now why all this emphasis on the judgment of the other
nations -
A)
B)Rays of Hope
FOR THE PEOPLE
Chapters 24-27
are known as “The Little Apocalypse”. The judgments in these chapters are more global in scope,
and parallel the book of Revelation.
I believe these chapters speak of what the New Testament
calls “the great tribulation” –
7 years before the coming of Christ when God will judge the wicked.
Verses 19-20 speak of cataclysmic upheaval that will take
place in nature. “The earth
is violently broken, the earth is split open, the earth is shaken exceedingly.
The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall totter like a hut…”
Those who worship mother earth: Bummed when we trash it –
they haven’t seen anything yet – Wait until they see what God does!
Chapter 25 paints a picture of
when the Jesus returns.
Verse 8 says, “He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away
tears from all faces; the rebuke of His people He will take away from all the
earth; for the LORD has spoken.” This is why we say, “Come
quickly, Lord Jesus.”
The chapter ends with an incredible
flurry...
Verse 19 is a prediction of the
resurrection of the dead. “Your dead shall live; together
with my dead body they shall arise…” In Christ we overcome
death.
Verse
19 sounds a lot like
After
speaking of our resurrection look at what Isaiah says in verses 20-21. It
sounds amazingly like the rapture. “Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind
you; hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation is
past. For behold, the LORD comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of
the earth for their iniquity…” This is a provocative passage…
God’s people are taken into His chambers, and the doors shut
behind the bride and Groom - while God punishes the wicked inhabitants
of the world. Here in the Old Testament is a clear description of the
pretribulational rapture of the Church.
Guys, before
God’s judgment comes down, the Church will go up!
In the Revelation, John uses Isaiah’s imagery for Satan. John
calls him a dragon. Isaiah refers to him as a sea serpent.
Leviathan is
the serpent that’s countered God at every turn. When Jesus returns He’ll use
God’s sword, and punish Satan for the evil he’s caused.
Chapter 27
describes God’s preservation of
Chapter 30 is God’s rebuke
of King Hezekiah. With the Assyrians
bearing down on him from the north, Hezekiah turned to
Here’s what
It’s been said, “Patience is letting you
motor idle when you feel like peeling out.”
We have to be patient. God’s wristwatch is set to His time,
not our time.
In verse 21 God promises
Here’s the lesson for us. Don’t give up. Be patient. Trust the Lord. In the His timing you’ll
hear the Holy Spirit’s words whispering guidance in your ears.
The Mid-East peace negotiators need to
read
Chapter 32 describes how
life will be different when King Jesus
reigns in righteousness. Folks will understand truth. The Spirit will be poured
out. Justice will dwell in the land. The people will live in peace and
security. What a day!
Chapters 34-35 go way beyond the scope of any
local conflict. Here the prophet looks through the immediate to the future and
final days of man.
Chapter
34 focuses on the final battle – “the battle for
Notice the broad scope of the
prophecy. Verse 2 tells us the whole world is a player, “the indignation of the LORD is against all nations…”
Verse 4 implies both heaven and earth are the battlefield, “the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll”.
Notice too, verse 5 says, blood will be
shed in Bozrah and Edom – the region
near the
Remember too, that’s where the Jews, who fled from the
Antichrist, will hold up – in Bozrah or
In the
aftermath of God’s final judgment, the earth will become desolate. But 35 verse 1 promises,
“the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the
rose.”
But
that’s just the beginning… You think Jesus
did miracles at His first coming, wait until His second… Verse 5 says He’ll
open blind eyes, and deaf ears. Verse 6, “the lame
shall leap like a deer”. The land will be restored -
The thousand years Jesus reigns will
be a millennium of miracles.
It parallels almost exactly with
In chapter 36 Isaiah describes the Assyrian’s threat. In
chapter 37 he recounts King Hezekiah’s prayer, and Isaiah’s own assuring
prophecy. God’s deliverance is described in 37:36,
“Then the angel of the LORD went out, and killed
in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred
and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there
were the corpses - all dead. So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went
away, returned home, and remained at
Chapter 38 tells us about Hezekiah’s sickness… his impending
death - his prayer - his healing – the miraculous sign that confirmed His
promise – and the blunder he made showing off his treasure to a group of
Babylonian spies.
When you go home tonight read it over. As is all the Bible,
it’s rich in insight!