Unit 2: Major Prophets (1)

• Week 1: God calls Isaiah
• Week 2: Isaiah and the Exile - Part 1
• Week 3: Isaiah and the Exile - Part 2
• Week 4: Isaiah's Messianic Prophecies

Week 1: God calls Isaiah

Introduction + chapters 1&2 + 6

Introduction:

• The Old Testament contains 17 prophetic books (Splits into major and minor prophets based on the size of the book)
  • Major Prophets (5 books): Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel
  • Minor Prophets (12 books): Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachai
• Isaiah:
  • Isaiah was of royal lineage, the nephew of King Amaziah. He had two sons,  Shear-Jashub and Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, whose names symbolized exile and return from captivity. Coming from a wealthy and educated family, Isaiah prophesied for sixty years, beginning at the age of twenty and continuing through the reigns of four kings: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. He was martyred at eighty years old during the reign of King Manasseh.

Author: Isaiah: A Hebrew word meaning "The salvation of God."

Date:

• Isaiah began his prophetic ministry in the year 740 B.C. and continued until the year 680 B.C., meaning he wrote for about sixty years during his prophecy. In the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
• His ministry commences around the time the Northern kingdom is carried into captivity (722 BC ). About 140 years before the Southern kingdom went into captivity ( 586BC ).

Major Theme:

• Repent and turn back to God
• Rely on God rather than earthly powers and possessions
• Warning against outward religious appearances, as it is considered hypocrisy.
  
• Hope in the awaited Messiah, the Savior, and the new life in Him.

Nature of the Book of Isaiah:

• The entire book is written in poetry, except for the historical chapter (Isaiah 36-39)
• The most detailed prophetic book in the Old Testament about Christ, including details about His birth, crucifixion, resurrection, and many aspects of His life.

Outline:

• God the disciplinarian: (Chapters 1-35)
  • A call to repentance for the kingdom of Judah, Israel, and the surrounding nations.
    • King Uzziah (Chapters 1-5)
    • King Jotham (Chapter 6)
    • King Ahaz (Chapters 7-14)
    • King Hezekiah (Chapters 15- 66)
• God the victorious (Chapters 36-39)
  • Judah's victory over Assyria by God's power and the healing of king Hezekiah
• The Messiah the savior and God's promises (Chapters 40-66)
  • Prophecies about the incarnation of Christ, His crucifixion, and resurrection.

Objective: Week 1 Isaiah chapters 1&2+6

• God calls Isaiah

Resources:

• Catena Bible Commentary
• Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty (Book of Isaiah)
• Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)
• Fr Luka Maher Bible study (Arabic)

Reading:

• Chapter 1 (Verses 1-21)
• Chapter 2 (Verses 10-22)
• Chapter 6 (Verses 1-13)

Key verse(s):

"I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me". Isaiah 6:8

Comments:

Chapter 1 

• God's Judgement on His People (Verses 1-9)
  • God declares that Israel has rebelled against Him despite His care. The people are described as ungrateful, stubborn, and corrupted.
• Rejection of superficial worship (Verses 10-15)
  • God declares His rejection of superficial worship and tells His people not to offer Him vain worship. If the heart is full of evil and unwilling to repent, their worship will be unacceptable.
  • Contemplation: We need to focus on our repentance, reconcile and forgive everyone, reject evil, and acknowledge our weakness to God, asking for His help.
• How to Please God (verses 16-20)
  • God presents the solution to His children whom He judged at the beginning of the chapter
    • The solution is repentance by cutting off evil.
    • True repentance involves not only turning away from wrongdoing but also aligning with God's will.
    • Contemplation: The path of repentance is open to remedy all sins, so do not delay in confession and repentance.
• God is the Savior (verses 21-31)
  • God promises to save and redeem Zion with justice so it doesn't fall again.

Chapter 2:

• In this chapter begins the prophecy of God, which He gave to Isaiah about the Kingdom of Judah and its capital, Jerusalem.
• Sins of Jerusalem (Verses 5-9)
  • It is a warning from God through the mouth of Isaiah to the Kingdom of Judah to repent and turn away from their sins so that God may forgive them. 
• The Fearsome God and the Humility of Man (verses 10-22):
  • All human strength and material possessions will be humbled and fade before God, who is exalted above all and will judge each one according to their deeds."
• In the first 5 chapters Isaiah was describing the condition of God's people and their sins

Chapter 6

• The Vision of God (verses 1-4):
  • This vision was seen by Isaiah, he saw God seated on a high throne, as His throne is above all the thrones of the kings of the world. This vision has strongly influenced our Orthodox church, for the Church, like heaven, has an altar, a throne, smoke from incense, and believers singing" Holy, Holy, Holy,"
• The Cleansing of Isaiah (verses 5-7):
  • The coal represents a clear symbol of the Eucharist, which purifies the confessing individual from their sins, making them worthy to live with God in purity.
• The Commissioning of Isaiah (verses 8-13):

  • After God purified Isaiah through one of the angels who touched his lips with a coal, God declared His need for someone to go into the world to proclaim His message. He asked, "Whom shall I send?

  • This shows the humility of God, who is all-powerful, as He expresses a need for a human being to be sent as His messenger.

    
    

Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions

• What does God call the people to do? 
• Why does God say He will not hear the prayers of Judah? 
• Why God did not take pleasure in all the sacrifices offered to Him?
• Describe the Seraphim?
• When do we cry out like the Seraphim saying Holy, Holy, Holy?  
• What does the live coal from the altar symbolize?

Homework:
**Servant may add more questions

1. In whose reign was the prophecy of Isaiah?   a)Uzziah b) Ahaz c)Hezekiah, d) all of those
2. Isaiah was                                                        a) a prophet b) a priest c) a Christian d) a king
3.  "Holy, holy, holy is the _________ of hosts; The whole _________ is full of His __________"
4.  Who had a live coal in his hand, which he took with tongs from the altar?                                                                a) Isaiah b) God c) the seraphim d) the cherubim

Week 2: Isaiah and the Exile - Part 1

36 +37 + 38 + 39 + 40 + 2Kings 24& 25

Week 2: Isaiah and the Exile- Part 1

The History of Humanity from Adam to the End of the World

Introduction:

• Isaiah:
  • Isaiah was of royal lineage, the nephew of King Amaziah. He had two sons,  Shear-Jashub and Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, whose names symbolized exile and return from captivity. Coming from a wealthy and educated family, Isaiah prophesied for sixty years, beginning at the age of twenty and continuing through the reigns of four kings: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. He was martyred at eighty years old during the reign of King Manasseh.
• The content of the four chapters (36–39) is fulfillment of previous prophecies, as everything Isaiah spoke about in his prophecies (from chapters 1–35) has now come to pass.
• The story of Sennacherib and Hezekiah begins with Sennacherib demanding tribute to avoid attacking the city, and Hezekiah paid him 300 talents of silver and 30 talents of gold. However, Sennacherib betrayed his promise and attacked Judah, taking 200,000 captives.

Author: Isaiah: A Hebrew word meaning "The salvation of God."

Date:

• Isaiah began his prophetic ministry in the year 740 B.C. and continued until the year 680 B.C., meaning he wrote for about sixty years during his prophecy. In the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
• His ministry commences around the time the Northern kingdom is carried into captivity (722 BC ). About 140 years before the Southern kingdom went into captivity ( 586BC ).

Major Theme:

• Repent and turn back to God
• Rely on God rather than earthly powers and possessions
• Warning against outward religious appearances, as it is considered hypocrisy.
  
• Hope in the awaited Messiah, the Savior, and the new life in Him.

Outline:

• God the disciplinarian: (Chapters 1-35)
  • A call to repentance for the kingdom of Judah, Israel, and the surrounding nations.
    • King Uzziah (Chapters 1-5)
    • King Jotham (Chapter 6)
    • King Ahaz (Chapters 7-14)
    • King Hezekiah (Chapters 15- 66)
• God the victorious (Chapters 36-39)
  • Judah's victory over Assyria by God's power and the healing of king Hezekiah
• The Messiah the savior and God's promises (Chapters 40-66)
  • Prophecies about the incarnation of Christ, His crucifixion, and resurrection.

Objective: Week 2 Isaiah chapter 36-39

• Isaiah and the Exile - Part 1

Resources:

• Catena Bible Commentary
• Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty (Book of Isaiah)
• Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)
• Fr Luka Maher Bible study (Arabic)

Reading:

• Isaiah
  • Chapter 36 (Verses 4-10, 16-22)
  • Chapter 37 (5-7, 10-22, 33-38)
  • Chapter 38 (1-9)
  • Chapter 39 (1-8)
    

Key verse(s):

• "O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth." Isaiah 37:16

Comments:

Chapter 36

• Sennacherib boasts against the Lord (Verses 4-10)
  • Rabshakeh told Hezekiah that trusting in Egypt or even in God is in vain. 
• The Deception of the devil (Verses 16-22)
  • Rabshakeh asked the people of Judah to go with him to his land and promises to give them land like their own, but this is deception and trickery because he intended to enslave or kill them. This is always the trick of the devil: to lure the soul outside the walls of Jerusalem (i.e., outside the walls of the church) to isolate them away from God.
  • Hezekiah's wisdom is clear in not arguing with Rabshakeh, and we should not engage in discussions with the devil, no matter how tempting his promises might be.

Chapter 37

• Isaiah assures deliverance (Verses 5-7)
  • Isaiah reassures King Hezekiah and the people of Judah that God will deliver them from the Assyrian threat. 
• Sennacherib's threats and Hezekiah's prayer (Verses 10-22)
  • Sennacherib sent a letter to Hezekiah threatening to destroy Jerusalem and mocking the God of Israel.
  • In response, Hezekiah prayed to God, seeking divine intervention. Hezekiah's prayer is marked by humility and faith, entrusting the situation to God’s judgment.
• The Word of the Lord concerning Sennacherib (Verses 33-38)
  • God responds to Hezekiah's prayer through Isaiah, declaring that Sennacherib will not succeed against Jerusalem. 
  • Sennacherib returned to his own land, where he is later killed by his own sons.

Chapter 38

• Hezekiah's life extended (Verses 1-9)
  • King Hezekiah became very ill and near death. However, he prayed to God, pleading for his life and recalling his faithfulness. God responded to his prayer and extended Hezekiah's life by fifteen years.

Chapter 39

• The Babylonian envoys (Verses 1-8)
  • This chapter begins by referencing the Babylonian exile. After this chapter, the focus shifts to Babylon as an enemy of the people, the Babylonian captivity, and ultimately deliverance from it.
  • The Babylonian captivity did occur as a result of the sins of Manasseh and those who came after him, as well as the sins of the entire people.
  • When Hezekiah showed off all the treasures of Jerusalem, it made them a target for enemies who later stole everything. Similarly, when we boast about our spiritual blessings or faith, we can attract negative influences that might lead us away from God.

• 

Review/recap questions:

**Servant may add more questions

• What did the king of Assyria promised the people of Judah?
• What truths about God does Hezekiah emphasize in his prayer?
• What will happen to Hezekiah’s sons ruled by the Babylonians?

Homework:

**Servant may add more questions

• Who came against Judah? a) Hezekiah b)Sennacherib c) God
• What did the king ask Isaiah to do? a) to sing b) to fast c) to pray
• What did Hezekiah do with the letter from the king of Assyria after he read it?
  a) spread it before the LORD b) destroyed it c) returned it to the king
•  How many years did the Lord add to Hezekiah’s life? a) 5 years b) 10 years c) 15 years
•  What did Hezekiah show to the messengers of Babylon?
  a) his treasures b) the silver and gold c) the spices and precious ointment d) all of these

Week 3: Isaiah and the Exile - Part 2

36 +37 + 38 + 39 + 40 + 2Kings 24& 25

Week 3: Isaiah and the Exile- Part 2

The History of Humanity from Adam to the End of the World

Introduction:

• Isaiah:
  • Isaiah was of royal lineage, the nephew of King Amaziah. He had two sons,  Shear-Jashub and Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, whose names symbolized exile and return from captivity. Coming from a wealthy and educated family, Isaiah prophesied for sixty years, beginning at the age of twenty and continuing through the reigns of four kings: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. He was martyred at eighty years old during the reign of King Manasseh

Author: Isaiah: A Hebrew word meaning "The salvation of God."

Date:

• Isaiah began his prophetic ministry in the year 740 B.C. and continued until the year 680 B.C., meaning he wrote for about sixty years during his prophecy. In the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
• His ministry commences around the time the Northern kingdom is carried into captivity (722 BC ). About 140 years before the Southern kingdom went into captivity ( 586BC ).

Major Theme:

• Repent and turn back to God
• Rely on God rather than earthly powers and possessions
• Warning against outward religious appearances, as it is considered hypocrisy.
  
• Hope in the awaited Messiah, the Savior, and the new life in Him.

Outline:

Isaiah

• God the disciplinarian: (Chapters 1-35)
  • A call to repentance for the kingdom of Judah, Israel, and the surrounding nations.
    • King Uzziah (Chapters 1-5)
    • King Jotham (Chapter 6)
    • King Ahaz (Chapters 7-14)
    • King Hezekiah (Chapters 15- 66)
• God the victorious (Chapters 36-39)
  • Judah's victory over Assyria by God's power and the healing of king Hezekiah
• The Messiah the savior and God's promises (Chapters 40-66)
  • Prophecies about the incarnation of Christ, His crucifixion, and resurrection.

2 Kings

Author: The prophet Jeremiah

Date: Around 560 B.C, during the time of Merodach, the king of Babylon.

Outline: 

• The Life of Elisha (Chapters 1-8).
• The Kings until the Fall of Samaria (Chapters 9-17).
• The Kings until the Fall of Jerusalem (Chapters 18-25)

Objective: Week 3, Isaiah chapter 40 and 2 Kings chapters 24&25

• Isaiah and the Exile - Part 2

Resources:

• Catena Bible Commentary
• Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty (Book of Isaiah)
• Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)
• Fr Luka Maher Bible study (Arabic)

Reading:

• Isaiah
  • Chapter 40 (Verses 1-5, 25-31)
• 2 Kings
  • Chapter 24 (Verses1-20)
  • Chapter 25 (Verses 1-17)

Key verse(s):

• "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

Comments:

Isaiah chapter 40: 

• God's people are comforted (Verses 1-5, 25-31)
  • The first part of the book of Isiah from chapter 1-39 seems as a warning to the people, God revealed it to show them their condition and their need for a Savior. God indicates that He will strike them because of their corruptions and sins.
  • In the second part of he book of Isiah from chapter 40, we see that He strikes and wounds to heal. The promise of comfort through The Messiah the savior is clearly revealed.
  • Promises of comfort and salvation for the believers (from Babylonian captivity and sin in general)

2 Kings Chapter 24

• Judah’s Submission to Babylon (Verses 1-7).
  • God allowed His people in the Kingdom of Judah to be defeated and scattered for two reasons:
    • The wickedness of King Manasseh, which was evident in his worship of foreign gods.
    • The people's injustice towards one another and the shedding of innocent blood.
  • God is just, so do not persist in your wickedness like Manasseh and ignore God's words. He is patient, but He must punish if there is no repentance. Submit to Him and return to Him to enjoy His mercy. 
• The captivity of Jehoiachin (Verses 8-16)
  • Jehoiachin followed in wickedness, from the beginning of his reign, idol worship and various lusts and injustices.
  • Thus, the king of Babylon captured Jehoiachin, the king of Judah, along with his mother and his wives.
• The Reign of Zedekiah and His Rebellion Against Babylon (Verses 17-20).
  • Zedekiah followed the footsteps of Jehoiakim, the previous king of Judah, in his wicked ways.
  • The king of Babylon captured Zedekiah and destroyed Jerusalem and burned it, fulfilling the prophets' predictions. This was the manifestation of God's anger and punishment upon His people for their wickedness.

2 Kings Chapter 25

• The Burning of the Temple and Jerusalem and the Exile of the People (Verses 1-17).
  • The Babylonian siege of Jerusalem lasted for a year and a half.
  • When Jerusalem fell into the hands of Nebuzaradan and he entered the city, he burned the house of the Lord, which Solomon had built three hundred years earlier. 
• Gedaliah, the Governor of Judah (Verses 22-26).

• 

Review/recap questions:

**Servant may add more questions

• What does God promise the youth? And on what condition?
• Who did Nebuchadnezzar exile?
• What did the Babylonians do to the House of the Lord?
• Why did God allow the destruction of Judah?

Homework:

**Servant may add more questions

• Name the King of Babylon who came against Judah:
  a) Nebuchadnezzar b) Jehoiakim c) Judah d) Manasseh
• Zedekiah did evil in the sight of the Lord. True or false?
• Gedaliah was the __________ of Judah.
  a) King b) commander of army c) governor d) captain

Week 4: Isaiah's Messianic Prophecies

Week 4: Isaiah's Messianic Prophecies

The History of Humanity from Adam to the End of the World

Introduction:

• Isaiah:
  • Isaiah was of royal lineage, the nephew of King Amaziah. He had two sons,  Shear-Jashub and Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, whose names symbolized exile and return from captivity. Coming from a wealthy and educated family, Isaiah prophesied for sixty years, beginning at the age of twenty and continuing through the reigns of four kings: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. He was martyred at eighty years old during the reign of King Manasseh

Author: Isaiah: A Hebrew word meaning "The salvation of God."

Date:

• Isaiah began his prophetic ministry in the year 740 B.C. and continued until the year 680 B.C., meaning he wrote for about sixty years during his prophecy. In the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
• His ministry commences around the time the Northern kingdom is carried into captivity (722 BC ). About 140 years before the Southern kingdom went into captivity ( 586BC ).

Major Theme:

• Repent and turn back to God
• Rely on God rather than earthly powers and possessions
• Warning against outward religious appearances, as it is considered hypocrisy.
  
• Hope in the awaited Messiah, the Savior, and the new life in Him.

Outline:

Isaiah

• God the disciplinarian: (Chapters 1-35)
  • A call to repentance for the kingdom of Judah, Israel, and the surrounding nations.
    • King Uzziah (Chapters 1-5)
    • King Jotham (Chapter 6)
    • King Ahaz (Chapters 7-14)
    • King Hezekiah (Chapters 15- 66)
• God the victorious (Chapters 36-39)
  • Judah's victory over Assyria by God's power and the healing of king Hezekiah
• The Messiah the savior and God's promises (Chapters 40-66)
  • Prophecies about the incarnation of Christ, His crucifixion, and resurrection.

Objective: Week 4

• Isaiah's Messianic Prophecies

Resources:

• Catena Bible Commentary
• Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty (Book of Isaiah)
• Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)
• Fr Luka Maher Bible study (Arabic)

Reading:

• Isaiah
  • Chapters 51-53

Key verse(s):

• "Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord! Awake as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Are You not the arm that cut Rahab apart, And wounded the serpent?." Isaiah 51:9

Comments:

Isaiah chapter 51: 

• A call for unity with God and to enjoy the work of redemption.
  • A call to unite with God the Redeemer. God invites His people who desire to be with Him to come together and follow His word. In verse 2, He reminds them of their humble beginnings, which were filled with desolation. Nevertheless, God saved them and bestowed His blessings upon His people.
  • God promises His people through the Church of the New Testament. He assures them that His promises of salvation are everlasting, unlike the temporary nature of earthly things.
  • God comforts His people and calls them to awaken. He redirects His wrath toward the enemies of His people.

Isaiah Chapter 52:

•  Joy of salvation:
  • Put on your beautiful garments (Verses 1-2).
    • "Awake, awake!" is a call to repent and rise from the deep slumber of sin. "Put on your beautiful garments" signifies that while sin leaves us exposed, repentance restores and covers us.
  • A free special gift (Verses 3-6).
    • Our Savior has come to redeem us by His precious blood
  • A joyful proclamation (Verses 7-10)
  • Abstaining from evil (Verses 11-12)
  • The glory of the servant of the Lord (Verses 13-15).
    

Isaiah Chapter 53:

• "The arm of the Lord" refers to the Son of God
• The Jews had certain expectations for the Messiah that did not match Christ’s humble beginnings and His life filled with suffering.
• Isaiah begins with a detailed account of all the pains, sins, and punishments that our Lord endured.
• He carried our sorrows and pains, bearing all the grief of humanity that resulted from sin.

• He was wounded for our disobedience, yet He remained obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross.

• Isaiah described His injustice during an unlawful trial held at night, which is against the regulations of any court.

• He faced false accusations, like a lamb led to the slaughter, He remained silent throughout all His trials and did not respond.

• He carried our sins and endured the punishment we deserved, providing salvation through His crucifixion. His suffering is symbolized by the thorns, nails, and spear that inflicted pain upon Him, yet through it, He saved us.

Review/recap questions:

**Servant may add more questions

• What is the cup of trembling? How was it taken from one nation and given to another?
• Read verse 10. What does it refer to?
• What good news will be announced from upon the mountains?
• “Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently; He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high”
  Explain

Homework:

**Servant may add more questions

•  Awake, awake! Put on your ________, O Zion; Put on your __________ garments.
• All we like _______ have gone astray; We have turned, every ______, to his own way; And the 
  LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us _______.