FAITH – HOPE – FORGIVENESS by Growing Older

Introduction: In the Old Testament, we can group the Books into approximately three different categories. Genesis through Esther is history; Job through Song of Solomon is poetry; while Isaiah through Malachi is prophecy.

We are now at the Old Testament writings by the prophets. There are 17 in number and generally divided into 5 Major Prophets and 12 Minor Prophets. They are not called “major” or “minor” prophets because some are more important than others. They are referred to such because of the amount of material in each Book. The Books of poetry were written during the golden age of Israel; the Books of prophecy were written during days of apostasy in Israel.

Definition of a prophet: derived from a verb signifying “to bubble forth” like a fountain; hence the word means one who announces or pours forth the declarations of God. A spokesman; speaker. They were authoritative and influential men of God. They were direct spokesmen of God; they received their messages directly from God and preached them to the people. Therefore, “prophet” means: one who speaks for another. When put in proper context, we will know if that spokesman is speaking for God or for some man or some other deity; Numbers 12:6-8 Deuteronomy 13:1-5 – II Peter 1:21.

Matthew 11:13 – Luke 16:16: Prophets …. until John. “Until” is a conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until (of time and place): (un-)til(-l), (hither-, un-, up) to. The prophets lasted until the time of John the Baptist. “The law and the prophets were in force until John: from that time the Gospel takes place; and humble upright men receive it with inexpressible earnestness,” John Wesley.

The prophets taught, or continued to instruct.  They were the instructors concerning the Christ who was to come. John the Baptist came and showed that all the predictions of the Messiah, were now about to be fully and finally accomplished; for Christ was now revealed. There was 400 silent years between the closing of the Old Testament Books and the beginnings of the Gospel. John the Baptist is clearly New Testament and NOT an Old Testament prophet. Today, those who call themselves prophets are not “God called” but “self-called.”

Central message of Isaiah: Jehovah is supreme Ruler and the ONLY Saviour.

Author: The Holy Spirit of God  Human writer: The Prophet Isaiah

Chronological Order Of The Prophets: According to Ussher

1. Prophets Before The Exile
2. Jonah to Nineveh – 862 B.C.
3. To the 10 Tribes of Israel
4. Amos – 787 B.C.
5. Hosea – 785 – 725 B.C.
6. Obadiah – 887 B.C.
7. Joel – 800 B.C.
8. To Judah
9. Isaiah – 760 – 698 B.C.
10. Micah – 750 – 710 B.C.
11. Nahum – 713 B.C.
12. Habakkuk 626 B.C.
13. Zephaniah – 630 B.C.
14. Jeremiah – 629 – 588 B.C.
15. Prophets During The Exile
16. Ezekiel – 595 – 574 B.C.
17. Daniel – 607 – 534 B.C.

III. Prophets After The Exile

A. Haggai – 520 B.C.

B. Zechariah – 520 – 518 B.C.

C. Malachi – 397 B.C.

IV. The Book Of Isaiah Shows Absolute Proof that Christ Is God

A. Isaiah 19:20; 43:3, 11; 45:15, 21; 49:26, 60:16, 63:8

B. Isaiah 53 is direct and obvious prophecies of Christ

C. There are many New Testament Scriptures that make it obvious that Jesus Christ is the                                                     Saviour; the ONE spoken about by the Prophet Isaiah

1. Luke 1:47; 2:11; John 4:42; Acts 5:31, 13:23; Philippians 3:20; II Timothy 1:10

2. Titus 1:3-4; 2:10-13; 3:4-6; II Peter 1:1,11; 2:20; 3:2,18; I John 4:14

V. The Lowliness Of The Messiah’s Arrival

1. Isaiah 53:2
2. He did not come as the Jews expected Him to come
3. No political deliverance
4. no great ceremony befitting a King
5. born to a carpenter’s family
6. born to a family of Northern Galilee; a place and family from which nothing was expected
7. a “root out of dry ground” Isaiah 53:2 – Romans 15:12
8. dry ground – where no one would expect it to grow – before unbelieving Jews
9. root – Vs 1 – “the arm of the Lord is revealed.                                                                                                                     (1) the same Hebrew for the above is used in Genesis 3:15 – Christ is the seed                                                         (2) roots have no beauty in them                                                                                                                                         (3) the root is that of a decayed tree springing up into a new tree – Isaiah 11:1                                                       “tender plant” – “a suckling” Job 14:7 – a young shoot springing up from old stock
10. No form or comeliness – beauty
11. magnificence, ornament or splendor: beauty, excellency, glorious, glory, goodly, honor,                                    majesty.
12. the beauty of Christ was moral; holiness; love etc.
13. this is an inward beauty and not outward.

VI. He Suffered For Us

1. Isaiah 53:4-5 “… He was wounded for our transgressions.” I Peter 2:24
2. He took in our place; our sufferings, it was God’s will I John 4:10
3. He was / is guiltless = sinless: Isaiah 53:9; I Peter 2:22; Luke 23:1-22
4. He made His grave with the wicked – Isaiah 53:9
5. He was crucified between two thieves – Matthew 27:38
6. “with the rich …”  Joseph of Arimathea – Matthew 27:57-60 and Nicodemus – John 19:38-42
7. He was made an offering for sin – Isaiah 53:10
8. Isaiah 53:12 – He was numbered with the transgressors’ – Matthew 27:38 – two thieves
9. He bare the sins of many – Isaiah 53:12 – Matt. 26:28 – Hebrews 9:28
10. He made intercession for the transgressors – Romans 8:34 – Hebrews 7:25                                                              a. He constantly presents the merits of his death as a reason why we should be saved.                                            b. The precise mode, however, in which he makes intercession in heaven for his people is not                                     revealed. The general meaning is, that he undertakes their cause, and assists them in                                               overcoming their foes and in their endeavors to live a holy life. (Barnes)                                                                c. I John 2:1 – an advocate – one who has undertaken, and is fully able, to plead in behalf                                              of  every one who applies for pardon and salvation in his name, depending on his                                                      pleading for them. (Matthew Henry)