Monday, February 7, 2011

Isaiah Introduction

Copyright Ó 2011 J. Neely
Isaiah Introduction

Just as Paul was the prolific writer of scripture of the New Testament, Isaiah was the prolific writer of the Old Testament.

Perhaps the greatest writer of all the prophets, Isaiah’s writings range from the creation of the universe to its destruction, and re-creation of the new universe.

Isaiah lived from approximately 740 B.C. to 680 B.C., during the rule of four kings. His ministry was located in Judah, and covered the invasion of Samaria, and the invasion of Sennacherib.

All of the nations of the earth come under the magnifying glass of Isaiah, and of his predictions for and against them.

No other single book in the Old Testament, has as many prophecies concerning Israel, Judah, believers in general, the birth of Christ, His death, His deity, His ministry, and His future reign.

Of all of the books in the Bible, Isaiah provides the most comprehensive range of history, prophecy, God, and grace.

Outline Isaiah (New Unger's Bible Dictionary)

I. Prophecies from the standpoint of the prophet's own time                   (1-35)

A. Prophecies concerning Judah and Jerusalem               (1:1-13:6)

1. General introduction                    (1)                   
2. Millennial blessing through cleansing      (2-4)   
3. Israel's reproof for her sins                      (5)                   
4. The prophet's call and commission (6)               
5. Immanuel's prophecy                   (7)                   
6. Prophecy of Assyrian invasion    (8)                   
7. Messianic prediction                     (9)       
8. Assyrian punishment                    (10)     
9. Millennial restoration                    (11)     
10. Millennial worship                      (12)     

B. Prophecies against foreign nations                     (13-23)

1. Babylon                              (13:1-14:23)   
2. Assyria                               (14:24-27)      
3. Philistia                               (14:28-32)      
4. Moab                                              (15-16)           
5. Damascus                           (17)                 
6. Land beyond the rivers of Ethiopia                    (18)     
7. Egypt                                              (19)     
8. Assyria's conquest                         (20)
9. Desert areas                       (21-22)
10. Tyre                                              (23)     

C. Prophecy of kingdom establishment                  (24-27)

1. The Great Tribulation                  (24)                 
2. Character of the kingdom                        (25)                 
3. Restored Israel                              (26-27)           

D. Prophecies concerning Judah and Assyria        (28-35)

1. Danger and deliverance                (28-33)           
2. The Day of the Lord                     (34)                 
3. Full millennial blessing                  (35)

II.  Historical interlude                                  (36-39)

A. Sennacherib's invasion                            (36-37)
B. Hezekiah's sickness and recovery                       (38)     
C. Arrival of Babylonian envoys; prophecy and captivity            (39)

III.  Prophecies of redemption and restoration from the idealistic standpoint of the Babylonian Exile  (40-66)

A. Comfort to the exiles, the promise of restoration                      (40-48)

1. Message of comfort: promise of messianic restoration (40:1-11)
2. Basis of comfort: God's character                       (40:12-31)      
3. The reason for comfort: Jehovah's vindication against idolaters by raising up Cyrus, the deliverer  (41)
4. The comforter—Jehovah's servant                     (42)                 
5. The result of the comfort: a nation restored       (43-45); 
               the downfall of the Babylonian idols        (46:1-12)
               and Babylon itself                                      (47)     
6. Exhortation of comfort to those yet to be delivered from captivity                  (48)

B. Comfort to the exiles in the prophecy of the Messiah-Redeemer                     (49-57)

1. His call and work              (49)                 
2. His obedience                     (50)                 
3. His redemption                  (51:1-52:12)   
4. His atonement and exaltation                   (52:13-53:12)
5. His guarantee of Israel's restoration        (54)                 
6. Worldwide salvation                                 (55)                 
7. His warnings and promises                      (56-57)           

C. Comfort in the prophecy of Israel's future glory                      (58-66)
1. Obstacles to Israel's restoration removed                                    (58-59)
2. Jerusalem's exaltation in the messianic age                     (60)     
3. Messiah's ministry for Israel and the world                   (61)     
4. God's concern for Jerusalem                   (62)                 
5. Messiah's conquest of Israel's enemies    (63:1-14)        
6. The remnant's prayer                               (63:15-64:12)
7. Jehovah's response                        (65)                 
8. Kingdom blessing              (66)

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