Intro to Isaiah: Part 3
This lesson provides an in-depth introduction to theBook of Isaiah, emphasizing the importance of understanding the historical andpolitical context of the time. Pastor Chris MacDowell compares thisintroduction to a longer one given for the Book of Micah and stresses thesignificance of background knowledge for a comprehensive study. Attendees areencouraged to bring their Bibles or use Bible apps and to read Isaiah 1:1,which sets the stage for the vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem during thereigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.
Pastor Chris highlights the timeline of Isaiah'sministry, which spanned approximately 40-60 years, and discusses the historicalevents and political pressures of the era, including Sennacherib's failedattempt to conquer Jerusalem. Chris also touches on the controversy regardingthe authorship of Isaiah, noting that higher criticism suggests multipleauthors, but traditionally, Isaiah is recognized as the sole author.
The lesson delves into the literary structures ofIsaiah, including the use of prose and poetry, and explains different types ofparallelism and chiasmus, which are common in Hebrew poetry. Pastor Chrisreferences David Dorsey's book on Old Testament literary structures as ahelpful resource and encourages understanding these structures to enhancecomprehension of the scriptures.
The lesson concludes with an encouragement to readthe first five chapters of Isaiah, which serve as an introduction to the book,and to reflect on God's messages. Pastor Chris emphasizes the relevance ofIsaiah's writings to both his contemporaries and future generations, includingthose in exile. The episode ends with a prayer, thanking God for divinerevelation and asking for humility and eagerness to apply His word.
