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Isaiah
"Here is my Servant...."

Overview
Isaiah is probably the best known prophet of the Old Testament and one of the most complicated topics of Old Testament studies. The intense study of Isaiah is motivated by two primary concerns. One interest in Isaiah studies is motivated by the prominence of the New Testament writers’ use of Isaiah. A second interest in Isaiah emerges from the complexity and diversity of the material included in the Biblical collection under the title of Isaiah.
Based upon Isaiah 1:1, the opening section of Isaiah concerns the understanding of the events which occurred during the reigns of four Israelite kings: Ahaz, Uzziah, Jotham, and Hezekiah. It appears evident based upon the contents of Isaiah, that some of the material contained in the collection does not originate from the pen of Isaiah ben Amoz. One indicator of this is the sheer span of history covered in the writings. Regardless of who wrote the individual elements of what is currently called Isaiah, it was the message of God to His people. The message has at least three main thrusts: to provoke the nation of Israel to change its ways and return to God in their hearts, to encourage Israel to trust that God has not abandoned them despite His punishment upon the nation, and to reinforce the sovereignty of God over all nations and His interest in the salvation of all nations. In short, the message of Isaiah is directed at understanding the spiritual causes and meanings behind historical and political events.

Lesson Summary

Unit	Lesson	Reference	Study Focus	Small Group Focus
1	Justice & Righteousness	1	To understand the meaning of justice and righteousness in the Prophetic materials.	To challenge the group to think about social justice and how to get involved.
2	A Dry Vineyard	5	To understand God’s expectation of “his people” and the failures of Judah.	To examine the connection between God’s provisions and His expectations
3	Living Hope	7-8:22	To understand the use of signs and symbols by the prophets in the midst of challenging political situations.	To challenge the group to trust in God even during the most difficult or anxious situations.
4	My Witness	41-43	To understand the importance of recognizing God’s activity in the world.	To challenge the group to develop a language and pattern of a reliable witness.
5	“Come!”	52:13-56:8	To understand the joy of experiencing God’s reversal of fortunes in our lives.	To challenge the group to invite people from groups they consider outsiders.
6	Good News	61	To understand the different ways good news is proclaimed	To challenge the group to be visible and vocal about the goodness of God.

References Cited

Blenkinsopp, Joseph. A History of Prophecy in Israel. Louisville: John Knox Press, 1996.
Bright, John. A History of Israel. Second edition. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1972.
Childs, Brevard. Isaiah, Old Testament Library, Louisville: John Knox Press, 2001
Seitz, Christopher. “Isaiah,” Anchor Bible Dictionary, electronic edition.
Isaiah, Life Change Series. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1987

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