ISAIAH---THE SUFFERING SERVANT

INTRODUCTION

The book of Isaiah is the first book of written prophecy in our English Bibles.

1.    Isaiah is really about fifth in line by actual chronology.

2.    The best way to understand the prophets is to relate them to the book of II Kings.

3.    In most cases, it is possible to date the prophets by reading the first few verses of the book; i.e. Isa. 1:1.

4.    The chronological order of the prophets is as follows: Joel, Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Habakkuk, Obadiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi.

5.    Isaiah prophesied under four kings of Judah:

A.   Uzziah and Jotham; chs. 1-6

B.   Ahaz; chs. 7-14

C.   Hezekiah; chs. 15-66

ISAIAH, THE MAN

1.    His social status - seems to be rather high for he had familiar interviews with kings Ahaz and Hezekiah. (chs. 7; 37)

A.   He was an historian in the king’s court, and wrote accounts of the reigns of Uzziah and Hezekiah. (II Chron. 26:22; 32:32)

B.   His writings reveal him to be a well-educated man.

C.   He was married to a woman who also possessed the gift of prophecy. (8:3)

D.   He had two sons. (7:3; 8:3)

2.    His ministry

A.   Covered approximately 51 years

B.   Jewish tradition says that he lived into the reign of Manasseh, under whom he suffered a horrible martyrdom for resisting the wickedness of the king, being placed in a hollow trunk of a tree, and then “sawn asunder”. Cf. Heb. 11:37

3.    His character

A.   Boldness - whether before king or people

B.   Patriotism - He is the enemy of all that is against the best interests of his nation.

C.   Tenderness and sympathy - which reaches out to other nations

D.   Spirituality - The usual title he uses for God is “The Holy One”.

HIGHER CRITICS AND THE BOOK

1.    Until 100 years ago Isaiah’s authorship of the book was not questioned.

2.    The development of a “Deutero-Isaiah” (two Isaiahs) became prominent based on the supposition that chapters 40-66 were from a different writer.

3.    Ewald (see notes on Song of Solomon) suggested there might have been as many as seven different authors of the book; however, for some of the rationalists, even seven authors were inadequate.

4.    Isaiah was regarded as a literary patchwork from a combination of anonymous authors whose number no one knows.

5.    The case of the higher critics is based on three main suppositions:

A.   Differences of vocabulary

B.   Differences of ideas and forms of expression

C.   Differences in historical references

6.    Argument for the defense:

A.   The differences are no greater than those between other writings from one author.

B.   Several writings from one author often differ in the same three ways mentioned above because of the difference of subject.

C.   If the critics used the same rationale on modern day authors they would be a laughing-stock.

NOTES ON THE BOOK ITSELF

1.    There are 66 chapters; as there are 66 books in the Bible.

A.   The Bible is divided into 39 books in the O.T. and 27 in the N.T.

B.   As the 39 books of the O.T. are mostly concerned with the Law and judgment, so the first 39 chapters of Isaiah are occupied with the thought of judgment because of disobedience to the Law.

C.   As the 27 books of the N.T. are mainly occupied with the message of grace and salvation, so the last 27 chapters of Isaiah are a message of grace and comfort and coming salvation.

2.    The book has been called, “The Gospel According to Isaiah”.

A.   Isaiah has been called the “Fifth Evangelist” and the “Prophet of Redemption”.

B.   The N.T. counterpart of the book of Isaiah is the book of Romans.

HISTORICAL SETTING

You will recall that the nation divided after the death of Solomon; 10 tribes in the north organized as Israel, and 2 tribes in the south as Judah. Isaiah ministered in the southern capital of Jerusalem, but his message was directed at both nations as a whole. On the political scene, Assyria was the menacing power, and the other nations of the middle east wanted to form a coalition to fight her off. However, king Ahaz of Judah would not join the league. So, Syria and Israel attacked Judah to try to force her to cooperate with them. Instead of trusting the Lord for help, Ahaz turned to Assyria for assistance. Assyria defeated Israel in 721 B.C., but the price Ahaz had to pay for Assyria’s aid was to become a vassal state. No sooner was Israel out of the way than Assyria attacked Judah and enslaved the entire nation. Isaiah told the people to trust the Lord for help, but various groups told the king to turn to Egypt for help. Chapters 36-39 tell how God finally gave Hezekiah victory over the Assyrians. Judah, by now was so weakened from war, and her cities had been so overrun by the enemy that the nation never fully recovered. Assyria was then defeated by the Egyptians; the Egyptians fell to the Babylonians; and in 606-586 B.C., the Babylonians took Judah into captivity.

So, in the first division of the book (chs. 1-39) Isaiah counseled the nation concerning Assyria. In the last division (chs. 40-66), he comforted the remnant concerning their return from Babylon.

The symbolical names of Isaiah’s two sons (7:3; 8:1-3) illustrate both the two main messages and the historical setting. “Shear-jashub” means “a remnant shall return”, and ties in with the second division of the prophecy. “Maher-shalal-hash-baz” means “speed to the spoil, haste to the prey”, and parallels the first division.

CHRIST IN ISAIAH - No O.T. book gives such a full picture of Jesus Christ. We see:

 1.    His birth - 7:14 w/Matt. 1:23, also Isa. 9:6

 2.    The ministry of John the Baptist - 40:3-6 w/Matt. 3:1

 3.    Christ anointed by the Spirit - 61:1, 2 w/Luke 4:17-19

 4.    Christ the Servant - 42:1-4 w/Matt. 12:17-21

 5.    Israel’s rejection of Christ - 6:9-11 w/Jno. 12:38; Matt. 13:10-15

 6.    The Stone of Stumbling - 8:14; 28:16 w/Rom. 9:32, 33 and 10:11

 7.    Christ’s ministry to the Gentiles - 49:6 w/Luke 2:32

 8.    Christ’s suffering and death - 52:13-53:12

 9.    Christ’s resurrection - 55:3 w/Acts 13:34

10.  He is seen as the Coming King. - 9:6,7; 11:1; 32:1, 2; 59:20,21 w/Rom. 11:26,27; Rev. 19:13-15

THE SUFFERING SERVANT

1.    There are 17 references to “Jehovah’s Servant”.

A.   In 13, the nation is in view. (41:8, 9; 43:10; 44:1, 2, 21, 26; 45:4; 48:20)

B.   In 4, Jesus Christ is in view. (42:1,19; 52:13; 53:11)

2.    The entire section from 52:13 to 53:12 is a vivid description of the sufferings, death and resurrection of Christ.

3.    Israel was Jehovah’s servant in that the nation was used of God to bring the Word and the Savior to the world. However, because of disobedience, the nation-servant had to be chastened.

4.    Jesus Christ is the true Servant of Jehovah who died for the world and perfectly did His Father’s will.

OUTLINE OF THE BOOK---”Salvation of the Lord”

 I.     CONDEMNATION (1-39) - the defeat of Assyria

A.   Sermons against Judah and Israel (1-12)

B.   Burdens of judgment on other nations (13-23)

C.   Songs of future glory for the nation (24-27)

D.   Woes against the sins of the people (28-35)

E.   Historical interlude (36-39) - King Hezekiah:

1.    His victory over Assyria (36-37)

2.    His sin with Babylon (38-39)

II.    CONSOLATION (40-66) - the Remnant delivered from Babylon

A.   God’s greatness (40-48)

B.   God’s grace (49-57) - The Suffering Servant, Jesus Christ, dies for man.

C.   God’s glory (58-66) - The glory of the future kingdom