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Thirty-First and Thirty-Second Study.—Isaiah
1-12.1
[The material of this "study "
is furnished by Professor Harper.]
I.
PRELIMINARY
NOTES.
1. A book-study on Isaiah 40-66,
prepared by Prof. William G.
Ballantine, D. D., was published
in
THE OLD TESTAMENT STUDENT of
October, 1886. It does not seem
necessary, therefore,
to take up the consideration of
those chapters in this
connection.
2. Chs. 1-12 are universally
recognized as among the most
sublime and magnificent of
Sacred
Scripture. It is better to use
the space allotted to Isaiah in
the study of these particular
chapters than to try to cover
the thirty-nine chapters of the
first part. These twelve
chapters thoroughly studied will
bring a clearer knowledge of
Isaiah and his work than
thirty-nine chapters cursorily
examined.
3. The comparative definiteness
of the historical situation of
these chapters makes the study
of
them most satisfactory.
With but few exceptions we are
able to place the words of the
prophet in direct connection
with their historical occasion.
4. The large amount of the
Messianic element constitutes
also an important and
interesting
feature.
No Messianic prophecies are more
significant than those of
Isaiah.
5. The arrangement cited below
is believed to present the
material in an order as nearly
chronological as at this date is
possible. There may certainly be
expected additional
light from the monuments.
6. It is a mistake to suppose
(1) that we have in every case
the very words to which Isaiah
gave utterance; much of the
material which has come down to
us is fragmentary; in
some cases, we have only the
text which served as the basis
of his sermon; in other cases,
we have only a condensed
statement of what originally
made many discourses. (2) That
in our present collection the
discourses are arranged
chronologically. The material of
the historical books, where, if
at all, we should expect a
chronological order, is found
often to have been arranged in
accordance with a principle
other than the chronological; just so with the material
of the Psalter and of Isaiah. We
are therefore doing
no violence to the sacred
narrative, if in our effort to
understand it, we take it up in
an order different from that in
which it is given.2
7. We shall have the truest
conception of the Book of
Isaiah, if we understand that it
is a collection of sermons, made in part
by the author himself, in part
by a later editor, and in
many respects similar to the
volumes of sermons published in
our own day. In this collection, however, there will not
be found the system and method
of arrangement which
would characterize a modern
volume of sermons. This could
not be expected. Let us
place Isaiah before us as a
preacher; whether speaking on
the corners of the street or
writing in the privacy of his
home, he was the preacher of his
times, and in these prophecies we have all that has
descended to us of his work.
8. The literature of the subject
is quite voluminous.
Only a few of those books which
the student will find most helpful need
be mentioned:
Delitzsch, "Commentary on
Isaiah;" Cheyne, "The Prophecies of
Isaiah;" Geakie, "Hours with the
Bible," vol. IV.; Stanley,
"History of the Jewish Church,
Lectures;" Briggs, "Messianic
Prophecy;" Orelli,
"Old Testament Prophecy."3
9. In order to secure unity of
treatment two "studies " will be
combined into one.
II.
HISTORICAL LESSON.
1. Obtain an approximate date
for the following events:4
(1) Death of Uzziah; accession
of Jotham.
(2) Expedition of
Tiglath-pileser against
Syria, Israel, and Philistia.
(3) Accession of Ahaz.
(4) Accession of Shalmaneser.
(5)
Accession of Hezekiah.
(6) Accession of Sargon; fall of
Samaria.
(7) Merodach-baladan's
embassy to
Hezekiah.
(8) Sargon's siege of Ashdod.
(9) Sargon's conquest of
Babylon.
(10) Accession of Sennacherib.
(11)Sennacherib's invasion of
Judah.
(12) Accession of Esar-haddon.
2. Endeavor to secure, from
whatever source, a clear
conception of the times covered within these dates, as
regards affairs in Assyria,
Syria, Israel, and
Judah.
III.
BIBLICAL LESSON.
1. Read carefully ch. 6 of
Isaiah.
(1)
Noting
(a) 6:1, the date, the
details of the scene ("
throne," "skirts ");
(b) 6:2-4, the
occupation of the
Seraphim, their cry, the
result;
(c) 6:5, the feelings of
the prophet;
(d) 6:6-10, his
purification and
commission;
(e) 6:11-13, the
duration of the state of
obduracy.
(2) Interpreting
closely the various phrases
in vs. 3,5,9,10,13, and
these verses taken
separately.
(3) Deciding whether
this chapter is to be
understood as the original
call or -commission of
Isaiah, or as a renewal of a
call given before.
(4) Explaining
(a) how Isaiah could
have undertaken a work
knowing in advance that
this work was to be a
failure;
(b) how this chapter, if
it is the original call,
has come to stand sixth,
rather than first.
(5) Comparing the
inaugural vision of Jeremiah
(ch. 1), and of Ezekiel (ch.
1).
(6) Fixing in mind the section
as a whole, i. e.,
(a) linking
together its several
parts,
(b) considering it as a
unity.5
2. Read carefully chs. 2:2-4:6,
(1)
Noting
(a) 2:2-4, the first
Messianic prophecy, viz., the
exalted mountain,
the flow of all nations to God's
house, the resulting peace;
(b)
2:5, Israel
cannot share in this glory,
because
(c) 2:6-8, she has
become "foreign,"
wealthy, idolatrous, and
consequently
(d) 2:9-11, she
must be brought low;
this judgment will come
(e)
2:12-21, upon all nature and all
inanimate
objects in which pride has been
taken,
(f) 2:22--3:15, upon the
men who have
been their rulers,
(g) 3:16-4:1,
upon the women;
(h) the second
Messianic
prophecy, 4:2-6, viz., the
purification of Zion, and the
consequent blessing
of the remnant.
(2)
Interpreting closely the
important phrases6 in 2:2-4;
2:6-8; 2:12-21; 2:22;
3:1-15;7 4:1; 4:2-6.
(3)
Deciding
(a) the relation of
2:2-4 to Micah 4:1-4, viz.,
whether it is borrowed
by Isaiah from Micah, by Micah
from Isaiah, or taken by both
from an
earlier source;
(b) the relation
of 2:2-4 to all that follows
(2:5-4:6);
(c) the
general force of the imagery in
2:12-16;
(d) the force of the
transaction in
3:6,7;
(e) the relation of 4:2-6
to what precedes, viz., whether
it belongs
chronologically to a period
following that to which the
preceding events are
assigned, or may be understood
to be in progress at the same
time with
these preceding events.
(4)
Explaining
(a) the different
Messianic teachings in 2:2-4, e.
g., the exaltation of the house of Jehovah,
the going forth there from of
instruction,
the destruction of weapons of
war, universal peace;
(b) in
4:2-6, e. g.,
destruction of Israel, saving of
a remnant, the purity which
results from
the purging, great fruitfulness,
holiness of those who remain,
God's presence among his people and
protection of them;
(c) the
fulfillment of these
ideas in the Messiah.
(5)
Comparing8 these ideas with
those contained in
(a) Joel 3;
(b) Joel 4:9-21;
(c) Amos 9:9-15;
(d) Hos.
11:8-11;
(e) Hos. 14:2-11.9
(6)
Fixing in mind the section
(2:2-4:6) as a whole; this is
the crowning part of
the work, and if it is left
undone, nine-tenths of the value
of the study is
lost.
3. Read carefully 5:1-24; 5:25;
9:8-10:4; 5:26-30.
(1)
Noting
(a) 5:1-7, the
parable of the vineyard;
(b)
5:8-10,17, the woe pronounced against monopoly;
(c)
5:11-16, the woe against
drunkenness and
debauchery;
(d) 5:18-24, short
woes against various sins;
(e)
5:25, which
connects 5:1-24 with 9:8-10:4;
(f) 9:8-10:4 (divided into four
strophes, 9:8-12,
9:13-17, 9:18-21, 10:1-4, each
closing with a refrain)
announcing a judgment
upon Israel;
(g) 5:26-30, a
prophetic vision of the advance
of a foreign
enemy, and its destructive fury.
(2)
Interpreting closely10 the
important phrases in 5:1-7;
5:8-24; 9:8-10:4;
5:26-30.
(3)
Deciding
(a) the relation
between the parable, 5:1-7, and
the woes, 5:8-24;
(b) whether 5:17 fits in better
after 5:10, or 5:16;
(c) whether
5:25 appropriately introduces 9:8-10:4;
(d) the relation between 5:1-24
and 9:8-10:4;
(e) whether 9:8-10:4 was
originally written in this
connection, or written
perhaps earlier and incorporated
later; in other words whether
the first
three strophes are to be taken
as prophetic or historical;
(f)
what evidence
exists for placing 5:26-30 after
9:8-10:4, rather than in its
present position.
(4)
Explaining
(a) the various
teachings of the parable, 5:1-7;
(b) the force of
the various woes (5:8-24) when
viewed from the stand-point of
our own
time;
(c) the attributes
assigned to God in the
representations made in
9:8-10:4;
(d) the transition
from 9:8-21 to 10:1-4;
(e) the
historical fulfillment of the announcement in
5:26-30.
(5)
Comparing
(a) with 5:1-7,
the parallel in Matt. 21:33-41,
the similar representations in Ps. 80 and the
allusion in Ez. 9:9;
(b) with
5:8-11, the similar
idea in Job 20:19, Mic. 2:1-5,
and the law of the jubilee year
(Lev. 25:8-16);
(c) with the refrain in
9:8-10:4, that in Psalms 42, 43;
(d) with the re-arrangement of verses which seems
to be required in this section,
similar
variations to be found
(α) in
parallel Psalms, e. g., Pss. 42,
43; Ps. 18 and
2 Sam. 22; Ps. 108 with Ps.
57:8-12; 60:7-14; 1 Chron.
16:8-36 with Ps.
105:1-15; 96:1-12; 106:1,47,48;
(β) in parallel passages of
Samuel, Kings
and Chronicles; e. g., 2 Sam. 8,
9, 10 with 1 Chron. 18,19; 1
Chron. 11:1-47
with 2 Sam. 5:1-10, 23:8-39; 1
Chron. 13:1-14; 14:1-17 with 2
Sam. 6:1-11,
5:11-25; 2 Chron. 1:2-13;
1:14-17, 2, with 1 Kgs. 3:4-15,
10:26-29, 5:15-23.
(6)
Fixing in mind the section
as a whole (see remark above).
4. Read carefully chs. 7:1-9:7,
(1)
Noting
(a) 7:1,2, the
confederacy of Syria and Israel
against Judah;
(b) 7:3-9,
Isaiah's first interview with
Ahaz, his announcement;
(c)
7:10-17, Isaiah's
second interview, the Tmmanuel
prophecy, the prediction of
Assyria's
coming;
(d)[ 7:18-25, an
expansion of 7:17;]
(e) 8:1-4,
Isaiah's third prophecy, Maher-shalal-hash-baz;
(f)[
8:5-10, the destruction wrought
by Assyria,
but its influence counteracted
by "Tmmanuel";
(g) 8:11-15,
"explaining
upon what conditions the motto "
Immanuel " will be verified;]
(h) 8:16-9:7,
including
(α) 8:16-18, a prayer
that his testimony may be
preserved and
accomplish its purpose,
(β)
8:19-20, a warning to his
disciples to avoid
necromancy and to rely upon
God's instruction,
(γ) 8:22,
9:1, a description
of the approaching darkness and
despair, the sudden change,
light instead
of darkness, beginning, too, in
the same quarter in which
darkness was the
greatest;
(δ) 9:2-7, light,
rejoicing, liberty, peace
because of the birth of the
Messiah, whose reign shall be
righteous and everlasting.
(2)
Interpreting closely
(a)
"could not prevail" (7:1);
(b) "
Shear-Jashub " (7:3);
(c) "two tails " (7:4);
(d)
"head of Syria is D.," etc.
(7:8);
(e) "depth,"'
"height" (7:11);
(f) "a maiden
shall conceive," "Immanuel"
(7:14);
(g)
v. 15;
(h) vs. 16,17;
(i) vs.
21,22;
(j) "pen of a man" (8:1);
(k) "Mahershalal-hash-baz;"
(1) v. 4, cf.
7:8;
(m) "waters of Shiloah "
(8:6);
(n) v. 8;
(o) vs. 16,17;
(p) vs. 21,22;
(q) 9:1;
(r) "joy of harvest"
(9:3);
(s) "day of Midian" (9:4);
(t) v. 5;
(u)
"Wonderful," "Counsellor,"
"Mighty God,"
" Everlasting Father," " Prince
of Peace" (9:6);
(v) v. 7.
(3)
Deciding
(a) the relation
between the first and second
interviews of Isaiah
with Ahaz (7:3-9; 7:10-17);
(b)
the connection of 7:15-17 with
7:14;
(c)
the relation, in particular, of
7:18-25 and 7:17;
(d) the
relation of the
Immanuel and the Maher-shalal-hash-baz
prophecies;
(e) the connection
of
the passages 8:5-10, 8:11-15
with what precedes and follows;
(f) whether
8:22 should precede 8:21;
(g)
the connection of 8:16-18;
8:19,20; 8:22,21 and
9:1 with each other and with
9:2-7.
(4)
Explaining
(a) the
historical situation (in Judah,
Israel, Syria, Assyria)
which gave rise to this
prophecy;
(b) the attitude of
Ahaz to Isaiah;
(c)
Isaiah's policy and motive in
the whole transaction;
(d) the
Immanuel
prophecy, upon the idea that a
sign to be seen then and there
was unnecessary;
(e) the Immanuel prophecy
upon the idea that a sign to be
seen then
and there was necessary; i. e.,
that Isaiah had primary
reference to a child
who was soon to be borne (e. g.,
by his own wife, or by a member
of Ahaz'
household) and to be a type of
the Messiah;
(f) the Immanuel
prophecy,
upon the idea that Isaiah
expected the Messiah himself to
appear in connection with the Assyrian
invasion;
(g) the essential
teachings of the
Immanuel prophecy upon whatever
theory;
(h) the historical
meaning of
the Maher-shalal-hash-baz
prophecy;
(i) the historical
basis of the " Prince
of Peace " prophecy;
(j) the
manner in which it is
introduced;
(k) the points
of contrast between the actual
historical situation and the
thing promised;
(1) the titles given, four or
five, their meaning
individually, their relation to
each other;
(m) the Messianic
teachings of the passage (9:1-7)
as a whole.
(5)
Comparing
(a) the attitude
of Samuel, Elijah, Amos,
Jeremiah to their
respective kings, with that of
Isaiah to Ahaz;
(b) the
historical situation
of this section with that of the
preceding sections;
(c) the
giving of signs,
elsewhere in Scripture;
(d) the
typical interpretation of the "
Immanuel"
prophecy with the similar
interpretation of such passages
as Pss. 2, 22, 72,
110;
(e) the use made of this
prophecy in the New Testament,
Matt. 1:23;
(f) with the "Prince of Peace"
prophecy, Zech. 9:9,10; Mic.
5:5; Hos. 2;
Pss. 2, 72, 110.
(6)
Fixing in mind the section
(7:1-9:7) as a whole.
5. Read carefully 10:5-12:6,
(1)
Noting
(a) 10:5-11, that
upon Assyria who has failed to
work according to
the divine will;
(b) 10:12-15,
who knew not that she was an
instrument;
(c) 10:16-19, there shall come
destruction;
(d) 10:20-23, of
Israel a remnant
shall return;
(e) 10:24-27,
Assyria even now is not to be
feared;
(f) 10:28-34,
though approaching with terrible
onset, she shall be suddenly
destroyed;
(g) 11:1-9, a rod of Jesse's
stem shall sprout forth with
divine spirit, a
throne of justice, a kingdom of
peace; and with the knowledge of
Jehovah
universal;
(h) 11:10-16, the
gathering in of Israel, the
union of north and
south, the destruction of
nations still hostile, etc.;
(i)
12:1-6, the song of
the reunited and restored
people.
(2)
Interpreting closely.,
(a)
10:8,9;
(b) 10:14,15;
(c) 10:27;
(d) 10:33,34;
(e)
"shoot," "branch" (11:1);
(f) "spirit
of wisdom," etc. (11:2);
(g)
11:5;
(h) 11:6-8;
(i) 11:13;
(j)
11:14;
(k) " draw water out"
(12:3).
(3)
Deciding
(a) the difference
between the ideas presented in
10:5-11 and
10:12-15;
(b) whether the
thought of 10:20-23 is only a
remnant shall return,
or a remnant shall surely
return;
(c) the relation of
10:28-34 to what precedes;
(d) the connection
between 11:1-9 and 11:10-16;
(e)
the general
relation to the whole of 12:1-6.
(4)
Explaining
(a) the general
force of this discourse as
concerning the Assyrians, as concerning Judah;
(b)
the contrast between 10:5-34 and
11:112:6;
(c) the historical
situation, whether before or
after the downfall of
Samaria; whether the Assyrian
king was Sargon (about 711 B.
C.) or
Sennacherib (about 701 B. C.);
(d) the historical allusions in
10:9;
(e) the
details of the march in
10:28-32;
(f) the thought of
each verse of 11:1-9
separately;
(g) the general
Messianic teachings of the
passage, in reference
to David's seed, a predicted
prince, righteousness and peace,
a universal
knowledge of God.
(5)
Comparing
(a) the passage
with chs. 28, 29, e. g., 10:12
with 28:21; 10:22
with 28:22; 10:26 with 28:15,18;
10:33 with 29:7,8; 11:2 with
28:6;
(b) the
thought of this Messianic
passage with that of preceding
passages in
Isaiah;
(c) the historical
situation of this section with
that of preceding
sections.
(6)
Fixing in mind the section
(10:5-12:6) as a whole.
6. Read carefully 1:1-31,
(1)
Noting
(a) 1:1, the preface;
(b) 1:2-9, the description of
the present, viz.,
apostasy, rottenness, desolation
of the land;
(c) 1:10-17, the
religious worship entirely formal and
insufficient, the thing needed;
(d) 1:18-23, a promise
of pardon notwithstanding the
existing corruption and
degradation;
(e)
1:24-31, the announcement of a
purification, which will
preserve the good,
but destroy the bad.
(2) Interpreting closely,
(a)
the introductory invocation (v.
2);
(b) the force of
the comparison in v. 3;
(c) the
climax in v. 4;
(d) force of vs.
5,6,7,8,9;
(e) "judges of Sodom;"
(f) the
reference to sacrifices (vs.
11-14);
(g) the
phrases in 16,17;
(h) the
figures in vs. 21,22;
(i) the
force of vs. 25,29,30,31.
(3)
Deciding
(a) the relation of
the various portions of the
chapter to each
other;
(b) whether there is any
connection between chs. 1 and 2;
(c) the
relation existing between chs. 1
and 6;
(d) the relation between chs.
1 and 2-12.
(4)
Explaining
(a) the
historical situation as implied
in v. 7;
(b) the moral and
religious condition as described
especially in vs. 15,18,21;
(c)
the relation
of this condition of things to
the time of Ahaz, to the time of
Hezekiah;
(d) the considerations for and
against assigning the chapter to
the time of
Sargon, to the time of
Sennacherib;
(e) the force of
the chapter as an
introduction, written at a late
date, to prophecies of different
periods.
7. Group together now these
various sections.
(1) Ch. 6, the inaugural vision
and commission.
(2) Ch.2:2-4:6, the exalted
mountain, Israel's humiliation,
the purification of Zion.
(3) Chs. 5:1-24; 5:25; 9:8-10:4;
5:26-30, the fruit of the
vineyard, the woes, the
impending
judgment, the advance and
destruction of the enemy.
(4) Chs. 7:1-9:7 Syria and
Israel vs. Judah, Isaiah and
Ahaz, Tmmanuel and Maher-shalalhash-baz. Assyria's destruction,
darkness and despair followed by
light, rejoicing, peace.
(5) Chs. 10:5-12:6, the
destruction coming upon Assyria;
return of Israel's remnant;
Assyria
approaching with terrible onset,
but to be destroyed suddenly;
the sprouting rod of
Jesse's stem with peace and
universal acknowledgment of
Jehovah, Israel's return, the
song of union and restoration.
(6) Ch. 1, the wretched present,
exhortation, promise,
announcement of purging.
8. Group together the Messianic
prophecies as follows:
(1)
Under Jotham,
a) 2:2-4
the
Exaltation of Jehovah's house,
in contrast with the humiliation
which Israel must first suffer
before being allowed to become a
partaker,
b) 3:2-6,
the harvest blessings
(holiness, divine presence and
protection),
in contrast with the want, ruin
and desolation depicted in
preceding chapters.
(2)
Under Ahaz,
c) 7:14-17,
the birth of
Immanuel, serving as a threat
and warning to
Ahaz, but a promise and solace
to the pious, in connection with
the purpose of Ahaz to
ally himself with Assyria.
d) 8:16-9:11,
the birth of a
"wonderful counsellor, God-hero,
distributor
(father) of spoil, prince of
peace," in connection with the
destruction of Northern Israel
by the Assyrian hosts.
(3)
Under Hezekiah,
e) 11:1-16,
the shoot (producing fruit) of
Jesse and the peaceful future,
in
contrast with the fallen cedar
(Assyria), which shall never
sprout forth again.
9. From your knowledge of -the
chapters, select twelve or
fifteen of the most
important subjects or ideas
which they contain, and collect
under each subject all that is said concerning
it. Such topics, for example, as
the following
may suggest themselves:
(1)
Political condition of Judah;
(2) moral condition of Judah;
(3) Judah's
relation to Assyria;
(4)
condition of Assyria;
(5) Isaiah's attitude toward
foreign powers;
(6) Isaiah's
attitude towards
idolatry;
(7) Isaiah's attitude
towards sacrifices;
(8) God's
love for Israel;
(9) threats of punishment;
(10)
promises of blessings;
(11)
striking figures;
(12) historical events;
(13)
chief characters;
(14) important
predictions;
(15) references to preceding
sacred history;
(16) attributes
of God asserted
or implied;
(17) spiritual
worship, etc., etc.
10. Formulate certain general
principles of prophecy as
suggested by your study
of this section of prophetic
material. |
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