The Book Of Isaiah - Executable Outlines

The Book Of IsaiahJudah’s True Hope: The Messianic King (7-12)OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS SECTIONMark A. Copeland1) To note the prophecies of Isaiah during reign of Ahaz, king of Judah, those related to the Assyrianinvasion and those that looked to the coming of the Messiah2) To glean principles related to God’s use of the nations in exercising His judgment3) To consider “prophetic suggestion” as a concept to understanding Biblical prophecySUMMARYChapters seven through twelve complete the first major section of the book of Isaiah (PropheciesConcerning Judah And Jerusalem, chs. 1-12). They contain historical narrative and propheciesdelivered during the time of Ahaz, king of Judah (ca. 735-732 B.C.). Jerusalem was being threatened bySyria and Israel for refusing to join them in their resistance against Assyria. Ahaz and Judah weretempted to seek help from Assyria in the north and Egypt in the south. Isaiah and his sons were used byGod to encourage Ahaz and his nation to trust in the Lord, not political alliances. Isaiah’s propheticutterances not only looked to the more immediate deliverance from God, but also to the time in whichGod would provide ultimate deliverance for Judah. This section can therefore be entitled, “Judah’sTrue Hope: The Messianic King (7-12)” (as outlined by Edward J. Young).Chapter seven describes The Syrian-Israel Crisis in which God sent Isaiah and his son to encourageAhaz and offer a sign from the Lord. Though rebuffed by Ahaz, the Lord provides a sign related to ason to be born of a virgin whose name would be Immanuel (“God with us”). Some commentators opinethat this prophecy had an initial fulfillment during the time of Ahaz, but was intended by God to offerhope for a time yet in the future: “...nothing is more common in Isaiah than for him to commence aprophecy with reference to some remarkable deliverance which was soon to occur, and to terminate it bya statement of events connected with a higher deliverance under the Messiah. By the laws of ‘propheticsuggestion,’ the mind of the prophet seized upon resemblances and analogies; was carried on to futuretimes, which were suggested by something that he was saying or contemplating as about to occur, untilthe mind was absorbed, and the primary object forgotten in the contemplation of the more remote andglorious event.” (Barnes). That this sign finds its ultimate fulfillment in the birth of the Messiah isevident from Matthew’s inspired application of it in his gospel (Mt 1:18-23). While the sign wasintended to show that Judah would be safe from the threatened invasion by Syria and Israel, Isaiah doesforesee that Judah will later suffer desolation from Assyria and Egypt, the very nations from which Ahazwas seeking help (7:1-25)!Beginning with another sign (though some relate it to the same sign in 7:14) involving a son of Isaiah,we find prophecies pertaining to The Assyrian Invader. Syria and Israel will fall at the hands of thekings of Assyria, who will then pass through Judah seeking to destroy it as well. Judah is encouraged toplace their trust in God and His Word with the assurance that better days are ahead. This sparks anotherglimpse into the time of the Messiah, when His coming and government will usher in peace and justice.In the meantime, Assyria’s schemes are restricted by God, who will allow the invader to do only whatThe Book Of Isaiah 20