Isaiah of Jerusalem (Chapters 1-39)

R. Flores, SVD 2008

For Students’ Use Only

 

Outline of the Class Lecture/Presentation:

Introduction

A.  The Prophet as a Social Critic (Is 5:1-7)

B.  A Political Intervention of a Prophet (Isa 7:1-17)

C.  The Future of Mount Zion and Mission (Is 2:2-5)

 

 

Introduction

1.      A Biographical Profile of the Prophet

 

2.      The Prophetic Ministry of Isaiah (in Four Stages):

 

--After the death of Uzziah during the reign of Jotham (746-743 B.C.).

 

--During the reign of Ahaz (743-727 B. C.)

 

--During the time of Hezekiah (727/714 – 686 B.C.), about 711 B.C.

 

--During the reign of the Assyrian king Sennacherib (705-681 B.C.).

 

Conclusion: In general, we can say that the prophet did not have much success; was not very much listened to; those in power did otherwise; the fact that these were not harmed in the Assyrian crisis had discredited further the credibility of the prophet. The people could have thought: we have not listened to your words but still we were saved. Time will tell us; however, that Isaiah was right. “God sees the truth, but waits.”

 

3.      Outline of Chapters 1-39*

I.                   Chapters 1-12: Judgment of Israel, but salvation is promised.

II.                Chapters 13-23: Judgment of Nations, but salvation is also promised.

III.             Chapters 24-35: “Mystery” of the cosmic judgment and universal hope. Judgment and Salvation associated with an eschatological perspective.

IV.             Chapters 36-39: Condemnation of the pride of the king of Assyria. Salvation of Jerusalem and King Hezekiah.

 

*Note: scholars today also think that texts of Proto-Isaiah underwent a process of editorial composition, for instance chapters 24-35 could have been written after the Babylonian Exile.