Isaiah

25:1-9

The Apocalypse of Isaiah, 24:1-27:13

Be glad in the salvation of Israel

These two poems deal with the judgement of the world and the ultimate deliverance of Israel: A song of praise for God's deliverance, 25:1-5, and salvation for all the nations in Mount Zion, 25:6-8.

i] Context: The passage for study is found in the first section of the book of Isaiah, chapters 1-39, regarded as the work of Proto-Isaiah. This section is most likely the work of Isaiah himself. Deutero-Isaiah, chs.40-55, seems to have been composed during the Babylonian exile, while Trito-Isaiah, chs.56-66, reflects an even later period - the return to Jerusalem of the Jewish exiles. Of course, such observations are speculative.

ii] Background: It is most likely that the book of Isaiah is a compilation of Isaiah's prophecies, gathered together by his disciples over a long period of time, with added commentary by those disciples. In determining authorship we need to be careful of the modern resistance to foretelling, as if it is impossible for a prophet to glimpse the future and tell of things to come. God's revelation to us is not restricted by human limitations. If God wants to reveal specifics of the future, he is well able to do so. None-the-less, the prophet usually forthtells the word of God rather than foretells, and does so within the framework of the coming kingdom of God. When it comes to the future, the prophet usually speaks in generalizations which apply, not only to his own generation, but to generations to come.

So, the book of Isaiah is an assemblage of independent prophetic poems editorially arranged into thematic blocks. There is a historical narrative in the middle (chs.36-39) which separates the first section of the work from the last two. This narrative section places Isaiah historically in the reign of Hezekiah 715-686BC. Hezekiah was a good king, but he was under increasing pressure from the might of Assyria. The very existence of the kingdom of God was under threat.

"The city", 24:10.

"foreigners". Those against God, ie. the "insolent".

"A storm driving against the wall." A winter storm.

"Shroud", or possibly death vale. Anyhow, both are no longer needed.

"Remove the disgrace of his people." Normally, the "disgrace" of Israel was regarded as their slavery in Egypt and later their exile in Babylon. The realization of the kingdom confirms them as God's special people and therefore removes their past disgrace.

Isaiah Introduction.

Exposition

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