Understanding and Preaching Isaiah 58

koot van wyk (DLitt et Phil; ThD)

Kyungpook National University

Sangju Campus

South Korea

Conjoint lecturer of Avondale College

Australia

10 December 2010

One of the current trends in Christian preaching is that anyone is preaching. It is no longer the work only of the theologically trained or the religious professional, pastor, priest but it has also become the domain of the elder, deacon and other.

This phenomenon is not only in the Seventh-day Adventist churches but also in other denominations like the Dutch Reform Churches in South Africa.

Many preachers are standing under the yoke to preach but wish they can penetrate deeper into the text in order to bring something inspiring to the people.

This is the purpose of this writing.

It would be helpful for any layman or pastor to make sure that they have the complete volumes of John Joseph Owens, Analytical Key to the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1996 fourth printing). For the benefit of the reader, we have scanned the pages of the text and supplied information of analysis of the text that will be helpful in the preaching from the pulpit. The intention should never be to show off knowledge or ability of Hebrew or Greek from the pulpit, as George Butler told us in his book in 1886, but it can be helpful in supplying certainty about certain corners that one has to take in the syntax.

Hebrew Knowledge

Many pastors have studied Hebrew but it is rusted. This book helps them to get back on track. Try to use it regularly in your studies and Hebrew will grow back again.

Grammatical Notes

Pay attention to understand the grammatical notes. On page xi of this book, there is a complete explanation of all abbreviations.

Qal and Hi[phil] are common Hebrew forms of the verb. They change the mood of the verb so that a simple narrative will be Qal but when something is causative it will be Hi[phil]. Pi[el] is also used on and off and is also a mood to the verb, namely to intensify it. Pu[al] is a passive of the intensifying Pi[el]. Ni[phal] is the passive of Qal. Qal is the simple present or simple past. The dictionaries prefer to use the third person Qal to explain roots and their meanings: thus, "he make/ he made".

There are other verbal moods like the Po[lel] which is a doubling of the last consonant in the root just like the double /l/ is indicating. Hith[pael] is the interactive mood of the verb.

There are various functions of the verb namely participle, infinitive. The pronouns, prepositions and articles are added to the verb at the front of the root and pronouns or pronominal suffixes are added at the end of the root.

Conj[unction] means the word "and" in Hebrew and it is indicated by using a waw.

Isaiah 58

We have selected Isaiah 58 to understand in such a way that we can design a sermon from it and preach it to an audience.

Limitations of Owens

Owens is just an attempt to bring some information to the reader. It is not the last word. Isaiah was a very special prophet who used multiple languages and borrowings from many languages, including Egyptian, to explain what he wanted to say. Multi-glossa is thus the approach that one must allow for some roots that is difficult to understand. The translation of Owens is not always on track for the literal Hebrew. However, it is a great help for anyone who is preparing a lesson or sermon.

Adding Notes

We have added notes to the text of Owens in order to bring out the analysis for the reader and speaker.