Isaiah 1-4

• I posted an overview last night for Isaiah
• Click here to read
• Click here to listen

First, I want you to take a moment to look at the visual.  I have never posted it before.  If a stranger asked you to explain it could you?  I am not talking about pronouncing names or memorizing which kings were good or bad-just overall would you be able to talk about how the kingdom divided?  Who is Judah and Israel?  Which one has the Covenant that will bring a Messiah? Is this a dark period in Bible History?  If you cannot let me know…I want you to be able to.

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Now the new information on this visual is the time span Isaiah was a prophet.  He was a prophet that brought a message spanning 4 Kings in Judah.  Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.

Chapter 1- Verse 1 says: The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

I want you to think of this book like a TV (vision)- and Isaiah has a remote control in his hand and we are going to channel surf a lot.  We are going to see a vision of what will happen in the present time of the kings, what will happen when Jesus comes, the 2nd coming (Revelation), and often times it will look like a split screen-pertaining to more than one.  (I hope that helps)

ok, back to Chapter 1-Clearly I could talk about each and every verse but you would kill me.  So overall we know that the kingdoms have been oppressing the poor, idol-worshipping, making alliances with enemies, and perverting justice.  That’s our view.  Chapter 1 is how the nation looks from God’s view.

I want to point out verses 10-15. God instituted the proper way to approach and worship Him.  He is not deleting the system He created-he is disgusted with the hearts/attitude when they do it:

Stop bringing meaningless offerings!
Your incense is detestable to me…

When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I hide my eyes from you;
even when you offer many prayers,
I am not listening.

However, God is Love.  Even at our worst, He craves to have us close.  He begs to forgive us!

“Come now, let us settle the matter,”
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.

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Chapter 2 “in the last days”-We changed the channel- We can read this and know God is talking about Revelation 21, the New Heaven and New Earth.

by verse 6 we are definitely on a split-screen (think of a newscast, 2 pictures showing at once). We can see “the day the Lord: God will allow the Babylonians to capture them and take them out of the land as well as the Tribulation for the Church age.

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Chapter 3- This was taken off of the Evening news last night! Just kidding.

⁹ The look on their faces testifies against them;
    they parade their sin like Sodom;
    they do not hide it.
Woe to them!
    They have brought disaster upon themselves.

We begin to see the word “Woe”.  It is a serious word.  In my head when I read it I say “Beware”. It means ruinous trouble: calamity,

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Chapter 4- The Branch of the Lord- THIS is a  “Messianic Passage” (pertaining to Jesus the Messiah)

• I haven’t pointed it out but do note that he has referenced several times “those who remain”- he is talking about the remnant people that will survive in the Line of Judah (not Israel) in the Old Testament to fulfill many prophecies.
  • and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.-Genesis 12
  • The scepter will not depart from Judah,-Genesis 49
  • Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever. 2 Sam 7

As you read this paragraph about the Branch of the Lord hang on every word “Beautiful” “Glorious” but my favorite sentence was “ It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.”

If you want more to read of the Branch look up Jeremiah 23:5, Zechariah 3:8-9, and Isaiah 11-1.