Please read again the Amos and Isaiah study questions, and then Chapters 1-11 of Isaiah. What do you find here that suggests that Isaiah's message was a burden? Is there a passage here that particularly well reflects hope, beauty, faith in the triumph of justice, or anything else that would have made this burden worth bearing?
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Isaiah 1
Please read again the Amos and Isaiah study questions, and then Chapters 1-11 of Isaiah. What do you find here that suggests that Isaiah's message was a burden? Is there a passage here that particularly well reflects hope, beauty, faith in the triumph of justice, or anything else that would have made this burden worth bearing?
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In 5 verses 8-30 there is a burden. Some lines like 5:13 clearly state that "honourable men are famished." He spent his time telling people that they are going to be punished. That alone would be a burden to bear. He might not feel bad for the rich evil men, but the Honorable?
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 10 he speaks of Israel being saved. The people who return will be full of righteousness. He would give them back much of what he was going to take from them. It was a sign of hope for the future generations.
In chapter 1 verse 14 he says "Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals
ReplyDeleteI hate with all my being.
They have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them."
He was preaching to the people telling them all they have done wrong and how they have forsaken the lord. I believe he was carrying this burden with him a long time and finally had enough so he needed to speak out against what they were doing. I believe he had been carrying this burden with him because he believes theres still some good in these people and its not a lost cause yet.
R. Casey Oberle
Isaiah chapters 1-11 are almost entirely a burden, as they tell of the terrible things that God will continually do to punish the people of Israel. For example, 9:19 says "By the wrath of the Lord Almighty the land will be scorched and the people will be fuel for the fire; no one will spare his brother." And also 10:22 which says "Though your people, O Israel, be like the sand by the sea, only a remnant will return."
ReplyDeleteIt is, however, a burden worth bearing as there is hope when God promises to send "the branch from Jesse" who will be the righteous one to bring glory to the nation again.
Isaiah chapter 10 talks about a remnant of Israel. At this time the Israelites will have been led into captivity. This was a burden. Isaiah prophesied and told his fellow Israelites that they would fall and be taken captive. But he also talked about a remnant of Israel; people that were chosen by and taken care of by God. 10:27 says, "In that day their burden will be lifted from your shoulders, their yoke from your neck." God claims he is coming to save the Israelites from the captivity he deemed as their punishment. The punishment won't last forever though; God will still be their for his people. -Zach Kuhlman
ReplyDeleteIsaiah's message of hope is entered chapter 9 when he tells of Christ birth again. This is not the first a promise had been made but it is the first time it is really displayed as hope. For all the blood that had been shed and will be shed, only one bled for hope eternal and Isaiah makes it a point to tell us especially in the names he will be called: wonderful counselor, mighty god, everlasting father, prince of peace.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that even though the rest of the chapters take about the downfalls of the nation. That in itself is a burden, but then in just a small section talks about the burden will be lifted by just one man...although noone knew when.
Isaiah's message is a burden for many of the reasons we already discussed. Nobody wants to have bad news, nobody wants to deliver bad news, and nobody wants to hear bad news. Isaiah's message, particularly chapter 1, chapter 5 beginning at verse 8, and chapter 9 beginning at verse 8, is not news that anybody would to to have, deliver or hear.
ReplyDeleteHowever, there are many messages of hope in Isaiah as well. Perphaps the best example is chapter 9:1-7. The prophecy of the birth of the Messiah is one of great hope, and I think that any chance of hope makes a message worth bearing. In a way, I think this is also what makes this prophecy different from many false prophets. Others say this is how it's going to be unless you change to this or that religion. This is different in that the people are called to change, but rather than ending the prophecy as "Doom," the message is that God knows we will fall short and will still provide for us despite our shortcomings. I think the fact that there is hope even though we know we are incapable of doing what we need to do to evade catastrophe sets this prophecy apart.
Isaiah's message is definitely one that could count as a burden. There is so much negative stuff going on, the Lord seems to hate everything that comes from his people, all their festivals and sacrifices. It's like he sees how awful they are, so their offerings are nothing but garbage to him. The women are awful.. Which I feel like when there are passages focusing on how awful the women are, the purpose is to show just how far the people have fallen. It's like when the women are oppressing and abusing, since they tend to be the more tender and compassionate gender, the people have truly fallen. Maybe that's a good theory? Maybe not?
ReplyDeleteBut even though Isaiah's message is full of judgement and terrible things that will be poured out on Judah, I think it is definitely worth bearing. Specifically in Chapter 11, I just love how when things seem so awful, there is a message of hope, a leader worth telling about:
2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
Ahhhh, how do you not get excited reading that passage!? I think this message alone would of been enough encouragement for Isaiah to bear the burden of his message... :)
I think there are a lot of things in the passages assigned that would be considered a burden. Similar to Amos, there is a lot of prophecy on the destruction of their people. Not only do they hear that they are going to be destroyed, but how they will be by the Assyrians (chapter 8 and 10).
ReplyDeleteIsaiah is also constantly explaining the catastrophes awaiting his people, and basically keeps saying, "but wait, there's more." in such repeated lines like in chapter 9: "For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still."
The parts that make it all worth it give me a huge sense of hope. It almost feels like a reprieve in the middle of all the destruction-to-be. Mentioned in chapters 7, 9, and 11 is the one to be called Immanuel (7:14).
It says that the people will be released from their burdens, and the land will be full of peace and prosperity. (to put it very simply) In chapter 11, it gives a large explanation as to how much the coming of this Immanuel will impact the world.
I personally like the passage...
"And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox." (11:7)
The image of a lion eating straw is amusing.
Yes, Isaiah had a burden of having these prophecies, and then having to share them. Nobody likes to hear that there is an impending doom. But there are little rays of sunshine in the storm of horrible news. It would bring great hope to hear about the "Prince of Peace." (9:6)
Isaiah’s message is definitely a burden because God is disappointed in his people; that will always be a difficult message to accept. In chapter 5 Isaiah continuously says woe unto the people and then lists what they are doing wrong. 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight. It would be hard to tell someone that thinks what they are doing is correct that they are wrong in every way.
ReplyDeleteIsaiah keeps foreshadowing the birth of Christ. For me, that is a huge sign of hope and definitely makes this a burden worth bearing. This is exemplified in the verses 7:14 and 9:6-7
There is no doubt that Isaiah's message was a burden, but it is for sure a burden worth bearing. There are so many verses that talk about the disappointment that God has in the behavior of his people and the destruction that is surely headed their way because of this. God also provides hope directly afterwards though. (Isaiah 1:15-20) "When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood; wash and make youselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willng and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken."
ReplyDeleteThis passage contains both a burden and yet a beautiful plea from God for his people to stop their wrong behavior. You can always feel hopeful if there is someone who won't give up on you and God makes it pretty clear that even though he detests the way his people are acting he does not quit giving them warnings of the destruction that will come to them if they don't change their ways to God's ways. God gives them a way out.
There are many different parts in the book where it suggests that Isaiah’s message was a burden for him to relay to his people.It was a burden because he was deleviring a message that wasnt a wanted one.
ReplyDelete"Your new moons and festival I destest; they weigh me down, I tire of load." Any person who must deliver a message saying god is going to punish you for your wrong doings and straying away from him is not going to be looked upon well.
There's a reason we have the saying, "dont kill the messenger." Because no one likes to hear bad news, and we like to take it out on the one telling us.
2 In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel. 3 Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem. 4 The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit[a] of judgment and a spirit[b] of fire. 5 Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over everything the glory[c] will be a canopy. 6 It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.
ReplyDeleteAlmost every word in the previous chapters deal with how the Lord is going to make people run to caves to escape the presence of God, or that their festivals and sacrifices mean nothing, but this passage is all about how soon not only will the people be forgiven they will see their sins and no longer will God be angry with them for God loves them and will protect them from evil if they live with God in their life.
tom quigg
I think that chapter 5 shows how much of a burdern isaiah is carrying. Isaiah keeps telling the people about how destruction is certain if they do not change. This is a huge burden because he can't really do anything to make that outcome different. He can preach and preach and preach, but that's really all he can do. This is a huge burden to bear. Isaiah knows that God will make good on his promises to destroy everything. Even though he knows this, there's not much he can do.
ReplyDeleteIsaiah 4:2-4 this passage is referring to hope, and faith because the "The Branch of the Lord" is meaning the messiah come to Judah and that some people will be protected by God's grace and those that will be protected will be set apart to serve God, and that the people will be cleansed and ready to start over from the messiah placed on to earth.
ReplyDeleteTyler Munson,
ReplyDeleteThe first chapter of Isaiah can be burdensome to those whoo hear it because it comes off as a scolding. Throughout the message Isaiah compares his people to Sodom and Gomorah and it comes off as really pessimisstic and could turn people away from the faith.
In chapter four (4), in regards to the "seven women..." that shall "...take hold of one man in that day.." asking "...let us be called by your name; take away our reproach." (line 1), the vivid description of how the Lord's branch will be beautiful and glorious when this happens lends hope to all of the struggles going on at this time and how they will eventually be worth it. It is, like many things that Israel is struggling with at this time, something that is hindering the well being of these people. Through Israel being partially destroyed and all the men which will "enter the caves of the rocks...from before the terror of the Lord...when he rises to terrify the earth" (2:19) a passage such as the one up top gives hope and faith in these struggles being worth it. "It will be for a shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain." (4:4-6)really gives hope for the struggles being worth it and gives us patience since there will be a better time eventually.
ReplyDeleteI think that isiahs message was 100 percent a burden. His people, as no people would, wanted absolutely nothing to do with his message, because it wasnt a good one. God was seemingly punishing the people of isreal, and is dissapointed in his people. Although the prophecy of hope is uplifting, the overall message is that of dissapointment and dispair.
ReplyDelete