Isaiah 40-66 I. Introduction A. Isaiah 40-66 B. Continuing in Isaiah 1. Chapters 1-39 directed toward prophet's own day 2. Chapters 40-66 to a different, later audience C. Let us consider these chapters II. Isaiah 40-66: The Details A. Authorship 1. Hotly disputed 2. Traditional view: Isaiah wrote it to a different audience 3. Scholarly views: material written by so-called "Deutero-Isaiah" or by both "Deutero-Isaiah" (Isaiah 40-55) and "Trito-Isaiah" (Isaiah 56-66) 4. Matthew 3:3, Luke 4:17, John 12:38, Acts 8:30, etc. attest sections to Isaiah 5. One of three most quoted books of the OT in the NT B. Dating 1. Isaiah prophesies from Uzziah through Hezekiah, kings of Judah (Isaiah 1:1) 2. Therefore, prophecies date from ca. 750-690 BCE C. Audience 1. Isaiah 40-66 likely sealed up in prophet's day, to be opened in days of exile (cf. Isaiah 8:16) 2. Thus, material for Israel ca. 532 BCE, just before the return from exile 3. We can gain much also D. Purpose 1. To encourage the exiles to return to Judah 2. To affirm God's uniqueness and sovereignty 3. To set forth the future hope of Israel, seen most clearly in the Christ III. Isaiah 40-66: The Story A. Main Sections 1. Comfort to Israel, God's Sovereignty (Isaiah 40-48) 2. The Servant (Isaiah 49-55) 3. Living in the Land, Future Promise (Isaiah 56-66) B. Comfort and Strength (Isaiah 40-41) 1. Message of comfort to people; Jerusalem as pardoned (Isaiah 40:1-2) 2. Preparation of way back to Judah; God's glory to be revealed (Isaiah 40:3-5) 3. Message cried out: flesh as grass, but God's word remains forever (Isaiah 40:6-8) 4. God's greatness, manifest in power, unfathomable depths of His ways; cannot be compared to an idol; God as Creator, giver or taker of life; even when it does not seem like He is, God is there, watching, providing strength (Isaiah 40:9-31) 5. Renew people in strength; God as first and last, king maker and deposer; idol makers strong, but God stronger; Jacob as chosen servant, God with him; those against him will fail; God the Helper of the worm Jacob; God will do wonderful things (Isaiah 41:1-20) 6. Case of God vs. idols: idols unable to say anything, for they are nothing; God as from the beginning, idols as emptiness, nothing (Isaiah 41:21-29) C. The Servant, the New Song, God's Greatness (Isaiah 42-44) 1. Introduction of the servant: one who does righteousness (Isaiah 42:1-4) 2. God as Creator, calls out His people, renewed covenant, new things are present, former things have passed (Isaiah 42:5-9) 3. New song to the LORD: sing praise, God's greatness , God no longer restrained, those who believe in Him He will lead, those who trust idols ashamed (Isaiah 42:10-17) 4. None as blind and deaf as servant/messenger; LORD magnifies His law despite His people being beleaguered; God will raise them up (Isaiah 42:18-25) 5. Jacob not to fear; God honors Jacob, will gather the Dispersion; bring out witnesses, recognize that there is none other than God; Chaldeans to become fugitives; God as doing a new thing, deserts now fertile; Jacob has not brought sacrifices but sins; God will forgive them, but only after the devastation (Isaiah 43) 6. Jacob as God's chosen; no gods like God; story of the makers of idols, using half to warm by the fire, bowing down to other half: foolishness (Isaiah 44:1-20) 7. Jacob to remember these things; God has forgiven them; heavens to sing of it; God as creator, making foolish those using black arts; restorer of Judah; One who lifts up Cyrus (Isaiah 44:21-28) D. Cyrus, the LORD, Babylon (Isaiah 45-48) 1. Cyrus as God's anointed, commissioned to rule to re-establish Judah; God as alone, there are no others, God the Creator (Isaiah 45:1-7) 2. Showers of righteousness; woe to those who challenge God; God as the Creator (Isaiah 45:8-13) 3. Wealth of others to Israel; God as a God who hides Himself; idolaters will be confounded; God as Creator; His case against idolatrous nations; no other God but Him, all turn to Him to be saved; every knee will bow (Isaiah 45:14-25) 4. Babylonian idols stoop; God will carry Jacob; how can God be likened to an idol?; no other God like the LORD; His counsel will stand; stubborn of heart must hear that God will bring salvation to Zion (Isaiah 46) 5. Babylon to be humiliated; God gave Israel into their hand in His anger, they did not honor Him, presumed their own glory; ruin and devastation upon her; try to find security in idols, astrologers: all to be put to shame (Isaiah 47) 6. Message to disobedient Jews: God declared what would be done lest they give His honor to idols; they remain rebellious; attempt to refine them; God will not give glory to another (Isaiah 48:1-11) 7. God as originator of all; God declares purpose on Babylon, will accomplish it; God wishes Israel would have heeded His commandments, would have prospered them; nevertheless, depart from Babylon; water from rock; no peace for wicked (Isaiah 48:12-22) E. Servant, Restoration, Comfort, Salvation (Isaiah 49:1-52:12) 1. Servant as called from the womb; Israel, in whom God will be glorified; servant to gather Jacob back to God; all will see that Israel is chosen (Isaiah 49:1-7) 2. God's day of salvation; God will lead them back across the land, preparing way for them; God as comforting His afflicted people (Isaiah 49:8-13) 3. Zion as forsaken, but God does not forget her; Zion to be rebuilt; bereaved of children, she will now have more than ever; all nations humiliated before Zion; Israel's oppressors to suffer violence (Isaiah 49:14-26) 4. Israel not divorced, just cast off for sin; no one answered God's call despite His ability to save; servant not rebellious, chastised by others; God as helping servant, will be justified; those who believe in God, hear servant, should serve God (Isaiah 50) 5. God provides comfort for Zion, those who serve Him; His people should watch and see His power manifest against the nations; do not fear the reproach of man, God will prevail; God as defeating Rahab, did other great things, will redeem Zion; God as comforter, why fear man who perishes? (Isaiah 51:1-16) 6. Jerusalem to wake up and stand; drunk on the cup of the LORD's wrath; He now removes that cup, places it in hands of tormentors (Isaiah 51:17-23) 7. Zion to awake, put on beautiful clothes; only the clean will now enter; no longer captive (Isaiah 52:1-2) 8. Sold for nothing, redeemed without money; people of God fled to Egypt, oppressed by Assyria; all God's people will know His name (Isaiah 52:5-6) 9. Beauty of feet of those who bring good news to Zion; joy of the city; God has redeemed Jerusalem; His people to leave where they are, go to Jerusalem (Isaiah 52:7-12) F. The Suffering Servant (Isaiah 52:13-53:12) 1. Servant exalted; appearance beyond human semblance; will sprinkle many nations; kings silenced before him (Isaiah 52:13-15) 2. Who has believed report? Servant grows up as tender plant; no beauty to see; despised and rejected; despised (Isaiah 53:1-3) 3. He bore our griefs; esteemed stricken by God; wounded for our sin; by his stripes we are healed; we have strayed; LORD laid on Him our iniquity (Isaiah 53:4-6) 4. Despite affliction, did not open mouth, like lamb before slaughter; made grave with the wicked despite doing no wrong (Isaiah 53:7-9) 5. God's will to put him to grief; many made righteous through the servant; his portion with the many; poured out his soul, makes intercession for transgressors (Isaiah 53:10-12) G. God's Covenant and Greatness (Isaiah 54-55) 1. The barren to sing; will have many children; offspring will prosper; they will be unashamed; God as husband; Israel as wife God calls back, shows compassion (Isaiah 54:1-8) 2. Like days of Noah; covenant will not depart; afflicted will obtain jewels; righteousness will be established; all who rise against her will fail (Isaiah 54:11-17) 3. Come to God, obtain good things; serve God and live; David as witness to peoples; God as glorifying Israel (Isaiah 55:1-5) 4. Seek God while He remains near; God has compassion; His ways, thoughts not our ways, thoughts; God's purposes will be accomplished like rain falls to earth; joy and peace and prosperity for Israel (Isaiah 55:6-13) H. Foreigners and Idolaters (Isaiah 56-57) 1. Need to do what is right; foreigners and eunuchs will be given place among God's people, brought to Temple, sacrifices accepted (Isaiah 56:1-8) 2. Rulers as beasts; satiate themselves (Isaiah 56:9-12) 3. Righteous die in peace; idolaters, other sinful people revel, partake in their idolatry and sinfulness; they will not profit (Isaiah 57:1-13) 4. God will heal the lowly, contrite, despite previous iniquity; no peace for the wicked (Isaiah 57:14-21) I. Righteousness and Wickedness (Isaiah 58-59) 1. Declare to Jacob his sin: they seek God daily, fast, but not for God; God's desire is for them to relieve oppression, do justice; then God will heed them, prosper them; take delight in God's ways (Isaiah 58) 2. God able to save, but man's sin has created separation; great sin among the people, seek after sin; justice far from them, removed from them; great despair since justice has been turned back; truth lacking (Isaiah 59:1-15) 3. God sees this, displeases Him; delivers with His own arm; armed with righteousness; repays according to their deeds; people will fear His name, Redeemer to Zion; new covenant, His words perpetually in their mouths (Isaiah 59:16-21) J. The Glory of Coming Salvation (Isaiah 60-62) 1. Glory of God upon people; nations drawn to it; abundance and prosperity from nations; foreigners will rebuild city; God's favor restored (Isaiah 60:1-11) 2. Those who do not serve Israel will perish; oppressors will come in humility; Zion made majestic; Israel will know that the LORD is their Redeemer; great wealth, no more violence; LORD as their light; righteous people; all will be well (Isaiah 60:12-22) 3. LORD has anointed prophet to speak good news to the poor; liberty; Zion to be place of gladness, restored; foreigners will maintain fields, people as priests; eating wealth of nations; God loves justice; covenant restored, perpetual; people known to be of the LORD by all; rejoice n the LORD who has clothed Israel with salvation; righteousness and praise before all the nations (Isaiah 61) 4. Zion's righteousness to go forth, seen by kings and nations; new name; LORD delights in Zion; Zion as married, rejoiced over; watchmen appointed; LORD will not have rest until Jerusalem established; foreigners will not plunder again; salvation in Zion, not forsaken (Isaiah 62) K. Vengeance, Rebellion, Restoration (Isaiah 63-64) 1. Winepress of God's anger tread, Edom suffers; God brings salvation Himself (Isaiah 63:1-6) 2. God's love recounted; rebellion of Israel; God leads people; God as Father of Israel, why are their hearts hardened? (Isaiah 63:7-19) 3. Petition that God would make Name known to adversaries; Israel as condemned for sin; petition that God will not remember sin, be forgiven, no longer be afflicted (Isaiah 64) L. Judgment, Salvation, and the New Kingdom (Isaiah 65-66) 1. God ready to be sought by people who did not ask for Him; hands spread out to rebellious people, idolatrous, sinful; God will repay (Isaiah 65:1-7) 2. God will not destroy everyone; people who seek Him will be delivered; those who forsake God will be condemned; contrast of fate between God's servants, others (Isaiah 65:8-16) 3. Creation of new heavens and new earth; God as rejoicing in Jerusalem, is people; no more distress; all will be well; peace and tranquility (Isaiah 65:17-25) 4. God ruler of all; looks upon humble and contrite; sacrifices vain since people choose their own way; harsh treatment since they did not do what God says (Isaiah 66:1-4) 5. Evil may cast out righteous, but they will be put to shame; LORD recompenses enemies (Isaiah 66:5-6) 6. Zion brings forth children quickly; rejoice in Jerusalem; peace extended, God will comfort; judgment brought upon enemies, idolaters (Isaiah 66:7-17) 7. All nations will see God's glory; all will be brought to Jerusalem as offering, God will make some priests; everyone comes before God to prostrate before Him; they will see the corpses of the rebellious (Isaiah 66:18-24) IV. Isaiah 40-66: Important Passages A. Isaiah 40:3-5 1. Heralding John the Baptist 2. Matthew 3:3, Mark 1:2-3, Luke 3:4-6, John 1:23 B. Isaiah 40:6-8 / 1 Peter 1:24-25 C. Isaiah 47 / Revelation 17-18 D. Isaiah 49:8 / 2 Corinthians 6:2 E. Isaiah 52:7 / Romans 10:15 F. Isaiah 52:13-53:12 1. Prediction of suffering of Jesus 2. John 12:38, Romans 10:16, 1 Peter 2:22-25, Acts 8:32 3. Many other passages evoke language here! G. Isaiah 55:8-9 H. Isaiah 59:1-2 I. Isaiah 61:1-4 / Luke 4:18-19 J. Isaiah 65 1. v. 1 / Romans 10:20 2. vv. 17-20 / 2 Peter 3:9-12, Revelation 21-22 K. Isaiah 66:1-2 / cf. Acts 7:49-50 V. Conclusion A. Isaiah 40-66 1. Hope for the disconsolate 2. Strong affirmation of God as unique, Creator, there is no other 3. The suffering Servant B. Hope for the future 1. Israel will return to the land 2. God will have victory over idols 3. The future kingdom of Christ: all nations to serve God C. Let us take great comfort in Isaiah's prophecies! D. Invitation/songbook