Sanctify! TNBS: isaiah

56:1-8 Yahweh offers shelter to all who trust in him, even those rejected by the "religious."
56:9-57:13 Yahweh exposes the malfeasance of Israel's wicked leaders and interrogates them.
57:14-21 Yahweh brings healing to all who come and are contrite; the muckraking wicked receive no peace.

58: Honest obedience is blessed; dishonest obedience is cursed

58:1-5 Yahweh introduces Israel's hypocritical worship and demanding prayers to Isaiah; Yahweh counters Israel's shallow, needy righteousness with a pointed query into the heart behind ritual.
58:6-12 Worship of Yahweh, lived out in loving justice for the other, pleases Yahweh and results in the blessings and light bearing of a life well lived.
58:13-14 Honoring the Sabbath by seeking Yahweh's pleasure rather than one's own creates delight for Yahweh and results in covenant blessings.

59: Israel's sin and deception are pointed out; they confess and display remorse; redemption is delivered.

59:1-8 Yahweh is an ultimately capable Savior, but lying, deceptive, murdering, unjust Israel rejects salvation by separating themselves from the only Savior.
59:9-15a As a result, hoping, searching Israel confesses it finds neither justice nor hope, because their sin increases exponentially,justice flees, and truth cannot be found.
59:15b-19 Yahweh is most seriously displeased; making no distinction between unrepentant Israel and the heathen nations, he dons his armor and comes in battle array.
59:20-21 Yahweh declares his covenant with true, repentant Zion: you shall proclaim my Spirit and my words forever.

60: Blessing promised to replace wrath

60:1-3 Jerusalem is commanded to arise and reflect Yahweh's light that has arisen upon her; in response the nations will be drawn to her.
60:4-9 Jerusalem is commanded to see the return of her children to her as the the nations gather toward God's beautiful house.
60:10-14 God uses the nations to bless Israel as a sanctuary for all who come to worship; those who do not serve her will perish.
60:15-18 Yahweh will bring Jerusalem from being despised to being blessed with abundant peace and wealth.
60:19-22 Redeemed Israel sees by the light of Yahweh; exponential blessings abound.

61-62: Zion and its inhabitants will be redeemed by Yahweh

61:1-4 Isaiah brings good tidings of the comfort and justice of the Messianic mission.
61:5-7 Isaiah describes the good results of the Messianic mission: prosperity, rejoicing, and honor.
61:8-9 The good results will come because Yahweh promises eternal righting of wrongs and prosperity of offspring to the above.
61:10-11 Isaiah responds to Yahweh’s promise and blessings with praise and rejoicing.
62:1-5 Isaiah continues to tell of Yahweh’s commitment to blessing and Jerusalem’s favored status.
62:6-9 Yahweh send watchmen who will guard Jerusalem, protect her from invaders, and allow her to reap the rewards of her labor.
62:10-12 Hearers are commanded to respond properly to Yahweh’s mission, which he will bring to pass through his Messiah.

63-64: Vengeance, remembrance, confession, prayer for deliverance

63:1-6 Yahweh justifies his wrath: his people were inattentive when the time came for redemption.
63:7-14 Yahweh prescribes his covenant; the people rebelled and received their “just desserts.”
63:15-19 Isaiah petitions Yahweh to soften Jerusalem’s hearts despite unrecognizability due to rebellion.
64:1-7 Isaiah proclaims Yahweh’s awesome might and power; begs pleadingly on behalf of Jerusalem
64:8-12 Isaiah petitions Yahweh to restrain himself and once again bless his people.

65: Answer to prayer for deliverance and promise of kingdom blessings, though not to all. (outline for 65-66 modified from Dr. Constable's Expository Notes)

65:1-16 The Lord responded, through the prophet, to [the vengeance, remembrance, confession, and prayer for deliverance in 63-64].
65:17-25 God not only will be faithful to His promises in spite of Israel's unfaithfulness (63:1—
65:16), but He will demonstrate His ability and desire to provide [unearned] righteousness for [those who trust him] by creating new heavens and a new earth.

66: Summation and recapitulation: blessing and judgment, heaven and hell

66:1-6 [Both judgment and] hope pervade this section describing Israel's glorious future (65:17—66:24). Oppressors of the godly remnant will not prosper nor will those who depend on externals for their relationship to God.
66:7-14 The mood now reverts back to hope (cf. 65:17-25). In contrast to all the bereavement and deprivation that Jerusalem had experienced and would yet experience (cf. 26:16-18; 37:3; 51:18-20), the ultimate future of the city and its inhabitants remains bright.
66:15-24 This culmination of Israel's future (65:17-66:24), Israel's future transformation (chs. 56—66), Israel's hope (chs. 40—66), and the whole book, [declares] Yahweh's salvation [for the faithful].

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Isaiah Key Theme: God works for his own glory

"God is actively using creation and history, and even the wrongs of man, for his own glory" (ESV Study Bible, Laridian version).

Instructions for discovering a biblical theology of an idea, word, or theme are located on the Academy blog.

A theology of glory will be added to the blog Tuesday, Dec 8

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Isaiah 55

the call of yahweh
all who are thirsty respond
blessings eternal

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Isaiah 54

yahweh loves his bride
they'll be renewed and built up
yahweh is still god

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Isaiah 52:13-53:12

a humble servant
justice borne for the naughty
sacrifice earns spoils

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Isaiah 51:9-52:12

awake o zion
yahweh frees from oppression
she leaves triumphant

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Isaiah 50:1-51:8

un-faith confronted
while faithful servant submits
choose to trust Yahweh

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Isaiah 49

yahweh's servant sent
jacob predictably doubts
rescue is promised

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Isaiah 49-55

49:1-7 The Servant of Yahweh declares his call to Israel and the nations and is validated by Yahweh.

1-4 Yahweh's Servant proclaims his call and his birthright, declaring Yahweh's assured reward, despite the apparent futility of the proclamation.
5-6 The Servant is sent, not just to Jacob, but to all nations, for proclaiming only to Israel brings insufficient glory.
7 The Servant, despised and subjected in the meantime, will be glorified by kings in the end.

49:8-26 Yahweh declares his redemption through his chosen Servant to desolated Israel.

8-12 Yahweh commissions his Servant as a blessing to his people, freeing prisoners and gathering the scattered.
13-18 While creation celebrates Yahweh's love for his people, Yahweh's people deny it; Yahweh declares his profound, loving devotion.
19-23 Israel, who assumes herself barren, shall bring forth a throng of descendants, causing the nations to prostrate themselves.
24-26 While Israel doubts Yahweh's ability to save, Yahweh, the Mighty One of Jacob, promises certain rescue.

50:1-51:8 Yahweh rebukes those who seek their own way, exhorts those who seek righteousness, and promises comfort to the moth-eaten.

50:1-3 Yahweh corrects Israel's misperceptions about the exile and confronts them for their lack of faith.
50:4-9 The faithful servant submits to Yahweh, stands up to his enemies, and is vindicated by Yahweh.
50:10-11 Isaiah offers two response options: 1) trust Yahweh and be delivered or 2) trust the gods and be tormented.
51:1-8 God offers three reasons.

51:1-3 Just as God made Abraham into a nation, so he will restore Israel.
51:4-6 God's justice-righteousness-salvation is certain and eternal.
51:7-8 Enemies are exceedingly temporal, but Yahweh's deliverance is forever.

51:9-52:12 Yahweh calls Israel to recognize the coming salvation through the Servant.

51:9-11 "Arm of Yahweh" is awakened; ransomed return to Zion after deliverance from Egypt as in days of old.
51:12-16 Yahweh chastises his people for fearing their impotent tormentors; he, he will protect them.
51:17-20 Isaiah calls under-Yahweh's-wrath Jerusalem, slapping them awake to realize punishment.
51:21-23 Yahweh promises to remove the cup of wrath from Israel and pass it to her tormentors.
52:1-2 Zion is awakened; she is called out of destruction and oppression into glorious restoration.
52:3-6 Yahweh, who delivers his people from rebellious oppressors without compensation, will be known by his people by Name.
52:7-10 Yahweh's deliverance is so certain the heralds announce, the watchmen rejoice, and Jerusalem sings.
52:11-12 Israel leaves captivity clean, in peace, and protected.

52:13-53:12 Yahweh describes the exaltation and suffering sacrifice of his chosen Servant.

52:13-15 Acting-in-wisdom Servant, of late marred and abused, shall astonish the nations with revelation.
53:1-3 The servant (Messiah) brings saving power, but unexpectedly comes from humble beginnings and rejection by men rather than the expected triumphal entry
53:4-6 The servant bore Yahweh's justice to save us from our wrongdoings and wanderings - not, as we perceived, as payment for his own
53:7-9 He bore this punishment undeservingly and without objection, yet his only thanks was to be buried with the wicked
53:10-11 His sacrifice, grief and anguish were the will of Yahweh to afford salvation and righteousness to others and the fulfillment of his purpose and prosperity
53:12 His sacrifice earns spoils; despite being perceived a wrongdoer, he is ultimately noble in paying for others' wrongdoings

54:1-17 Yahweh calls the afflicted to recognize Kingdom blessing.

54:1-3 Yahweh offers promise-based commands to the barren one to prepare for children.
54:4-8 Yahweh offers love and compassion to lift Israel, his bride, out of shame.
54:9-10 Based upon his eternal steadfast love, Yahweh promises to end his rebuke of Israel.
54:11-15 Yahweh rebuilds and protects battered Israel.
54:16-17a Yahweh reiterates his sovereignty.
54:17b All these blessings come from Yahweh.

55:1-13 Yahweh calls his people to enter his blessing by coming to him and seeking relationship with him.

1-5 Yahweh calls all (Israel and Gentiles) who realize they are thirsty to be satisfied by him, basing his call on his promise to David and future glorification of Israel.
6-11 Yahweh calls unable-to-be-quenched-satisfaction-seekers to seek him, who alone is able to pardon, for he is sovereign and we are not.
12-13 Yahweh's blessing--peace and abundance for Israel--are an eternal sign of his covenant.