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Week 2: Isaiah and the Exile - Part 1

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

Week 2: IsiahIasiah and the Exile- Part 1

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

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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 the same as what is mentioned in 2 Kings (18–20). hese chapters are included here as a 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 36-40

  • Isaiah and the Exile - Part 1

Resources:

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)
    • Chapter 40 (Verses 1-5, 25-31)
  • 2 Kings
    • Chapter 24
    • Chapter 25

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." IsiahIsaiah 40:31

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.
    • It is a clear prophecy about the Babylonian exile. 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.

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 peoplepeople, of God, HeGod 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

Introduction:

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).

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 8-17).
    • 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:

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Homework:

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