Series: Epic Journey: The Bible in 99 Days

Message Outline

Coming King, Coming Kingdom

Text:  Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Lamentations

Introduction

his week we began our journey into the "Writing Prophets", also known as the Latter Prophets - beginning with Isaiah and finishing with Malachi. These biblical authors carried on the traditions of Moses, Elijah, and Elisha from the 8th to the 5th centuries BC, prophesying to Israel and/or Judah before, during and after the exile. Their collective ministry represents a time in salvation history where God was both judging His people for their rebellion, and making promises of a new world order. The promises revolved around His chosen one, anointed one, also referred to as His Messiah. This is the One who would come and establish the Kingdom of God.

Prophets were appointed by God, usually through a personal encounter of some kind. They spoke and wrote through the power of the Holy Spirit (see 2 Peter 1:19-21). Both men and women served as prophets - and that continues in the New Testament. The functions of the Prophets include reminders of God's Word, foretelling important actions God was planning to bring about (See Amos 3:7), giving the Lord's judgment, encouraging and edifying believers. In the case of the Writing Prophets, their words became the key biblical revelation about the Messiah. New Testament prophets included John the Baptist and the perfect Prophet: Jesus Christ. Prophecy continues to be an important gift in the Church today, a crucial aspect of spiritual leadership. (See Ephesians 4:11-13)

One thing really stands out in the lifestyles of the Prophets: they lived the message that they preached. They were not perfect (one good example is Jonah!), but their lives sooner or later lined up with their message. We see Isaiah going naked for three years as a living picture of the judgment that God was going to bring on Egypt. Jeremiah would not marry and instead experience the pain and loss of the exile. His book would be burned and he would have to rewrite it. Ezekiel would lose his wife and be forbidden to mourn for her. Hosea would be told to marry a prostitute and love her anyway, the way God loved His people despite their unfaithfulness. We know what difficulty Jesus faced. The apostle Paul had many challenges in his life of service (See 2 Corinthians 11:16-33).

Cliff Notes: Isaiah

Isaiah means “Yahweh is salvation”. He was married (8:3) and had two sons. He seems to have had excellent access to Judah's royal court, and close contact with at least two kings who were David’s descendants (7:3, 38:1, 39:3). He ministered for at least 58 years, from at least 739 B.C., the year King Uzziah died (6:1) to 681 B.C. when Sennacherib died (37:38). He is referred to in 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, also in Matthew Mark, Luke, John, Acts, and Romans. He’s the most-often quoted Prophet in the New Testament.

His prophecy was based on visions and has a three-part structure. In Chapters 1-39, we see God’s power and His absolute control over the affairs of the world. His judgment of the nations means He is able to lead our lives! The second part from Chapters 40-55 give relief from the judgment and promises of restoration through a suffering servant. (See 52:13-53:12) Chapters 56-66 paint an awesome picture of the future – what a finish! As with many prophets, the theology of Isaiah follows the covenant expectations of Deuteronomy, with judgment for sin (1-39) mixed with promise of salvation and comfort for the faithful (40-66).

Some of the clearest prophecies about Jesus (See also 7:14 and 9:6) and biggest ideas in the New Testament (for example God's call for humility and punishment of pride) are in Isaiah. It is no wonder many commentators call Isaiah the “Fifth Evangelist”! It was the scroll of Isaiah dated 125 BC at Qumran, virtually identical to the previously oldest extant manuscript dated 916 AD, giving proof of excellent preservation of God’s Word through the centuries, and proof that Messianic prophecies were made well before Jesus was born! The dominant themes of Isaiah are the absolute Kingship and Holiness of God as well as His absolutely certain victory and remaking of the heavens and the earth. This will be accomplished by His servant Jesus, who took His job description from Isaiah 61 (See Luke 4)

Application: How do you feel when you read Isaiah 52:13-53:12? Have you gained a new glimpse into God's love for you? How do you best experience God's love? How comfortable are you in helping someone know that the Bible is reliable and historically accurate? What could be a good next step on that journey?

Cliff Notes: Jeremiah

Jeremiah has an uncertain meaning – “Yahweh establishes”, “Yahweh exalts”, or possibly “Yahweh hurls down”. He is the major voice of the Lord in Jerusalem. Along with Ezekiel, who was in Babylon, one of Jeremiah's main tasks was to expose the darkness of Judah's sin. The son of a Levite, Jeremiah is referred to in 2 Kings 23, 24, 1 Chronicles 5, 12, 2 Chronicles 35, 36, Ezra 1, Nehemiah 10, 12, Daniel 9 (Daniel probably grew up under his preaching) and Matthew 2, 16, 27. Jeremiah served from the 13th year of Josiah’s reign (627 B.C.), through the reign of Jehoiakim, until the 11th year of King Zedekiah’s reign (586 B.C.) He was prophet who had "fire in his bones" (See 20:9)

The structure of the book follows two parts. Chapters 1-25 include Jeremiah’s call (1), his early ministry calling for repentance and threat of judgment (2-6), imminent judgment and his “confessions” (7-20), and the sentence of Judah having to submit to Babylon (21-25). Chapters 26-29 deal with false prophets opposed to Jeremiah, and the exile being limited to 70 years. Chapters 30-33 are filled with consolation, especially the great news of the coming new covenant. Chapters 34-45 chronicle the fall of Judah, 46-51 are judgment oracles against the Nations, and 52 is the epilogue.  

The themes of Jeremiah are as follows: 1) a proclamation against sin and rebellion and a call to repentance from these ways; 2) oracles of judgment - on God's people and on the opposing nations; and 3) the beautiful hope of the new covenant. Instead of being contained by external laws and behavioral standards which no-one ever met (The Law) - the New Covenant would have God's ways written on our hearts (The Spirit). We would finally be empowered, by grace through faith, to live in a way that pleases God. Part of this lifestyle would be our invitation to call to God and learn things we otherwise could never know (33:3).

Application: If you are young, perhaps you are encouraged by the idea that God calls young people like Jeremiah (maybe 20-25) to carry on major work. Are you following your calling? Do you experience God putting "fire in your bones" over specific passages or issues? Why does God always start the judgment of sin within the church? Are you seeing the connection between repentance and the joy of salvation? How do you face the sin in your own life in light of that reality?

Cliff Notes: Lamentations

This book was considered by the Jews as part of the Writings - one of the wisdom books. It was likely written by Jeremiah and edited, concerning the Fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC. The first word in Hebrew means "Alas" or “How?”. It is a collection of 5 funeral dirges directed at God’s remnant people, based on the covenant stipulations of Deuteronomy 28.

The composition reveals tremendous tension between the theology of God’s retribution (judgment of sin and punishment and cleansing of His people) and His vindication (the destruction of enemies and restoration of His people to Himself). The first dirge represents the sins and desolation of Jerusalem. The second is about God’s judgment and how His fire and wrath consume evil. The third is all about God’s unending grace, given freely to all that come to Him in repentance. The fourth has more judgment and cleansing, which eventually turns towards the enemy (Edom in the case). Finally there is a plea by the remnant for the restoration of covenant blessing and the challenge of waiting quietly when God has us wait!

Application: How do you handle sin in your life? Are you reluctant to confess or quick to do so? Are you arguing with God or trying to justify yourself, or are you open to correction? Do you focus on God's right for retribution or His grace in bringing Himself and His people to vindication? Can you see where both are valuable? How do you experience the tension? Are you more likely to experience guilt in confession, or godly sorrow?

Personal Application Decisions: