7/15/2015
Hope Christian Fellowship Church
Tuesday Night Bible Study
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Tonight’s Class

Major Prophet
Isaiah – Part I
1
7/15/2015
The Prophet Isaiah

The Prophet Isaiah is the most eloquent of all
the prophets.
He analyzed the failures of all the nations
around him and pointed to a future Messiah
who would bring peace.
There is more written about the Messiah in
Isaiah than in any other prophetic book.
The Prophet Isaiah

 Isaiah lived in Jerusalem during the stormy period of the
expansion of the Assyrian Empire.
 He spoke out against his own people, about the coming
judgment of the southern kingdom Judah because of their
sins.
 Isaiah unveils the full dimensions of God’s judgment and
salvation.
 The book moves towards a future time when the Lord’s
Kingdom will be on earth with its Righteous Ruler, the
Messiah.
2
7/15/2015
Isaiah’s Prophetic Call

The Prophet Isaiah begins his ministry after
two of the most successful kings in all of
history dies.
 King Jeroboam – Reigned for 40 years
 King Uzziah – Reigned for 52 years.
The historical events recorded in Isaiah cover
a period of about 62 years.
Isaiah’s Prophetic Call

God revealed Himself in the year that King
Ussiah died (Chapter 6).
He first saw the Lord high and lifted up,
recognized and confessed his sin, received
cleansing from his sin, heard the voice of
God, and then volunteered for service.
3
7/15/2015
Isaiah’s Prophetic Call

Here am I; Send me!
Isaiah 6:8
Historical Background

 Assyria becomes the dominant power. God says that
the reason this happens is because Israel has turned
away from God and He will use the Assyrians to
punish them (Isaiah 10:5-6).
 Assyria does not realize this. They believe that it is a
military campaign when in fact it was a theological
issue (v. 7).
 It is God who will use the Assyrians to bring
judgment on His people. But after He has done so,
He will punish the Assyrians (v. 12).
4
7/15/2015
Historical Background

 The king of Syria and Israel form an alliance against
the Assyrians. They try to get the king of Judah,
Ahaz, to join their coalition.
 Ahaz refuses to join the coalition. He realizes that
there is no way that they will be able to defeat the
Assyrians.
 Kings Rezin (Syria) and Pekah (Israel) attack Ahaz
and removes him from power so that they can get
someone who will join forces with them.
Historical Background

 While this is going on, Isaiah goes to Ahaz and tells
him not to be afraid of Kings Rezin and Pekah
because God will protect you.
 Ahaz is a wicked king and does not believe Isaiah.
Isaiah tells him to ask for a sign from God that this is
true and He will send it, but Ahaz does not believe.
He puts his trust in sight not by faith.
 Still, Ahaz feared that the Davidic line would cease.
5
7/15/2015
Historical Background

The Lord, Himself, gave Ahaz the sign that
the Davidic Line would continue.
 The sign was the birth of a child by a virgin, and
His name shall be called Immanuel (7:14; see also
Matthew 1:21)
 The child would be a light (9:1,2) and would reign
over the House of David (9:6, 7).
Historical Background

 Instead of trusting God, Ahaz contacts the king of Assyria
and asks him to help him fight against Syria and Israel.
The king of Assyria says that I will gladly help you.
Assyria destroys Syria and Israel.
 As a result of this, Ahaz has put Israel in a dangerous
position. They are now under the control of the
Assyrians. Ahaz now has to pay yearly taxes and do
whatever they say.
 As a result of Ahaz not trusting in God, Judah is now
under the control of Assyria.
6
7/15/2015
Historical Background

 Ahaz had a son named Hezekiah, who became king.
 God eventually delivered Judah because of the faith of
King Hezekiah.
 The Books of Kings and Isaiah tells us that when the
Assyrian king sends a letter blaspheming God, Hezekiah
takes the letter to God. God says that He will deliver
Judah.
 Over night, an angel of the Lord is sent and destroys
180,000 of the Assyrians.
Historical Background

 Again, Isaiah declared that God would judge Assyria
for their pride and arrogance against Him.
 The king of Assyria would be destroyed in a
supernatural way (10:24-34; see also 2 Kings).
Read Chapters 11 & 12 which contain Messianic
prophesies.
7
7/15/2015
Theme of Isaiah

The Lord will purge Zion/Israel in
judgment but will restore his people
through the work of the Messiah/Servant.
The Lord will redeem His people into what
He intended and designed them to be.
Theme of Isaiah

God is going to judge the unfaithful city of
Zion into a city of righteousness so that it
becomes the center of truth, justice and peace
throughout the world.
 In chapter 1 Zion is an unfaithful city
 By 46, they become a city of righteousness
because of God’s grace and righteousness to the
city.
8