Notes & Outlines

ISAIAH

Dr. J. Vernon McGee

PROPHETIC BOOKS
Beginning with Isaiah, and continuing through the Old Testament,
there is a section of Scripture called the prophetic portion of the Bible.
Although the predictive element bulks large in this section, the
prophets were more than fortune-tellers. Actually, they were men
raised up of God in a decadent day when both priest and king were no
longer worthy channels through whom the expressions of God might
flow.
These men not only spoke of events in the far-off future but also
spoke of local events in the immediate future. They had to speak in this
manner in order to qualify for this office under God, according to the
Mosaic code:
But the prophet, who shall presume to speak a word in my
name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who
shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet
shall die. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we
know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a
prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the
LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously; thou shalt not be afraid of him.
(Deuteronomy 18:20-22)
If the local event did not transpire just as the prophet predicted, he was
labeled a false prophet and was so treated. You may be sure that the
message of the false prophet is not in the library of inspired Scripture.
The prophetic books are filled with events that are local and fulfilled.
A sharp distinction needs to be drawn between this portion and that
which is yet to be fulfilled.
One of the greatest evidences of the fact that these men were speaking the words of God is revealed in the hundreds of prophecies that
have been fulfilled literally. Man cannot guess the future. Even the
meteorologists have difficulty in prognosticating the weather twentyfour hours in advance, although they have the advantage of all sorts of
scientific and mechanical devices to assist them. No modern weather
forecaster could have been an accepted prophet in Israel! The law of
compound probability forbids man from consistently foretelling the
future. Each uncertain element added decreases the chance of accuracy
by fifty percent. The example of hundreds of prophecies literally ful-

filled has a genuine appeal to the honest mind and sincere seeker after
the truth. Fulfilled prophecy is one of the infallible proofs of plenary,
verbal inspiration of Scripture.
The predictive element is the peculiar and particular contribution of
these men of God. This does not mean there was not this element
before them or after them. The last book of the Bible closes the message of God for the future.
The prophets were extremely nationalistic. They rebuked sin in
high as well as low places. They warned the nation. They pleaded with
a proud people to humble themselves and return to God. Fire and tears
were mingled in their message, which was not one of doom and gloom
alone, for they saw the Day of the Lord and the glory to follow. All of
them looked through the darkness to the dawn of a new day. In the
night of sin they saw the light of a coming Savior and Sovereign; they
saw the millennial kingdom coming in all its fullness. Their message
must be interpreted before an appreciation of the kingdom in the New
Testament can be attained. The correct perspective of the kingdom
must be gained through the eye of the Old Testament prophets.
The prophets were not supermen — they were men of like passions
as we are, but having spoken for God, their message is still the infallible and inspired Word of God:
Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and
searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that
should come unto you, searching what, or what manner of
time the Spirit of Christ who was in them did signify,
when he testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and
the glory that should follow. (1 Peter 1:10, 11)
We have also a more sure word of prophecy, unto which
ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in
a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in
your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of the
scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy
came not at any time by the will of man, but holy men of
God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter
1:19-21)
Sweet is the harp of prophecy; too sweet not to be wronged by a
mere mortal touch.
— William Cowper

ISAIAH
WRITER: Isaiah (1:1)
Most of the prophets moved in an orbit of obscurity and anonymity.
They did not project their personalities into the prophecies they proclaimed. Jeremiah and Hosea are the exceptions to this, of course.
Isaiah gives us very little of an historical character concerning himself.
There are a few scant references to his life and ministry. In Isaiah 1:1
he gives “the days” in which his lot was cast. It was during the reigns
of “Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.” These were
not the darkest days in Judah internally. Uzziah and Hezekiah were
enlightened rulers who sought to serve God. But the days were
extremely dark because of the menace of the formidable kingdom of
Assyria in the north. The northern kingdom of Israel was carried away
into captivity during this period.
Isaiah 6 records the personal call and commission of Isaiah. This
chapter should come first in the prophecy — logically if not chronologically. Isaiah 36 — 39 is the historical section, which records the ministry of Isaiah during the crisis when the Assyrian host encompassed
Jerusalem. Beyond these few personal sections, Isaiah stands in the
shadow as he points to another Person who is coming.
It is stated by some that Isaiah belonged to the royal family of
David. This cannot be positively affirmed. Likewise, it has been stated
that he is referred to in Hebrews 11:37 as the one “sawn asunder.” This
may or may not be true. The liberal critic has sawn him asunder in
forging the fake fabric of the Deutero-Isaiah hypothesis. Some have
gone so far as to fabricate a Trito-Isaiah. There is not a scrap of documentary evidence beyond the skepticism of the destructive critic. They
have cut Isaiah up like a railroad restaurant pie. History presents only
one Isaiah, not two or three. This method of the destructive critic could
be applied one thousand years hence to prove just as easily that there
were three Dwight Eisenhowers:
1st — General Eisenhower, the military leader of the victorious
forces of World War II — European theatre.
2nd — President Eisenhower of the United States, elected in
1952 and 1956.
3rd — Dwight D. Eisenhower, the invalid man and victim of a
heart attack and a serious operation for ileitis.
We know that only one man by the name of Eisenhower fulfilled all

those requirements. Likewise, only one man by the name of Isaiah can
easily fulfill all the requirements as the sole author of the Book of
Isaiah.
THEME: As the New Testament presents the Lord Jesus Christ as its
theme, so Isaiah presents the Lord Jesus Christ as his theme. Isaiah has
been called the 5th evangelist; the Book of Isaiah has been called the
5th Gospel. Christ’s virgin birth, His character, His life, His death, His
resurrection, and His second coming are all presented in Isaiah with
definiteness and clarity. (See 1 Peter 1:10, 11; cp. Luke 4:16-22 with
Isaiah 61:1-4.)
STYLE AND CONTENT: The prophecy of Isaiah is strikingly similar
to the entire Bible, which can be seen in the following comparison:
Bible
66 Books
39 Books in Old
Testament
27 Books in New
Testament

Book of Isaiah
66 Chapters
39 Chapters on LAW, the
Government of God
27 Chapters on GRACE,
Salvation of God

Also, there are some 66 direct quotations from Isaiah in the New
Testament. Some people have found 85 quotations and allusions to
Isaiah in the New Testament.
20 of the 27 books of the New Testament refer to Isaiah; 12
books of the New Testament have direct quotations.
ISAIAH is woven into the New Testament as a brightly colored thread
woven into a beautiful pattern.
ISAIAH is discernible and conspicuous in the New Testament.
ISAIAH is chiseled into the rock of the New Testament with the power
tool of the Holy Spirit.
ISAIAH is often used to enforce and enlarge upon those passages that
speak of Christ.
The historic interlude (chapters 36—39) leaves the high plateau of
prophecy and drops down to the record of history. Even the form of
language is different. It is couched in the form of prose rather than
poetry. Why are these four chapters of an historical character wedged

in between the two major divisions of the book? This is a reasonable
question that requires investigation and rewards the honest inquirer.
There are several significant factors worthy of mention:
1. Sacred and secular history are not the same. Dr. Jennings states,
“Divine history is never merely history, never simply a true account of
past events.” There are great spiritual truths couched in sacred history
that are seen only by the eye of faith. The Holy Spirit must teach us the
divine purpose in recording scriptural history. Let us note several suggestive reasons:
a. These incidents might seem trite to the average historian
who records great world movements; but events concerning
God’s people were important according to the standards of
heaven.
b. Actually these chapters note the transfer of power from
Assyria to Babylon. Babylon was the real menace to God’s
people and was to begin the period designated by our Lord
as “the times of the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24).
c. This section is a record of a son of David who was beset by
enemies and who went down to the verge of death but was
delivered and continued to reign. In this he foreshadows the
great Son of David who was beset by enemies, delivered to
death, raised from the dead, and who is coming again to
reign. Hezekiah was only a man who walked in the ways of
David, another weak man. Hezekiah lived to play the fool.
Our Lord was greater than David and, as the crucified and
risen Son of God, is made unto us “wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Corinthians
1:30). There are other great spiritual truths which we will
note in the chapter outlines.
2. The second significant factor in this historic section is that these
particular events are recorded three times in the Scriptures — 2 Kings
18, 19; 2 Chronicles 29, 30; and here in Isaiah. The fact that the Holy
Spirit saw fit to record them three times is in itself a matter of great
importance. These records are not identical but similar. Some scholars
think Isaiah is the author of all three or at least the one in Kings.
Surely the Spirit of God has some special truth for us here that should
cause us not to hurry over these events as if they were of no great
moment.

3. Three significant and stupendous miracles are recorded in this
brief section:
a. The death angel slays 185,000 Assyrians (37:36-38).
b. God heals Hezekiah and extends his life fifteen years (38:1-5).
c. The sun retreats ten degrees on the sun dial of Ahaz (38:7, 8).
4. This section opens with Assyria and closes with Babylon. There
are two important letters that Hezekiah received:
a. The first was from Assyria, which Hezekiah took directly
to God in prayer (37:14); and God delivered His people.
b. The second letter was from the king of Babylon which flattered Hezekiah and which he did not take to the Lord in
prayer. As a result, it led to the undoing of Judah (39:1-8).
The third and last major division (chapters 40 — 66) returns to the
poetic form but is in contrast to the first major section. There we had
judgment and the righteous government of God; here we have the
grace of God, the suffering, and glory to follow. Here all is grace and
glory. The opening “comfort ye” sets the mood and tempo.
It is this section that has caused the liberal critics to postulate the
Deutero-Isaiah hypothesis. A change of subject matter does not necessitate a change of authorship. It is interesting that for 1900 years there
was not a word about a second Isaiah. John refers to this section as
authored by Isaiah (John 1:23). Our Lord likewise referred to this section as written by Isaiah (Luke 4:17-21). There are numerous other references that similarly confirm the authorship of Isaiah.
Philip used a chapter from this section to win an Ethiopian to Christ
(Acts 8).
The prophecy of Isaiah presents another important aspect of prophecy. This has to do with the plenary, verbal inspiration of Scripture.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect,
thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy
3:16, 17)
One of the most solid proofs of the plenary, verbal inspiration of
Scripture is fulfilled prophecy. Isaiah contains many prophecies that
have been fulfilled since he wrote them.
There were many false prophets in Israel, as the Scriptures reveal.

Read the entire record in 2 Chronicles 18. Note especially 18:22 —
“Now, therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth
of these, thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.”
The prophet had to speak into a local situation and in respect to contemporary events of his day. If his prophecy failed to materialize, then
he was declared a false prophet (Deuteronomy 18:20-22). If the matter
came to pass, he was declared a true prophet. Isaiah prophesied into
many local events. When Jerusalem was surrounded by the Assyrian
army, Isaiah made a very daring prophecy —
Therefore, thus saith the LORD concerning the king of
Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an
arrow there, nor come before it with shields, nor cast a
bank against it. (Isaiah 37:33)
Also see his prophecy concerning the sickness of Hezekiah in Isaiah
38.
There are other prophecies that were not fulfilled in his lifetime, but
today they stand fulfilled. See, for instance, his prophecies concerning
the city of Babylon:
And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the
Chaldeans’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew
Sodom and Gomorrah. It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation;
neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall
the shepherds make their fold there. But wild beasts of the
desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of
doleful creatures, and ostriches shall dwell there, and hegoats shall dance there. And the wild beasts of the coastlands shall cry in their desolate houses, and jackals in
their pleasant palaces; and her time is near to come, and
her days shall not be prolonged. (Isaiah 13:19-22)
Further fulfillments relative to Babylon are recorded in Isaiah 47.
Excavations at Babylon have revealed the accuracy of these prophecies. More than fifty miles of the walls of Babylon have been excavated. The culture of this great civilization is still impressive but lies in
dust and debris today according to the written word of Isaiah. This is
one of many examples that could be given. Others will come before us
in this study as we proceed through the book.

OUTLINE:
I.

Judgment (poetry), Chapters 1 — 35
Revelation of the Sovereign on the throne.
(The Crown, chapter 6. The government of God.)
A. Solemn call to the universe to come into the courtroom
to hear God’s charge against the nation Israel, Chapter 1
B. Preview of the future for Judah and Jerusalem, Chapter 2
C. Present view of Judah and Jerusalem, Chapter 3
D. Another preview of the future, Chapter 4
E. Parable of the vineyard and woes predicted on Israel, Chapter 5
F. Isaiah’s personal call and commission as prophet, Chapter 6
G. Prediction of local and far events, Chapters 7 — 10
(Hope of future in coming Child)
H. Millennial kingdom, Chapters 11, 12
I. Burdens of surrounding nations (largely fulfilled),
Chapters 13 — 23
1. Burden of Babylon, Chapters 13, 14
2. Burden of Moab, Chapters 15, 16
3. Burden of Damascas, Chapter 17
4. Burden of the land beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, Chapter 18
5. Burden of Egypt, Chapters 19, 20
6. Burden of Babylon, Edom, Arabia, Chapter 21
7. Burden of the Valley of Vision, Chapter 22
8. Burden of Tyre, Chapter 23
J. Kingdom, process and program by which the throne is
established on earth, Chapters 24 — 34
K. Kingdom, mundane blessings of the Millennium, Chapter 35
II. Historic interlude (prose), Chapters 36 — 39
(This section is probably a prophetic picture of how God will
deliver His people in the Great Tribulation [see 2 Kings 18, 19
and 2 Chronicles 29, 30].)
A. King Hezekiah and the invasion of Sennacherib, king of
Assyria, Chapter 36
B. King Hezekiah’s prayer and the destruction of the Assyrian
hosts, Chapter 37
C. King Hezekiah’s sickness, prayer and healing, Chapter 38
D. King Hezekiah plays the fool, Chapter 39
III. Salvation (poetry), Chapters 40 — 66
Revelation of the Savior in the place of suffering.

(The Cross, chapter 53. The grace of God. There is a three-fold
division marked by the concluding thought in each division,
“There is no peace to the wicked.”)
A. Comfort of Jehovah which comes through the Servant,
Chapters 40 — 48
(Polemic against idolatry — help and hope come only
through the Servant.)
B. Salvation of Jehovah which comes through the suffering
Servant, Chapters 49 — 57
1. Redeemer of the whole world, who is God’s Servant,
Chapters 49:1— 52:12
2. Redemption wrought by the suffering Servant, who is
God’s Sheep (Lamb), Chapters 52:13 — 53:12
3. Results of the redemption wrought by the Redeemer, who
is God’s only Savior, Chapters 54 — 57
C. Glory of Jehovah which comes through the suffering Servant,
Chapters 58 — 66
1. Sin hinders the manifestation of the glory of God,
Chapters 58, 59
2. Redeemer is coming to Zion, Chapters 60 — 66
(Nothing can hinder God’s progress — He will judge sin.)

RECOMMENDED BOOKS:
Criswell, W. A. Isaiah. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing
House, 1977.
Gaebelein, Arno C. The Annotated Bible. Neptune, New Jersey:
Loizeaux Brothers, 1917.
Ironside, H. A. Expository Notes on Isaiah. Neptune, New Jersey:
Loizeaux Brothers, 1952.
Jennings, F. C. Studies in Isaiah. Neptune, New Jersey: Loizeaux
Brothers, n.d.
Jensen, Irving L. Isaiah and Jeremiah. Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press,
n.d. (A self-study guide.)
Kelly, William. An Exposition of Isaiah. Addison, Illinois: Bible Truth
Publishers, 1896.
Martin, Alfred. Isaiah: The Salvation of Jehovah. Chicago, Illinois:
Moody Press, 1956. (A fine, inexpensive survey.)
Unger, Merrill F. Unger’s Bible Handbook. Chicago, Illinois: Moody
Press, 1966.
Unger, Merrill F. Unger’s Commentary on the Old Testament. Vol. 2.
Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press, 1982. (Highly recommended.)
Vine, W. E. Isaiah. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing
House, 1946.

HELPFUL BOOKS ON BIBLE PROPHECY:
Hoyt, Herman A. The End Times. Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press, 1969.
Pentecost, J. Dwight. Prophecy for Today. Grand Rapids, Michigan:
Zondervan Publishing House, 1961.
Pentecost, J. Dwight. Things to Come. Grand Rapids, Michigan:
Zondervan Publishing House, 1958.
Ryrie, Charles C. The Basis of the Premillennial Faith. Neptune, New
Jersey: Loizeaux Brothers, 1953.
Sauer, Erich. From Eternity to Eternity. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm.
B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1954.
Walvoord, John F. Armageddon, Oil and the Middle East Crisis. Grand
Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1974.
Walvoord, John F. The Millennial Kingdom. Grand Rapids, Michigan:
Zondervan Publishing House, 1959.
Walvoord, John F. The Rapture Question. Grand Rapids, Michigan:
Zondervan Publishing House, 1957.
Wood, Leon J. The Bible and Future Events. Grand Rapids, Michigan:
Zondervan Publishing House, 1973.

These notes, prepared by J. Vernon McGee, are for the purpose of giving
assistance to the listeners of the THRU THE BIBLE RADIO program.
They are to be used with the Bible and will be more meaningful as you
look up all the Scripture references. Due to the necessary brevity of both
notes and broadcasts, a list of recommended books is included for those
wanting a more detailed study. These books may be obtained from a
Christian library or bookstore or ordered from the publishers.
THRU THE BIBLE RADIO NETWORK
Taking the whole Word to the whole world for over 60 years!
U.S. Address: Box 7100, Pasadena, California 91109-7100
Phone: (800) 65-BIBLE Fax: (626) 449-4430
Website: www.ttb.org
(16115-3/10)