In this poetic Old Testament "gospel", Isaiah wrestles with the foundational themes of righteousness, sin, grace, holiness and redemption. Though grounded in the present reality of Judah, Isaiah proclaims future good news of a divine man who will reign as king, suffer as a servant, and do battle as an anointed conqueror. In this series, Bible teacher Michael Brent introduces listeners to the structure and thought of Isaiah. The section divisions used here come from Alec Motyer, "The Prophecy of Isaiah" (InterVarsity Press, 1998).
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In this poetic Old Testament "gospel", Isaiah wrestles with the foundational themes of righteousness, sin, grace, holiness and redemption. Though grounded in the present reality of Judah, Isaiah proclaims future good news of a divine man who will reign as king, suffer as a servant, and do battle as an anointed conqueror. In this series, Bible teacher Michael Brent introduces listeners to the structure and thought of Isaiah. The section divisions used here come from Alec Motyer, "The Prophecy of Isaiah" (InterVarsity Press, 1998).
In Isaiah 66:18-24, the end of Isaiah speaks of the end of this age. God sets a sign among his people. And he sends survivors out to the ends of the earth. They raise the sign as a standard. It is time to gather in the nations, time for every knee to bow and every …
Continue reading "Isaiah 66:18-24 A Sign Among the Nations"
The post Isaiah 66:18-24 A Sign Among the Nations first appeared on Observe the Word.
In Isaiah 65:17-66:17, God’s response to the watcher’s lament reaches a climax with the promise of a recreation. God will create the heavens and earth anew as an eternal dwelling place for his chosen ones. Who are the chosen ones? Who are these servants of God that dwell with him forever?
The post Isaiah 65:17-66:17 New Heavens and New Earth first appeared on Observe the Word.
In Isaiah 63:7-65:16, we move from the triumphant vision of glorious Zion to the struggle of holding onto the promise of that glorious future in the painful present. A human watcher cries out to God in a theological rich lament. God challenges the watcher to accept a more accurate perspective of what he is doing.
The post Isaiah 63:7-65:16 Lament and Response first appeared on Observe the Word.
In Isaiah 61:10-63:6, we encounter two further songs of a mysterious figure committed to the establishment of an ideal society for God’s people. In the first song he comes dressed as a groom for a wedding. In the second song he comes dressed as a champion for battle.
The post Isaiah 61:10-63:6 Four Songs of the Conqueror first appeared on Observe the Word.
In Isaiah 61:1-9 God pours out his Spirit, anointing a chosen servant to proclaim good news to the afflicted. That good news transforms God’s people. 700 years later Jesus stood up in a synagogue, read the first two verses of this passage, sat down and declared, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
The post Isaiah 61:1-9 The Favorable Year of the Lord first appeared on Observe the Word.
In Isaiah 60, the glory of God shines out from Zion as a glorious city on a hill. Many peoples respond to that light bringing gifts of tribute to the Holy One of Israel, tribute including frankincense and gold. How does this vision of Zion relate to the church? Is this our mission to build …
Continue reading "Isaiah 60 The Coming Glory"
The post Isaiah 60 The Coming Glory first appeared on Observe the Word.
In Isaiah 59, the prophet first condemns the wickedness of his society and then includes himself in with all the rest as he confesses, “our sins testify against us…we know our iniquities.” Seeing no man to intercede, the Lord arms himself to bring justice and salvation. But who is this divine conqueror who comes to …
Continue reading "Isaiah 59 The Conqueror Comes"
The post Isaiah 59 The Conqueror Comes first appeared on Observe the Word.
In Isaiah 58, the prophet calls out religious hypocrisy. As the paganism of chapter 57 represents the progressive idolatry of the left, the human-centered religiosity of chapter 58 represents the conservative idolatry of the right. In this lesson we raise our third big picture interpretation question, “How does the gospel of Jesus Christ help me …
Continue reading "Isaiah 58 A True Fast – Desiring God and Loving People"
The post Isaiah 58 A True Fast – Desiring God and Loving People first appeared on Observe the Word.
In Isaiah 56:9-57:21, we shift from the ideal of God’s people depicted in 56:1-8 to the actual reality of God’s people. This gives us an opportunity to ask the critical interpretive question, “Who is Isaiah’s primary audience?” Who were the people of God he was talking to and what were they like?
The post Isaiah 56:9-57:21 Two Parties in Judah first appeared on Observe the Word.
In Isaiah 56:1-8, we introduce the Book of the Conqueror, chapters 56-66, asking a critical interpretive question, overviewing this book’s structure, and considering in its first 8 verses the inclusion of eunuchs and foreigners into covenant community with God.
The post Isaiah 56:1-8 World People, Sabbath People, Praying People first appeared on Observe the Word.
In Isaiah 54 and 55, we are exhorted by the prophet to respond to the astounding work of the servant described in Isaiah 53. Shout! Cry aloud! Come! Seek! The table of grace has been set. You have been invited. Enter into the everlasting covenant of peace.
The post Isaiah 54:1-55:13 Respond to the Servant’s Triumph first appeared on Observe the Word.
The fourth servant song in Isaiah 52:13-53:12 provides an incredible example of Old Testament prophecy about Jesus Christ. In this episode, we consider how critical historians have interpreted this text, how Jewish scholars have interpreted this text, and how New Testament writers have interpreted this text.
The post Isaiah 53 Interpretations of the Fourth Servant Song first appeared on Observe the Word.
In Isaiah 52:13-53:12, we arrive at the heart of the Book of the Servant. The fourth servant song proclaims the long awaited “how” of spiritual deliverance. How does our holy God justly forgive sinful people?
The post Isaiah 52:13-53:12 The Fourth Servant Song first appeared on Observe the Word.
In Isaiah 50:4-52:12, the third servant song provides a model of faithful resilience. Isaiah exhorts Israel to listen, wake up and walk with God according to that model.
The post Isaiah 50:4-52:12 The Third Servant Song first appeared on Observe the Word.
In Isaiah 49:1-50:30, Isaiah begins the final section in the Book of the Servant with the second of four servant songs. God’s servant is a select arrow, hidden in the Lord’s quiver, to be aimed, drawn and released at the appropriate time, not only to restore Israel, but as a light for the nations that …
Continue reading "Isaiah 49:1-50:3 The Second Servant Song"
The post Isaiah 49:1-50:3 The Second Servant Song first appeared on Observe the Word.
In Isaiah 48:1-22, Isaiah completes his description of Babylon’s fall and Israel’s deliverance. God perseveres in faithfulness to his chosen people, but a dark chord is struck in the joyful song of rescue. A great deliverance from the external oppressor Babylon does not solve the internal problem of the human heart.
The post Isaiah 48:1-22 Israel Delivered first appeared on Observe the Word.
In Isaiah 47:1-15, Isaiah looks ahead to the fulfillment of the Cyrus prophecy with the fall of Babylon. Isaiah’s vision looks beyond the specific, historic fall of Babylon to a spiritual reality that runs through human history from the tower of Babel in Genesis 11 to John’s depiction in Revelation 18.
The post Isaiah 47:1-15 Babylon Conquered first appeared on Observe the Word.
In Isaiah 46:1-13, Isaiah concludes his description of Israel’s obstinacy in regard to God’s plan to use Cyrus. But first we continue our consideration of how Isaiah 45 influenced Paul’s letter to the Romans in regard to the three themes of questioning God’s plan, the righteousness of God, and the salvation of all Israel.
The post Isaiah 46:1-13 God’s Plan for Obstinate Israel 2 first appeared on Observe the Word.
In Isaiah 45:9-25, Israel pushes back against God’s plan to raise up Cyrus, a Gentile Messiah. God responds with a rebuke and an affirmation that Israel will still play a central role in the formation of a world wide people. We will see significant connection between Isaiah 45 and Paul’s letter to the Romans.
The post Isaiah 45:9-25 God’s Plan for Obstinate Israel 1 first appeared on Observe the Word.
In Isaiah 44:24-45:8, we consider the historical background and meaning of one of the most specific and unlikely prophecies of Scripture that a king named Cyrus would deliver the Jewish exiles from Babylon.
The post Isaiah 44:24-45:8 The Cyrus Prophecy and Historical Background first appeared on Observe the Word.
In this poetic Old Testament "gospel", Isaiah wrestles with the foundational themes of righteousness, sin, grace, holiness and redemption. Though grounded in the present reality of Judah, Isaiah proclaims future good news of a divine man who will reign as king, suffer as a servant, and do battle as an anointed conqueror. In this series, Bible teacher Michael Brent introduces listeners to the structure and thought of Isaiah. The section divisions used here come from Alec Motyer, "The Prophecy of Isaiah" (InterVarsity Press, 1998).
