1 of 24

Isaiah 6-8

1

586

Babylon conquers Judah

538

Jews allowed to return from exile (decree by Cyrus king of Persia)

723

Assyria conquers Israel

930

United kingdom splits

1046

King Saul

1446

Moses

740

Isaiah’s ministry begins

681

Isaiah’s ministry ends

742

Micah

743

Initial Assyrian invasion of Israel

753

Hosea

2 of 24

Timeline

The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. - Isaiah 1:1 (ESV)

Uzziah/Azariah - 792-740 BC (2 Kings 15, 2 Chronicles 26)
Jotham - 750-731 BC (2 Kings 15, 2 Chronicles 27)
Ahaz - 735-715 BC (2 Kings 16, 2 Chronicles 28)
Hezekiah - 726-687 BC (2 Kings 18-20, 2 Chronicles 29-32)

2

3 of 24

Historical Context

Uzziah/Azariah - 792-740 BC (2 Kings 15, 2 Chronicles 26)

Did what was right for much of his reign
Improperly offers incense on altar -> skin disease

Jotham - 750-731 BC (2 Kings 15, 2 Chronicles 27)

Rebuilding projects
Aram & Samaria start attacking Judah

3

4 of 24

Historical Context

Ahaz - 735-715 BC (2 Kings 16, 2 Chronicles 28)

Mostly very bad
Aram & Samaria continue to attack Judah
Tries to ask Assyria for help

Hezekiah - 726-687 BC (2 Kings 18-20, 2 Chronicles 29-32)

Mostly very good
Relies on God to save from Assyria
Sickness, shows treasures to Babylonians

4

5 of 24

Author: Isaiah son of Amoz

Don’t know much about him
Primarily prophet to the southern kingdom of Judah
Married (Isaiah 8)
Tradition has it he was killed by king Manasseh
Mentioned in Old Testament in:

2 Kings 19-20
2 Chronicles 26, 32

5

6 of 24

Structure of the Book of Isaiah

Prologue (Isaiah 1-5)
Call of Isaiah (Isaiah 6)
Hoping in Assyria vs. God (Isaiah 7-12)
Oracles Concerning Nations (Isaiah 13-23)
God’s Judgment and Salvation (Isaiah 24-35)
Hezekiah Withstands Assyria (Isaiah 36-39)
Assurance of God’s Salvation (Isaiah 40-66)

6

Structurally, the book of Isaiah is pretty complex (more complex than Jeremiah, in my opinion). In some sense, while Jeremiah can be seen as a lead-up to the Babylonian exile, Isaiah can be seen as a lead-up to the Assyrian exile. Though Isaiah covers a much broader scope - Isaiah’s messages ultimately cover both the southern and northern kingdoms and encompass events both in the “near” time of Isaiah’s life here on earth and into the much distant future (including things that have not happened yet).

Partly due to this complexity, there are a lot of different “outlines” you might find out there for Isaiah that might differ somewhat. The outline I have put on this slide is my best current understanding after having looked at various outlines on the structure of this book and comparing things with my own reading.

7 of 24

Summary of Isaiah 1-5

Isaiah 1:2-17 - Wickedness of Judah
Isaiah 1:18-31 - Judgment on Judah
Isaiah 2:1-5 - Restoration
Isaiah 2:6-22 - Judgment on all nations
Isaiah 3 - Judgment on Judah
Isaiah 4 - Restoration
Isaiah 5 - Judgment on Judah

Ah, sinful nation,

a people laden with iniquity,

offspring of evildoers,

children who deal corruptly!

They have forsaken the Lord,

they have despised the Holy One of Israel,

they are utterly estranged.

Isaiah 1:4 (ESV)

7

8 of 24

Summary of Isaiah 1-5

Isaiah 1:2-17 - Wickedness of Judah
Isaiah 1:18-31 - Judgment on Judah
Isaiah 2:1-5 - Restoration
Isaiah 2:6-22 - Judgment on all nations
Isaiah 3 - Judgment on Judah
Isaiah 4 - Restoration
Isaiah 5 - Judgment on Judah

Zion shall be redeemed by justice,

and those in her who repent, by

righteousness.

But rebels and sinners shall be broken together,

and those who forsake the Lord shall be

consumed.

Isaiah 1:27-28 (ESV)

8

9 of 24

Summary of Isaiah 1-5

Isaiah 1:2-17 - Wickedness of Judah
Isaiah 1:18-31 - Judgment on Judah
Isaiah 2:1-5 - Restoration
Isaiah 2:6-22 - Judgment on all nations
Isaiah 3 - Judgment on Judah
Isaiah 4 - Restoration
Isaiah 5 - Judgment on Judah

It shall come to pass in the latter days

that the mountain of the house of the Lord

shall be established as the highest of the mountains,

and shall be lifted up above the hills;

and all the nations shall flow to it,

Isaiah 2:2 (ESV)

9

10 of 24

Summary of Isaiah 1-5

Isaiah 1:2-17 - Wickedness of Judah
Isaiah 1:18-31 - Judgment on Judah
Isaiah 2:1-5 - Restoration
Isaiah 2:6-22 - Judgment on all nations
Isaiah 3 - Judgment on Judah
Isaiah 4 - Restoration
Isaiah 5 - Judgment on Judah

For the Lord of hosts has a day

against all that is proud and lofty,

against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low;

Isaiah 2:12 (ESV)

10

11 of 24

Summary of Isaiah 1-5

Isaiah 1:2-17 - Wickedness of Judah
Isaiah 1:18-31 - Judgment on Judah
Isaiah 2:1-5 - Restoration
Isaiah 2:6-22 - Judgment on all nations
Isaiah 3 - Judgment on Judah
Isaiah 4 - Restoration
Isaiah 5 - Judgment on Judah

For behold, the Lord God of hosts

is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah

support and supply,

all support of bread,

and all support of water;

Isaiah 3:1 (ESV)

11

12 of 24

Summary of Isaiah 1-5

Isaiah 1:2-17 - Wickedness of Judah
Isaiah 1:18-31 - Judgment on Judah
Isaiah 2:1-5 - Restoration
Isaiah 2:6-22 - Judgment on all nations
Isaiah 3 - Judgment on Judah
Isaiah 4 - Restoration
Isaiah 5 - Judgment on Judah

In that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel. And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem,

Isaiah 4:2-3 (ESV)

12

13 of 24

Summary of Isaiah 1-5

Isaiah 1:2-17 - Wickedness of Judah
Isaiah 1:18-31 - Judgment on Judah
Isaiah 2:1-5 - Restoration
Isaiah 2:6-22 - Judgment on all nations
Isaiah 3 - Judgment on Judah
Isaiah 4 - Restoration
Isaiah 5 - Judgment on Judah

And now I will tell you

what I will do to my vineyard.

I will remove its hedge,

and it shall be devoured;

I will break down its wall,

and it shall be trampled down.

Isaiah 5:5 (ESV)

13

14 of 24

Reading

Isaiah 6:1-13

14

15 of 24

Seraphim

Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. - Isaiah 6:2 (ESV)

Only explicitly mentioned this way in this chapter of Isaiah
Underlying Hebrew word can mean “fiery serpent” and used in a few other places (though not in exact form)
Might be the same as creatures in Revelation 4:

And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within… - Revelation 4:8 (ESV)

15

16 of 24

New Testament References (Isaiah 6:9-10)

Jesus references this section in regarding why he speaks in parables:

Matthew 13:14-15
Mark 4:12
Luke 8:10
John 12:39-41

Paul references this section when trying to convince Roman Jews:

Acts 28:25-27

16

17 of 24

Discussion Question (Isaiah 6)

What does this scene prompt Isaiah to do?

17

18 of 24

Reading

Isaiah 7:1-9

18

19 of 24

Historical Context (Isaiah 7-8) -

The Syro-Ephraimite War (2 Kings 15-16, 2 Chronicles 28)

Assyria growing in strength
Tributary nations of Israel and Aram join together to try and rebel
Try to get King Ahaz of Judah to join, but he refuses

Fail to conquer Judah but still kill many/take many captives
Ahaz asks Assyria for help
…at a cost (plundering temple, false worship)

19

20 of 24

Reading

Isaiah 7:10-25

20

21 of 24

Discussion Question (Isaiah 7:10-25)

What does this prophetic message seem to be saying?

21

22 of 24

Reading

Isaiah 8:1-10

22

23 of 24

Reading

Isaiah 8:11-22

23

24 of 24

Discussion Questions (Isaiah 8:11-22)

What is the “way of this people” that God

warns Isaiah against walking in?

How should Isaiah walk instead?

24