Isaiah 40-45

Israel's restoration through Cyrus (44:24-45:25)

Cyrus is called two things: 1.) God's shepherd - to bring His people home 2.) The messiah (note small "m") God's anointed one

God's superiority to idols (44:9-23)

Deep spiritual blindness. Guy realizes that he was only worshiping a block of wood.

God's power and blessing (43:1-44:8)

Savior, Redeemer, Leader, Gracious One.

Deliverance Described (40:1-41:29; 43:1-48:22; 49:8-50:3; 51:1-52:12)

1.) Comfort, O Comfort My People 40:1-31 2.) The Coming Deliverance 41:1-29

Israel's Redemption from Babylon (43:1-45:25)

1.) God's power and blessing 43:1-44:8 2.) God's superiority to idols 44:9-23 3.) Israel's restoration through Cyrus 44:24-45:25

The Coming Deliverance (41:1-29)

1.) introduces Cyrus, though not by name. 2.) Talks about Israel as God's servant. 3.) God's case against false gods.

Themes of 40-66

1.) y'all are in captivity for your sins 2.) this captivity proves I'm God b/c I predicted it 3.) now I'll redeem you through Cyrus and more

Intro

Multiple Author views: 1.) 1-39 (Isaiah) 40-66 (Deutero-Isaiah) 2.) 1-39 (Isaiah) 40-55 (Deutero-Isaiah) 56-66 (Trito-Isaiah) Single Author (correct) view: Isaiah wrote it all, of course everything sounds different in the second part because the subject changes. If the poetry in the second part is so great and it is someone else, why is it stuck on Isaiah? Also there was no break in the two parts in the Dead Sea Scroll

Comfort, O Comfort My People (40:1-31)

Prologue: vv.1-11 Isaiah lays the foundation. "The grass fades...but the Word of the Lord remains forever" "Does it make sense to measure the span of the universe with your hand?" point is only God can. "Who can you compare God to?" An idol? NO! Can God do anything!? YES!!