Class Notes on Micah 3

Mic 3:1-4 Then I said,

"Listen, you leaders of Jacob,

you rulers of the house of Israel.

Should you not know justice,

2 you who hate good and love evil;

who tear the skin from my people

and the flesh from their bones;

3 who eat my people's flesh,

strip off their skin

and break their bones in pieces;

who chop them up like meat for the pan,

like flesh for the pot?"

4 Then they will cry out to the Lord,

but he will not answer them.

At that time he will hide his face from them

because of the evil they have done. NIV

• Micah, in this chapter, addresses two groups of Israel's leaders. What is the first group?
  • Judges, rulers, or we could say civil leaders
  • Obviously the second group will be the religious leaders

• Why does Micah ask a rhetorical question in verse 1?
  • Because what is obvious, ie, the job description is not being practiced

• What have they done? Now, this is one of those places where the use of poetry, and the fact that the sentence make no sense literally, allows us to interpret it metaphorically, or symbolically. What is the image telling us they have done?
  • What is the image? Hunter
  • Why the use of the hunter imagery? People are game to be used for the personal satisfaction and use of the hunter
  • The leaders use their position for themselves and not to help the people

• APPLICATION: Many, when given positions of authority, start out well but are corrupted by the position and authority, and later misuse it. How do you stay on the right track? Only a new birth truly gives you a chance (although, there are many stories of unbelieving persons who were just all their lives), but then you need to continually be refreshed by the Holy Spirit. The key is an on-going and growing relationship with God
• What is the judgment upon the leaders?
  • God would treat them as they treated others
  • God would not hear their prayers. This is an anthropomorphism of God turning his back. God hears everyone's prayers, but God would not answer them

Mic 3:5-7 This is what the Lord says:

"As for the prophets

who lead my people astray,

if one feeds them,

they proclaim 'peace';

if he does not,

they prepare to wage war against him.

6 Therefore night will come over you, without visions,

and darkness, without divination.

The sun will set for the prophets,

and the day will go dark for them.

7 The seers will be ashamed

and the diviners disgraced.

They will all cover their faces

because there is no answer from God." NIV

• Now, God shifts to the religious leaders, and specifically, the prophets. What is God's primary complaint?
  • They tell the people what they want to hear
  • They adjust their message depending on the audience
• In the last days, which I believe we are living in, Paul said that it would happen again
  • 2 Tim 4:3-4 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. NIV
• What does Jesus say?
  • Luke 10:7 Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. NIV
  • There is a fine line between "deserving your wages" and "trying to obtain wages." The distinction is that we serve God. Once again, I think the key is an on-going and growing relationship with God, otherwise, it is very easy to slip into a mode of telling people what they want to hear -- because we want people to like us
• What is the judgment against the leaders?
  • No visions, humiliation
  • I wondered why the leaders would not continue to lie. I think that the calamities will be so overwhelming (and all but Jerusalem were conquered) that even the prophets would be compelled to cease pretending to see divine revelation
  • It is interesting that he doesn't call them false ...
• What do you see in the terms God uses, especially diviner?
• Diviner is a derogatory term, seer less so (used to describe prophets)
• Diviners were outlawed in Israel (God uses a detestable term to describe them)
• Deut 18:10-12 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. NIV
• "To cover the lip" or "beard" in the Hebrew. The beard, in oriental culture, is something of pride, suggesting that to cover it was shame, mourning, or sorrow. It is also an action enjoined on lepers
• Lev 13:45-46 "The person with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out, 'Unclean! Unclean!' 46 As long as he has the infection he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp. NIV
• APPLICATION: In the past, God brought shame on religious leaders for compromising the truth. That continues to happen today. Unfortunately, it also brings shame on Christ, but it would be worst if God didn't judge his supposed spokespersons for their sin. Am I compromising truth? How close am I to bringing shame to the name of Jesus Christ?

Mic 3:8-12 But as for me, I am filled with power,

with the Spirit of the Lord,

and with justice and might,

to declare to Jacob his transgression,

to Israel his sin.

9 Hear this, you leaders of the house of Jacob,

you rulers of the house of Israel,

who despise justice

and distort all that is right;

10 who build Zion with bloodshed,

and Jerusalem with wickedness.

11 Her leaders judge for a bribe,

her priests teach for a price,

and her prophets tell fortunes for money.

Yet they lean upon the Lord and say,

"Is not the Lord among us?

No disaster will come upon us."

12 Therefore because of you,

Zion will be plowed like a field,

Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble,

the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets. NIV

• What protect Micah from the fate of the leaders mentioned previously?
  • Full of the Spirit of the Lord.
  • What does that mean, how do we apply?
    • I believe it is accomplished through on-going and growing relationship with God
    • It is not compromising with sin, but calling sin, sin, no matter how it might be taken

• Micah gives a little more insight into the sins of the leaders, what is it?
  • Distorted all that is right
  • Used bloodshed and wickedness to build their fortunes and the country they now live in
  • Bribery
  • Teaching for pay
  • Fortunes for money
  • Arrogance to believe that God was on their side

• What is the judgment?
  • Zion plowed like a field (mostly occurs in Assyrian invasion)
  • Jerusalem will be a heap of rubble (occurs during the Babylonian invasion)

• APPLICATION: Our position as Christians means that our salvation is assured. I also believe it guarantees our rapture from the tribulation. But it does not guarantee that God will not judge our un-repented sins in this life, nor does it guarantee our reward in eternity. We may not be civil and religious leaders, but we all have a responsibility to live as a witness for Jesus Christ in this world. It should affect our behavior, how we treat people, how we expect to be treated, etc -- we are God's representatives, his ambassadors
  • 2 Cor 5:20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. NIV

Class Notes on Micah 1:1-2:4

Introduction:

• Timeline of Isaiah, since contemporary of Isaiah
  • 1447   The Exodus begins
  • 1400   Conquest of Canaan completed    
  • 1043    Saul becomes king
  • 931    Rehoboam becomes king of Israel and Judah; Jeroboam rebels; sets Up a rival kingdom in the north ...
  • 790    Uzziah becomes co-regent of Judah
  • 767    Uzziah becomes full king of Judah
  • 764    Amos begins to prophesy
  • 755    Hosea begins to prophesy
  • 753    Zechariah becomes king of Israel
  • 739    Uzziah dies; Isaiah begins to prophesy; Jotham becomes king of Judah
  • 736    Micah begins to prophesy
  • 735    Ahaz becomes king of Judah
  • 722    Sargon II becomes king of Assyria Samaria falls; the ten tribes go into captivity
  • 715    Hezekiah becomes king of Judah
  • 701    Judah invaded by the Assyrians
  • 686    Manasseh becomes king of Judah
• Micah prophesied during the reigns of the Judean kings Jotham (750-732 B.C.), Ahaz (732-715 B.C.), and Hezekiah (715-686 B.C.; 1:1). This made him a late eighth-century contemporary of Isaiah, who also ministered in the Southern Kingdom of Judah (cf. Isa. 1:1), and Amos and Hosea, who ministered in the Northern Kingdom of Israel (cf. Amos 1:1; Hos. 1:1). (Constable, 2008)
• Location: Judah, near Philistines
• His hometown and Lachish would have been fortified towns destroyed by the Assyrian invasion
• Theme or messages: Judgment, restoration, and a remnant, to be followed by world prominence during the reign of the Messiah (Constable, 2008)
• Lastly, Moresheth-gath lies directly on the international trade route, as do most of Israel and Judah. Israel was at the crossroads of civilization intentionally to serve as a witness, and failed in their task

Mic 1:1-5 The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Moresheth during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah — the vision he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

2 Hear, O peoples, all of you,

listen, O earth and all who are in it,

that the Sovereign Lord may witness against you,

the Lord from his holy temple.

3 Look! The Lord is coming from his dwelling place;

he comes down and treads the high places of the earth.

4 The mountains melt beneath him

and the valleys split apart,

like wax before the fire,

like water rushing down a slope.

5 All this is because of Jacob's transgression,

because of the sins of the house of Israel.

What is Jacob's transgression?

Is it not Samaria?

What is Judah's high place?

Is it not Jerusalem? NIV

• What does verse 2 sound like or what might it remind a Jewish person of?
  • It sounds like a court room or an official government announcement; divine lawsuit
  • It is similar to Moses final words to the people
  • Deut 31:26-32:1 "Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God. There it will remain as a witness against you. 27 For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you have been rebellious against the Lord while I am still alive and with you, how much more will you rebel after I die! 28 Assemble before me all the elders of your tribes and all your officials, so that I can speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth to testify against them. 29 For I know that after my death you are sure to become utterly corrupt and to turn from the way I have commanded you. In days to come, disaster will fall upon you because you will do evil in the sight of the Lord and provoke him to anger by what your hands have made."

  30 And Moses recited the words of this song from beginning to end in the hearing of the whole assembly of Israel:

  32 Listen, O heavens, and I will speak; hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. NIV

• What is the intent of verses 3 and 4?
  • Transcendent: philosophy in Kant's philosophical system, exceeding the limits of experience and therefore unknowable except hypothetically
  • Immanent: describes God as existing in and extending into all parts of the created universe
  • While God is above all and unknowable in entirety, he is knowable as a person, and he is involved in the lives of His people. He is not the watchmaker, who builds a watch, and then lets it run. On the other hand, he does allow the effects of sin to reign in the world. For the believer, he promises to work for the good of those who love him. Here, his involvement is directly related to the covenant
• Why is God pronouncing judgment?
  • There seems to be a play on words since Jacob was renamed to Israel. Jacob was the named used during Jacob's rebellious days, whereas Israel was his title after he wrestled with God
  • The result is because of Israel's sin, its breaking of the covenant. The early part of Micah's ministry was a time of wealth and prosperity (and forgetting God)
  • Also, both capital's are identified with the sin. Samaria held one of the two specific high places (the sin of Jeroboam, son of Nebat, which is mentioned repeatedly). But, in God's words, Jerusalem might as well be a high place as well

Mic 1:6-7 "Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of rubble,

a place for planting vineyards.

I will pour her stones into the valley

and lay bare her foundations.

7 All her idols will be broken to pieces;

all her temple gifts will be burned with fire;

I will destroy all her images.

Since she gathered her gifts from the wages of prostitutes,

as the wages of prostitutes they will again be used." NIV

• What is the pronouncement for the Northern Kingdom's sin?
  • Samaria would become a heap of rubble. This occurred in 722BC and apparently the foundations are still visible today
  • Likely had not occurred yet, although the tone suggests Assyria had invaded (it could also be worded in a present future tense, see verse 9)
• Why burn the temple gifts?
  • Looters could get the gold that way
• What is verse 7 saying?
  • The worship of idols was Israel prostituting itself
  • The money used for the gold and the idols will be used by the Assyrians for the same thing to their idols
• APPLICATION: This last verse reminds me of 1 Cor 3:11-15.
  • 1 Cor 3:11-15 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. NIV
  • What am I building with my life? The verse describes the judgment of believers. Will my work survive to honor God. Nothing the Israelites (Samaria) did survive the fire because it was not done for good, and it would not be used for good later

Mic 1:8-9 Because of this I will weep and wail;

I will go about barefoot and naked.

I will howl like a jackal

and moan like an owl.

9 For her wound is incurable;

it has come to Judah.

It has reached the very gate of my people,

even to Jerusalem itself. NIV

• What do we see in Micah's preaching?
  • He wasn't just telling others of their sin. It affected him personally
  • He didn't stop others, because we can't stop sin. We can't make people believe in God. But he could weep for his people
• Ultimately, the punishment would reach Jerusalem. In 701BC, Sennacherib would attack the city. He would fail and lose 185000 men, but not before most of the towns of Judah, including Micah's are conquered
• It's possible that verse 9's present tense is only suggested of the present decision of God and not that Israel had been invaded

Mic 1:12-15 Those who live in Maroth writhe in pain,

waiting for relief,

because disaster has come from the Lord,

even to the gate of Jerusalem.

13 You who live in Lachish,

harness the team to the chariot.

You were the beginning of sin

to the Daughter of Zion,

for the transgressions of Israel

were found in you.

14 Therefore you will give parting gifts

to Moresheth Gath.

The town of Aczib will prove deceptive

to the kings of Israel.

15 I will bring a conqueror against you

who live in Mareshah.

He who is the glory of Israel

will come to Adullam. NIV

• There is a lot of wordplay in this section. It would had made more sense if you spoke biblical Hebrew. The author specifically chooses names of cities
• Maroth sounds like the word for bitterness. How does the bitter play in this verse?
  • The would wait for relief, but it won't come. It is natural to become bitter, even at God. Forty-six towns in Judah would be defeated before Sennacherib would besiege Jerusalem in 701BC
• Lachish is known for horses, and sounds like the Hebrew word for team (rekesh) of horses. Why is Lachish singled out?
  • Apparently, idol worship which had become a part of Judah, had started in Lachish. Maybe because she was a border town with the Philistines. Maybe because of the trade of horses with Egypt -- whatever the reason, it started in Lachish
• Judah will parting gifts to Moresheth Gath, as they leave they kingdom. Moresheth means inheritance. Much like bridal presents, the dowry, with which the Father sends the daughter away, so the inheritance is given to the conqueror
• Achzib, meaning winter brook would fail (would not provide the resource in time of need). Also, it would become deceitful (heb, akzab)
• Mareshar, which means possession or inheritance, will be taken possession of
• The name of Adullam suggested the memory of that cave, the refuge of the Patriarch David, the first of their line of kings, in extreme isolation and peril of his life. There, the refuge now of the remaining glory of Israel, its wealth, its trust, its boast-the foe should come. And so there only remained one common dirge for all. (from Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Mic 2:1-4 Woe to those who plan iniquity,

to those who plot evil on their beds!

At morning's light they carry it out

because it is in their power to do it.

2 They covet fields and seize them,

and houses, and take them.

They defraud a man of his home,

a fellowman of his inheritance.

3 Therefore, the Lord says:

"I am planning disaster against this people,

from which you cannot save yourselves.

You will no longer walk proudly,

for it will be a time of calamity.

4 In that day men will ridicule you;

they will taunt you with this mournful song:

'We are utterly ruined;

my people's possession is divided up.

He takes it from me!

He assigns our fields to traitors.'" NIV

• In verses 1 and 2, what is the sin of Judah?
  • Evil schemes
  • Abuse of power
  • Covetousness (wanting what others have)
  • Theft
  • Ruining another's name for your own ambition
• How can these things be seen in a Christian's life
  • Evil schemes: Gossip and getting back at another who has hurt you
  • Abuse of power: Using position to thwart someone or for some gain
  • Covetousness (wanting what others have): Same thing
  • Theft: Hopefully not directly, but downloading software that you haven't bought or music or whatever
  • Ruining another's name for your own ambition: Gossip
• What is the most terrifying aspect of verses 3 and 4?
  • The decision has already been made and there is no going back
• What is the punishment?
  • Calamity
  • Utter ruin; total loss
  • Become a taunt or joke. God gave Israel's possession to foreigners who neither knew God or cared about God
• APPLICATION: The sins of Israel are still the things which bother God today and hurt our witness of Him in the crossroad where God has placed each of us

Mic 2:6-11 "Do not prophesy," their prophets say.

"Do not prophesy about these things;

disgrace will not overtake us."

7 Should it be said, O house of Jacob:

"Is the Spirit of the Lord angry?

Does he do such things?"

"Do not my words do good

to him whose ways are upright?

8 Lately my people have risen up

like an enemy.

You strip off the rich robe

from those who pass by without a care,

like men returning from battle.

9 You drive the women of my people

from their pleasant homes.

You take away my blessing

from their children forever.

10 Get up, go away!

For this is not your resting place,

because it is defiled,

it is ruined, beyond all remedy.

11 If a liar and deceiver comes and says,

'I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,'

he would be just the prophet for this people! NIV

• What are the people saying to Micah?
  • Don’t prophesy hard things
  • God would never do such a thing
  • Tell us good things that encourage us and we want to hear
• What does God say?
  • I will do good to the upright
  • My people not only sin but run to their sin
  • This is no longer a land of promise, a land of rest to this people
• APPLICATION: What are we more likely to do, run to sin or run to God? Too often it is the latter. Too often we don't want to hear a hard message. We've decided in the God we want to believe in and will not listen to what the word of God might really say. We need to repent and go back to the source, not what we want to hear

Class Notes on Isaiah 55

Isaiah 55:1-2 (NIV) “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. [1]

• We practice good hermeneutics when we consider a passage in context. Isa 53 told us what? That a suffering servant would take away the guilt of our sin. Isa 54 told us what? That Israel's marriage would be restored and would be a new, perpetual covenant, principally expressed in the millennial kingdom
• Given the context of Isa 53-54, forgiveness, Jews restored, where might we be heading now?
  • It is a call to "all" who are thirsty
• What does it mean to be thirsty?
  • Not satisfied by the world
  • Not satisfied by what you are spending money on
  • Doesn't meet the real need our our soul
• What are the requirements of the call? You have to come, but otherwise none. Rich or poor
• Can you think of statements which Jesus made that are similar?
• John 4:13-14 (NIV) Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." [1]
• John 7:37-39 (NIV) On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. [1]
• Rev 22:17 (NIV) The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. [1]
• So, what is the water?
• It is the Holy Spirit which is given to all who believe Christ (all who COME!)
• It is also a guarantee of eternal life

Isaiah 55:3-5 (NIV) Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. 4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander of the peoples. 5 Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations that do not know you will hasten to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.” [1]

• So who is God calling out to?
  • I think it is all people. Everyone, Jew and Gentile can participate in the promise to David
• Who is the 'him' of verse 4 and 'you' in verse 5?
• It sounds like Jesus
• It also sounds like a millennial timeframe, since Jesus is not leader and commander of the peoples until the millennial reign
• But it also sounds like now, since every nation is hearing the message of Christ's redemption, in increasing measure. Fewer and fewer people groups have heard the gospel

Isaiah 55:6-9 (NIV) Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. [1]

• The invitation, from the earlier verses, is repeated. What is added?
  • "… while he may be found …" suggesting that there is a time when it is too late
    • Older one becomes, the more harden becomes the heart
    • When you are dead it is too late
    • At some point in the tribulation, the taking of the mark, it is too late
  • The need for repentance
  • God promises mercy and a free pardon
• In context, when God says that his thoughts are not our thoughts, what is he referring to?
  • While the statement has applicability in almost all domains, here it is probably referring to man's evil thoughts, and (also) man's evil ways (verse 6)
  • We need mercy and pardon, because thoughts and ways are so sinful, and fall so far short of the standard that God requires -- no one can meet God's standard
• Not only is God's standard different, what else is different from the way people think in verses 6 and 7?
  • God's pardon is different
    • People find it difficult to pardon, they want revenge
    • People can forgive one or two offences, but then draw the line
    • People can forgive a hurt toward one or two people, but when it affects many, sometimes they can't forgive
    • People weight the gravity of the offense. It is easy to pardon a slight offence
  • God's pardon is not earned but freely given, as is his mercy
• APPLICATION: I always thought of this verse in terms of God's knowledge being greater than mine, which is true, but in context God is saying that a sinner's thoughts and ways are so far short of God's standard. And how God pardons people is way beyond my way of thinking

Isaiah 55:10-11 (NIV) As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. [1]

• Again, in context, what would the seed, rain, and snow represent?
  • Generally, the word of God -- specifically the gospel message of salvation
  • This is very similar to Jesus' parable of the seed
    • In the parable though, not all the seed produces fruit
    • But, does the seed that does not produce still "accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it?" Yes
• A person does not have to believe the message for the word to be effective
• If you don't know what to say to a person, knowing a few verses is a very effective method of evangelism
  • We don't want to shove the gospel down someone's face but memorizing a few key verses can be very helpful
  • John 14:6 (NIV) Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [1]
  • John 5:39-40 (NIV) You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life. [1]
  • John 5:24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. [1]
• APPLICATION: When you don't know how to answer someone, be honest, and use a verse. Example: well, I don't know about that, but I do know that God says ...

Isaiah 55:12-13 (NIV) You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed.” [1]

• What is verses 12 and 13 trying to depict?
  • Great joy
  • Even creation itself will break forth in song
  • In contrast is Rom 8:19-21 (NIV) The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. [1]
• In the millennial age, the effect of sin will be reversed
  • In Genesis, God curses the earth so that it produce thorns and weeds. In the millennial age, the opposite occurs
  • Part of the reason we have swine flu, is not that God does not care, but that it is the consequence of our rebellion against God. Over time, the lifetime of people shorten, although in recent years, it has increased some. But disease, famine, and pestilence continue to kill people. And they will until the creation is restored
• APPLICATION: Jesus' redemption, spoken of in chapter 53, not only restores Israel, but redeems people and frees creation from the effects of sin

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984.

Class Notes on Isaiah 54:1-10

Comments that follow from Fruchtenbaum's book (2003), "The Footsteps of the Messiah."

• In the bible, Israel is presented as the wife of Jehovah, and the church is presented as the bride of the Messiah
• Deuteronomy, which on appearance seems to be a repeat of the previous books (Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers), and even means "second law" has a very important role
  • It resembles an ancient suzerein-vassal treaty and an ancient marriage contract
  • The book is the marriage contract between Israel and God, where Israel is the wife of Jehovah
  • Key verse: Deut 6:10-15
• But Israel commits adultery
  • Jeremiah 3:20
  • Jeremiah 31:32
  • Hosea 2:2-5
• Separation results
  • Isa 50:1 This is what the Lord says: // "Where is your mother's certificate of divorce // with which I sent her away? // Or to which of my creditors // did I sell you? // Because of your sins you were sold; // because of your transgressions your mother was sent away. NIV
  • If a husband wished to divorce his wife, he had to write out a decree, also known as a bill of divorcement. When the husband gave the bill to his wife, the divorce would then be final
  • Does Israel have the certificate of divorce? No, because God had not given it to her
  • Because of Israel's sin, what did happen? Israel was sent away (actually separated from blessings). Israel was sold because of her sins
• Divorce now follows
  • Israel is 'sent away' for about 100 years (blessings withheld as stipulated in Deuteronomy), but she still does return to God, her husband. So God now issues the bill of divorcement
  • Jer 3:6-10 During the reign of King Josiah, the Lord said to me, "Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every spreading tree and has committed adultery there. 7 I thought that after she had done all this she would return to me but she did not, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it. 8 I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery. 9 Because Israel's immorality mattered so little to her, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stone and wood. 10 In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to me with all her heart, but only in pretense," declares the Lord. NIV
  • Fruchtenbaum argues that the Book of Hosea was God's bill of divorcement of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Book of Jeremiah the bill of divorcement of the Southern Kingdom of Judah
• Punishment
  • The original marriage contract required punishment for Israel's unfaithfulness
  • Ezek 16:38-42 I will sentence you to the punishment of women who commit adultery and who shed blood; I will bring upon you the blood vengeance of my wrath and jealous anger. 39 Then I will hand you over to your lovers, and they will tear down your mounds and destroy your lofty shrines. They will strip you of your clothes and take your fine jewelry and leave you naked and bare. 40 They will bring a mob against you, who will stone you and hack you to pieces with their swords. 41 They will burn down your houses and inflict punishment on you in the sight of many women. I will put a stop to your prostitution, and you will no longer pay your lovers. 42 Then my wrath against you will subside and my jealous anger will turn away from you; I will be calm and no longer angry. NIV
• Remarriage with restored blessings
• God promises a new marriage contract which is unlike the previous contract
• Jer 31:31-33 "The time is coming," declares the Lord, // "when I will make a new covenant // with the house of Israel // and with the house of Judah. // 32 It will not be like the covenant // I made with their forefathers // when I took them by the hand // to lead them out of Egypt, // because they broke my covenant, // though I was a husband to them," // declares the Lord. // 33 "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel // after that time," declares the Lord. // "I will put my law in their minds // and write it on their hearts. // I will be their God, // and they will be my people. NIV

Isa 54:1-3 "Sing, O barren woman, // you who never bore a child; // burst into song, shout for joy, // you who were never in labor; // because more are the children of the desolate woman // than of her who has a husband," // says the Lord. // 2 "Enlarge the place of your tent, // stretch your tent curtains wide, // do not hold back; // lengthen your cords, // strengthen your stakes. // 3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left; // your descendants will dispossess nations // and settle in their desolate cities. NIV

• Some want to call the woman Israel, and some Jerusalem. I don't think it matters, and the nation Israel would be appropriate in both cases. What directly precedes this section and how is that significant?
  • The suffering servant dies for the sin of his people
  • The timeframe would be after Jesus' death. Most believe this refers to the millennial kingdom
• Why does it say that the woman never bore a child?
  • Spiritually, she was barren. To have even one child would be a success. But Israel failed, and despite a faithful remnant, the nation did not adhere to the requirements of the marriage contract
• Who is the desolate woman?
  • Israel had Jehovah as her husband. The contrast would seem to be the Gentiles. The Gentiles produced spiritually
• But now, the barren women is going to produce children. In ancient days in Israel, it was the woman's responsibility to set up the tent (Fruchtenbaum, 2003). Now she is told to make the tent bigger
• APPLICATION: While Israel failed in the task God gave them, because of grace, she will be restored in her relationship with God. In the new covenant, she will be fruitful

Isa 54:4-8 "Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. // Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. // You will forget the shame of your youth // and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. // 5 For your Maker is your husband — // the Lord Almighty is his name — // the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; // he is called the God of all the earth. // 6 The Lord will call you back // as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit — // a wife who married young, // only to be rejected," says your God. // 7 "For a brief moment I abandoned you, // but with deep compassion I will bring you back. // 8 In a surge of anger // I hid my face from you for a moment, // but with everlasting kindness // I will have compassion on you," // says the Lord your Redeemer. NIV

• What might be the shame of Israel's youth? Don't know, but possibly her slavery in Egypt
• What would be her widowhood? Well, God never died, but when she was separate from the land of promise it may have seemed as if God was no longer a part of her life. Again, the scripture does not say, but most commentators believe it refers to the Babylonian exile
• She is not really a widow, only an apparent widow -- who is her husband?
  • Her maker
  • The Lord Almighty
  • The Holy One
  • The Redeemer
  • The God of all the earth
• Why does God call her back?
  • Because of God's deep compassion
  • Because of God's grace, His unmerited favor expressed to Israel
• God's anger is contrasted to his kindness. What is the difference?
  • The anger lasts a moment, but his kindness is everlasting
  • Heb 11:4-12 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: // “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, // and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, // 6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, // and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” // 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. // 12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. NIV
• APPLICATION: For the Christian, God disciplines us, but it is for our good. His kindness is everlasting. As we go through struggles, we must remember that He always loves us, and he has never forgotten us, no matter how bleak the situation looks

Isa 54:9-10 "To me this is like the days of Noah, // when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. // So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, // never to rebuke you again. // 10 Though the mountains be shaken // and the hills be removed, // yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken // nor my covenant of peace be removed," // says the Lord, who has compassion on you. NIV

• What is the connection to Noah?
  • A perpetual covenant
  • A change, that can never go back
• APPLICATION: While the focus is on Israel in the millennial kingdom, we (gentile believers) also share in the promise. We have a future and a hope that will never change. Our goal should be to live in a manner worthy of the unmerited favor that has been shown to us as well. When we live like the world, we mock God's kindness

Class Notes on Isa 53:4-12

Isa 53:4-6 Surely he took up our infirmities // and carried our sorrows, // yet we considered him stricken by God, // smitten by him, and afflicted. // 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, // he was crushed for our iniquities; // the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, // and by his wounds we are healed. // 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, // each of us has turned to his own way; // and the Lord has laid on him // the iniquity of us all. NIV

• In the next set of verses, we see the purpose of the Messiah. In verse 4, what does it say the Messiah would do?
  • He takes our infirmities and sorrows. This could be viewed spiritually as well as physically, and Jesus did do both. We will err on the conservative side and say it was the physical. That also agrees with Matthew's interpretation (Matt 8:16-17)
    • Matt 8:16-17 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: // "He took up our infirmities // and carried our diseases." NIV
  • The people believed that his punishment was given by God (this is true but for a different reason). That is clearly the view of the leaders who felt he had committed blasphemy

• In verse 5 & 6, what does it add to the Messiah's purpose?
  • The real reason for the Messiah's punishment was "our" sins. In this case, the "our" is inclusive of Jew and Gentile
  • We know this is spiritual because of the use of the terms, transgressions and iniquities
  • Also, verse 6 makes it clear that we have turned away from God. "Sheep are notoriously shortsighted; they go after the next clump of grass without regard to where their feet may lead them. They are also self-centered; their only thought is how they can satisfy themselves with no concern for the welfare of other sheep. Consequently sheep often get lost. Humans are the same." (Constable, Isaiah, 2008, pg 235)

• All of these verses point to the substitutionary atonement of Jesus' death. I'm not sure how that would apply to an interpretation of Israel as the suffering servant. Does that mean that the more Israel suffers, the more the world is cleansed?
• What is the result of the Messiah's substitutionary atonement?
  • Peace
  • Healing
  • Matt 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." NIV

• APPLICATION: The gospel gives great peace. No longer do we need to carry the guild to our sins. Jesus had paid it all. His blood has washed away all the filth. We need to believe these truths and live in the peace that Jesus gives to our souls

Isa 53:7-9 He was oppressed and afflicted, // yet he did not open his mouth; // he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, // and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, // so he did not open his mouth. // 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. // And who can speak of his descendants? // For he was cut off from the land of the living; // for the transgression of my people he was stricken. // 9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, // and with the rich in his death, // though he had done no violence, // nor was any deceit in his mouth. NIV

• What is unusual about verse 7?
  • The person does not defend himself (even though he had done no wrong, vs 9b). We defend ourselves all the time, even when we are guilty, we justify our actions. Like a lamb, the Passover lamb, he willingly goes to his death

• What does verse 8 reveal about his death?
  • It is a trial (word judgment refers to a judgment resulting from a trial) and an execution (cut off)

• In the Gospel of Matthew, the phrase "this generation" is used repeatedly. This is the generation that rejected Jesus as the messiah. Verse 8 is translated differently in many versions:
  • Isa 53:8 … and none of his generation protested … CJB
  • Isa 53:8 … And as for His generation, who considered … NASU
  • Isa 53:8 … and who considered His fate? … Holman Christian Standard Bible
  • Isa 53:8 … and as for his generation, who (among them) considered … ASV, AMP

• Verse 9 gives some more details of his death, what are they?
  • He is executed a criminal, with criminals, and would have been buried in a criminal's grave (in fact, he would have had one assigned), yet he is buried in the grave of a rich person (Joseph's of Arimathea)
  • It is interesting. Jesus father (supposed) was Joseph, and Jesus was buried in 'a' Joseph's grave. He truly was Messiah Ben Joseph and he is also Messiah Ben David

• APPLICATION: We need to be more like Jesus, less defensive when someone challenges us about an issue or sin in our life. It is very difficult because it is part of our sin nature to defend ourselves

Isa 53:10-12 Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, // and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, // he will see his offspring and prolong his days, // and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. // 11 After the suffering of his soul, // he will see the light [of life] and be satisfied; // by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, // and he will bear their iniquities. // 12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, // and he will divide the spoils with the strong, // because he poured out his life unto death, // and was numbered with the transgressors. // For he bore the sin of many, // and made intercession for the transgressors. NIV

• What do these verses tell us?
  • Jesus' death was not an accident. It was intentional and it was God's plan
  • Jesus' death was a guilt offering
  • Jesus will see his offspring (seed). How could that be if he was dead? But Jesus does see his spiritual offspring. We are Jesus' seed and the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham to bless the entire world through his seed
  • Jesus days were prolonged for eternity. Jesus is resurrected and has a new body. He is physically alive
  • Jesus' death justifies many (we are just-as-if we never sinned, in God's eyes)
  • There is a great reward coming. The Messianic kingdom is the portion which he will divide with his spiritual sons and daughters

• APPLICATION: This is a great message of hope to the dying and of encouragement to the saved. It is an incredible prophesy which has been fulfilled miraculously. One could ignore all the other prophecies of the bible and this section alone is enough to believe in the message of the gospel

Class Notes on Isa 52:13-53:3

The Lifeway Explore the Bible series, which we are following, has chosen to do the next section out of order due to the proximity of Easter.

Isa 52:13-15 See, my servant will act wisely; // he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. // 14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him — // his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man // and his form marred beyond human likeness — // 15 so will he sprinkle many nations, // and kings will shut their mouths because of him. // For what they were not told, they will see, // and what they have not heard, they will understand. NIV

• This is the last of four servant songs in Isaiah. How would have Jews in Jesus' time viewed this messianic servant passages?
  • The Jews held to a two messiah view for centuries
  • "The Messiah who was to come, suffer, and die was termed Mashiach ben Yosef or Messiah, the Son of Joseph. The second Messiah who wold then come following the first was termed Mashiach ben David or Messiah, the Son of David. This One would raise the first Messiah back to life and establish the Messianic Kingdom of peace on earth." (Fruchtenbaum, The Suffering Messiah of Isaiah 53, 2005, pg 4)
    • Note that the OT does not teach a two Messiah theory, but this was the best solution the scholars could determine
    • Also, some passages put the description of a suffering Messiah, side to side, with the picture of a conquering Messiah

• First proposed in 1100, and adopted by the majority of Jews since 1800, is the argument "that Isaiah is speaking about the people of Israel, the Jewish people suffering in the Gentile world, and it does not speak of the Messiah at all." (ibid, pg 5)
  • What is the logical problem with the current Jewish interpretation?
    • The use of the pronouns and meaning of we, us, and our versus the meaning he, him and his

• What does the passage tell us about the Messiah?
  1. He will gain attention (vs 13)
  2. He will suffer to the point of terrible disfigurement (vs 14)
  3. He will sprinkle many nations (vs 15). The word sprinkle, hebrew yazeh, is translated sprinkle or startle. If it means startle, then it fits with the following phrase, of astonishing leaders of the world. If it means sprinkle, then it still fits but in the sense of removing sin. The altar was sprinkled with the blood of the sacrifice to make atonement for the sins of the people

Isa 53:1-3 Who has believed our message // and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? // 2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, // and like a root out of dry ground. // He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, // nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. // 3 He was despised and rejected by men, // a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. // Like one from whom men hide their faces // he was despised, and we esteemed him not. NIV

• What is the implication of the two questions in verse one?
  • People (in retrospect, Israel) will not believe the message
  • Fruchtenbaum argues that the "arm of the Lord" is a motif developed in previous sections that identifies the person as God the Son, and not the God the Father

• What do we learn about the Messiah in verses 2 and 3?
  • He would grow up (humanity)
  • He was not special in his appearance (beauty) or his status (majesty) that would draw people to him. He grew up in a poor home (as evidenced by the type of sacrifice offered at circumcision). Scripturally, you might even argue that he was ugly (like one from whom men hide their faces)
  • He was despised and rejected by men. That is still true today. It also prophesies the leaders of Israel's rejection of Jesus as the Messiah (Matt 11)

• At the end of verse 3 is an example of the difficult of interpreting the servant as Israel, "we esteemed him not." The "we" clearly includes Israel, as Isaiah is the prophet, so "Israel esteemed Israel not" doesn't make senses
• APPLICATION: I believe that Jesus was unspectacular, possibly ugly. And I can't prove it from scripture, but I also like to think that in his eyes one could see the love and compassion of God. We don't need riches or good looks to be used by God, we need a transformed soul that is drenched in the word of God

Class Notes on Isaiah 37:14-39:8

Isa 37:14 Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. NIV

• Hezekiah was a great king and a godly man, although not perfect as we will see in the next section. And still, what is Hezekiah's first response to crisis?
  • To pray. To lay the issue before the Lord
  • He prayed before he planned -- we tend to plan first and then turn to prayer when the plans do not work

• APPLICATION: The spiritual giant and the brand new child of the faith, all should respond to crisis in the same way -- take it to the Lord
• In the meantime, Hezekiah sent messengers to Isaiah
  • Isa 37:5-7 When King Hezekiah's officials came to Isaiah, 6 Isaiah said to them, "Tell your master, 'This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard — those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. 7 Listen! I am going to put a spirit in him so that when he hears a certain report, he will return to his own country, and there I will have him cut down with the sword.'" NIV

Isa 37:36-38 Then the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning — there were all the dead bodies! 37 So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there. // 38 One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer cut him down with the sword, and they escaped to the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son succeeded him as king. NIV

• This is an incredible miracle. It also starts the downfall of the Assyrian empire
  • At the time, this was the greatest world power that had ever existed. No one had conquered more people or controlled more land. Their reign probably seemed as if it would never end. And yet, within 269 (885 BC - 616 BC) years, it was over. It only took one divine event. The funny thing is that Assyria controlled most of the civilized world except for a small piece of land around Jerusalem. They didn't recognize the hand of God in it. They didn't understand the times

• How is the US similar to Assyria?
  • The US as a nation has been incredible blessed by God. We have a foundation rooted in faith in God, despite what many have tried to argue to the converse. And yet, we have forgotten our heritage. And soon, we will be just like Assyria, a former world power
  • Additionally, Assyria believed it was responsible for its own fortunes. It did not acknowledge God's power or sovereignty

Isa 38:1-6 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, "This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover." // 2 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, 3 "Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly. // 4 Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah: 5 "Go and tell Hezekiah, 'This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life. 6 And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city. NIV

• What is the timeframe of Hezekiah's sickness?
  • Since he served 29 years (2 Ki 18:2), Sennacherib's attack came at the 14th year (2 Ki 18:13), and he lived an extra 15 years (Isa 38:4), this came during or right after Sennacherib's siege. Constable places it immediately prior to the siege

• What is similar about this story as compared to the last?
  • A crisis
  • Humility (wept bitterly)
  • Prayed
  • Deliverance

• How would the story be different without the deliverance?
  • Not different. Hezekiah trusted in God. If God had not delivered him, it did not invalidate his faith or God's control
  • Example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Dan 3:18 But even if he does not [ed. note: save from the furnace], we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up. NIV

• APPLICATION: Is our faith in God or in getting the answers to our prayer?

Isa 39:1-2 At that time Merodach-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of his illness and recovery. 2 Hezekiah received the envoys gladly and showed them what was in his storehouses — the silver, the gold, the spices, the fine oil, his entire armory and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them. NIV

• The event probably occurs in the 700 BC time frame. Assyria is not completed destroyed until 616 BC, 80 years into the future. Yet even at this point, God is raising up Babylon. Seemingly innocuous events are setting the world stage
• Why did Hezekiah show him his riches?
  • Babylon was also an irritant to Assyria, although they had been recently defeated
  • It is possible Hezekiah was cementing a relationship with an Assyrian enemy. In which case, he was falling back into the trap of trusting in other nations and not in God

• APPLICATION: God is in control of the world. "The nations are a drop in the bucket"

Isa 39:3-8 Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked, "What did those men say, and where did they come from?" // "From a distant land," Hezekiah replied. "They came to me from Babylon." // 4 The prophet asked, "What did they see in your palace?" // "They saw everything in my palace," Hezekiah said. "There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them." // 5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the Lord Almighty: 6 The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord. 7 And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon." // 8 "The word of the Lord you have spoken is good," Hezekiah replied. For he thought, "There will be peace and security in my lifetime." NIV

• Does Hezekiah's actions cause Judah's judgment?
  • The scripture does not say, and it would be purely conjecture
  • For all we know, God is using the occasion to prophesize the rise of Babylon

• What do you think of Hezekiah's response?
  • It is very human. It was probably pride which led him to show off the riches. His reaction shows a lack of compassion, and a degree of selfishness
  • 2 Ki 18:5 paints Hezekiah as one of the greatest of all Israel's kings, and yet he was not perfect either

• What was it about Hezekiah's character that cause God to commend Hezekiah so highly despite his faults?
  • Hezekiah was easily broken (twice seen in Isaiah)
  • Hezekiah went to God first with his struggles and problems
  • Hezekiah was repentant in his attitude (wept bitterly)
  • What was king David commended for?
    • "A man after God's heart"

• APPLICATION:
  • It's not the things we do that measure our spirituality, it's our heart response to God
  • It's not what we know that measures our spirituality, it's who we know
  • How would you characterize your walk with God? Is it what you do (ministries, attendance, rules, etc) or is it who you know (a deep and emotional attachment to the savior)?

Class Notes on Isaiah 36:4-11

Previously, we see Judah looking every way but to God for help. Since Ahaz's reign ended in chapter 10, these must have been some early mis-steps by Hezekiah. But at some point, Hezekiah has a spiritual awakening, because he begins to stand boldly for God

1. In 14th year of Hezekiah, Sennacherib attacks Judah and forces cities and Jerusalem to pay tribute
2. Sometime later, Sennacherib returns and besieges Lachish, while Rabshakeh (the field commander) besieges Jerusalem
3. After R gives his message to Judah, Sennacherib heads to Libnah, where he hears of Ethiopia coming to attack (Egypt having been defeated earlier)
4. Mysteriously, Sennacherib's Army of 185,000 is destroyed
5. Sennacherib returns to Assyria, where he is slain by his two children

2 Kings 18:1-8 In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother's name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. 3 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done. 4 He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.) // 5 Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. 6 He held fast to the Lord and did not cease to follow him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses. 7 And the Lord was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. 8 From watchtower to fortified city, he defeated the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory. NIV

• Observations:
  • He did what was right
  • He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones, and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake
    • Note how a good thing (bronze snake) can become an evil thing
    • There are a lot of good things in the church that can become evil things (eg. song about worship -- it's all about you Lord)
  • He trusted and held fast to God
  • He kept the commands (no one like him before or after)
  • He turned back the Philistines

• APPLICATION: Have I turned a good thing into an evil thing by worshipping the thing or activity instead of the person, God

Isa 36:4-11 The field commander said to them, "Tell Hezekiah, // "'This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: On what are you basing this confidence of yours? 5 You say you have strategy and military strength — but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel against me? 6 Look now, you are depending on Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff, which pierces a man's hand and wounds him if he leans on it! Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who depend on him. 7 And if you say to me, "We are depending on the Lord our God" — isn't he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, "You must worship before this altar"? // 8 "'Come now, make a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses — if you can put riders on them! 9 How then can you repulse one officer of the least of my master's officials, even though you are depending on Egypt for chariots and horsemen? 10 Furthermore, have I come to attack and destroy this land without the Lord? The Lord himself told me to march against this country and destroy it.'" // 11 Then Eliakim, Shebna and Joah said to the field commander, "Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Don't speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall." NIV

• What are some of the field commander's misperceptions?
  • Israel was depending on Egypt. Actually, Hezekiah has stopped that approach and was now trusting God
  • Hezekiah had removed places of worship for God. Actually, Hezekiah had focused the people back on God and off of idols
  • Israel needed horses and chariots. Actually, it will turn out that Israel didn't need a single thing. God would do all their fighting for them
  • God had sent Assyria to destroy Judah. Actually, while God did send Assyria, it was not to destroy Judah, that assignment would go to Babylon

• APPLICATION: The field commander only looked at things from a surface point of view. God sees the heart. God does not have any misperceptions, nor is God fooled

Class Notes on Isa 30:8-11; 15-18

Isa 30:8-11 Go now, write it on a tablet for them, // inscribe it on a scroll, // that for the days to come // it may be an everlasting witness.

9 These are rebellious people, deceitful children, // children unwilling to listen to the Lord's instruction.

10 They say to the seers, // "See no more visions!" // and to the prophets, // "Give us no more visions of what is right! // Tell us pleasant things, // prophesy illusions.

11 Leave this way, // get off this path, // and stop confronting us // with the Holy One of Israel!" NIV

• How is Israel's response similar to people's response to God's instruction today?
  • We are rebellious and deceitful
  • We don't want to listen to God's word (prefer to go through the motions). These are signs of the apostate church
  • We want to be told "good" and "nice" things
  • We don't want to be confronted with truth

• Why?
  • Because we like our sin, and we don't want to change

Isa 30:15-18 This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, // in quietness and trust is your strength, // but you would have none of it.

16 You said, 'No, we will flee on horses.' // Therefore you will flee! // You said, 'We will ride off on swift horses.' // Therefore your pursuers will be swift!

17 A thousand will flee // at the threat of one; // at the threat of five // you will all flee away,

till you are left // like a flagstaff on a mountaintop, // like a banner on a hill."

18 Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; // he rises to show you compassion. // For the Lord is a God of justice. // Blessed are all who wait for him! NIV

• What does God call his rebellious people to do?
  • Repent
  • Rest in Him. Be quiet, don't try to fix things you can't. Trust God to work

• What is the response of the people and what does God do as a result?
  • The people want to flee on horses
  • So God gives them what they want

APPLICATION

• Finally, verse 18 makes it clear that God does not relish in punishment. God longs to be gracious to use
• He will rise up to show us compassion
• BUT, are we willing to wait on him?
• BUT, are we willing to repent of our obstinate attitude?
• BUT, are we willing to worship him, really, and not in pretense?

Class Notes on Isa 30:1-3

Isa 30:1-3 "Woe to the obstinate children," // declares the Lord, // "to those who carry out plans that are not mine, // forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin;

2 who go down to Egypt // without consulting me; // who look for help to Pharaoh's protection, // to Egypt's shade for refuge. //

3 But Pharaoh's protection will be to your shame, // Egypt's shade will bring you disgrace. NIV

• First, how does God describe his people, and what does it mean?
  • Obstinate
    • Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French obstinat, Latin obstinatus, past participle of obstinare to be resolved, from ob- in the way + -stinare (akin to stare to stand)
    • 1 : perversely adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion<obstinate resistance to change>2 : not easily subdued, remedied, or removed <obstinate fever> (Pasted from <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obstinate> )
    • Hebrew (Strongs OT:5637) S¹rar. The root means basically "to be stubborn." … It is a rebellious generation (Ps 78:8) or heifer (Hos 4:16) which walks in its own way (Isa 65:2). It has a stubborn shoulder (Neh 9:29), a deaf ear (Zech 7:11), and a stubborn and rebellious heart (Jer 5:23). (from Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. Copyright © 1980 by The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago.)

• How is the stubbornness described?
  • Carry out plans that are not mine
  • Act contrary to the Spirit
  • Heap sin on sin
  • Act without consulting

• How can we tell when we are being stubborn or just acting in prudence?
  • Do we pray for guidance?
  • Do we discuss with others, preferably more spiritually mature?
  • How do we respond to contrarian advice? Our attitude reflects our heart

• Historically, Shabako, a Nubian was pharaoh over Egypt. That fact alone tells a lot of Egypt's strength in that day, that a foreigner reigned. Egypt was in fact weak and did not respond when Assyria attacked. The verses which follow (6, 7) suggest a secret trip through the Negev to avoid Assyrian detection
• APPLICATION:
  • It is very hard to determine when you are stubborn. The emotion itself suggests that you will deny it. Most people find out that they are stubborn the hard way, through difficult circumstances that are ultimately the result of their stubbornness. That is a very sad way to learn
  • You can pray Ps 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; // test me and know my anxious thoughts. // 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, // and lead me in the way everlasting. NIV

Class Notes on Isa 29:13-16

Review: In the first part of chapter 29, God describes a coming attack and encirclement of Israel that will end quickly with complete destruction of the attackers. This is most likely the attack of Sennacherib. But Israel will still not listen. Even if you argue that Israel's blindness (29:9,11-12) is the result of God's actions (29:10), the judgment of Isa 6:9-10 is the result of Israel's actions defined in Isaiah 1-5. Principle: While our tendency is to blame God for our struggles, ultimately they have their root in our behavior

Isa 29:13-16 The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth // and honor me with their lips, // but their hearts are far from me. // Their worship of me // is made up only of rules taught by men.

14 Therefore once more I will astound these people // with wonder upon wonder; // the wisdom of the wise will perish, // the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."

15 Woe to those who go to great depths // to hide their plans from the Lord, // who do their work in darkness and think, // "Who sees us? Who will know?"

16 You turn things upside down, // as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! // Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, // "He did not make me"? // Can the pot say of the potter, // "He knows nothing"? NIV

• How would you characterize God's first complaint against His people?
  • They were going through the motions (attendance (come near); lip service (honor with lips); no emotion (hearts far from me))
  • Their relationship with God and worship of God was not real
  • What are the characteristics of their worship?
    • Rules of men
    • Overly structured
• How do we break out of the cycle of going through the motions?
  • Salvation -- clearly an unsaved person cannot truly worship God
  • Repent -- open up our hearts to God
  • Sacrifice -- it should cost something to worship (does not affect our salvation, but identifies our commitment)
  • Application -- if we do not apply God's word to our life, then we are just going through the motions. A relationship with God should change who we are!
• How do you characterize God's second complaint?
  • They have a very small God (can hide their plans from Him) -- doubt omnipresence
  • They doubt his creation (and by implication, His power -- they doubt his omnipotence). And if he did not create me, he has no right over me
  • They doubt his knowledge -- his omniscience
• God calls it turning things upside down. Right becomes wrong and wrong becomes right

APPLICATION:

• How would God characterize my worship?
• How do we view God? When God is small, uninvolved, not caring about my details, and not knowing -- in our minds -- is our God not small. And then, is it really God we worship or some idol that we call God?

Class Notes on Isa 7:1-17

Isaiah 7:1-2 When Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem, but they could not overpower it.

2 Now the house of David was told, “Aram has allied itself witha Ephraim”; so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind. NIV

a Or has set up camp in

• A lot of time has passed since Isaiah 6
• The power and glory of Judah is fading
  • Assyria is rising
• Tiglath-pileser III became king of Assyria in 745 BC
  • Rezin of Syria paid money to Assyria for a time
  • Rezin tried to form an alliance of small nations against Assyria
    • Ahaz refused
    • Rezin and Israel (Pekah), also Edom and Philistines, attacked and had some early success
• What do we know of Ahaz?
  • "He did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord"
  • He worshipped the Baals
  • He sacrificed his sons in the fire
  • He worship Aram's god

• What was Ahaz and the people's response to the news of the two kings?
  • Shaken, as in fear, or the stagger walk of a blind man
  • Hebrew could also mean wavering heart, ie., what do we do? Do we seek God or since there does not appear to be any answer, do we seek another solution? What do we do? Isaiah previous prophecy of God not listening (Isa 5) probably does not help (if they even remembered it)

• Why was Ahaz so afraid of King Rezin and Pekah?
  • He was previously defeated by Rezin at Elath (2 Kings 16)
  • Pekin, in one day, killed 120,000 soldiers of Judah (2 Chron 28)

2 Chron 28:17-19 The Edomites had again come and attacked Judah and carried away prisoners, 18 while the Philistines had raided towns in the foothills and in the Negev of Judah. They captured and occupied Beth Shemesh, Aijalon and Gederoth, as well as Soco, Timnah and Gimzo, with their surrounding villages. 19 The Lord had humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel,b for he had promoted wickedness in Judah and had been most unfaithful to the Lord. NIV

b That is, Judah, as frequently in 2 Chronicles

• What also was happening?
  • Edomites and Philistines were attacking
  • Judah was surrounded on all sides and losing battles right and left

• So Ahaz is surrounded. He is afraid or wavering. God does not seem to answer. What was Ahaz's response?
  • Let's first see what God says to him, and then view his reponse

Isaiah 7:3-9 Then the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out, you and your son Shear-Jashub,b to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Washerman’s Field. 4 Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood—because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah. 5 Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah’s son have plotted your ruin, saying, 6 “Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it.” 7 Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘It will not take place, // it will not happen, // 8 for the head of Aram is Damascus, // and the head of Damascus is only Rezin. // Within sixty-five years // Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people. // 9 The head of Ephraim is Samaria, // and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son. // If you do not stand firm in your faith, // you will not stand at all.’” NIV

b Shear-Jashub means a remnant will return.

• There are a couple things about what God tells Isaiah to do which seem curious, do you see them?
  1. He tells him to take his son, Shear-Jashub (who name means a remnant will return)
  2. He tells him to meet at a spot which will later be famous for Sennacherib's field commander hurling insults at Israel

• What is God's message to Ahaz?
  • These two are smoldering stubs of firewood, suggested of going out, and also smelling
  • Not to worry (be calm and not afraid)
  • In 65 years, Ephraim will be shattered

• When is Ephraim destroyed?
  • 722BC, only 12 years later
  • 65 years later, a final deportation and importation of foreigners will affectively destroy the country

• Before we get to Ahaz's response, we need to look at God's question to the king next

Isaiah 7:10-12 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”

12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.” NIV

• God tells Ahaz to ask for a sign, but Ahaz refuses, why?
  • He does not want to put the Lord to the test. But the scripture says not to test the Lord in regards to complaining (Deut 6 16). In this case, God asks for a test
  • He does not want to believe in God. If he asks for a test and sees it fulfilled, he might have to change his life or lifestyle

• So, with his kingdom crumbling about him, what does he decide to do?
  • He sought outside help, he did it in his own strength
    • 2 Kings 16:7-8 Ahaz sent messengers to say to Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, “I am your servant and vassal. Come up and save me out of the hand of the king of Aram and of the king of Israel, who are attacking me.” 8 And Ahaz took the silver and gold found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace and sent it as a gift to the king of Assyria. NIV
  • He sought other spiritual solutions (Aram's god seem to work better than Judah's)
    • 2 Kings 16:10-12 Then King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria. He saw an altar in Damascus and sent to Uriah the priest a sketch of the altar, with detailed plans for its construction. 11 So Uriah the priest built an altar in accordance with all the plans that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus and finished it before King Ahaz returned. 12 When the king came back from Damascus and saw the altar, he approached it and presented offeringsb on it. (b Or and went up) NIV

• APPLICATION: What is our response to struggles? To waver in our belief, to put all our strength into a solution, to find another religion, or to wait upon our God in faith

Isaiah 7:13-17 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give youc a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, andd will call him Immanuel.e 15 He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right. 16 But before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. 17 The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria.” (c The Hebrew is plural. d Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls and he or and they.  e Immanuel means God with us.) NIV

• There is a possibility we have a double meaning in this verse(typically not a good hermeneutical practice). The word virgin can mean both virgin or sexually pure before marriage. For the prophecy to relate to Isaiah's time, it might be understood as a recently married young woman
• Viewing from Ahaz's perspective, how long would it be before the two kings are laid waste?
  • Less than three years (nine months plus around two years)
  • Actually, Aram is killed two years later. Pekah is assassinated by Hoshea about the same time frame

• Obviously, Matthew interprets this verse with a double meaning
  • Matt 1:22-23 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us." NIV

• APPLICATION:
  • Why does God allow trouble into our lives?
    • We are free to choose our own actions
    • It is a consequence of sin in the world
    • Because he wants us to draw near to him
  • But where do we turn to in times of trouble?

Class Notes on Isaiah 6:9-13

Isa 6:9-10 He said, “Go and tell this people: // “‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; // be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ // 10 Make the heart of this people calloused; // make their ears dull // and close their eyes.a // Otherwise they might see with their eyes, // hear with their ears, // understand with their hearts, // and turn and be healed.” NIV

a 9,10 Hebrew; Septuagint `You will be ever hearing, but never understanding; | you will be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ | This people~s heart has become calloused; | they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes

• One person felt that God was telling Isaiah how the people would respond, rather than an actual message. I disagree because the verses starts out, "Go and tell this people …"
• Why does God not give the people a chance to respond?
  • First of all, the previous discussion concerning vines is best understood as referring to people groups and nations, Israel and Judah in this case
  • God has rejected his people as a nation, because they have not done what he wanted them to do, as a nation (be a light to the world around them). So God hardens the heart of the nation in response to their hard heart
  • Also, God does not stop individuals from responding to the message. As in Matt 11, where the leaders reject Jesus as the messiah, despite the fulfillment of the messianic miracles, God withdraws the offer of the kingdom to the nation Israel at that time. God does not prevent individual Jews from responding to the message. The entire early church was Jewish believers

• Mark 4:25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him." NIV
• APPLICATION: There is a principle is this verse which relates to the prophecy. When God gives, he expects us to use what he has given or taught us. When we don't use it we lose it and more

Isa 6:11-13 Then I said, “For how long, O Lord?” // And he answered: // “Until the cities lie ruined // and without inhabitant, // until the houses are left deserted  // and the fields ruined and ravaged, // 12 until the Lord has sent everyone far away // and the land is utterly forsaken. // 13 And though a tenth remains in the land, // it will again be laid waste. // But as the terebinth and oak // leave stumps when they are cut down, // so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.” NIV

• How does Isaiah respond and why?
  • He wants to know how long, probably because he doesn't understand how God could blind his own people

• What is God's response?
  • The judgment will continue until the land is ruined, ravaged, and barren
  • After that, the blindness is lifted

• Another thought, is that only a tenth remain, possibly the group brought back by Ezra and Nehemiah. Antiochus IV of Syria will almost destroy this group during the 400 silent years. Ultimately, Jesus is the true holy seed that will arise out of this mess
• APPLICATION: Even in judgment, God offers hope. And there is always hope for the individual who will repent and turn to God

Class Notes on Isaiah 6:5-8

Isa 6:5

5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” NIV

• What is Isaiah's response to standing in God's presence?
  • "woe" is me
  • Frightened, afraid of death -- because of his sinfulness
  • Repentance, admitting sin -- these are always a good way to start worship

• Interesting contrast of the preceding chapters to chapter six. What did Isaiah prophesy in chapter 5?
  • Six woes against Israel and Judah because of their sin
  • The six woes are very "obvious" sins. Most of us would see Isaiah, at least in contrast, as righteous. Yet how does Isaiah see himself? As sinful

• What was Isaiah's sin? Unclean lips
  • Unclean lips reveal unclean hearts (Matt 12:34)
  • Thoughts, words, and consequently actions

• APPLICATION:
  • I think a sign of spiritual maturity is a recognition of how deep our sin is
  • Worship should start with repentance. I think that is why some get concerned with a lack of quiet at the beginning of the worship time

Isa 6:6-8

6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” NIV

• Isaiah admits his son, and the immediate response is for a Seraph to get a coal from the altar and touch Isaiah's mouth. We know that some of this is symbolic, why?
  • Isaiah's mouth is not burned
  • And. why does the coal not burn Isaiah, yet the Seraph must use tongs to take hold

• It's not clear whether the altar is in heaven or is a picture of the altar on earth or actually is the altar on earth. Either way, the altar is where the sacrifice of sin is paid and a person's sin is atoned for (covered). In response to Isaiah's confession, his sin is atoned for (covered)
• The coal from the sacrifice does two things, what are they?
  • It takes away guilt
  • It atones for (covers) sin

• Guilt is one of those hidden things that sometimes we don't even recognize that we are struggling to overcome. You see it when you can't let go of something you did years ago. We need to grasp onto the truth, that when we accepted Christ and when we confess our sins, our past and present guilt is washed away
  • We choose to let guilt control us because we don't really believe what God has said
  • Heb 9:12-14 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! NIV
  • Heb 10:22-23 Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. NIV

• So, we have seen three separate events (actions, …), 1) recognition of God's holiness, 2) repentance, followed by 3) atonement (forgiveness). What do we see next?
  • The call to ministry

• Why is the order important?
  • We can't serve God without a recognition of God's holiness and our own sin and helplessness
  • We can't worship God without cleansing

• Also, what didn't God do that we might have expected him to do at this point?
  • He didn't tell Isaiah his ministry
  • He called out, and Isaiah had to choose to respond

• Lastly, let's put this in context with the statement, "in the year King Uzziah died." Why is the mention of Uzziah potentially important in relationship to what is now happening to Isaiah?
  • Uzziah did not understand God's holiness
  • Uzziah did not appreciate his sinfulness
  • Uzziah could not continue to serve God

• APPLICATION:
  • We have free will, not only in salvation but also in service. We must hear and respond to God's calling. Before we can respond, we need to recognize God's holiness, our sin, and our need for forgiveness
  • Lastly, I disagree that this is Isaiah's salvation experience. It does not fit in the order of events, even if you don't see a chronological ordering. One could call it a "lordship" experiencing or even a "special" calling. The fact of the matter is that believers who are truly seeking God experience these "events" or special times with God throughout their spiritual life
  • Is there something I've done, that I have not let go of, because I have difficult believing that God could cleanse me from that sin? Let it go, he has promised, the guilt is taken away. The only one holding onto the guilt is our self

Class Notes on Isaiah 6:1-4

• What is the reasoning behind why some people change churches so frequently?
  • Positively: Doctrinal issues or different opportunities to serve
  • Negatively: what situation benefits them the most a gives messages they want to hear

Isa 6:1-4

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;

the whole earth is full of his glory.”

4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. NIV

• We need to start with a look at Uzziah. 2 Chron 26 is a history of Uzziah's reign
  • 16 years old at start; good king
  • Time of incredible prosperity
  • Became arrogant in his old age

2 Ch 26:16-21

16 But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 Azariah the priest with eighty other courageous priests of the Lord followed him in. 18 They confronted him and said, “It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the Lord God.”

19 Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became angry. While he was raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar in the Lord’s temple, leprosyc broke out on his forehead. 20 When Azariah the chief priest and all the other priests looked at him, they saw that he had leprosy on his forehead, so they hurried him out. Indeed, he himself was eager to leave, because the Lord had afflicted him.

21 King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate housed—leprous, and excluded from the temple of the Lord. Jotham his son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land. NIV

c The Hebrew word was used for various diseases affecting the skin—not necessarily leprosy; also in verses 20, 21 and 23.

d Or in a house where he was relieved of responsibilities

• What part of the temple did Uzziah enter?
  • Most holy place (showbread, altar of incense, and lampstand)
    • Priests and could enter on a regular basis
  • Not the Holy of Holies
    • Only the high priest could enter

• Some speculate that the phrase "the year King Uzziah died" was when he got leprosy. Essentially Jotham is in charge for (two to eight) years until he physically dies. It doesn't really change much in one's understanding of the events
• Uzziah was a great man who accomplished a lot but it only took one stupid act to mar his legacy
  • One of the reasons that Jesus told us to pray for protection from the evil one, and Paul included it in his prayer request (2 Thess 3) as well, is that we are all only one step away from ruining our witness
  • Two examples from this week:
    • I did something with a database that bordered on unethical and it upset a member of my study team greatly. I had to apologize to her and tell my boss as well
    • Contrast. I did a simple task for the support staff that I guess few senior people take the time to do and I got a very kind letter in return

• So, does Isa 6 occur first or after the events of Isa 1-5?
  • It is difficult to know for sure since Jewish thought is more eastern than western. It could be a thematic arrangement
  • But, since the rest of the book appears to be ordered chronologically according to the king at the time, it would seem that Isa 6 follows Isa 1-5

• What is Uzziah's overriding impression as he has this vision?
  • Holiness of God
  • Glory of God
  • Power of God (sound of the voices shook the threshold and doorposts)

• Where is Isaiah or where is his vision?
  • Temple (it is possible, but Hebrews says that the earthly temple is a shadow of the reality in heaven)
  • Heavenlies (most likely, since Isaiah does not appear to be a Levite or a Priest)

• APPLICATION:
  • Are we careful to avoid evil? How close are we to making that one bad choice that ruins our witness? We need to regularly pray for God's protection from the evil one and his schemes
  • How do we view worship? Do we focus on God or do we focus on our problems that God must solve? If we really believed that we were in God's presence (like Isaiah), we would start with a focus on God, his holiness, his glory, and his power.