1 Introduction to Isaiah 15 April 2008

2 Isaiahs Ministry Started at the end of Uzziahs reign ( BC) Continued during Jothams reign ( BC) Continued during Ahazs reign ( BC) Continued during Hezekiahs reign ( BC) Ended during Manassehs reign (686-??? BC)

3 Isaiah Name:Means the Lord has saved Home:Probably Jerusalem Family:May have been related to the royal house of Judah Married to a woman he called the prophetess Father of two sons: Shear-Jashub Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz

4 Isaiah OccupationOfficial of King Uzziah of Judah; later called by God to be a prophet Best KnownAs An Old Testament prophet who clearly predicted the coming of the Messiah Traditional EndMay have been executed by the wicked King Manasseh by being placed in a log that was then sawed in two (see Heb. 11:37)

5 The Book of Isaiah Resembles the Bible in miniature Total 66 chapters, 39+27=66 Key word: Salvation Messianic prophecies: more than any other O.T. writer – 700 years before Christ! Quoted in N.T. far more than any other prophet Mentioned 21 times by name in the N.T.

6 Book of Isaiah Outline Chapters 1-35 Prophecies of condemnation Chapters A brief history of Hezekiahs salvation, sickness and sin Chapters Prophecies of comfort and hope

7 Famous Verses in Isaiah All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. (Isaiah 64:6 NIV)

8 Famous Verses in Isaiah Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. (Isaiah 1:18 NIV)

9 Isa. 64:6 & 1:18 Application Believe that God judges sin and that nobody will be glad they sinned in eternity Confess and repent of sin daily and live a holy life Ask God to forgive you and cleanse you

10 Famous Verses in Isaiah … I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted … 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. 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! (Isaiah 6:1-8 NIV)

11 Isa. 6:1-8 Application Be like Isaiah and confess your sinfulness Be like Isaiah and be available to be used by God in whatever way He desires, especially: Tell people about sin, judgment, hell, Jesus blood and repentance Offer hope to those who trust and obey Jesus

12 Famous Verses in Isaiah Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right. (Isaiah 7:14,15 NIV, ~742 B.C.)

13 Isa. 7:14,15 Application Praise God for His perfect plan of salvation, made long before it happened.

14 Famous Verses in Isaiah … In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan – The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. (Isaiah 9:1,2 NIV, ~740 B.C.)

15 Isa. 9:1,2 Application Meditate on how wonderful it was that God would become a man and walk on earth with sinners to show some His light

16 Famous Verses in Isaiah How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer [day star], son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High. Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit. (Isaiah 14:12-15 KJV)

17 Isa. 14:12-15 Application Keep in mind that the self-made man or woman is following Satans path and that we only have success because God gives it to us. Learn about spiritual warfare and how Satan masquerades as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14)

18 Famous Verses in Isaiah … 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. (Isaiah 29:13 NIV, quoted by Jesus in Mk. 7:6,7)

19 Isa. 29:13 Application Worship God with all your heart and in actions, not just songs Watch out for man-made rules that distract us from obeying Gods commands Confess and turn from sin, and do works that show the fruit of repentance

20 Famous Verses in Isaiah The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever. (Isaiah 40:8 NIV)

21 Isa. 40:8 Application Store up Gods word in your heart every day through listening, reading, studying, memorizing and meditating

22 Famous Verses in Isaiah Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him. (Isaiah 43:7 KJV)

23 Isa. 43:7 Application Evaluate your motives regularly to see if you are seeking Gods glory or your own. Confess any actions, words or motives intended to obtain praise from people

24 Famous Verses in Isaiah This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: I will go before you and will level the mountains … so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by name. For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I call you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me. (Isaiah 45:1-5 NIV, ~712 B.C., re: King Cyrus, ~536 B.C.)

25 Isa. 45:1-5 Application Accept that God works and speaks through both believers and unbelievers to accomplish His purposes Watch the news for what God is doing for the nation of Israel and praise God as you see His plan unfolding, even through unbelieving Jews.

26 Famous Verses in Isaiah 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. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 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. (Isaiah 53:3-5 NIV)

27 Famous Verses in Isaiah 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. 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. (Isaiah 53:6,7 NIV)

28 Isa 53:3-7 Application Thank Jesus for His great sacrifice and example Try to be like Jesus and be meek or silent when you are insulted or mistreated

29 Famous Verses in Isaiah 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, 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. (Isaiah 55:10,11 NIV)

30 Isa. 55:10,11 Application Memorize the Word of God and share it with everyone you know. Believe that the power is in the message, not the messenger.

31 Famous Verses in Isaiah Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. (Isaiah 59:1,2 NIV)

32 Isa. 59:1,2 Application Dont expect God to answer your prayers if you are living in disobedience Tell others that sins separates people from God

33 Famous Verses in Isaiah This is what the LORD says: Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being? declares the LORD. This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word. (Isaiah 66:1,2 NIV)

34 Isa. 66:1,2 Application Like Isaiah, be humble, contrite and tremble at Gods word

35 The End