1Here is the vision about Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah saw. It came to him when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah were ruling. They were kings of Judah. Isaiah was the son of Amoz.
2Listen to me, you heavens! Pay attention to me, earth!
The Lord has said, “I raised children. I brought them up. But they have refused to obey me. 3The ox knows its master. The donkey knows where its owner feeds it. But Israel does not know me. My people do not understand me.” 4How terrible it will be for this sinful nation!
They are loaded down with guilt. They are people who do nothing but evil. They are children who are always sinning. They have deserted the Lord. They have turned against the Holy One of Israel. They have turned their backs on him.
18“Come. Let us settle this matter,”
says the Lord. “Even though your sins are bright red, they will be as white as snow. Even though they are deep red, they will be white like wool.
19But you have to be willing to change and obey me. If you are, you will eat the good things that grow on the land.
20But if you are not willing to obey me, you will be killed by swords.” The Lord has spoken.
27Zion will be saved when justice is done. Those who are sorry for their sins will be saved when what is right is done.
28But sinners and those who refuse to obey the Lord will be destroyed. And those who desert the Lord will die.
29“Israel, you take delight in worshiping among the sacred oak trees. You will be full of shame for doing that. You have chosen to worship in the sacred gardens. You will be dishonored for doing that.
1. Historical authenticity and overview.
2. A call to repentance
3. Why God wants us to worship Him.
1. Historical authenticity and overview
Isreal was divided into two kingdom after the death of King Solomon-
The Northern Kingdom – 10 tribes
The Southern Kingdom – 2 tribes
The Global kingdoms that rule the world as Biblically recorded were
1. Egypt
2. Assirian Empire
3. Babylon
4. Persian
5. greece
6. Roman Empire
The Northern Kingdom was destroyed by the Assiarian Empire.
Assyrian empire – the year; 14th century BC ; 2025 BC – 1364 BC
Isaiah prophesied – at the Last part -150 years of the empire – tail end before the Babylonian Empire.
This was also the at the end of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (the 10 tribes – destroyed by Assyrian kings. )
1Here is the vision about Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah saw. It came to him when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah were ruling. They were kings of Judah. Isaiah was the son of Amoz.
The period of his ministry was in the time of 4 kings of Israel.
King Uzziah’s son - Jotham (Served with his Father – 10 years)
Ahaz – Bad King
Hezekiah (South Kingdom) – Good king
Prophets Hosea and Micaiah were his contemporaries.
The revelations from God came to him as Visions; not dreams.
He had a lot of prophesies about;
the 1st and 2nd coming of Jesus
The personhood of God,
Satan,
hell,
2 objections to the book
1. Some people think two people wrote the book-
1 – 39 : Isaiah / 40 – 66 : 2nd Isaiah (liberal Scholars)
Proven to be false. Example; same poetic form – “Holy one of Israel” – used through out (12 times in first part)
44 – 66; 13 times + only 6 times in the old testament.
2. could someone have inserted the prophesies after the birth and death of Jesus? Because not even one prophesy failed.
Dead sea scrolls (1930, 40s) preserved from 2nd Century BC – had the book of Isaiah - these were untouched
Septuagint – Greek translation of the old testament in the 3rd Century BC – 300 years before Jesus.
Isaiah is one book not two in the dead sea scrolls
Discussion
What are visions?
Difference between visions and dreams?
2. A call to repentance
2Listen to me, you heavens! Pay attention to me, earth!
The Lord has said, “I raised children. I brought them up. But they have refused to obey me.
3The ox knows its master. The donkey knows where its owner feeds it.
But Israel does not know me. My people do not understand me.” 4How terrible it will be for this sinful nation!
They are loaded down with guilt. They are people who do nothing but evil. They are children who are always sinning. They have deserted the Lord. They have turned against the Holy One of Israel. They have turned their backs on him.
God calls to repentance and pionts out something very important;
2Listen to me, you heavens! Pay attention to me, earth!
The Lord has said, “I raised children. I brought them up. But they have refused to obey me.
3The ox knows its master. The donkey knows where its owner feeds it.
But Israel does not know me. My people do not understand me.”
All creation except man have an issue with their creator but we are the most intelligent.
Is this a matter of ignorance, rebellion, the argument of a hidden God or a harden heart?
Isaac Newton – one of the most intelligent minds that ever lived.
“He who thinks half-heartedly will not believe in God; but he who really thinks has to believe in God.”
― Isaac Newton
“Atheism is so senseless. When I look at the solar system, I see the earth at the right distance from the sun to receive the proper amounts of heat and light. This did not happen by chance.”
― Sir Isaac Newton
Discussion
Do you know someone or a friend who do not believe in Jesus?
What do you think it will take for them to believe?
God still calls men to turn to him.
18“Come. Let us settle this matter,”
says the Lord. “Even though your sins are bright red,
they will be as white as snow. Even though they are deep red, they will be white like wool.
19But you have to be willing to change and obey me. If you are, you will eat the good things that grow on the land.
3. Is God wicked forcing us to worship him or he will kill us?
27 Zion will be saved when justice is done.
Those who are sorry for their sins will be saved
when what is right is done.
28But sinners and those who refuse to obey the Lord will be destroyed. And those who desert the Lord will die.
Why does God wants us to worship him?
1. It is the right thing
2. It takes the “God- life” to live in this universe. John 1:4, 3:15
3. God wants to fellowship with us and sin cannot stand in His presence.
4. In other to fulfill the purpose for which He created us. Col 1:16-17
Conclusion
But God cannot force us, He will not use his power to override our will.
Whiles we are alive, it is still our choice. A time will come when that choice will be over but we cannot come close to him if we didn’t choose him. Hell was created for the devil not man.
