Isaiah, Chapters 6 through 8
Isaiah 6-8
The Call, The Sign, and The Attack
Chapter 6
The Call
V1-4
I. V1 - Uzziah, also called Azzariah, “did right in the sight of the Lord” and “God prospered him” (2 Kings 15:3a; 2 Chron. 26:4a; 2 Chron. 26:5) but he did something that he shouldn’t have done (2 Chron. 26: 1-19) so God punished him. As best we can see, his death was in 740-739 BC. The same year, Isaiah is called. “Sitting on the throne, high and lifted up” shows us that God is above all. He is King of kings. He is Lord of lords. The robe of the Lord filled the temple; possibly an illustration of the fullness of God. God alone is exalted.
II. V2 - The only time Seraphim [ seraph - fire; fiery creatures] is mentioned in the Bible is Isaiah. Revelation (4:8) may allude to them. The description of them is as impressive creatures. Two wings cover the head, two wings cover the feet, a sign of humility (Holland, 24)
III. V3 - “Holy, Holy, Holy” is the proclamation. Motyer calls it a “super-superlative” (77). This triple expression of praise “is the strongest form of the superlative in Hebrew” (Oswalt, 181). It is also found nowhere else in the Scriptures. “Glory” (used 37 times, Holland, 24) - power and presence here is Isaiah. In Ezekiel 11:23, it is used as presence and protection, as the Glory of the Lord departed Jerusalem. Ps. 148:13; Hymnal 3
IV. V4 - “theophany” - an appearance of God to humans. Think, “the burning bush”. Ex. 24: 17 - “the appearance of the Glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the mountain top”, NASB.
V5-7
I. V5 - We cannot truly see ourselves as the sinners we are until we fully recognize God’s Glory. Our measure is God. Our measure is Christ. We are not to use other people in our measure. “I am a sinner! My people are sinners!”, exclaims Isaiah. In Luke 5:8, Peter says, “Depart from me, for I am an unclean man, O Lord.” We see this admission elsewhere in the prophets…
II. V6, 7 - The altar burns perpetually (Lev. 6:12). It is God alone who washes, it is God alone that purifies, it is God alone that forgives sins. Hebrews 9: 11-15. The blood of Christ is eternal: past, present, and future.
V8-13
I. V8 - “Here am I, send me!” Oh, what marvelous words! God called, Isaiah answered. God needed, through His will, an earthly messenger, Isaiah said, “I’ll go!”
II. V9,10 - Deliberate irony. Used on four occasions in the NT - Mt.13:10b; Mk. 4:12; Lk. 8:10; Jhn. 12:37-40; Acts 28: 23-28; Romans 11:7-8. God exposes the already hardened state of man’s heart. Sometimes, when we are already hardened, when we hear the truth, we double down. Some will listen, some will not.
III. V11 - “How long?” Until everything is destroyed and the lesson is learned.
IV. V12 - The exile and cities are “forsaken” - ruined. “It is a sobering experience to walk through the ruins of Palestine’s once flourishing cities, such as Megiddon, Beth-shan, Gezer, and Samaria. It makes one realize that God’s judgements are sure against those who practice iniquity and fail to repent.” (Shackleford, 98) These particular cities never returned to their status.
V. V13 - The holy seed, The remnant!
May we answer God’s call. May we listen to God’s message of salvation. May we fully grasp the magnitude of destruction if we ignore the wrath of God. May we be a part of the remnant!
Chapter 7
The Sign
V1-2
I. V1 - The Syro (Syria) - Ephraimitic (Israel) War. Syria and Israel joined forces to stop Tiglath-Pileser III and the Assyrians; Ahaz refused.
II. V2 -They joined forces and decided to go to war against Judah ~735 BC (2 Kings 15:38;16:5). “House of David” is a common term used in the prophets to describe the lineage of David. (Zech. 12 and 13; Jer.
21:12) Ahaz was afraid. The people were afraid: They had good reason - 2 Chron. 28:5-6.
V3-9
I. V3-6 - The Lord shows compassion to His people and sends Isaiah and his son, Shear-jashub, which means “a remnant will return”. Isaiah finds King Ahaz at the water source. King Hezekiah is found here leather as well. God’s message? Calm down. Do not be afraid. They appear as fire and they rage, they think they will set a puppet king on your throne.
II. V7-9 - The Lord says, “It will not happen”. Syria and Israel will be destroyed (65 years), by ~734 BC Assyria attacks Israel and ~732 BC they ravage Damascus. V9 - Believe it and have faith or suffer the consequences. Heb. 11:6. Our faith is directly connected to our obedience - Heb 3:18-19; 4:2,11.
V10-17
I. V10,11 - “The Lord spoke again to Isaiah” - “Isaiah did not claim to speak about God, he claimed to speak for God” (Oswalt,204). “Sign” (11 times) can be translated as miracle or pledge. From Sheol (where the dead abide) to heaven, God is not placing a limit; the only limit Ahaz would have of this sign would be his own faith. There is no such thing as too much faith.
II. V12 - Ahaz’s response shows a lack of faith and lack of trust in the Lord. It is not piety. Remember, Ahaz told Tiglath-pileser, “ I am your servant and your son.” 2 Kings 16:7
III. V13 - Isaiah calls out Ahaz! NASB has “try the patience of God as well?”
IV. V14 - “Therefore” - what the Lord is about to say is directly tied to the refusal of the sign and lack of faith. A “virgin” ‘almah will bring Immanuel (God-with-us) into the world. The mother shall name Him. Christ! Matthew applied these Scriptures to Christ, Matt.
1:22-23a.You refuse a sign; what of an ultimate sign? It very well may have had an immediate meaning as well. Virgin can mean “a woman of marriageable age” or “ a woman of good reputation”. Matthew applied it as what we know virgin to be.
V. V15-16 - This seems to be more immediate but also point to Jesus.
VI. V17 - Sometimes our greatest punishment is having our own desires and prayers granted. Ahaz would seek the counsel and protection of Assyria; God will eventually bring Assyria against Judah horrifically but worse yet, ~722 BC, Israel is completely decimated and taken into exile.
V18-25
I. V18-19 - In referring to Judah’s allies, Isaiah states that they will have the same effect and inescapable characteristics as the insects. II. V20 - “razor” A shaved head denotes shame and disgrace. This razor will be from a foreign land. Dignity - gone.
III. V21-22 - So devastated will the land be that all that is left is milk and honey. Hardship - ever present.
IV. V23-25 - Everything valued about the land will be gone. It will only be good for animal grazing. The land you know - gone. Everything you’ve worked for - gone.
Let us see that God has offered grace and mercy. Let us see that we need to take hold of that grace and mercy through faith and obedience. Let us see that lacking faith and trust in our God produces destruction. Let us see that Christ is coming and He is how we lay hold of that grace and mercy.
Chapter 8
The Attack
V1-4
I. V1 - Isaiah writes on a placard where everyone can see this. From the NASB: “Swift is the booty, speedy is the prey”.
II. V2 - The Scriptures repeatedly commands witnesses be used in charges and correction: Deut. 19:15; Heb. 10:28; Matt.18:16. Uriah was called because of his position not because of his righteousness, see 2 Kings 16. Zechariah's identity isn’t known unless he’s the one referenced in 2 Chron. 26:5.
III. V3 - Isaiah’s wife - able to prophesy as well or the title of the wife of a prophet? We don’t know for sure. Maher-Shalal-hash-baz is “Swift the booty, speedy the prey”. The names of Isaiah’s sons were a message to the nation!
IV. V4 - Before this child could call out to his parents, Tiglath-pileser attacked both Samaria and Damascus. Ahaz and the people of Judah could easily see this coming true before their eyes, and still they would not repent in mass.
V5-10
I. V5 - The Lord still speaks
II. V6 - Refused or rejected the Lord (waters flowing softly); rejoice (looked for protection to someone else being afraid of another) in the might of Israel.
III. V7 - The Lord will bring the Assyrians like the waters of the Euphrates. “The nemesis of choosing the world over God is to get the world.” (Motyer, 91)
IV. V8 - Oh Immanuel - seems to point to the fact that there will be a remnant. We know that Judah will be ravaged and pillaged but they hold on until later (Babylonian Empire).
V. V9-10 - Terribly things are ahead but remember God is with us! There is hope. “Man proposes, God disposes”. Israel, Syria, even Judah and Assyria have grand plans, but - Ps. 2:4
V11-22
I. V11-12 - The Lord tells Isaiah to not live like the people, to not believe the things that the people believe, and to not fear what the people fear.
II. V13 - Only regard the Lord as holy. Only fear (reverence and respect) the Lord. See also Matthew 10:28.
III. V14-15 - Sanctuary: “holy place”. Only in God may we find protection. Only in God may we truly be safe. Those who reject God will stumble, fall and be broken, snared and taken.
IV. V16 - Roll it up, wrap it, seal it so it is preserved and untampered with.
V. V17-18 - Isaiah has faith. He will wait with anticipation for the Lord’s promises.
VI. V19-20 - “you” is plural. We are to seek God not the dead. We are to seek the Scriptures not the words of those who communicate with the dead or use some sort of magic. Lev. 19:31; 20:6; Deut. 18:9-14; see
also 1 Sam. 15:23; 28:9; Exodus 22:18; Lev. 20:26-27; 2 Chron. 33:6; Rev. 21:8.
VII. V21-22 - Reject the light? Darkness is a metaphor for sin in the Bible, while light is associated with God and Christ. 1 John 1:5-7
1. Around what year does Isaiah experience God’s direct call? 2. What is Isaiah’s reply to God’s call?
3. Summarized, how long will Isaiah prophesy?
4. What had the kings of Israel and Syria done in the Beginning of chapter 7?
5. Upon God’s message to Ahaz, what was Ahaz’s response? 6. What is the sign that the Lord will give the House of David? 7. Who will the Lord bring against Israel/Judah?
8. What does Maher-Shlal-hash-baz mean?
9. Who will rise and flood the Land like the Euphrates river? 10. In chapter 8 verse 20, to what/whom should Judah/Israel consult? 11. Will everyone be destroyed?
Chapter 6
The Call
V1-4
I. V1 - Uzziah, also called Azzariah, “did right in the sight of the Lord” and “God prospered him” (2 Kings 15:3a; 2 Chron. 26:4a; 2 Chron. 26:5) but he did something that he shouldn’t have done (2 Chron. 26: 1-19) so God punished him. As best we can see, his death was in 740-739 BC. The same year, Isaiah is called. “Sitting on the throne, high and lifted up” shows us that God is above all. He is King of kings. He is Lord of lords. The robe of the Lord filled the temple; possibly an illustration of the fullness of God. God alone is exalted.
II. V2 - The only time Seraphim [ seraph - fire; fiery creatures] is mentioned in the Bible is Isaiah. Revelation (4:8) may allude to them. The description of them is as impressive creatures. Two wings cover the head, two wings cover the feet, a sign of humility (Holland, 24)
III. V3 - “Holy, Holy, Holy” is the proclamation. Motyer calls it a “super-superlative” (77). This triple expression of praise “is the strongest form of the superlative in Hebrew” (Oswalt, 181). It is also found nowhere else in the Scriptures. “Glory” (used 37 times, Holland, 24) - power and presence here is Isaiah. In Ezekiel 11:23, it is used as presence and protection, as the Glory of the Lord departed Jerusalem. Ps. 148:13; Hymnal 3
IV. V4 - “theophany” - an appearance of God to humans. Think, “the burning bush”. Ex. 24: 17 - “the appearance of the Glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the mountain top”, NASB.
V5-7
I. V5 - We cannot truly see ourselves as the sinners we are until we fully recognize God’s Glory. Our measure is God. Our measure is Christ. We are not to use other people in our measure. “I am a sinner! My people are sinners!”, exclaims Isaiah. In Luke 5:8, Peter says, “Depart from me, for I am an unclean man, O Lord.” We see this admission elsewhere in the prophets…
II. V6, 7 - The altar burns perpetually (Lev. 6:12). It is God alone who washes, it is God alone that purifies, it is God alone that forgives sins. Hebrews 9: 11-15. The blood of Christ is eternal: past, present, and future.
V8-13
I. V8 - “Here am I, send me!” Oh, what marvelous words! God called, Isaiah answered. God needed, through His will, an earthly messenger, Isaiah said, “I’ll go!”
II. V9,10 - Deliberate irony. Used on four occasions in the NT - Mt.13:10b; Mk. 4:12; Lk. 8:10; Jhn. 12:37-40; Acts 28: 23-28; Romans 11:7-8. God exposes the already hardened state of man’s heart. Sometimes, when we are already hardened, when we hear the truth, we double down. Some will listen, some will not.
III. V11 - “How long?” Until everything is destroyed and the lesson is learned.
IV. V12 - The exile and cities are “forsaken” - ruined. “It is a sobering experience to walk through the ruins of Palestine’s once flourishing cities, such as Megiddon, Beth-shan, Gezer, and Samaria. It makes one realize that God’s judgements are sure against those who practice iniquity and fail to repent.” (Shackleford, 98) These particular cities never returned to their status.
V. V13 - The holy seed, The remnant!
May we answer God’s call. May we listen to God’s message of salvation. May we fully grasp the magnitude of destruction if we ignore the wrath of God. May we be a part of the remnant!
Chapter 7
The Sign
V1-2
I. V1 - The Syro (Syria) - Ephraimitic (Israel) War. Syria and Israel joined forces to stop Tiglath-Pileser III and the Assyrians; Ahaz refused.
II. V2 -They joined forces and decided to go to war against Judah ~735 BC (2 Kings 15:38;16:5). “House of David” is a common term used in the prophets to describe the lineage of David. (Zech. 12 and 13; Jer.
21:12) Ahaz was afraid. The people were afraid: They had good reason - 2 Chron. 28:5-6.
V3-9
I. V3-6 - The Lord shows compassion to His people and sends Isaiah and his son, Shear-jashub, which means “a remnant will return”. Isaiah finds King Ahaz at the water source. King Hezekiah is found here leather as well. God’s message? Calm down. Do not be afraid. They appear as fire and they rage, they think they will set a puppet king on your throne.
II. V7-9 - The Lord says, “It will not happen”. Syria and Israel will be destroyed (65 years), by ~734 BC Assyria attacks Israel and ~732 BC they ravage Damascus. V9 - Believe it and have faith or suffer the consequences. Heb. 11:6. Our faith is directly connected to our obedience - Heb 3:18-19; 4:2,11.
V10-17
I. V10,11 - “The Lord spoke again to Isaiah” - “Isaiah did not claim to speak about God, he claimed to speak for God” (Oswalt,204). “Sign” (11 times) can be translated as miracle or pledge. From Sheol (where the dead abide) to heaven, God is not placing a limit; the only limit Ahaz would have of this sign would be his own faith. There is no such thing as too much faith.
II. V12 - Ahaz’s response shows a lack of faith and lack of trust in the Lord. It is not piety. Remember, Ahaz told Tiglath-pileser, “ I am your servant and your son.” 2 Kings 16:7
III. V13 - Isaiah calls out Ahaz! NASB has “try the patience of God as well?”
IV. V14 - “Therefore” - what the Lord is about to say is directly tied to the refusal of the sign and lack of faith. A “virgin” ‘almah will bring Immanuel (God-with-us) into the world. The mother shall name Him. Christ! Matthew applied these Scriptures to Christ, Matt.
1:22-23a.You refuse a sign; what of an ultimate sign? It very well may have had an immediate meaning as well. Virgin can mean “a woman of marriageable age” or “ a woman of good reputation”. Matthew applied it as what we know virgin to be.
V. V15-16 - This seems to be more immediate but also point to Jesus.
VI. V17 - Sometimes our greatest punishment is having our own desires and prayers granted. Ahaz would seek the counsel and protection of Assyria; God will eventually bring Assyria against Judah horrifically but worse yet, ~722 BC, Israel is completely decimated and taken into exile.
V18-25
I. V18-19 - In referring to Judah’s allies, Isaiah states that they will have the same effect and inescapable characteristics as the insects. II. V20 - “razor” A shaved head denotes shame and disgrace. This razor will be from a foreign land. Dignity - gone.
III. V21-22 - So devastated will the land be that all that is left is milk and honey. Hardship - ever present.
IV. V23-25 - Everything valued about the land will be gone. It will only be good for animal grazing. The land you know - gone. Everything you’ve worked for - gone.
Let us see that God has offered grace and mercy. Let us see that we need to take hold of that grace and mercy through faith and obedience. Let us see that lacking faith and trust in our God produces destruction. Let us see that Christ is coming and He is how we lay hold of that grace and mercy.
Chapter 8
The Attack
V1-4
I. V1 - Isaiah writes on a placard where everyone can see this. From the NASB: “Swift is the booty, speedy is the prey”.
II. V2 - The Scriptures repeatedly commands witnesses be used in charges and correction: Deut. 19:15; Heb. 10:28; Matt.18:16. Uriah was called because of his position not because of his righteousness, see 2 Kings 16. Zechariah's identity isn’t known unless he’s the one referenced in 2 Chron. 26:5.
III. V3 - Isaiah’s wife - able to prophesy as well or the title of the wife of a prophet? We don’t know for sure. Maher-Shalal-hash-baz is “Swift the booty, speedy the prey”. The names of Isaiah’s sons were a message to the nation!
IV. V4 - Before this child could call out to his parents, Tiglath-pileser attacked both Samaria and Damascus. Ahaz and the people of Judah could easily see this coming true before their eyes, and still they would not repent in mass.
V5-10
I. V5 - The Lord still speaks
II. V6 - Refused or rejected the Lord (waters flowing softly); rejoice (looked for protection to someone else being afraid of another) in the might of Israel.
III. V7 - The Lord will bring the Assyrians like the waters of the Euphrates. “The nemesis of choosing the world over God is to get the world.” (Motyer, 91)
IV. V8 - Oh Immanuel - seems to point to the fact that there will be a remnant. We know that Judah will be ravaged and pillaged but they hold on until later (Babylonian Empire).
V. V9-10 - Terribly things are ahead but remember God is with us! There is hope. “Man proposes, God disposes”. Israel, Syria, even Judah and Assyria have grand plans, but - Ps. 2:4
V11-22
I. V11-12 - The Lord tells Isaiah to not live like the people, to not believe the things that the people believe, and to not fear what the people fear.
II. V13 - Only regard the Lord as holy. Only fear (reverence and respect) the Lord. See also Matthew 10:28.
III. V14-15 - Sanctuary: “holy place”. Only in God may we find protection. Only in God may we truly be safe. Those who reject God will stumble, fall and be broken, snared and taken.
IV. V16 - Roll it up, wrap it, seal it so it is preserved and untampered with.
V. V17-18 - Isaiah has faith. He will wait with anticipation for the Lord’s promises.
VI. V19-20 - “you” is plural. We are to seek God not the dead. We are to seek the Scriptures not the words of those who communicate with the dead or use some sort of magic. Lev. 19:31; 20:6; Deut. 18:9-14; see
also 1 Sam. 15:23; 28:9; Exodus 22:18; Lev. 20:26-27; 2 Chron. 33:6; Rev. 21:8.
VII. V21-22 - Reject the light? Darkness is a metaphor for sin in the Bible, while light is associated with God and Christ. 1 John 1:5-7
Material used:
NKJV, NASB
Don Shackleford, Isaiah, Truth for Today Commentary
Edward J Young, The Book of Isaiah, Vol 1
Paul M Holland, The Gospel According to Isaiah, Swartz Creek church of Christ
J Alec Motyer, The Prophecy of Isaiah, An Introduction and Commentary
Homer Hailey, A commentary on Isaiah
Francis Brown, S.R. Driver, and Charles Briggs, A Hebrew and English
Lexicon of the Old Testament
Norman Snaith, The Distinctive Ideas of the Old Testament
Questions Don Shackleford, Isaiah, Truth for Today Commentary
Edward J Young, The Book of Isaiah, Vol 1
Paul M Holland, The Gospel According to Isaiah, Swartz Creek church of Christ
J Alec Motyer, The Prophecy of Isaiah, An Introduction and Commentary
Homer Hailey, A commentary on Isaiah
Francis Brown, S.R. Driver, and Charles Briggs, A Hebrew and English
Lexicon of the Old Testament
Norman Snaith, The Distinctive Ideas of the Old Testament
1. Around what year does Isaiah experience God’s direct call? 2. What is Isaiah’s reply to God’s call?
3. Summarized, how long will Isaiah prophesy?
4. What had the kings of Israel and Syria done in the Beginning of chapter 7?
5. Upon God’s message to Ahaz, what was Ahaz’s response? 6. What is the sign that the Lord will give the House of David? 7. Who will the Lord bring against Israel/Judah?
8. What does Maher-Shlal-hash-baz mean?
9. Who will rise and flood the Land like the Euphrates river? 10. In chapter 8 verse 20, to what/whom should Judah/Israel consult? 11. Will everyone be destroyed?
Comments
Post a Comment