The Book of Isaiah was written between the 8th-6th centuries BC and attributed to three authors: Isaiah son of Amoz who prophesied in the 8th century; an exile disciple called Second Isaiah; and a post-exilic writer called Third Isaiah. Isaiah forms the idea that Jerusalem has a future with God as a city of justice and peace. The book contains prophecies, indictments of Israel/Judah for failing to create a just society, and hope for those disillusioned by the lack of progress. It conveys that a society of peace is possible when people cooperate with God's plans for justice.
2. A trio of writers
□ The Book of Isaiah is attributed to three
authors:
an 8th century prophet named Isaiah,
son of Amoz(Chapters 1-35)
An disciple of the prophet who lived
during the Exile, called Second Isaiah
(Chapters 40-55)
A post-exilic writer called Third Isaiah
(Chapters 56-66)
4. Some background
□ Isaiah forms the idea that Jerusalem has a
future with God, a city that will be blessed
with justice and peace
□ Often read in synagogue to parallel the
Torah
□ New Testament citations of Isaiah are
second only to the Psalms.
□ Lumen Gentium cites Isaiah on peace and
justice and uses the images of Light.
5. Structure
□ Isaiah 1–39
□ Indictment of Israel and Judah (1:1–5:30)
□ The Book of Emmanuel (6:1–12:6)
□ Oracles against the Foreign Nations (13:1–
23:18)
□ Apocalypse of Isaiah (24:1–27:13)
□ The Lord Alone, Israel’s and Judah’s
Salvation (28:1–33:24)
□ The Lord, Zion’s Avenger (34:1–35:10)
□ Historical Appendix (36:1–39:8)
6. Structure
□ Isaiah 40–55
□ The Lord’s Glory in Israel’s Liberation (40:1–
48:22)
□ Expiation of Sin, Spiritual Liberation of Israel
(49:1–55:13)
□ Isaiah 56–66
7. Themes
□ Isaiah I: condemns political, social,
economic structures that create
classes of excessive wealth and
extreme poverty
□ Temple and liturgy protected those
who oppressed the poor instead of
working for justice.
8. Themes
□ Isaiah 2: there is a future for Jerusalem
despite the destruction caused by the
Babylonians
□ Temple and liturgy protected those
who oppressed the poor instead of
working for justice.
9. Themes
□ Isaiah 3: There is hope for those
disillusioned by the lack of progress for
the society of Jerusalem.
□ A society of peace and justice is
possible when the people cooperate
with God’s plans.
10. Motifs
□ God is the Holy One of Israel
□ The Lord is unlike any other god
□ The Lord does not act as Jerusalem
expects
□ God is one; God is unique
□ The word “redeemer” is connected with
God.
11. Motifs
□ Jerusalem/Zion
□ The Lord demands justice; Jerusalem crushes the
poor
□ God is holy; Jerusalem looks for power through
alliances with other nations and their gods
□ God says Jerusalem’s sins are paid for; Jerusalem
does not believe
□ God is always faithful to Jerusalem and assures a
glorious future.
12. Isaiah’s Prophecies
□ Jewish Reader
□ Looking for the final
redemption of
Jerusalem
□ Appearance of
Messiah who will
restore Jerusalem’s
glory
□ Christian Reader
□ Looking for the
coming of the
new and eternal
Jerusalem
13. Jerusalem’s Future
• 1:1-12:6: Jerusalem’s infidelity and a
prayer for the future restoration.
• The name “Isaiah” means “God saves”
• Israel has been unfaithful, but God has
not
• Worship without justice is empty ritual
• Apocalyptic worldview: sin can be
expiated by repentance; choose life, not
death.
14. Anarchy, chaos and judgment
□ Jerusalem will collapse because of her
failure to create a just society
□ God will eliminate those who create
corruption but will save those who are
just.
□ The rich will lose everything.
□ God will be present
15. Song of the Vineyard (5)
□ The vineyard produces sour grapes
despite the owner’s care; the owner
asks the people for advice.
□ Those who are wealthy will suffer;
justice will be restored by God.
16. The Prophet’s Call (6)
□ Turning point in history – Uzziah’s reign is
over
□ Call takes place in temple, in the
presence of the seraphim (snakes or
angels? – either way, terrifying)
□ Isaiah’s message will be on deaf ears
17. Emmanuel prophecies
□ Ahaz’s political policies will not result in
lasting peace and stability
□ Judah needs to fear God,
not other nations
□ God is the rock of salvation
□ Isaiah’s words are to be preserved
□ Ode to Israel
18. The shoot of Jesse (11)
□ Idealistic view
□ Coming of king will be accompanied by
taming of wild animals
□ Israel and Judah will be re-united under a
king from the family of David
□ The remnants of Israel and Judah will be
gathered.
20. Final Oracle against Edom
□ God can spare no energy or resource
when battling evil – on earth or in
heavens
□ People of Judah hated people of
Edom
21. Radical Shift (35)
□ Zion’s Joy and Glory
□ Transformation of desert, etc.
□ God’s plans for Zion transcend current
history.
□ Providing water for Israel is common
biblical image linked to salvation
□ Lame will walk, Blind will see
22. Threat to Jerusalem
Retelling of information in 2 Kings during
the reign of Hezekiah
Egypt is unreliable ally
Assyrians say they are in charge of
God bc they took Jerusalem
Hopelessness of Jerusalem’s situation
23. Saving Jerusalem (37)
and her king (38)
□ Narrow escape from Assyrians; people
do not believe God will allow
Jerusalem to fall…ever.
□ Hezekiah is spared from a serious illness
after an appeal to God (for 15 more years.)
□ Eventually, Hezekiah will die and
Jerusalem will fall.
24. Liberation (40)
□ Voice of hope
□ Handel’s Messiah…
□ Consequences of justice
□ Jerusalem/Zion is an abandoned and
barren wife who is restored to her
husband and fertility.
□
25. Isaiah (40)
□ Words of the rulers of the city:
□ What must happen for city to be restored:
□ Level pathways
□ Life-giving desert
□ Exiles will be led by God back to Jerusalem
□ God, who can change the course of history, is
concerned with the individual lives of exiles
26. Who is the Lord?
□ Series of rhetorical questions
□ Part One: God is Creator of all the
universe
□ Part 2: parodies religious beliefs of the
nations.
□ All nations will stand in judgment
□ No longer will a monarchy rule; all the
people as a whole are responsible for
justice.
27. Servant Songs
□ 42; 49 & 50
□ John the Baptist
□ Simeon’s canticle
□ Refer to Jesus as this servant.
28. Metaphors for the Lord
□ Mighty Warrior
□ Woman in labor
□ Shepherd
□ Isaiah is not hesitant to use feminine
metaphors for God
29. Sins (44)
□ God has no choice but to abandon
Israel because of their history of
sinfulness.
□ Still, God holds Israel close.
□ God is shown through real people, not
in statues, idols or other images like the
gods of the nations.
30. Cyrus of Persia
□ Under Cyrus, Jerusalem will be
restored.
□ God is not restoring the monarchy;
□ God is doing something entirely new.
□ The nations will join Judah in
recognizing God as king.
□ Babylon will not survive
31. The Suffering Servant (52-53)
□ The servant will be exalted after total
humiliation.
□ Suffering is not only caused by
sinfulness, but sometimes is needed to
advance God’s work in the world.
32. New Jerusalem
□ Because of the altered status as a
nation, religious identity is very
important.
□ Sabbath observance
□ Circumcision
□ Dietary laws
□ All nation are called: observe the laws
33. Justice
□ God will establish justice when Judah
demonstrates she is ready to live justly
and stop oppressing the poor.
□ God always acts for the oppressed
□ When Judah is ready, God will take her
as his bride and queen.
34. □ A lament: Can you hold back, Lord,
after all this? Can you remain silent
and afflict us so severely?
□ Those who remain obstinate will be
treated horridly.