Isaiah 1-2

Notes on Bible Study with Pastor Terry Gray


Isaiah 1-2


There are 6 cornerstones of the Bible, defined by a group of scholars (in descending order)
1. Genesis
2. Psalms
3. Gospel of John
4.Romans
5. Revelation
6. Isaiah




Book of Isaiah


- The New Testament quotes Isaiah 66 times directly -- Jesus and Paul both quote frequently from Isaiah


- The Book of Isaiah is filled with Messianic prophecies 


- The structure of the Book of Isaiah: It has been said that it is like a miniature Bible: The first portion of the book discusses sin, judgment, and retribution, much like the theme of the Old Testament. The last portion of the book discusses restoration, grace, and redemption through the work of the Messiah, much like the theme of the New Testament.




Isaiah, the Prophet



- Also known as the Prince of Old Testament prophets, Shakespeare of the Bible


- "Isaiah" means "YHWH is salvation"


- Isaiah had access to kings and was especially close to Hezekiah


- Isaiah's ministry spanned 4 kings, for a total of 58 years 


- Isaiah ministered from Jerusalem mainly to the Southern Kingdom, specifically Judah, because the people of Judah were spiritually sick.




Isaiah 1:1-20
Preview of the Book of Isaiah


God, much like a persecuting lawyer, indicts the Southern Kingdom of Judah for their sins. And much like a judge, God pronounces His judgment. 




Isaiah 1:3
Dumb animals like the donkey and the ox even know their masters, but not the Israelites. The Israelites have strayed so far from God, they are dumber than dumb animals, for they no longer know their Father.


Sins of Israel:
1. ingratitude
2. guilty of becoming a defiantly sinning nation
3. guilty of failing to respond to God’s wakeup call
4. Spiritual hypocrisy (Isaiah 1:10-15)




We see here also that in addition to being a lawyer and a judge, God was also a heartbroken father: a father who gave so much to His children only to see those children grow up and turned their backs on Him.



Regardless of such betrayal, God calls out to them to repent, and tells them that He will forgive them as long as they return to Him.


God warns them of the judgment that awaits them if they continue to sin, but there is hope (1:18-20).





Isaiah 1:21


From these passages, we can see the difference between the government of man vs the Kingdom of Jesus


Government of Man:


- Can start out great, but ALWAYS DECLINE (Isaiah 1:21)
- Will eventually be judged
- Prideful: Example, Tower of Babel
- Arrogant
- Greedy
- Corrupted
- Manipulative





Isaiah 1:23

The government of Judah got so corrupted, justice could be bought. Unfortunately for the poor, they were not protected by the law because they had no money to "buy" protection.


As a faithful husband, God thus indicts Israel for committing spiritual harlotry (Isaiah 1:21). Judah was once a faithful city, but they now bow before man-made idols, worship money and power... basically worship anything but remember God.


When we place anything above god, we're committing spiritual harlotry. That "thing" can be car, money, relationships, etc.


Bottom line, government of man ultimately turns away from God. The Kingdom of Jesus, however, will be established in the last days, and it will be the kingdom of all kingdoms (Isaiah 2:1-4), righting every wrong and protecting the righteous.