ISAIAH LESSON 1


     Isaiah, in my opinion, is the most spiritual of the Old Testament
books. The man, Isaiah, was a prophet and preacher at the time he
wrote this book. Isaiah was prophet during the reign of 5 kings, most
of whom were evil. His wife was a prophetess in her own right. Some
believe that the word "prophetess" means wife of a prophet, but that
is not correct. A person does not become a prophet, or a prophetess,
because they are married to a prophet. The office of prophet, or
prophetess, is a call from God. You are not called to preach, because
your husband preaches. You may be called to preach, but if you are,
the call is from God, not because of who you are related to.

     History tells us that Manasseh had Isaiah tied to two boards and
sawn in two. The following Scripture is believed to be in reference to
the horrible fate of Isaiah.  Hebrews 11:37 "They were stoned, they
were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they
wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute,
afflicted, tormented;"

     Isaiah had great reverence for God. He was a serious, spiritual
man.  He was known as the prophet of redemption. There were more
prophecies of the coming Messiah in Isaiah than any other book, except
Psalms. The name, "Isaiah", means Salvation of Jehovah, or Jehovah is
Salvation.

     The book of Isaiah contains 66 chapters divided into 39, and 27
the same way the Old and New Testament is divided. The one thing that
tells us beyond a doubt that Isaiah, the prophet, wrote all of it, is
his use of the title "Holy One of Israel". It occurs 12 times in the
first 39 chapters and 14 times in chapters 40 through 66.  This
expression of who God is, is only mentioned 7 times in all the other
books of the Bible, and one of those times says "Holy One in Israel".
This is Isaiah's expression.  If there is a key word in all of this,
it would be salvation. Isaiah expressed over and over that the Light
and the Saviour are One and the Same. As we continue in this study, We
will see Isaiah had a depth of understanding who God is, that few
have.

     It is commonly believed that Isaiah lived from 750 to 680 B.C.
Isaiah prophesied during the reign of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah,
and Manasseh. He faced many hardships, but continued in his call from
God. It is commonly believed that Isaiah was about 20 years old when
his ministry began, and he continued until  his death.

     The Dead Sea Scrolls, which were found in the caves near the Dead
Sea, contained the writings of Isaiah, and were very close in
interpretation to what we have in the King James version of the Bible.

     We will now begin in Isaiah 1:1 "The vision of Isaiah the son of
Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of
Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, [and] Hezekiah, kings of Judah."

     We can quickly see from this, that these 4 kings did not include
the wicked king Manasseh, who had Isaiah killed. We find, in this
verse, that Isaiah's father was named Amoz. This does not give us any
further background on Isaiah. It appears that God just chose him as an
unknown for this job.  This prophecy, that Isaiah gave, was revealed
to him in a vision from God. Kings, and also the people, listened when
a prophet spoke, because they believed that prophets were bringing
them a message directly from God. This particular vision and prophesy
had to do with Judah and Jerusalem. Isaiah was a prophet in the
southern kingdom.

     King Uzziah was sometimes called Azariah. In 2 Kings chapter 14
verse 21, we find that he was called Azariah, and he was 16 years of
age when he began to reign. We find in the 3rd verse of the 15th
chapter of 2 Kings that Azariah did that which was right in the sight
of the Lord.  In verse 5 of chapter 15 of 2 Kings, we read that Jotham
was the son of Azzariah, and was king in his father's place. Chapter
15 verse 34 of 2 Kings tells us that Jotham did what was right in the
sight of the Lord. Ahaz was known by several names; Achaz, and
Jehoahaz. He was a wicked king. Hezekiah and Ezekias are the same. His
mother's name was Abijah. She was the daughter of Zechariah. The
reference for this is 2 Chronicles chapter 29 verse 1. Hezekiah did
what was right and prospered. Read 2 Kings chapter 18 verses 5 through
7 to get a more thorough view of this. Manasseh was very evil.

     Isaiah 1:2 "Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD
hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have
rebelled against me."

     We must remember this is a vision from God. Isaiah is speaking
for God here. Prophets were sometimes called seers, because of the
visions they had. These were God's chosen people, and they have turned
their back from serving God. They have sinned over and over.  God does
not stop calling them His children, but is disappointed in their
rebellion towards Him. The only thing, now, that will stop the
judgement of God from falling upon them, is national repentance. Our
land could take a warning from this. We need to repent as a nation, as
well as individuals for the rampant sin in America. We belong to Jesus
Christ.  He paid for us with His precious blood on Calvary.

     Isaiah 1:3 "The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's
crib: [but] Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider."

     The ox is spoken of here, because it is a dumb work animal, but
still has enough sense to realize who feeds him. The ass, here, is a
donkey, supposedly a very dumb animal. Israel were God's people, and
yet they did not follow Him.  They were a people who did not consider
the blessings He had bestowed on them.

     Isaiah 1:4 "Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a
seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken
the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they
are gone away backward."

     This seems as though it is describing our generation, as well as
the physical house of Israel. Notice, "Holy One of Israel" which seems
to be a favorite name that Isaiah uses for God. It seems this is not
just a single sin, but they have taken up a sinful way of life.  This
is Isaiah speaking in this verse. He mourns over the sinful condition
of the people and realizes the punishment that lies in store for them.

     Isaiah 1:5  "Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt
more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint."

     It seems that the greatest even unto the least are caught up in
this sinful way of life. The "head" could symbolize the mind and the
heart symbolize the morality of the nation. The head could, also, mean
the leaders of the country.  It certainly does appear that they stay
their mind on evil things, and those who should be leading them
morally have been caught up in this evil as well.

     Isaiah 1:6 "From the sole of the foot even unto the head [there
is] no soundness in it; [but] wounds, and bruises, and putrifying
sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified
with ointment."

     This is not speaking of physical sores, but is speaking of sin,
as the leprosy, spoken of in Leviticus, symbolized sin. This sin is so
rampant, that it has involved almost everyone. It means, also, that
the sinful way of life has totally consumed them from their feet to
their heads. This, also, means that there has been no effort made to
cure this degraded society.

     Isaiah 1:7 "Your country [is] desolate, your cities [are] burned
with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and [it
is] desolate, as overthrown by strangers."

     This is speaking of the judgement that came to pass, because of
their wayward ways. This is speaking of a war waged against them that
they seemed helpless to stop. Many times wars are actually judgements
of God against a nation. Strangers tell us that this war was not other
Hebrews warring against them. Since Isaiah is speaking part of the
time in the near future, sometimes in the far future, and sometimes at
their present time, it is difficult to pinpoint which war this is
speaking of.

     Isaiah 1:8 "And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a
vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city."

     "Daughter of Zion" speaks symbolically of the church of the Lord
Jesus Christ many times. Other times it is speaking of the city of
Jerusalem. This Scripture is speaking of Zion as a city. We may safely
assume it means Jerusalem. This cottage in the vineyard was a
temporary house.  This was like the booths {spoken of in Leviticus},
that were 8 day housing in the vineyard. The lodge was a more solid
dwelling.  The key word is "as" a besieged city.  This means that this
attack against Jerusalem was yet to come. It would be left in such bad
condition, it would appear the housing had been temporary.

     Isaiah 1:9 "Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very
small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, [and] we should have been
like unto Gomorrah."

     Even this terrible siege of Jerusalem was not as bad as the
punishment levied against Sodom and Gomorrah, when God rained fire on
them and destroyed the entire city and all the people, as well. As bad
as this was, God had spared a few. God will always have a remnant of
His people.

     Isaiah 1:10  "Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give
ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah."

     This is speaking of Jerusalem as if it were Sodom and Gomorrah.
This is a warning of the terrible fate that awaits this evil city, if
they do not repent and turn to God. Isaiah is saying, you are just as
evil as Sodom and Gomorrah. Isaiah's plea to them is to listen to the
Word of God, before it is too late.

     Isaiah 1:11 "To what purpose [is] the multitude of your
sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings
of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of
bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats."

     They are so laden with sin that God does not want an offering
from them. They are going through the motions of being God's people,
but God will not accept their offerings offered with sinful hands.
Just sacrificing without true repentance will not be acceptable to
God. You could not then, and you cannot now, buy your way into heaven.
I Samuel 15:22 "And Samuel said, Hath the LORD [as great] delight in
burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey [is] better than sacrifice, [and] to hearken than the
fat of rams." He wants their obedience and love, not their sacrifices.

     Isaiah 1:12 "When ye come to appear before me, who hath required
this at your hand, to tread my courts?"

     In 2 Timothy chapter 3, it is called having a form of Godliness.
God does not want formality, He wants sincerity. In carrying out the
required sacrifices, they had lost the meaning of sacrifice. It had
become a practiced habit, not an act of love for God. He is just
saying, that all the sacrifice without meaning in the world would not
save them.  {If we go to church because it is expected of us, we might
as well stay home}. It should not be done from obligation, but because
we love to fellowship with God and His people.








                           Isaiah 1 Questions


1.  In the opinion of the author, __________ is the most spiritual of
    the Old Testament books.
2.  Isaiah was a __________ and preacher at the time he wrote this
    book.
3.  He prophesied during the reign of how many kings?
4.  Why do we know that Isaiah's wife was a prophetess, instead of
    just being a prophet's wife?
5.  What does history tell us about the fate of Isaiah?
6.  Is there any Scripture in the Bible that indicates the history
    account is true?
7.  Describe the personality of Isaiah.
8.  He was known as the prophet of ____________.
9.  What does the name "Isaiah" mean?
10. How many chapters are in Isaiah, and how are they separated?
11. What tells us without question that Isaiah the prophet wrote all
    of Isaiah?
12. What is the key word in Isaiah?
13. When did Isaiah live approximately?
14. Name the kings in power when Isaiah ministered.
15. How old was Isaiah when he began his ministry?
16. What interpretation of the Bible were the Dead Sea scrolls of
    Isaiah very close to?
17. We read in Isaiah that the message was given to him by __________.
18. Who was the father of Isaiah?
19. Who did the vision concern?
20. The four kings mentioned in the first verse were kings of
    _________.
21. Which wicked king was not included?
22. What did the people believe about a prophet?
23. What region did Isaiah prophesy in?
24. What was another name for Uzziah?
25. How old was Uzziah when he began to reign?
26. What kind of a king was Uzziah?
27. Hezekiah is the same as whom?
28. Who was the most evil of the kings Isaiah ministered to?
29. What were prophets sometimes called?
30. Why were they called by this name?
31. What is the only thing that would stop the punishment of God from
    falling on them?
32. Why are the ox and ass mentioned in verse 3?
33. What is God called in verse 4?
34. What is meant by the "head being sick"?
35. What does the heart in verse 5 symbolize?
36. What kind of sores are spoken of in verse 6?
37. What judgement is spoken on them in verse 7?
38. Who is "daughter of Zion" speaking of?
39. What does "as", in verse 8, tell us?
40. What kept them from being like Sodom and Gomorrah?
41. What is called Sodom in verse 10?
42. Quote 1 Samuel chapter 15 verse 22.
43. What chapter, in Timothy, relates to Isaiah chapter 1 verse 12?
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