Colin Badger - Thematic Study of Isaiah - Class 1 - A Sick Nation and a Faithless King

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1. 0:00

   This is day one of the 1988 Idlewild Bible School. Our third period speaker is Brother Colin Badger and his general subject is Thematic Study of Isaiah. His subtopic for today’s class is 1/6 Nation and A Faithless King for the Badger. Good morning, brothers and sisters. Isaiah, the son of Amos, is regarded as one of the greatest, if not.

2. 0:36

   The greatest of Israel’s. Writing prophets, There is no greater testimony, brothers and sisters, to the importance of Isaiah’s prophetic ministry than the evidence or the testimony that is offered in the New Testament. For Isaiah’s prophecy is. Directly quoted or alluded to some 80. Five times in the New Testament. Now that’s a calculation that was done some years ago by Bollinger. We suggest that 85 quotations.

3. 1:12

   Or allusions to Isaiah in the New Testament is bare minimum. We. Suspect that there are many more that perhaps have not been yet so obvious. Now consider the. Forts of those facts? What other book? In the New Testament. Is referred to or. Directly quoted from as that. 80. Five times minimum. Surely that in itself is an open invitation, brothers and sisters. An open invitation to all students. Of the word to discover.

4. 1:51

   Answers to the question Why Isaiah? The frequent New Testament use of Isaiah obviously implies, doesn’t it, that Isaiah’s prophecy has numerous links with the gospel as it is in Christ Jesus? One Christadelphian writer pointedly stated. And I believe it. Captures a good. Spirit, he said Isaiah’s revelation stands between Genesis and the Apocalypse like a mighty art.

5. 2:24

   Across which God’s purpose of redeeming love in Christ. Appears to take a mighty leap forward toward its fulfillment and climax Picture reinforced the point a little bit more. Let me just return to some statistics the game. Consider how some of those 85 odd references to Isaiah in the New Testament are distributed over the New Testament.

6. 2:53

   Record. Matthew’s Gospel 9 references to Isaiah that are fairly obvious. Mark’s Gospel, 6 references to Isaiah, and of course. These statistics. Might really be enlarged if we’ve missed them. Luke refers to Isaiah, obviously. Some five times John’s Gospel, five times Acts, five times Romans, 18 times Revelation Wildstein. Put another way, seven out of the 27 New Testament books have no obvious reference to Isaiah’s prophecy.

7. 3:36

   That’s only 7 New Testament. Books out of a total. Of 27 in a certain sense, then, as you can see from those facts, it’s very much a New Testament book is Isaiah, which we hope will become more. Obvious as we proceed through our studies this week. This class is designed to be. Introductory there’s. A lot, in a certain way, that most of us know about Isaiah. Because he is referred to.

8. 4:04

   So many times in the New Testament, in one way or another, we often hear Isaiah being. Referred to but. That’s somewhat of a delusion, because although we often hear of references to Isaiah, it’s not too often that we get down to Isaiah as a personal. Study is it? Because there are some 66 books in Isaiah, we are often discouraged from trying to take a handle on that prophecy in our own personal study.

9. 4:36

   Ecclesial Bible classes might sometimes venture into the Minor Prophets, or perhaps into Daniel or a section of Ezekiel, but rarely do Bible classes venture into Isaiah as a block study. So although there’s. A sense in which we all know something about Isaiah. There’s a sense in which that’s not so true because of its largeness.

10. 4:59

    We hope that by the end of this week, by going through Isaiah some six different times from different perspectives, thematically, you’ll at least go away from the Bible school feeling you have some handle on Isaiah that you didn’t before. Some idea? As to what the big. Concepts or the big spiritual? Ideas are.

11. 5:21

    In Isaiah and that you’ll. Feel perhaps you have. Some idea as to the Life and Times of Isaiah, and lastly some understanding of the. Structure of that large book now let’s. Turn to the Prophet himself. Isaiah, the son of Amos. His name appears immediately in Isaiah chapter 1. Isaiah the son of Amos now.

12. 5:48

    Of the Prophet’s personal. Life we know very little, brothers and sisters. For what it’s worth, I will share with you. What we might call traditional references to Isaiah from the ancient Jewish writings outside of Scripture. They’re not inspired and they’re not authoritative by any means. But quite. Often some of these ancient. Jewish traditions that preceded even the time of our Lord have some reliability on some time on some occasions, so I’ll share a few bits of information from that source. Ancient Jewish tradition holds.

13. 6:27

    That Isaiah was of royal. Blood that Amos, his father mentioned here in chapter 1 that Amos, Isaiah’s father was supposedly brother to. King. Uzziah, king of Judah, the king whose. Forehead broke. Out in leprosy, you remember. Now, if that is reliable, such royal origin would. Perhaps account for Isaiah’s? Ready access to the court.

14. 6:54

    In Jerusalem, for as you go through the kings and Chronicles in the times of Isaiah, you find that Isaiah has very. Free and easy. Access to court life. In Jerusalem, from those records and the middle section of Isaiah, there are hints. That Isaiah moved about in higher circles in. Jerusalem as though he were.

15. 7:16

    Actually a member of the. Court itself. So if that tradition can be. Trusted it. Might account for why Isaiah was very much part of Hezekiah’s Corp. Now the same ancient Jewish traditions. Also hold that Isaiah. Meant met a miserable end. They tell us that Isaiah perished. In the midst. Of Manassas godless persecution. Campaign when the same tradition holds. Apparently, Isaiah took refuge.

16. 7:49

    In the hollow tree and Manasseh ordered it to be. Sawn through while Isaiah resided in the tree. But I know that sounds something like Robin Hood, doesn’t it? But it may not be. Stretching our credulity as much as we might. Think Hold your hand here. And. Just go over to Hebrews it. Just. Might not be as mythical.

17. 8:15

    As perhaps we might. First React Hebrews chapter. 11 that well known chapter. Of the. Faithful who sacrificed their lives for their convictions in faith there’s a curious. Phrase here that just might. Match tradition with reality Hebrews Chapter 11 we. Start. Down to verse. 30. 5 by way of introduction. Hebrews 11, verse 30. 5 women received. Their dead raised to life.

18. 8:50

    Again, and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection. Verse 30. 6. And others had a trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, gay moreover of bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned. Now notice. Have you ever thought about? This before and asked yourself of whom was this writing written? They were stones, they were fawn asunder. Was that Isaiah during Manassas persecution? Remember Jewish tradition?

19. 9:29

    For what it’s worth. Of course had no bearing on Hebrews Chapter 11. The Jewish. Tradition we’re referring to was written sometime before Hebrews 11 was ever written, with no direct reference. To the person or the. People it. Is interesting that the most ancient. Records that the Jews ever. Held. About the. Life and background of Isaiah maintained that he sought refuge in a tree during Manassas.

20. 9:56

    Period. And he was, brutally. Sawn asunder. Well, Hebrews. 11 is referring to somebody. Or to some group. Isaiah might be the one. Or. Might be typical of others. James in his epistle says something that would be. Very. Relevant to an understanding of Isaiah’s times and of course for many other prophets in his exposition of faith and work.

21. 10:25

    James reminds us and we quote from James. Take, my brethren, he. Says the prophets who have. Spoken in the name of the. Lord. For an example of suffering, affliction, and patience, take my brethren the prophets. Those. Who have been an example of suffering and those who have lived through it with patience. Good examples of godliness in isaiah’s prophecy we find that Isaiah.

22. 10:58

    Walked barefoot as part. Of an enacted parable. It wasn’t a difficult parable. It was not an easy parable to enact Isaiah. Saw. Very brutal and ruthless times all around him. He suffered through some of the greatest tensions and stresses that his nation ever had known and were yet to experience. When we consider Isaiah and his time, whether he was saw in asunder or not, he lived in times that were stressful and difficult, as we’ll shortly. See.

23. 11:34

    And as James admonishes us. Let us look at the. Prophet himself as one who in the name of the. Lord. Was an example of suffering, afflictions and a man of patience. There’s a little more direct. Evidence in Scripture concerning something about Isaiah’s personal life. Isaiah Chapter. 8 verse 3 tells us that he was.

24. 12:01

    Married to a woman. Who was a prophetess? Now that’s rather curious that. Wasn’t. Terribly typical, but I can’t. Think of another major prophet in the Old Testament. Who had a wife? That was termed a prophetess. Think of that, brothers, and. Sisters, as you consider the. Life and Times of Isaiah. As we progress through this week.

25. 12:28

    Here was a rather interesting household, a prophet and a wife. Who was a prophet test? A team of. Prophets who work together a. Powerful team in a bleak and rugged age. On another, more personal note, not only do we know that Isaiah was married to a prophet test, we also know that this. Prophet.

26. 12:53

    Test for Isaiah. Two sons, We’ll come to them. Shortly, as we progress through the week, they were to be called. Men of sign or men of wonder? Both of Isaiah’s sons had symbolic names, both representing very huge concepts or themes in the prophecy of Isaiah. Isaiah himself held a name that. Struck the. Keynote of his prophecy Isaiah means. Yahweh saved it.

27. 13:28

    Can be construed. As Yahweh is. Saving or Yahweh is salvation. I think in brief it’s sufficient to say Isaiah’s name basically meant Yahweh saved. You’ll find brothers and sisters. If you look. Carefully in Isaiah’s prophecy Austin, a play on Isaiah’s name if you’ve never thought of looking through Isaiah with that in mind.

28. 13:54

    I’d suggest you do it. Provides a lot of. Fruitful research A. Play on Isaiah’s name. Yahweh is salvation. Well, here’s just a little hint some 27 times in Isaiah. The word. Salvation appears in the English 27 times salvation, 13 times the word. Save is used well. You might say, So what? Statistics aren’t worth much unless you compare them with something else.

29. 14:27

    Well, let me give you this comparison then. 13 times the word. Save appears and 27. Times salvation appears. Now check Jeremiah’s prophecy by way of comparison. Save. Or salvation appears twice in Jeremiah, 0 in Ezekiel and 0 in Daniel, to the point it’s a major theme in Isaiah’s prophecy. More is said about saving and salvation in Isaiah’s prophecy than any of the other major prophets. So you can see there’s one very fruitful Ave. for discovery. And thus it makes sense.

30. 15:08

    Isaiah means Yahweh saved or Yahweh is salvation and lo and behold. As he goes through that. Prophecy More than Daniel, More than Ezekiel more than Jeremiah 30 times odd More Isaiah uses the term save. Or. Salvation Now think of something we just. Said earlier we said that. Isaiah’s prophecy is. Referred to directly or indirectly at least 80. Five times in the New Testament, and we suggested that Isaiah is very much a New Testament book.

31. 15:43

    See why? You see why in? Part that would be so for here is the book of the Old Testament that’s like our brother that we. Quoted said makes a quantum leap from the Old Testament covenant background under Moses to an introduction of the new covenant and one of the ways Isaiah impresses us with the. Good.

32. 16:06

    News introduction One of the obvious reasons why the New Testament. Would, by the Spirit’s guidance, constantly throwback threads into. Isaiah constantly refer to context in Isaiah is because in Isaiah there’s a major theme dealing with salvation, dealing with God showing himself to be a savior makes sense, doesn’t it? But by far, brothers and sisters, the true greatness of Isaiah. That should be.

33. 16:40

    Associated with his name is. Really. Of course the Spirit’s. Vision that was entrusted to him through his ministry Now we would estimate from a number of. Fairly good clues. That Isaiah’s ministry lasted approximately 50 years. That is the active. Part of his ministry about. 50 years. As we turn to the pages of Isaiah’s prophecy, we find that it unveils. For us.

34. 17:08

    The full dimension of God’s judgment, and conversely. God’s. Salvation. Now I’m going to step through some major thoughts in Isaiah, and you might want to just jot them down. Or at least. Hold them in your mind and use them perhaps? As a little bit of. Help when they proceed. Through the. Prophecies during the week, Key ideas or key thoughts in Isaiah?

35. 17:36

    We could call this. Number one, and I’m not going to be exhausted. It’s only a survey. Number one in Isaiah, the holiness of God is a point of stress. The holiness of God. Isaiah. Six would be the classic. Package the Holy One of Israel, seen in the year that Uzziah died and God. Was lifted up.

36. 18:01

    Secondly, in Isaiah. Israel is often described as. Children, The concept of sons and daughters. The daughter of Zion. A major point of stress in his prophecy. Thirdly, by Isaiah’s day, Israel had proven to be rebellious and the concept of. Israel being a rebellious. Nation is a typical way the nation is betrayed. Case in point, Isaiah 1.

37. 18:32

    Verse 2 Hear O heavens. And give ye O. Earth for the Lord has. Spoken now I have nourished. Says God to the prophet. And brought up children. There’s the point. And then secondly, he finishes in verse 2. And they have rebelled against me. There’s the introduction to Isaiah. He views Israel as his.

38. 19:00

    Children and he sees them as. A rebellious group of brats. In some way and those kind of terms, though I’m using a colloquial one those. Kind of terms are. Used all. Through Isaiah very uncomplimentary terms. Brat is children. Well, another point of. Emphasis in Isaiah the nation is often described as being sick, blind, deaf 2 chapters that would be worth looking at Isaiah 6 and Isaiah 10 A nation blind and deaf a number of times in Isaiah Isaiah.

39. 19:41

    Portrays Israel as a. Plant of some sort. Most importantly, a vineyard that has been. Or rather, will be. Trampled Isaiah 5 Israel the vineyard, but there are other. Plants. Which are used through the prophecy to portray her stunted. Growth. Her lack of fruitfulness, but still as a. Plant. The potential to produce fruit and in that scene and as part of that context, it’s no surprise. That when Jesus is portrayed.

40. 20:16

    As coming into the world in Isaiah in one place. He’s pictured as a. Branch as a stem. As a root. But the nation is of vineyard, another point of stress. God’s awful judgments are described throughout Isaiah, described as being potentially unleashed against his wayward children. And as these judgments are unfolding through Isaiah, you’ll often hear these terms. And I’ll repeat.

41. 20:46

    Them the day of the Lord, the day of the Lord, the day of the Lord, he phrase another that’s. A little more interesting, and a trigger phrase at that, helping you to decide quite often whether it’s got a past fulfillment. Whether it has a future application or whether it’s both. And the phrase is.

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    Watch for it. In that day he phrased in Isaiah in that day, in that day. Another point of stress in Isaiah, the instrument of God’s punishment against his people, is described in chapters 1 to. 40. Roughly, or 1 to 39. The instrument of God’s punishment all through those. Chapters is. One ruthless nation in particular, and it’s the mighty Assyrian. The Assyrian people.

43. 21:43

    The way they lived. The way they conducted battle and their intentions in the Middle East as they rose in the times of Isaiah is a major thought in the. Prophecy, especially chapters. One to 39 behind. All of those prophecies, there’s always. Something about the Assyrian that’s looming in the background. You watch for it, You’ll find it to be helpful. And Speaking of the Assyrian, the Assyrian is described in a number of ways in Isaiah’s prophecy. But one of the most telling, and by far figuratively. One of the most important metaphors used to describe Assyria is.

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    That of being a. Flood. Or a mighty water. An overflowing flood, in fact. Great waters. Often, there’s a reason for that. Ophyria was perched not far from two of the mightiest rivers in the ancient East Tigris. And Euphrates. Another point of stress, Isaiah. Revealed. Brothers and sisters in his. Prophecy that God’s. Arm is not.

45. 22:54

    Short to save he. According to Isaiah’s visions and prophecies, he God will redeem them. Another keyword in Isaiah. Watch for that. Redeem and redemption and. God being pictured as their. Redeemer. Redeem. Redemption and the Redeemer He. Thought as they displayed God. As one who will say, remember Isaiah’s name, another point of. Stress related to this. Theme of the Redemption Isaiah holds out many graphics and moving pictures of how the remnant. Will be restored the.

46. 23:42

    Remnant a keyword in Isaiah A. Kind of word that’s worth. Circling or shading so it stands out the context of those references to the remnant and to being redeemed. Are critical, especially. In Part 2 of Isaiah that is chapter. 40 to Chapter 66. And then finally, God describes his children his. Sons and daughters.

47. 24:11

    And he describes his saving. Son by the term servant, or in the plural servant. Two very key. Expressions in Isaiah. Watch for those as well. My servant, My servant. Now that’s. Just a cursory overview. Of some of the key ideas in Isaiah. But that’s what we’re looking for this week we’re not going to do.

48. 24:39

    A verse by verse, we. Just couldn’t. Possibly you’d have to pay. For a second session at least, or more. And no, the committee wouldn’t agree. Would you, Paul, forget the camp now? Let’s. Just look at the structure of the prophecy. Would you now? Turn those two handouts.

49. 24:58

    The green one Christadelphians are. Great plagiarists. So, So we’re not accused of plagiarism, I’ll. Confess something here at the. Outset this. Is not original to Colin Badger. This to me. I’m only Speaking of my own personal likings. He is one of the best breakdowns I’ve ever seen. Of this. Prophecy, and I know I haven’t seen them all.

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    But we did. Spend a lot of time looking at different possibilities and trying to work out some ourselves. The author is Edward Whitaker. Edward is. In my humble estimation, one of the finest students of Isaiah that I’ve ever read in the Brotherhood. He did a series of addresses at the. Oxford Conference in his heyday back in the 60s and as. A result of those studies they were. Published in The Testimony magazine. They are.

51. 25:57

    Priceless and I highly suggest them to you. If you want more information about that, I’d be. Glad to talk to you. Afterwards anyway, in the testimony. Edward published this suggested. Breakdown now no breakdown is. Absolutely able to be. Dogmatic, but consider. This as a way of. Getting a handle on Isaiah. First, over to the left.

52. 26:20

    In heavy. Block letters. There’s a stress. .3 sections. Historically that’s the key point. Progressive. Now what are those? Three well, just back up to the boxes introduction to the. Prophecy of Isaiah, chapters 1:00 to 12:00. Then break chapters 13 to 27, the period dealing with Hezekiah, and you can see the sub breakdown. 5 burdens on five cities Five more burdens on five cities, ending with a climax that describes the Kingdom period in the future if you slip.

53. 27:00

    Back to the bottom of the first box. You’ll see it ends in a similar note. A has his period ending with a climax that pictures the Kingdom third. Box. Known as the Assyrian Crisis in Isaiah, chapters 20. 8 to 35 again. You return to a fivesome 5 woes on Judah, then at the end of 35 or in that chapter you have once again a climatic ending like the Kingdom.

54. 27:32

    Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? That’s a typical. Pattern in the prophet Zechariah. Think of Zechariah. You have narrative and vision, narrative and vision, narrative and vision. Now that’s a clue for something else. Think of the apocalypse. Narrative vision. Narrative vision all. Through the apocalypse, the same basic. Structure where you have narrative sections and then you have those broken with interspersed visions. Of the future you get a series of doleful. Judgments, then a stop and a vision of the future, the 144,000, for example, or the vision of the lamb on the throne another series of judgments, woeful judgments, whether it’s the.

55. 28:20

    Vials. Or whether it’s the trumpets. Then a break. A break. And a. Vision of a brighter day that’s very. Similar to Isaiah. Three boxes for you 3. Sections then. At the axis of the prophecy, the. Hinge the. Center point of Isaiah. That is Chapters 36. To 39. You have a curious. Hinge for.

56. 28:47

    You have in here a. Series of historical chapters. Dealing with the life and time of Hezekiah. During the time of the. Assyrian invasion, and you might wonder why it’s there. Why might you wonder that it’s? There because it’s also. In Kings and Chronicles. That’s why. Interesting repetition of Scripture. There are some differences, but by and large 36 to 39 is found. Almost major idea for major idea in Kings and Chronicles combined.

57. 29:21

    We’ll come back to that some other time. But notice Edward’s suggestion here. I think is interesting. Even in the hinge of this historical section, A3 fold division can be perceived. Now. The second part of the prophecy. You might wonder why this is. Arranged in vertical columns. I won’t. Labor this too much, but.

58. 29:44

    Just give you a clue, you’ll notice. Again, a threesome. 40 to 48. 49 to 57. 58 to 60. Six, what justifies breaking out the second part of Isaiah in such a way? Well, there’s a very good reason. Brothers and sisters at the end of chapter. 48 You have a key trigger phrase used which seems.

59. 30:07

    To mark the end of a section, and here it is. No peace. For the for the wicked. No. Peace for the wicked. Then from 49 to 57 you have another section. And it. Too ends by this phrase. No peace for the wicked. And that expression does not occur within those columns or within those internal sections.

60. 30:32

    Finally, you travel from chapter. 58 to 66. And at the end of. 66 What have you got? No wicked. No wicked. The expression does not. Directly occur, but read the last two or three. Verses of Isaiah 66 in your spare time and you’ll see what it’s saying. No wicked, they’re gone. Something else that’s interesting as. You go across.

61. 30:57

    Horizontally, the way this is arranged on your sheet. This is curious. Considering the importance of Isaiah. ‘S name Yahweh says. And the importance? Of the word. Salvation in Isaiah 4. At chapter. 44 you have a key chapter. Dealing with salvation to Zion right in the. Middle of that section and. Exactly at the same midpoint of the next section.

62. 31:25

    You have the. Famous Isaiah 53 chapter dealing with the Savior, the suffering Servant. Then in the last section, consisting of the same number of chapters, Isaiah 62 Keynote. Of the chapter Salvation. To Zion. I don’t think that’s coincidence. There seems to be very definitely some symmetry and some intended structure in Isaiah. In summary, when you think of Isaiah. This layout suggests that you.

63. 31:56

    Think of a three someness. Three blocks. Going up to the middle of Isaiah, a threefold division at the axes. Of the book. And then the second part of Isaiah having a threefold section, each section ending no peace. For the wicked. We’ll come back to that later.

64. 32:24

    Your second sheet brothers and sisters, I’d suggest if you can bring these. To the classes this week. Periodically, even when I’m not referring to them, you might find it useful to turn to them. Let’s put Isaiah in historical context. Dates. While we can’t be totally dogmatic, but there are some key dates in Isaiah that are milestones that we can be fairly. Sure of the date that.

65. 32:52

    Marks the fall of Samaria. It’s a fairly definite date in ancient history, about 720-2723. Well, let’s just see Isaiah. Where is he placed in God’s plan and purpose? First, my pen is pointing to his contemporaries and there might be more depending on one’s personal judgments. Isaiah is contemporary for most of his career with Micah.

66. 33:20

    Now you might say, well, So what? You know you’ve. Told it that. What’s the? Point. Well, here’s the point. If you want to find out a little. Bit more about the life. And Times of Isaiah sometimes browse through. Micah and take a look. At what it says. About the Assyrian invader, see What a Micah.

67. 33:38

    Has to say about messianic prophecies. See Isaiah chapter 4 using. Word for word the. Same language as Isaiah also. In Micah conditions in the. Time of the Prophet, the waywardness of Israel and Judah. What, Micah? Tells us. Is insightful and youthful. Hosea another prophet. Well worth looking at when you’re thinking about Isaiah’s life and time. He was contemporary.

68. 34:10

    There are others that are possibilities some have suggested. That Nahum comes just before or somewhere into the period of Isaiah’s prophecy. Some would place Joel. And this is controversial. Some would. Place Joel before the prophecy. Of Isaiah, or at least sometime contemporary. The brethren, of course, have had differences of points of view on. Joel over the years.

69. 34:37

    Some would place Joel back in the time of Jehoshaphat, prior to Isaiah, that’s where Eileen. But some would also place Joel as being written at the eve of the Babylonian invasion. Some would say that it was a blueprint for both invasions and yet for a future northern invasion anyways. Joel is a possibility. Well.

70. 34:59

    When did Isaiah begin to? Work, we say. He ministered for some 50. Years. Well, we can’t be dogmatic, but we think. It’s fair to say that. Isaiah began his active ministry. At about 740 BC. About 740 BC. You might want to note. That we know that that’s not too inaccurate for Isaiah and Kings and Chronicles mentioned the number of Assyrian kings on the rise and from Assyrian records and Assyrian.

71. 35:37

    Studies which we’ll look at. Tonight in our. Slides we have a. Fairly good idea as to the accuracy of that 740 date. Now, concerning the Life and Times of Isaiah. Something else worth noting.

72. 35:53

    What was it like to? Live in isaiah’s times very important to an understanding of the. Issues of the day. Whenever we turn to a section in scripture. Whether it’s Paul’s epistles or whether it’s a prophecy. Like Isaiah? We’ve got to get. Some feeling for the times in which. The Prophet lived. If you don’t know what was happening in his world, it’s hard to understand what the. Issues of the day really were.

73. 36:21

    Or why the prophet says certain things when he does on God’s behalf. This is absolutely. Important to know in. Isaiah’s day there were great political ships. Taking place in the Middle East. Now, as I sketched some of this for you, I want you to think in modern times. For as I sketch out what was.

74. 36:47

    Happening in his days, it has some rather interesting parallels. No doubt to our own. Here’s the Middle East, and that perhaps will be a focus as we consider the following around 7:00. 140 BC. There were brothers and sisters on in movement a number of important political situations which were to have a profound effect on the whole. Middle East especially.

75. 37:21

    On Israel to the north. Little there were that was left. And of course, on Judah Hezekiah’s people in particular. For at this time there was rising, after a rather sleepy period of decline, a new, and it’s new in quotations, great and mighty power beginning to organize itself and flex its muscles. Ever so slightly at first.

76. 37:49

    And we’re talking about Assyria capital being in Nineveh up here somewhere. Nineveh and Assyria, ancient had gone through a long period of sleepy decline. Before Isaiah’s days. That is, back in the days of Jehoshaphat, Assyria was not much of A power. But. As you come to the period of 740 BC and as you open your pages to Isaiah 1.

77. 38:17

    To the voice of Isaiah. You’re living in times that are most critical. Assyria now is about to mount yourself up with renewed power and strength, like the old mythical phoenix. A resurrected power, physically speaking. An ancient power, not a new one. But. Going through now a kind of renaissance, the old Assyria had changed and knew.

78. 38:45

    Assyria was about to arise. In unparalleled fashion. A ruthless, godless, brutal power. As she was about to. Become throughout the Middle East, tremors were found all around the. Area of the Tigers Rufredis. Tremors. Politically speaking, the small powers that were around the skirts of Assyria began to feel. Her. Flexing might as. She slowly tested her power.

79. 39:17

    Against some of the small. City States. News ever so slowly began to trickle down through the Mediterranean, to Israel and to Egypt about this new rising. Power. And it came. Rather slowly at first. But mounted in its strength, then came a man called Tiglath Pulizer, known in the Bible as Pull PU. L.

80. 39:45

    A number of times. Tiglath Pulizer was to be the architect. Of the new power of Athyria, a very ingenious man by human standards, a conniving political genius, a kind of Hitler. As it were. He knew what it was to build an empire. He knew what it was to strengthen his borders immediately around his own territory.

81. 40:11

    And he knew. What it was to work? From that parameter out to the surrounding powers the. Little powers like Israel, Moab, Edom. And Ammon progressively this architect of the new Assyrian. Power Tiglath Pleaser marshalled his forces cautiously, but. Ever so ingeniously strengthened his borders, and came to be known as the Great Mighty General.

82. 40:41

    Of Assyria to quote. Some sources at this time from historians, Assyria. One source. Says. A nation of ruthless conquerors, who more than any of the ancient tyrannies, spread their evil. Natures with a sadistic delight. In cruelty, if you go to the museum such as the British Museum or the one in. Berlin and take a look. At what’s there from the old.

83. 41:13

    Assyrian inscriptions in stone and. Pictorially, look at how they viewed. Themselves and how they carried on their daily business. Excuse me, you would? Find a great emphasis on brutality. Excuse me? Here’s what you’d see. Scenes, often in stone. Showing the Assyrians stretching their. Victims out in. Torture. They had a preference. For flaying their victims alive that is peeling off the. Skin of a whole body.

84. 41:51

    And then laying out the victim under the hot Assyrian Middle East sun to rise and die slowly in pain when they besieged the city such as. Jerusalem. They had a favorite method. Of psychological warfare they would. Try to capture the defectors that might try to. Creep out of the city. Or any that. They had previously gotten.

85. 42:15

    From the earlier towns or cities and they would take them and they would decapitate them and pile their heads in great mounds around the city that was being besieged. Can you imagine being in Jerusalem in the days of Hezekiah when the Assyrian encircled them and peering over the city walls to see a scene like that?

86. 42:37

    Another thing they prefer to do. I don’t want to dwell on this, but I want you to. Appreciate the brutality of this. Nation. They were unique in the extent to which they went and when you understand the the. Barbarism of this. People you canmore keenly. Appreciate how living terror. Must have been struck into Isaiah’s contemporaries and into the city of Jerusalem. When the Assyrian came down, they often decapitated their captives and used those heads as necklaces around. Those who are still alive, they would take their captives. Naked and allow them to.

87. 43:15

    Tramp over the hot sands on the way to Assyria. If they died, they died. They often preferred to take metal rings and put them in the noses of their captives and string them nose to nose, ring to ring and a chain affair. And if you moved much, you can imagine what would happen.

88. 43:32

    Those. Were cruel and ferocious people another. Source says this psychological terror. Was Assyria’s most. Effective weapon it was ruthlessly. Applied with corpses impaled on. Stakes severed, heads stacked. In heaps, captives skinned alive. Notice that last. Point. Psychological terror. Now, brothers and sisters, later on, we’ll do this tomorrow when you read in Kings and Chronicles and the middle of Isaiah the speeches.

89. 44:08

    Of Rab Shaka. You have there. Classic speeches of psychological terror. There isn’t anywhere in all. Scripture where you have a better. Example better in quotation marks a better example of psychological. Warfare. Used against God’s people, Rab Sheka was not a military man. His name in the original means that he was either a. Butler or a.

90. 44:35

    Cupbearer, but he was employed by the Assyrians. To effect psychological warfare. Against the walls of Jerusalem. Every tactic, every phrase, every strategy. Which? Rab Shaker used as he. Railed against the walls of Jerusalem was. Carefully calculated, very subtle. As you analyze it and intended to penetrate. Those walls without. Having to shed an ounce of Assyrian blood. Psychological warfare.

91. 45:08

    Now all of that, brothers and sisters, is not to dwell on things that are morbid. But as you. Read Isaiah and Micah and Nahem. You do receive those kinds of descriptions. They are there in Scripture for you, and they do help us to more keenly understand what it was. Like to have the possibility. Of an Assyrian army coming down against your town or hamlet, or against your capital city.

92. 45:33

    It wasn’t like the. Egyptians coming down, it wasn’t like Moab attacking. It wasn’t as if you were having a raid by Edom. Or Ammon. This was Astyria, a ruthless, godless, brutal war. Machine that not only used battering Rams, but used. The power of a psychology to strike terror. Into her victims to be. Now.

93. 46:01

    You can see when you consider all that together. The. Great need for faith. These were trying and tense times and in many senses unparalleled. Can you more keenly appreciate now the job that Isaiah had to do to put calm and peace into that nation, but at the same time to evoke reform? Kenya Moore keenly appreciate how.

94. 46:27

    Hezekiah’s. Reforms were on a tight schedule. Everything Hezekiah did, and we’ll see this tomorrow, was on a. Very tight schedule Chronicle. Says it was done suddenly. Why? Because in God’s providential hand there wasn’t much time left, for within only 20 or 30 years, the Middle East. Was to look like this. Completely reshaped and very much under one power’s domination. It wasn’t to be long in the days of Isaiah or Hezekiah that the Middle East would be under the power. Of this great might.

95. 47:10

    In the old E Assyria was soon to. Gobble up territory after territory. Then when you turn to Isaiah 1 verse one. Here’s the picture. A small little nation. With a faithless. King. His name was Ahaz. We’ll look at him in just a moment, very quickly. A faithless king, a nation described often in Isaiah as thick and weak and very much in need of reform. And against that rather pathetic scene. There is a.

96. 47:44

    Great Lion in the Middle East. Who has already by? The time of Isaiah 1. Arched over through the top of the. Fertile, present and with vicious and hungry eyes ready to. Tear Judah apart as well. As the north. That’s the scene in Isaiah 1 and one. It’s. A time of great urgency. There’s not much time left. And God raises up Micah, and he raises up Hosea, and he raises up Isaiah to warn this nation, and he. Raises up Hezekiah the Righteous. King who will do and undo?

97. 48:23

    All that A has his. Father had done for wicked. Now, in the few moments. That remain What about this faithless king? That had created such a. Terrible scene for Isaiah and Hezekiah to have to unravel. Second Kings, consider this chapter 16.

98. 48:45

    These are the days of Ahaz, father of Hezekiah. This. Is the mess. That was to be left. To Isaiah and Hezekiah. For it says this verse. Ten of Second Kings 16 and King Ahaz went to Damascus. This just before the. Time of Isaiah’s main ministry. He went to Damascus to meet. Tigleth Pleaser. The man we just mentioned.

99. 49:15

    The architect of Assyria. King of Assyria and. What does he do? He saw an altar that was at Damascus. And King Ahaz. Sent to Urijah the priest. A Jewish priest. The fashion of the altar and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof. And what does Ahaz have in mind? Having seen this apostate altar? He sends back the blueprints for it to be made in Jerusalem. Verse 14.

100. 49:45

     Ahaz he brought also. The brazen altar, which was. Before the Lord. From the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the. House of the Lord. And put it on the north. Side of the altar. And King. Ahaz. Commanded you ride to the priest, saying, upon the great altar, that is burn the morning burnt offering and evening meat offering and the King’s burnt sacrifice.

101. 50:10

     Verse 17 and king. Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases. This is the Labor referred. To in verse 16 and 15 and removed the labor from them and took down the sea. That’s the labor from the brazen oxen that were under it and put it. Upon a pavement of stones. Can you imagine what he’s doing?

102. 50:30

     Here’s the father of Hezekiah. Changing the worship of Israel. Deep rooted apostasy borrowed. From the ancient Middle East in all its superstitions, then turn over to Second Chronicles 28 appointed summary of this wicked and perverse man who did so much to create problems for the days of Isaiah and Hezekiah.

103. 50:56

     Second Chronicles, 28. As we get a. Summary of Ahaz and his reign. Notice this Second Chronicles 28, verse 22 and in the time of his. Distress that they has did he? Trespass yet more against the. Lord, this is that. King A has, and he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him, and he.

104. 51:23

     Said because the gods of. The kings of Syria help them therefore. Look at this logic. Therefore I will sacrifice to them. That they may help me. But they were the. Ruin of him and of all Israel and ahaz gathered together the. Vessels of the House of. God and cut in pieces the vessels. Of the House of God.

105. 51:46

     And shut up the. Doors of the House of the Lord. And he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem. There’s the scene when we open to Isaiah 1 verse one. We’re living in times. Of two problems. 2 Not only. Do we have the? Advance of Assyria as an enemy from without. We have a scene in Isaiah 1 and one. That is riddled with apostasy.

106. 52:14

     It’s a. Sick nation and a faithless king By way of conclusion Isaiah 1 verse one. Notice this graphic description of the sick nation. As a result of the. Faithless King. We’ll come back to these details in more detail in the next few lessons, but let’s just notice Isaiah 1, verse 2, second part of the verse. I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.

107. 52:50

     The ox knoweth his owner, and the asked his master. ‘S crib, but Israel. Do not know my doth not know my people doth not. Consider look how he describes. His nation, ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity. I think of our woman yesterday with her curved back. A feed of evil doers like the words.

108. 53:18

     Of the master, when he described them as a brood. Of Vipers. Children. There’s that word, children that are corrupters. They have forsaken the Lord. They have provoked the holy. One of Israel unto anger. They are gone away, backward. And he appeals to them. Why should ye be stricken? A word describing leprosy? He will revolt more and more.

109. 53:41

     The whole head is thick. And the heart faint. From the sole of the foot. Even unto the head there’s no soundness in it but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores. They have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. There it is. One of the most condensed and most graphic descriptions in the Old Testament of the. Whole ecclesia as a thick, putrefying body, ready to die like the body of a.

110. 54:16

     Leper and how? Did it get that way? A sick nation inherited the waywardness of a faithless king. But tomorrow we’ll consider Hezekiah, who is going to reverse that.