For the last twelve weeks, I have taught through Isaiah 1-12 in Sunday School. It has been wonderful. Tomorrow I will summarize this section, and next week I will explain how Matthew understood Isaiah’s prophecies in 1-12 to be fulfilled in Jesus. I’ve discussed some of this previously on this blog, though my present study has been much more extensive than anything I had done when I wrote the (never completed) series earlier this year.
As I’ve hinted before, I’ve had to restrain myself from turning this into “Isaiah’s Thoughts” or at least “Todd’s Thoughts about Isaiah.” I will continue to try to maintain some variety here, and much of my minings will go elsewhere. Of course, there’s never enough time in 40 minutes of teaching a week, and so I look forward to the day when I am less restricted. Tonight I had the chance to “bubble over” with a couple of friends who skipped a sock exchange for the opportunity. It only (1) encourages me in my upcoming year to “figure the Bible out” and (2) motivates me for the time when I will come off the bench.
One of my favorite commentaries on Isaiah is one that all “smart people” would frown on. Though it’s relatively brief and has few footnotes, The Message of Isaiah by Barry Webb is a great book because Webb understands Isaiah. If you ‘re trying to “get into” Isaiah, I’d recommend reading Isaiah and Webb (each more than once). I’d like to say more about how to study Isaiah or any book (later this week?).
I re-read Webb’s preface tonight and thought that his report of his encounter with Isaiah might encourage you to seriously consider studying the Gospel of the Old Testament.
Writing this book has been a flight I will never forget. I have soared into the heavens and seen the glory of God, and with new eyes I have seen this world and my own place in it. The view has been breathtaking. I am not less mortal or sinful than I was before. My awareness of these things has been sharpened, not diminished; but I am surer now than ever before that they are no obstacles to my communion with God or to the full realization of what he has purposed for me. I have heard the seraphim cry, ‘The whole earth is full of his glory ‘, and it is. I live in expectation of the day when he will take his power and reign, and know with absolute certainty that because of one who was pierced for my transgressions, the new heavens and new earth will be my home for ever (Barry Webb, The Message of Isaiah, 12).
Todd,
While we’re on the topic, thank you so much for what you have shared on this blog about Isaiah. In my Sunday School class, I taught Isaiah 7 last week and Isaiah 9 this week. Your posts about these chapters gave me some insights I hadn’t seen before and really helped shape my teaching on them. So, thank you.
For the record, I don’t think you have ever fully been placed “on the bench” because I’m still learning things from you, and I’m sure others are as well.
Your Friend,
Seth
Hey, I got some pretty good sox at that sock exchange…