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The Authorship of Isaiah. Similar themes and vocabulary throughout the book indicate the same author.
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The Authorship of Isaiah • Similar themes and vocabulary throughout the book indicate the same author. • That author, Isaiah, is introduced as the lone writer, the son of Amoz (1:1), the 8th century prophet, friend and confidant of Hezekiah, who lived in Jerusalem through the death of Sennacharib, the king of Assyria (37:38), continued through the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, and probably lived into the reign of Manasseh (696-642 B. C.)
Biographical Data • Lived through the rise of the Assyrian empire. • Warned king Ahaz (Judah) against making an alliance with Aram and Israel against Assyria (Isa. 7). Tiglath-pileser III (745-727 B.C.) dominates Judah (2 Chron. 28:16-21). • Sees God spare Jerusalem during the reign of Hezekiah from the Assyrian forces of Sennacharib, but also sees Hezekiah’s mistake (Isa. 36-39; 2 Kings 18:13-16) prepare Judah for the coming exile in Babylon. • Prophesies concerning the affairs of the Judean exiles in Babylon (Isa. 40-66)
Theology of Isaiah • Isaiah is the great theologian of the Old Testament. His themes are: • God, the Holy One of Israel (Isa. 6; 1:4; 5:19, 24; 10:17, 20; 12:6; 17:7; 29:19, 23; 30:11-12, 15; 31:1; 37:23; 40:25; 41:14, 16, 20; 43:3, 14-15; 45:11; 47:4; 48:17; 49:7; 54:5 55:5; 60:9; cf. 2 Ki. 19:22). Yahweh’s moral perfection cannot be ignored with with impunity.
Theological Themes in Isaiah, cont. • God as Savior and Redeemer. God’s holiness means that God will keep his covenant promises. Isaiah means “Yahweh saves” (41:14; 43:3, 14, et. al) • God will save Israel from: • The Syro-Ephraimite coalition (8:1-14) • Assyria (17:10; 11:10-12:3) • Babylon (45:17; 48:14, 20; 49:25-26)
Theological Themes in Isaiah, cont. • The Remnant Theme. A surviving remnant who has undergone divine judgement and will serve as the nucleus for the people of God. The remnant testifies to Gods’ holiness (1:8-9; 6:13). • New life will spring from the remnant, a Righteous Branch for the Davidic line (3:2-3; 11:1-16). Out of the destruction a remnant will return who rely on God alone (10:20-23), and will be fruitful (37:30-32). • The names of Isaiah’s two sons reflect the two-sided nature of the remnant theme (Maher-shalal-hash-baz - “quick to the plunder, haste to the spoil, 8:1-3) and (Shear-Jashub - “a remnant will return” - 7:3) (8:16-18)