Book of Isaiah
Title: Isaiah – salvation of YHWH
Date of
writing: around
740-720 BC, the doom of Bernhard Duhm
Date of
Narrative: not later
than 742 (Uzziah) to about 520 (Cyrus) BC.
Structure: Dorsey, p. 234 (improved version 😊)
a. 1 – 12, Condemnation, pleading, and future
restoration
b. 13 – 27,
OTN (oracles to nations), humiliation of Babylon king
c. 28 – 35,
do not trust earthly powers
d. 36 –
39, historical narrative
c’. 40 – 48,
do not trust idols
b’. 49 – 54,
servant messages: exaltation of the humble servant
a’. 55 – 66,
condemnation, pleading, and future restoration
Main
themes:
Judgement/justice
and restoration. The book begins with set of judgement statements that lead
both Israel and the nations into de-creation. At the end of the book we find
the restored creation – new heavens and earth (65:17; 66:1, 22).
Outreach to
the other nations, the book sets the promise that other nations will come to
Zion to worship and be taught. Is. 2:1-4. The last lines of this section
inspired the creation of the statue in front of the UN building in New York
city. Compare the blocks “b.” and “b’”.
Suffering
servant undergoes the call, the rejection, the judgement, and death. Yet,
through Him many will be vindicated (53:11).
King
Hezekiah sets up an example of a godly king who resembles the attributes of the
Suffering servant.
Main
Characters: Isaiah,
Uzziah, Hezekiah, Suffering servant, Sennacherib, Rabshakeh, Babylonians, Cyrus.
Reflection
in other parts of the Bible:
New heavens
and new earth – place the Book of Isaiah between the Book of Genesis (ch. 1 –
2) and the Revelation (ch. 21 – 22).
After Psalms
the Book of Isaiah is the most quoted book of the Old Testament by New
Testament authors.
Lutheran
teaching: Both
Trinitarian theology and Christology is built on Is. 61:1. There are three
distinct Persons of the Godhead, and within these relations “God the Father has
given His Spirit to Christ, His beloved Son… He has not received His gifts with
limits as other saints” (FC, SD, 72).
The passage
from Is. 28:16 is so important that it is found in the Book of Concord twice.
Both time in the Apology of Augsburg Confession (XIIA:64; XXI:31), assuring the
struggling soul of the forgiveness and acceptance a believer has by the merits
of Christ. First time, discussing repentance, it is apposed to the false
confidence of those who rely on their own works. The second time it is used in
the fight against of the need and obligations to invoke the merits of the
worship of the saints.
A part of
Eucharistic (Holy Communion) service is based on Isaiah’s vision of the throne
of God and cherubs exclaiming: Holy, holy, holy is the L of Sabaoth
(armies); the whole earth is full of His glory! (Is. 6:1-3)
Lutheran
hymnody:
LSB 960 and
961 are based in Is. 6:3
Many of our
Advent and Christmas hymns are based on prophecies of Isaiah – LSB 343, Prepare
the Royal Highway – Is. 40:3-5
Relevancy
of the Book:
Reading
Isaiah helps a modern reader to understand what kind of messiah Israel was
waiting for: his miraculous birth (7:14), unexpected genealogical connection
(11:1-2); the rule with the Spirit and not with brutal military/governmental
force (61:1-2), and most importantly – redemption of the whole world in the
sacrificial act of the One (ch. 53).
Memory
verses:
2:3b – For
out of Zion shall go forth the teaching, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
53:6 – All
we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned – every one – to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us
all.
