The prophetic writings are the largest section of the Old Testament and the book of Isaiah the largest book of the prophets. But probably many of us know just a few passages of this great book. From 18 June to 16 July [2006] we will have the opportunity in the morning services to consider five passages from the first section of the book. These notes have been provided to paint the background to these readings and to help bridge any gaps should you be away during the series.
The writings of the Old Testament were the national archive for the Jewish people. They recorded the successes and failures of their history as the unfolding story of God along with their reflections on what happened and what they might learn from events. We look back through Christian eyes, but it is helpful to know something of the world in which these events occurred if we are to understand what God was saying then, and what he might be saying to us now.
The Jewish nation had grown and moved since the days of Abraham and Sarah and the birth of Isaac. They had lived through the slavery of Egypt, been rescued miraculously and, crossed the desert to the Promised Land. Arriving there, they had settled and grown in numbers. They were, however, a small nation always at the edge of the great empires based on the River Nile to the South West (Egyptian) and the Tigris to the North East and East (Assyrian then Babylonian). As a people they were faced with political challenges from these empires and with the temptation to forget their own spiritual and moral values.
One thousand years before Christ they were ruled by the kings, David and Solomon, this was the high point in their nation’s fortunes. After Solomon’s death the nation spit into the northern Kingdom of Israel and Judah to the South, which had Jerusalem at its heart. Even after the split there was a period of national success, with the kings of both Israel and Judah able to extend their borders, repair city walls and reorganise their armies. The copper mines were reopened and new agricultural practices developed. Under the rule of Jeroboam II (Israel) and Uzziah (Judah) they became rich, religious and complacent.
The call of Isaiah to be a prophet came “In the year that King Uzziah died…” This was a turning point in the fortunes of Judah as they came under threat from the spreading Assyrian Empire—a threat that they had failed to imagine in their complacency. Ahaz, the new king, was prepared to do deals with the Assyrians and to be more open to the religious practices of the surrounding land of Canaan. By this time Israel had been taken into exile in Assyria, but it was the Babylonians, after overthrowing the Assyrians, who captured Jerusalem and took the people of Judah captive to Babylon.
The setting of chapters 1–39 of the book of Isaiah is Jerusalem in the period before its destruction. In these chapters Isaiah looks at the state of the nation, speaks out against its injustices and the decisions of its kings and looks forward to a great king. He also considers his own need for forgiveness for his sin and the sin of society. The later chapters of the book appear to relate to events much later in Babylon and after the return to Jerusalem. The readings we shall consider are all from the first section.
- June 18 The song of the vineyard—Isaiah
5:1–7
A parable of the state of the nation, where justice and righteousness are notable by their absence and the people tried to cover exploitation with religious practices. Isaiah voices the unthinkable, that Jerusalem will be overthrown. - June 25 The call of Isaiah—Isaiah
6:1–8
Worship in the Old and New Testament is the response of people to God’s revelation of himself. In the Temple Isaiah is awestruck by the holiness of God. He responds with repentance for his own sin and that of the Jewish society of which he is a part. He finds he has a new role to play—speaking for God in this society. - July 2 Immanuel—Isaiah
7:10–17
King Ahaz faces the choice of trusting God or turning to the Assyrians for strength. Isaiah offers a sign of God’s presence—Immanuel ‘God with us.’ Ahaz chooses. - July 9 The Great King—Isaiah
9:2–7
Ahaz failed to listen and Isaiah withdrew until after Ahaz’ death. The prophecy in chapter 9 is given at the coronation of a subsequent king Hezekiah (or Josiah). No Israelite king lived up to this, but the prophetic names suit Jesus. - July 16 David’s great
descendant—Isaiah 11:1–9
Isaiah spoke out against the sins of society: everyone loves a bribe, widows and orphans are defenceless, you add house to house until there is only room for yourself, you fail to see the work of God’s hands and against the sins of the kings: those that carry out plans which are not God’s. He speaks of judgement but this passage looks further ahead. And in the mean time….
