Isaiah 27-39
Challenge Group
Intro: The “Woes”, Hezekiah and Babylon
Ch. 1-35 Prophetical Assyria
Ch. 36-39 Historical Babylon & Assyria
Ch. 40-66 Prophetical Babylon
Historical Setting: Kingdom was divided and both Israel and Judah were being threatened by outside enemies. Assyria was looking for growing her empire. Israel under King Hoshea turned to Egypt for help and Shalmaneser (727-722) of Assyria heard about this alliance and attacked Samaria. Israel was destroyed in 722 B.C. and Assyria then turns to Judah. Sennacherib (705-681), king of Assyria deals with King Hezekiah.
Central theme: Do I trust in God or seek something else in times of trial?
For them: Alliances
For us: Idols
Outline:
I. Renewed song of the Vineyard – Ch. 27
II. The Woes – Chaps. 28-35
III. Historical Interlude – Chaps. 36-39
I. Ch. 27 – Renewed Song of the Vineyard
“In that day” – starts each new section
Section 1: “In that day the LORD will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, with his fierce and great and mighty sword, even Leviathan the twisted serpent; and he will kill the dragon who lives in the sea.” –v.1
PICTURE – Leviathan = chaotic disorder
Section 2: Song of the Vineyard v. 2-11 – ref. 5:1-7
Protection
Spiritual fruit
Section 3: Regathering of Israel v.12-13
II. Chaps. 28-35 The “Woes”
1. Woe to Ephraim (28: 1-13)
drunkard – “Woe to the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim” –v.1, 7
children – v.9-10
2. Woe to Judah (28:14-29)
“a covenant with death” v. 14-15 – seeking foreign gods for protection
“stone” – “Therefore thus says the Lord God, ‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.’” –v.16
3. Woe to Jerusalem (ch. 29)
Ariel – “lion of God” or “hearth or altar”
Deliverance from Assyria v.5-8
“Blind” v. 9-10
“Worship” “Rules” v.13-14 – hearts were not close to God
“Hide their plans” v.15-16
Millennial Kingdom v. 22-24
4. Woe to the Obstinate Children (ch. 30)
Judah turns to Egypt instead of the Lord
RAHAB – female sea monster
“unwilling to listen to the Lord” v.8-11
2 Timothy 4:3-4
Millennial Kingdom – v.18-26 Israel will be faithful
Assyria defeated – v.27-33 – Assyria was defeated in 701 B.C.
5. Woe to the Egyptian Alliance (chaps. 31-32)
Repentance - 31: 6-7 – No other alternative
Messiah – 32:1-2 “Behold a king will reign righteously and princes will rule justly.”
Millennial Kingdom v. 3-8
6. Woe to the Destroyers (ch. 33)
1. Woe to the enemies of God’s people (33:1-12)
destroyer: Assyria
traitor: people in Judah seeking aid other than God v.1
For salvation, wisdom, and knowledge, they must fear the Lord – Prov. 1:7
Destruction promised
2. The deliverance of the righteous (33:13-24)
righteous will live!
God calls people to acknowledge him.
Millennial Kingdom v. 17-24 God is on his throne.
7. Vengeance and Blessing (chaps 34-35)
Vengeance (Ch. 34)
1. Whole World v.1-4
“stars will be dissolved” – Joel 2:10, 30-31, 3:15, Matt. 24:29
2. Edom v.5-17
“Sword of the Lord”
God will uphold Zion’s cause v.8
Land will be ablaze – Obad. 1:13
Blessing (ch. 35)
Parched land -> Rich agriculture
Blind -> See
Deaf -> Hear
Lame-> Leap
Mute-> Speak
Joy! – No sorrow! “And the ransomed of the Lord will return and come with joyful shouting to Zion, with everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” – 35:10
III. Chaps. 36-39 Historical Interlude
King Hezekiah
2 Kings 18-20 2 Chron. 29-32
Father: King Ahaz
Evil King– 2 Kings 16:2
Made an alliance with Tiglath-pilesar of Assyria
Hezekiah: Good King!
2 Chron. 29:3 opened the doors of the temple (Ahaz had closed them)
:6 confessed sins of his fathers
:10 restores temple worship, offerings to atone, singing JOY worship, thank offerings, Passover reinstated. (Grace)
31:20-21 Sought God with all of his heart
2 Kings 18:4-6 destroyed idols!
Illness: Before the Assyrian assault
Central theme revisited – Hezekiah puts his faith in God
Ch. 36: v. 1-10 :Assyria set up a seize against Judah
Very real threat! Assyria clearly would win this battle.
Rabshakeh taunts Hezekiah
Rab makes the people freaked out.
Sounds a great deal like Satan.
Ch.37: Hezekiah seeks God help.
“Rumor” – v. 5-7
Prayer to God - v.16-20 Acknowledges God as creator.
Isaiah pronounces judgment against Senach
Assyria Destroyed! – v. 30-38
Ch. 38: Hezekiah’s Healing
Hezekiah’s request v.1-8
Ch. 39: Hezekiah’s Fatal Error
V.1-8 Showed his booty to the Babylonians.
Isaiah prophesized the Babylonian Captivity
Application:
What is it that we turn to in times of trial?
On idols:
“Each person acts as if God could not make him happy without the addition of something else. Thus the glutton makes a god of his dainties; the ambitious man of his honor, the incontinent man of his lust; the covetous man of his wealth; and consequently esteems them as his chief goods, and the most noble end to which he directs his thoughts…All men worship some golden calf, set up by education, custom, natural inclination and the like…When a general is taken, the army runs. [Even so] this [the main idol] is the great stream, and other sins the rivulets which bring supply…this is the strongest chain wherein the devil holds the man…” –Stephen Chamock, The Existence and Attributes of God
“If a transtemporal, transfinite good is our real destiny, then any other good, on which our desire fixes must be in some degree fallacious, must bear at best only a symbolical relation to what will truly satisfy.” – C.S. Lewis, Weight of Glory
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