Opening Thoughts on Isaiah 40-66
•Isaiah changes in both minor and significant ways in chapter 40
– The text describes the people differently (different experiences with God)
– During 1-39 the focus was on Assyria (around 700 BC)
– Now the focus is on the Babylonian exile and Persia (536 BC)
•The Babylonian exile occurred in 586 BC
– It was not until 536 BC that Cyrus of the Persian empire that the exiles returned
– Because of this many scholars have broken Isaiah into three parts
– First Isaiah: 1-39
– Second Isaiah 40-55
– Third Isaiah 56-66
•This has caused some scholars to argue second and third Isaiah were not written by the original Isaiah
–Theories of an “Isaianic” school of prophets
–Or a single or handful of followers of Isaiah
–Or one editor who added these things together under “Isaiah”
– The dating for these range from the Babylonian exile period to well into the 300’s BC
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Opening Thoughts on Isaiah 40-66
•One reason for the assumption is because of the time difference
– Isaiah could not have written about events that far into the future
– One professor argued this, that the people should have accepted God instead of turned away
•Response 1
– The first assumption is unwarranted because it was from God the statements were made, as such God could have easily given Isaiah such messages
•Response 2
– After the Babylonian exile the Jewish people had an incredible change
– Prior to the exile the people often worshipped pagan gods (See I-II Kings/Chronicles/All the prophets!)
– After the exile this ceases almost entirely, where by the time of Jesus we find just how disciplined the people were to the Law
– What would cause the people to turn from their polytheism and idolatry?
Opening Thoughts on Isaiah 40-66
•Ultimately if it was another hand that wrote second and third Isaiah they did seem to want us to believe it was meant to go with Isaiah
– Could God have used a later prophet? Sure it’s possible
–It is also possible God utilized one prophet named Isaiah to give all these messages
–The full book of Isaiah we have today is what God wants us to have in order for us to know Him, His purposes, His promises, and ultimately what He would do in this world
Isaiah 40-66
Bibliography
•Calvin, John. Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. Translated by Pringle, William. Baker Books. Reprinted 2009.
•English Standard Version Study Bible. Crossway. 2012
•Goldingjay, John & Payne, David. Isaiah 40-55: A Critical and Exegetical Commentary 2 Volumes. International Critical Commentary, Bloomsbury, 2006.
•Motyer, J. Alec. The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction & Commentary. InterVarsity, 1993.
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Oswalt, John N. The Book of Isaiah. 2 volumes. NICOT. Eerdmans, 1986, 1998.
•Oswalt, John N. The Book of Isaiah. NIVAC. Zondervan, 2003.
•Isaiah 40:1-11
•Unstoppable
1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that her warfare is ended,
that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the LORD’s hand
double for all her sins.
(Isaiah 40:1-2, ESV)
3 A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
(Isaiah 40:3-5, ESV)
9 Go on up to a high mountain,
O Zion, herald of good news;
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good news;
lift it up, fear not;
say to the cities of Judah,
“Behold your God!”
10 Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might,
and his arm rules for him;
behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young.
(Isaiah 40:9-11, ESV)
Main Point
• The main point of these verses are to establish the mercy and grace of God given to His people
• God will defeat their enemies and provide comfort
• He is the mighty warrior, but also the gentle shepherd
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Application Points
•Unstoppable
– God is beyond all others
– There is none like Him, none that can compare
– Our God is unstoppable
– A Word was given to the people which would speak judgment for their wickedness
– God was unstoppable then
– The Word was fulfilled according to the righteousness of God Almighty
– The same is true now
– God is for His people and will be for them
– Their enemies, in the end, will not be the ones who conquer
– All must be held accountable to God
Application Points
•Unstoppable (2)
– He will lead His captive people home again
– His Word…will lead to peace for His people
– Isaiah has been told to declare a very real Gospel
– The very reality of God having conquered sin and death through Jesus Christ
– All flesh is able to see the glory of God, for all people can experience the great redemption
– We are to see the glory which had been promised of old
– Through the wilderness would come our redemption
– Our Savior died
– He walked the wilderness, yet it was through the wilderness that came life and salvation
– John the Baptist proclaimed with a loud voice the Lord is coming
– We are outside of the shadows but still live in the shadow land
– We see it around us day by day
– Yet we know the hope, for we have a living hope in Christ
– We can be like the prophet who is told to proclaim, “Behold God!”
– We can know that the Word of the Lord is our assurance for it is from the Word life would come, and it has come
Application Points
•Unstoppable (3)
– It is only int eh Word we can find truth
– Let us not be distracted by the world, or even fall into he same patterns and beliefs of the world
– Instead, believe the truth of the Word given
– Our God has told us something
– The world may seek to stop Him, the truth is it cant!
– We can’t stop Him either
– Let’s, then, be faithful to join Him
– Knowing that His Word, His promises, His power, His wisdom, His knowledge, His grace, His mercy, and His love are unstoppable
– He is unstoppable
•Application Points
•The Gospel of Christ
–Origins
–Where we began
–Fall
–What went wrong
–Redemption
–How it is fixed
–Glorification
–Where it at leads
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