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SECOND ISAIAH

Explore the dual authorship of Isaiah's prophecies, reflecting on the fall of Babylon, Cyrus's role, and the Servant Songs' profound messages.

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SECOND ISAIAH

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  1. SECOND ISAIAH

  2. BABYLON’S DEMISE • In spite of Jews’ tolerable conditions in Babylon, they still yearned for Jerusalem. Ezekiel’s prophecies of restored temple helped “feed the fire.” • 539 B.C.E. – Babylon defeated by great Persian empire & King Cyrus • Persian empire lasted 200 years until rise of Alexander the Great

  3. PERSIAN EMPIRE

  4. SECOND ISAIAH Widely accepted by modern scholarship that book of Isaiah represents at least two different authors Perhaps an original Isaiah (the Jerusalem prophet) & a second author years later from the “school” of Isaiah. Why do most scholars think two authors?

  5. SECOND ISAIAH • Time: 1-39 & 40-66 deal with different periods in history • 1-39 is right before destruction of Jerusalem • 40-66 written in light of its rebuilding • These events separated by almost 100 years.

  6. SECOND ISAIAH • Tone: Stark change of overall message between 1-39 & 40-66: • 1-39 speaks of warnings & impending doom – “Day of Judgment” was yet to come. Jerusalem would be destroyed. • 40-66 speaks of deliverance, restoration, grace. “Day of Judgment” had come & gone. Jerusalem would be rebuilt.

  7. SECOND ISAIAH • We know nothing about his life & personal career. All we know: a prophet to God’s people first in Babylonian exile, then later after Israelites return to Jerusalem. • Saw Yahweh as in control of whole course of world history, not just Jews. “From beginning to end, the prophecy of Second Isaiah is a proclamation of GOOD NEWS.” - Anderson

  8. 40-66 – COMFORT TO ISRAEL Set in Babylon during Exile The Prophet’s “Call” (40-1-11) • Note words of comfort & change: “Comfort, comfort…” “speak tenderly…” “her penalty has been paid…” “valleys lifted up & mountains made low” Very different tone from previous 39 chapters.

  9. 40-66 – COMFORT TO ISRAEL Vss. 6-8 – Interesting “exchange” between God & the people: • Vs. 6a – God speaking (“Cry out!”) • Vss. 6b-7 – People respond out of cynical voice of judgment • Vs. 8 – God responds – judgment is over Judgment has come and passed. Now it is time to be redeemed.

  10. 40-66 – COMFORT TO ISRAEL Role of Cyrus, king of Persia (41:1-29) • Second Isaiah casts Cyrus as God’s agent/instrument in redeeming the people. Allowed Israelites to return to homeland – unusual for a conquering military leader. • Second Isaiah views Cyrus in very favorable light, even casting him as part of God’s plan. • Cyrus is never named directly but is referred to often without name.

  11. THE SERVANT SONGS Four poems that introduce a figure called the Lord’s “servant.” Each poem adds more info about the Servant, with the final poem revealing Servant’s trial & death. WHO is the servant?

  12. #1 – The Servant’s Mission (42:1-4) • Written in 3rd person • Mission of servant – to “bring justice to the nations” (vs. 1) #2 – Servant’s Responsibility (49:1-6) • Written in 1st person. Servant himself is speaking. • Vs. 3 – servant identified here as “Israel.” • Mission of servant – to be a “light to the nations” (vs. 6b)

  13. #3 – The Servant’s Submission (50:4-11) • Written in 1st person – servant is speaking. • Servant’s obedience has caused him to suffer ridicule & opposition (vs. 6) • Change from first two songs where focus was on what servant did. Now the people respond to the servant – and it’s not good!

  14. #4 – The Servant’s Trial and Death (52:13-53:12) • Written in 3rd person (like 1st one, creating a “bookends” effect) • Climax of previous servant songs – the Servant pays ultimate price for obedience. • Divided into 5 stanzas of 3 verses each: • First & last one – the Lord speaks about the Servant. • Middle three – another person speaks about the Servant:

  15. #4 – The Servant’s Trial and Death (52:13-53:12) • 52:13-15– Appearance of Servant • God introduces the Servant & everyone is appalled by his disfigurement. • Why disfigured? Maybe physical toll of the way he was treated in third song?

  16. #4 – The Servant’s Trial and Death (52:13-53:12) • 53:1-3– Rejection of the Servant • Very graphic description of Servant’s appearance as the cause for his rejection by others • 53:4-6– Servant suffering for others • “Vicarious suffering” – suffering on the behalf of others (vs. 6). • Note heavy use of first person plural pronouns – “we,” “us.”

  17. #4 – The Servant’s Trial and Death (52:13-53:12) • 53:7-9– Death & burial of Servant • “Led like lamb to be slaughtered” A lamb stands still & lets himself be slaughtered. Suggests that servant takes his lot willingly. • Buried along with wicked & rich –Servant was buried among people different from him. • 53:10-12 – Vindication of Servant • The Servant’s suffering is over and now he is set right.

  18. WHO WAS THE SERVANT?? • Could be Israel • Probably Israel, either entire nation or remnant that returned to Jerusalem. • 2nd Servant song makes strongest case • Or could be an individual • Image of “suffering servant” seems to more readily reflect individual (4th Servant song)

  19. 56-66 – ORACLES, PRAYERS & POEMS FOR A RESTORED PEOPLE • Some argue for a third prophet, “Third Isaiah,” who wrote final 10 chapters. 40-55 are unified whole; 56-66 are collection of oracles. • Note use of the word “Zion” in these chapters – a new name for the restored Jerusalem. • 65: 17-25 – “the wolf and the lamb shall feed together…” A time of peace when all is right – the fulfillment of God’s mighty work.

  20. BACK TO JERUSALEM:EZRA & NEHEMIAH

  21. 539 B.C.E. – King Cyrus of Persia defeated Babylon. 538 B.C.E. – Cyrus’ Decree – allowed Jews to return to Jerusalem in 538 B.C.E. & rebuild homeland There they rebuilt their temple, which had been in ruin for over 40 years. Cyrus even gave them money to help them do this.

  22. Cyrus appointed Sheshbazzar as “prince of Judah” to rule over Jews’ return Succeeded by Zerubbabel • Direct descendant of Jehoiachin (Davidic lineage) • It was under his reign that temple in Jerusalem was rebuilt. • Would become important figure in writings of prophet Zechariah

  23. Two prophets who inspired people to rebuild temple: • Haggai • Promoted rebuilding temple in four oracles (1:1-2:23). • Said the temple would be greater than the one built by Solomon.

  24. Two prophets who inspired people to rebuild temple: • Zechariah • Dealt with apocalyptic/ messianic implications of rebuilding temple. • Experienced eight visions: Zech. 1:7-17 & 6: 1-8 – Four horsemen of the apocalypse: Were sent out by God to patrol the earth to check on conditions.

  25. EZRA AND NEHEMIAH Two separate books that go together with parallel structure:

  26. EZRA • A priest, led a caravan of exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem 458 B.C.E. • Instituted a number of covenant renewals and reform once back in Jerusalem

  27. EZRA EZRA’S REFORMS: • Renewing the covenant (Neh. 8:1-9:38) • Instituted ceremony of covenant renewal, involving ancient customs from Israel’s covenant at Sinai. • Read from “The Book of the Torah of Moses” from early morning until noon.

  28. EZRA EZRA’S REFORMS: • Renewing the covenant (Neh. 8:1-9:38) • Festival followed by day of repentance & confession. • Again, an act of separation from all other nationalities. • Very similar to covenant renewal of King Josiah in 2 Kings 23:1-3

  29. EZRA EZRA’S REFORMS: • Problem of foreign wives (9:1-10:44) • Those who had married foreign wives were sent away – including their children (10:6-44). Harsh!! • An emphasis on importance of purity.

  30. NEHEMIAH • Was a cupbearer to the Persian king. Also a builder. • Convinced the king to send him to Jerusalem as governor. • Main task was inspiring the Jews to rebuild the crumbled walls around Jerusalem.

  31. NEHEMIAH First trip to Jerusalem (2:9-7:73 & 12:44-47): • 445 B.C.E. Given money by king to repair city’s walls, destroyed long before by the Babylonian attack. Took 52 days. • Dedicatory services held once walls were complete • Ruled there for 12 years, then went back to Persia.

  32. NEHEMIAH Second trip to Jerusalem (13:1-31): • Came back & found Jews were not observing Sabbath properly. • Ordered city gates to be closed & punishment on anyone who did not observe the Sabbath. • Harsh treatment to mixed marriages –issued a decree banning the practice & those involved were beaten.

  33. NEXT WEEK

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