I.       Introduction:

A.     The Author:

Isaiah (The Lord is salvation)(1:1)

1.        His Family:

 a.      His father: Amoz (1:1; 2:1)

 b.      His wife: a prophetess (8:3).

 c.      His sons: Shear-Jashub (A remnant shall return).(7:3)

 d.       Maher-shalal-Hash-Baz (speed the spoil, hasten the booty).(8:3)

 e.      He worked during 745-695 BC.

2.        The book of Isaiah:

 a.      One of the longest book in Bible.

 b.      New Testament records from this book frequently.

 c.      The Gospel in Old Testament.

B.     Historical Background:

1.        Fall of Samaria

2.        Sennacherib’s invasions of Judah

3.        The syro-Ephraimite war

4.        The situation in Egypt

5.        Babylon

6.        Dates of Hezekiah’s reign

C.     The corruption in moral and religion for chosen people.

II.    Isaiah 1

A.     Lesson Scripture:

Judah Called to Repentance (Isa.1:1-31)

B.     Outline and Explanation:

God brought charges against people of Judah through Isaiah because they had rebelled, forgotten God, and broken their moral and spiritual contract with God.

1.        Introduction (1:1): Concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

2.        People’s rebellion and forgotten; God’s sigh (1:2-6)

 a.      Heaven and Earth prove Judah’s rebellion: Rebellious people do not know and consider.

 b.      God’s Sigh:

(a)     They are sinful people.

(b)     They have forsaken the Lord and turned away backward.

(c)     They revolt more and more.

(d)     There is no soundness in body.

3.        God’s Judgment (1:7-9)

 a.      Country is desolate and cities are burned.

 b.      Strangers invade and devour the land.

 c.      God still has mercy to save a very small remnant.

4.        God rebuke their outward only worship (1:10-15)

 a.      Their Sacrifices

 b.      Their Meeting

 c.      Their Prayer

5.        Encourage to Repentance (1:16,17)

 a.      Make clean and put away the evil.

 b.      Learn to do good things.

6.        Forgiveness and Punishment (1:18-20)

 a.      Repentance receives forgiveness.

 b.      Rebellion should be devoured by sword.

7.        Sigh for the corruption of Jerusalem (1:21-23)

 a.      The situation before: Faithful, Justice and Righteousness.

 b.      The situation now: Adultery, Murder and Greedy.

8.        The Promises of Refinement, Restoration and Judgment (1:24-31)

 a.      Refine the people.

 b.      Restore the city.

 c.      Zion shall be redeemed with justice.

 d.      The destruction of sinner.

III. Isaiah 2

A.     Lesson Scripture:

Judgment of the Proud (Isa.2:1-22)

B.     Outline and Explanation:

The glory in the era of Messiah. The punishment of Judah’s pride.

1.        Introduction (2:1): Concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

2.        The Scenery of Peace (2:2-4)

 a.      The mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established and exalted. All nations shall flow to it.

 b.      The word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

 c.      Peace:

(a)     The Lord shall judge between the nations.

(b)     No more sword.

(c)     No more battle.

3.        People Should Walk in the Light of the Lord (2:5)

4.        People’s Transgressions (2:6-9)

 a.      They are filled with eastern ways.

 b.      Proud because of silver and gold.

 c.      Proud because of horse and chariots.

 d.      Their land is full of idols.

5.        How Does God Treat the People? (2:10-21)

 a.      The terror of the Lord is near.

 b.      The proud man shall be humbled.

 c.      The idols shall be utterly abolished.

6.        People Are Limited and Unreliable (2:22)

IV.  Isaiah 3

A.     Lesson Scripture:

Judgment on Judah (Ias.3:1-26)

B.     Outline and Explanation:

Disobedience brought the people serious affliction and great destruction, as God had warned (Deut.28)

1.        Take Away Their Dependence (3:1-3): Food, Man of War, Counselor, Diviner and Elder.

2.        The Chaos (3:4-7)

 a.      Children are their princes.

 b.      People oppress one another.

 c.      The child will be insolent toward the elder and the base toward the honorable.

3.        The Reasons of Chaos (3:8-12)

 a.      People’s tongue and doings are against the Lord.

 b.      People have brought evil upon themselves. People shall eat the fruit of their doings.

 c.      Leaders cause people to err.

4.        The Sins of Leaders (3:13-15)

 a.      You have eaten up the vineyard.

 b.      You have crushed people.

5.        The Women of Judah (3:16-26): They have placed their emphasis on clothing and jewelry rather than on God.

 a.      Haughty.

 b.      Too Luxurious.

 c.      Punishment.

V.     Isaiah 4

A.     Lesson Scripture:

Jerusalem’s Glorious Future (Isa.4:1-6)

B.     Outline and Explanation:

God’s holy people will be cleansed.

1.        The Result of the Punishment (4:1): There are few men in the country.

2.        The Future Blessings and Glory (4:2-6): In the midst of the tribulation predicted by Isaiah, some people will be protected by God’s loving grace. Their distinctive mark will be their holiness.

 a.      Glory is for those of Israel who have escaped.

 b.      The Lord gives a spirit of judgment and of burning to purge the people.

 c.      God guides and protects the remnant in Zion.

VI.  Discussion: 

1.       The Jews loved the feasts, ceremonies and sacrifices. But God takes “no pleasure” in “multitude of their sacrifices”. Is mere sincerity what counts with God? What more would make our worship “meaningful”?

2.       Why is Isaiah so hard-hitting in his message? How do you know when to use shock treatment as he does, or a gentle word, as does Lord Jesus with the Samaritan woman?

3.       How might this vision of God’s kingdom (2:1-5) shape our hope? Prayer? Values?

4.       Do we “trust in man” today? How do we “trust in man” today?

5.       How do we become a part of “Branch of the Lord”?