The Strand Study Bible

ISAIAH

Author : Isaiah (Jn 12:38-41) Theme : The Coming MESSIAH Book’s Main Character : Isaiah

About the Author: Isaiah, whose name means “ Jehovah is salvation,” was the son of Amos and a prophet to the nation of Judah. He lived and ministered in Jerusalem and began his ministry c. 748 BC. He prophesied during the reign of four kings: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Isaiah was a contemporary of Micah (in Judah) and of Jonah, Hosea, and Amos (in Israel). About the Book : Isaiah’s call was threefold: 1. To remind the Judean Jews to remain aware of God (1:1-23 & 2:6-9 & 3:16-4:1 & 5:1-4 & 6:1-10 & 7:1-10 & 8:1-4…) 2. To remind the Judean Jews to look beyond the present ( 2:10-22 & 3:1-15 & 5:5-30 & 6:11-12 & 7:11-25 & 8:5-22 & 9:1-2…) 3. To remind the Judean Jews to be confident in the future that God is shaping (1:24-31 & 2:1-5 & 4:2-6 & 6:13 & 9:3-5 …) The book of Isaiah covers approximately 48 years (from c. 748 - 700 BC). Helpful background : After Joel’s successful ministry in Judah under Joash’s reign around 840 BC, Judah experienced some good years spiritually under some good kings: Joash, Amaziah, and Uzziah. These were not great kings; mind you, but they were good enough to keep the nation of Judah basically on the right path. However, unlike Judah, Israel never experienced good leadership under any of her kings. Throughout her 249-year history (from 970-721 BC), Israel failed repeatedly to please the LORD. Notes of Interest : 4. Prophecies concerning the HOLY SPIRIT are referred to 2 of those 782 times ( Isa 44:3,4/Acts 2:4 ). 5. There are 6 inset maps used in the book of Isaiah . They are numbered chronologically (#225-227,235,237,242). Outline of Isaiah : 1. Prophecies concerning Judah, Israel, the surrounding Nations, and Christ (Isa 1-35) 2. Assyria’s invasion of Jerusalem (Isa 36-39) 3. Prophecies concerning Christ, Israel’s future, and the roundabout Nations (Isa 40-66) Isaiah 1 The sinful nation of Judah 1. II Chro 32:32 2. II Ki 15-20 & are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the HOLY 5 O N E of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. 1. Isaiah is quoted in the NT 58 times. 25 of those 58 quotes refer directly to CHRIST . Note - Only 1 of those 58 quotes refer directly to the HOLY SPIRIT (Isa 44:3/Jn 7:38) 2. Prophecies are referred to 782 times in Isaiah . 3. Prophecies concerning CHRIST are referred to 243 of those 782 times.

II Chro 26-32 3. “ Jehovah ” Note - In this case Jehovah is referring to God the Father - Gen 2:4b . 4. or, “feeding trough” 5. Isa 47:4 & Hos 11:9 & Jn 17:11 Psa 16:10 & Acts 2:27 & 13:35 & Mk 1:24 Isa 63:10-11 & Psa 51:11 & Eph 1:13 6. or, “chastened; flogged” - Amos 4:6-12 7. Deut 28:51-52

(Note - This portion of Isaiah’s prophecy took place in the year King Uzziah died , and in

5 Why should ye be 6 stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. 7 Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers de- vour it in your presence, and it is desolate, 7 as overthrown by strangers. 8 And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.

the 1st year of King Pekah’s reign) Date Written - c. 748 BC/AM 3252

1 The 1 vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jeru- salem 2 in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. 2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the 3 LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. 3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s 4 crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. 4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that

1:1 Isaiah’s name means “Salvation is of Jehovah .” He is referred to 26 times in the NT (Mt 1:22 & 2:23 & 3:3 & 4:14 & 8:17 & 12:17 & 13:14 & 15:7, Mk 1:3 & 7:6, Lk 3:4 & 4:17, Jn 1:23 & 6:45 & 12:38-39,41, Acts 7:48 & 8:28,30 & 28:25 and Rom 9:27,29 & 10:16,20 & 15:12). 1:5 Isaiah’s image of Judah as a sinfully sick nation raises the question of the relationship between sickness and sin. While it is true that not all sickness is due to sin (Jn 9:1-3), Judah’s sickness, according to God, was. Sickness is one of the rods of discipline that God uses to warn and chasten His people (Deut 7:12-15 & 28:15,58-61 and Amos 4:6-12). 1045