Isaiah: Who, What, Why?

 

God’s grace, peace and mercy be with you. … My sermon is entitled Isaiah: Who, What, Why, and is based on our First Reading (Isaiah 43:16-21). Let us pray. Heavenly Father, the psalmist wrote, “I rejoiced when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” Now that our feet are within your gates, we rejoice to hear your Word. As we listen, may your Spirit enlighten our minds and move our hearts to love deeply as Jesus loved. This we pray to you, Most Holy Trinity. Amen.

I attended Potter Township Elementary for eight years, and was a member of the last graduating class in 1971. It was a wonderful eight-year experience for me. It was the first time I was on television. On Junior High Quiz, our small class of eight defeated a much larger junior high school team before losing on our second appearance. One of the fondest memories I have was Mr. Reed’s English class. Mr. Reed did everything. He taught English and Gym. He ran the summer recreation program and gave golf lessons. And he sent us to the blackboard every day for two years so that we learned how to diagram sentences, because, as he said, “When you get to high school no one is going to teach you how to write.” And he was correct.

So, here’s an English lesson for you. Who, What and Why are pronouns. Who is a singular and plural nominative case interrogative pronoun. That’s a statement, not a question. An interrogative pronoun is used to ask the identity of someone. Interrogative is a combination of the Latin words inter meaning between and rogare meaning to question or cross-examine. In January 1969, local sportswriters asked, “Who is Joe Greene?” Today, we ask, Who is Isaiah? What was his message? Why is that important to us?

Who is Isaiah? Although he was one of the greatest writing prophets, the New Testament cites his book 68 times, not much is known about his personal life. He was the son of Amoz. His name means ‘The Lord saves’. He was a contemporary of Amos, Hosea and Micah, and began his ministry in 740 B.C., the year King Uzziah died. According to an unsubstantiated Jewish tradition, he was sawed in half during the reign of Manasseh.[1] Isaiah was married and had at least two sons, Shear-Jashub meaning ‘A Remnant Shall Return’ and Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz meaning ‘Speed-Spoil-Hasten-Plunder’ which referred to the Assyrian invasion. He probably spent most of his life in Jerusalem, enjoying his greatest influence under King Hezekiah.[2] Isaiah is also credited with writing a history of the reign of King Uzziah.[3]

Many scholars today challenge the claim that Isaiah wrote the entire book that bears his name, but there is no convincing proof that the book was written by three different authors. His is the only name attached to it.[4] The strongest argument for the unity of Isaiah is the expression ‘the Holy One of Israel,’ a title for God that occurs 26 times throughout the entire book. There are also striking verbal parallels throughout and 25 Hebrew words or phrases that occur in no other prophetic writing. In my humble opinion, he alone wrote the longest prophetic book in the Bible.

Isaiah’s work influenced contemporary and later prophets. His life and writing affected Jesus, the Evangelists and Paul. Matthew wrote in chapter 12 that Jesus’ actions fulfilled what Isaiah prophesied.[5] Matthew and Luke cited Isaiah when they described John the Baptist.[6] John cited Isaiah when he wrote of how Jesus fulfilled the prophecy that people refused to believe in Jesus.[7] In writing to the Romans, Paul too spoke of people’s belief and unbelief in Christ.[8] Because Isaiah was so influential on Jesus and His followers, we are studying many passages of his book in Sunday School this year.

We segue from who to what. What was Isaiah’s message? Isaiah wrote during Israel’s stormy period not long after the Kingdom’s tribes split into two. Ten of the tribes in the north are referred to as Israel; two of them in the south – Benjamin and Judah – are commonly known as Judah. This split occurred in 930 B.C. For 200 years before Isaiah appeared on the scene, these two kingdoms fought wars, battles and skirmishes against each other. In the meantime, the Assyrian empire – now known as Iraq – expanded while both the kingdoms of Israel and Judah declined.

Fearing annihilation, King Ahaz of Judah formed an alliance with Assyria, which then conquered the northern kingdom. This was politically and militarily prudent, but not wise and not what God wanted. It makes me wonder how astute or obtuse advisors were (and are). Eventually, Ahaz died, but like many others before and after him, not in God’s good graces.

The godly King Hezekiah who succeeded Ahaz prayed that God would save Judah from Assyria, which threatened to annihilate the nation. Hezekiah also sought the counsel of Isaiah, who predicted that God would force the Assyrians to withdraw from the city.[9] Nevertheless, Isaiah warned Judah that her sin would bring captivity at the hands of Babylon (also modern-day Iraq). Although this did not take place until after their death, Isaiah predicted both the destruction of Judah and the people’s exile, as well as its eventual restoration and the people’s return from captivity.[10]

Isaiah prophesied that God would redeem his people from Babylon just as he rescued them from Egypt. He predicted the rise of Cyrus the Persian (Iran), who conquered Babylon, and allowed the Jews to return home. This occurred in the years 538-537 B.C.

His passage today (43:16-21) is a reminder and a promise. It is a reminder of what God did in the past, specifically, the Exodus event. It is also a promise of what God will do in the future, a new thing, a new way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, a new Exodus.

Folks, the past can teach but it must not bind. Understand that God is not predictable like the pagan gods. As Creator, God loves doing things in new ways. Therefore, the people’s gaze must always be forward to what God will yet do. It is not that the Lord would rewrite history but that His people should live in the present reality of their Deliverer, their Exodus God.[11]

The new thing God would do was deliverance from Babylon; a national liberation patterned on the Exodus. In v. 19, the word springs is like a seed that is germinated and its time has come. And in v. 20, we see how God would transform the whole world into harmony. As God’s people journey through the wilderness, they see that in this transformed world even wild animals enjoy it and are enjoyed by the faithful.

The passage concludes in v. 21, with “The people I formed for Myself will declare My praise.”[12] Here, the potter image is a way for Israel to understand that they can look with confidence at and through their impending troubles. The people who experienced God’s wrath[13], are touched by the potter’s hand as he perfects what he planned to create. The Babylonian exile and the ultimate return of people to their homeland through Cyrus the Persian King have their parts to play until the day comes when a perfected people will perfectly recount the praise of their Lord.[14]

Finally, why is this message important to us? Commenting on this passage, John Oswalt writes, “Remember the lessons of the past, but forget the methods. … Whenever we find something that works for us, we hang on to it with all the tenacity of a leech. … Maturation is the process of accumulating things that work and discarding those that do not. … But the great danger of maturation is calcification. We finally figured things out. We know what we want, and we know how to get it. The result is that we don’t need faith any more.”[15]

He says that the seven last words of any church are, “We’ve never done it that way before.” (That’s a play on Jesus’ last seven words before He died.) That doesn’t mean that every new thing is better. We don’t need to change Christ’s words when we baptize or celebrate Lord’s Supper. With all due respect to the talented Steven Curtis Chapman, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and Chris Tomlin, it’s tough to make the case that a church adopt their music and discard hymns like When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, Jesus Christ is Risen Today. Ode to Joy or A Mighty Fortress is Our God.

When we look back through history, we see what God did and how He did it when we read of the mighty deeds of creation and salvation in Genesis and Exodus. We see the strength of Samson; the victories of David; the wisdom of Solomon. We read the poetic wisdom of Psalms and Proverbs; how God protects Job and what it means to be faithful throughout trials and tragedies. We study the prophets to see how God acted through them to remind His people to return to the Covenant, to remember that He alone was their God and that they were His people. Elijah’s sacrifice on the mountain. Elisha raising to life the son of the Shunammite widow.

The Old Testament is filled with lessons to learn how to live a faithful life. When we get to the New Testament, we read about Jesus’ teachings and healings; how he mastered storms and demons; how he provided food and drink for people’s stomachs and souls; how he remained steadfast to His Father’s will despite inhumane insults, an unjust trial and torturous beatings before dying painfully as a condemned criminal, rejected by his people and abandoned by his friends. We know the Father’s love and power which raised a dead man to everlasting life; and the power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Peter, Andrew, James, John, Paul, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Jesus, and many more. As faithful Christians, we know and have applied those lessons to our own lives.

Many of us have seen the work of the Holy Spirit in a vibrant church and in a faithful remnant. We have thanked God who pulled us through surgeries and sickness. We have reflected upon how the Holy Spirit initiated our relationships, friendships, marriages and families. God has protected our loved ones and ourselves from tragic accidents and violent acts, from natural disasters and manmade calamities. Christ’s power of love has saved us from Satan, sin and self. And when sickness and suffering, disease and death did strike us, we have seen the outpouring of love through other believers and at unexpected moments in solitude and silence, like a tiny whisper of the Father’s voice, a gentle breeze of the Holy Spirit, and the warmth of Jesus’ love.

So, what can we learn from Isaiah’s passage today? We take all of those memories and experiences, and forget about them. Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

I started this sermon by telling you what I learned in elementary school and how that helped me in my life. When I stepped away from ministry 15 years ago, I started a successful career in fundraising. I wrote appeal letters and grants. I obtained funds to feed people in Pittsburgh. I secured grants to house homeless women and veterans in Berkeley (CA). I managed events to support church planters, awareness for people with autism, and agricultural programs in rural Africa, Asia and Latin America. God took what I learned at Potter Township Elementary School, and showed me a new way to serve Him. God formed me in my early years for Himself so that I might declare His praise. And now, I look for new ways that God works in my life as a husband, grandfather, man, neighbor and your pastor.

How God is working new things in my life is like watching an episode of Beat Bobby Flay. He takes a familiar dish and enhances it in ways he’s never served it before. He’s amazing. God is even more amazing. The people I formed for Myself will declare My praise.

So, what about you? How is our amazing God working new things in your life?

 

My friends, thank you for sharing how God is working new things in your life. In closing, I pray that the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

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[1] Hebrews 11:37.

[2] Isaiah 7:3; 8:3; 37:1-2.

[3] 2 Chronicles 26:22.

[4] Isaiah 1:1; 2:1; 13:1.

[5] Matthew 12:17-21; Isaiah 24:1-4.

[6] Matthew 3:3; Luke 3:4; Isaiah 40:3.

[7] John 12:38-41; Isaiah 53:1; 6:10.

[8] Romans 10:16,20; Isaiah 53:1; 65:1.

[9] Isaiah 37:6-7.

[10] Isaiah 40:2.

[11] J. Alec Motyer, The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove IL, IVP Academic (1993), p. 337.

[12] This version is the Berean Study Bible which sometimes reads better than the ESV.

[13] Isaiah 42:25.

[14] Motyer, p. 337.

[15] John N. Oswalt, Isaiah: The NIV Application Commentary Grand Rapids, MI, Zondervan (2003), p. 497.