Isaiah in Advent

December 06 06 Steve Huber 4 comments

During the advent season we’d like to read though Isaiah together. Blogs will be posted each week wherein we can ask questions, share encouraging thoughts, and dialogue about the things that we are reading.

In the book of Isaiah, the prophet deals with who God is as the Holy One of Israel, as Savior and Redeemer and as the Suffering Servant. Isaiah is given the task of presenting God to the nation of Israel in such a way as to show the nation her deep sin, but to also show her the deep love of God over his people.

This book is not just a message for ancient Israel, but is for us today, especially during this season when we celebrate the incarnation of the One True God.

This weeks readings:

  • Sunday 12/3: 1
  • Monday 12/4: 2 – 4
  • Tuesday 12/5: 5 – 6
  • Wednesday 12/6: 7 – 8:15
  • Thursday 12/7: 8:16 – 9:7
  • Friday 12/8: 9:8 – 10
  • Saturday 12/9: 11 – 12

December 06 06 anonymous wrote:

How does the Virgin Birth from Isaiah translate into the virgin birth of christ. AND if one interpretation of scripture says: she, the girl from isaiah, wasn’t really a virgin then how do we not know
that the interpretation of mary’s virgin conception is not in the same context?

December 06 06 Steve Huber wrote:

All that the text says in Isaiah is that basically that “the one who is now a virgin will have a child”. it doesn’t imply a supernatural conception. the baby mentioned is probably the baby refered to in chapter 8:3— “then I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son”

so we know that
1. this particular word for virgin in hebrew is the word for young unmarried girl (commonly assumed to be a virgin….. it would be like saying “maiden”)
2. the “sign” given in Isaiah 7 is that this baby will be born and that before he is very old the nations you are worried about will be destoyed. That’s the sign—- not a supernatural virgin birth.

HOWEVER:
the point made in Matthew 1 is that Mary was truly a “virgin” (greek word—medically speaking— never had sex before virgin). This point is made explicitly several times in Matthew 1, for instance v25 “but he (Joseph) had no union with her (Mary) until she gave birth to a son.”

Matthew sees a great fulfillment and a new meaning fulfilled in Christ in the prophecy of Isaiah 7. (this is why he quotes it)

Mary’s virginity is also a point in Luke’s gospel. (interesting note— it appears that Luke interviewed Mary extensively for his Gospel. There is material that is not elsewhere)

December 07 06 Susan Bertolino wrote:

Anon,
Here are a variety of links on Isaiah, both on the question you asked and Jewish interpretations of the text. I’ve been researching this myself

Christian Links http://www.christiancourier.com/articles/read/did_isaiah_prophesy_the_virgin_birth_of_christ

http://members.datafast.net.au/sggram/f593.htm
http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/m.sion/feinalma.htm Nonbeliever links
http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/james_still/virgin_birth.html

http://members.aol.com/JAlw/virgin_birth_prophecy.html

Jewish Link on Isaiah as a text http://www.myjewishlearning.com/texts/bible/TO_Prophets_1460/TOLiteraryProphets/IsaiahBenAmozFishbane.htm

December 09 06 arlene wrote:

the study of isaiah couldn’t have come in a better timing as i reflect on the meaning of giving in the season of advent. i have been meditating on isaiah 1:10-17. last night, the liberti CARE team gathered as a group and prayed together. we asked ourselves in this season of advent what these verses meant in light of a time of “gift giving.” God gave His One and only precious gift to all of us, Jesus. He was born in a lowly manger for us. that verse in Luke,“and Mary pondered all these things in her heart,” always gets me. i ask myself, i wonder that as she stared at this beautiful baby, did Mary know that this sweet baby Jesus was going to be nailed to the Cross to bear the weight of our sin, including hers?” i forget everyday to give thanks to God for the riches of His glorious inheritance that He has given that was made possible through this miraculous birth which then lead to the Cross. so, when i read isaiah 1:17 “learn to do right, seek justice, encourage the oppressed, defend the fatherless, plead the case of the widow,” what does giving mean to you this season? do we take this verse literally? who are the sojourners, the oppressed, the widows and the orphans in your world? what about the prophet’s warning to us in the preceeding verses that God does not want our “burnt offerings” based on traditions & rituals, what does that mean to you? what does giving look like? how do we apply these verses in our lives as we are called to love God and love our neighbor?

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