In the next 2 months, I will be reading and blogging through the Book of Isaiah. I am encouraging you to read with me through Isaiah, covering 9 chapters a week. I will blog 3 times each week (M-W-F), covering 3 chapters of Isaiah at a time. My goal is for us to discern, in a more complete way, the thoughts and ways of God as He seeks to fulfill His purposes for the world (Is. 55:8-11). My desire is for us to know the Lord in a deeper manner and to be used by Him in a greater way.
In this particular blog, I will give an overview of the Book of Isaiah. This prophet is considered by many Old Testament commentators as the greatest of the writing prophets, along with Moses. He prophesied during the reigns of 4 kings, from Uzziah to Hezekiah, which may have occurred over at least 50 years (740 – 686 B.C.).
A Message of Judgment and Hope
Isaiah was well acquainted with the day-to-day life of the royal court in the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Some commentators have even suggested that Isaiah’s family were part of the aristocratic class. I think this highlights the uniqueness and greatness of Isaiah even more. A big part of his message to the leadership of Jerusalem was how their pride and idolatry were leading to the oppression of the orphan and widow among God’s people. Their animal sacrifices and prayers at the Jerusalem Temple were a sham when they were practicing injustices at the same time (Is. 1:11-17).
The first 12 chapters of Isaiah are words of judgment against the Jerusalem leadership. Through Isaiah, God calls them rulers of Sodom and people of Gomorrah and pleads with them to repent. Mixed in with these words of judgment in Isaiah 1-12 are words of hope for Jerusalem and God’s people. The Lord is determined to continue to bless the nations through Abraham’s seed as He promised (Is. 2:1-5).
As we read Isaiah’s Book, we realize that God will fulfill His promises through Israel in surprising ways. He will use world empires like Assyria and Babylon to purify the inhabitants of the old Jerusalem. These pagan powers will be instruments of judgment in God’s hands. This is deeply ironic because King Ahaz and King Hezekiah had looked to Assyria and to Babylon to save them through political alliances, instead of trusting God’s promises. This proved to be their devastating downfall.
God promises, in Isaiah 1-12, not only judgment, but also hope for an ultimate Messianic deliverer, Immanuel, meaning “God with us” (Is. 7:14). One well known Messianic prophecy that we read at Christmas time is found in Isaiah 9:1-8 (i.e. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given….”). Another powerful prophecy of the Messiah is given in Isaiah 11. (i.e. A shoot will come from the stump of Jesse and the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him…..”). The recurring pattern in the Old Testament prophetic books is that words of God’s pending judgment are always mixed with words of hope for those who repent and turn to the Lord.
We see that these words of judgment intermingled with hope are not only given to Israel, but also to the pagan nations in Isaiah 13-23. For example, in Isaiah 19:23-25, we read that the Assyrians and the Egyptians, along with Israel, will worship the Lord together one day. Egyptians, Assyrians and Israelites will all be called God’s people. But again, only after turning to the Lord in repentance and faith.
The Suffering Servant Will Fulfill God’s Purposes
In Isaiah 40-55, we are introduced to “the Servant of the Lord”. The Christian Church sees this figure as a prophecy of Jesus the Messiah. Israel, as a people, was called by the Lord to be a servant of the Lord and to be a light unto the nations. But even after they returned from exile in Babylon, they were unable to fulfill this great calling. Isaiah prophesies that God will raise up Someone, who will not only “restore the tribes of Israel”, but also make Him to be a “light for the Gentiles, to bring (God’s) salvation to the ends of the earth” (Is. 49:6).
God is still on a mission to bless all nations through Abraham’s Seed (Gen. 12:1-3). Remember that God’s thoughts and ways are not like man’s thoughts and ways (Is. 55:8-11). God will use the sufferings of the Servant of the Lord (Is. 52:13 – 53:12) to atone for the rebelliousness of Israel and the sins of the world. This Servant of the Lord will be rejected by many of his fellow Jews. As you read of the Servant of the Lord in Isaiah 40 – 55, he very much resembles the promised Messianic King and Deliverer of Isaiah 9 & 11. Christians believe that this Deliverer and Redeemer is Jesus Christ (i.e. Jesus the Messiah). God will anoint the suffering Servant-King with His Spirit to fulfill all His promises to Israel and the world.
In Isaiah 56-66, we see a summary of all the main themes in the earlier parts of the Book of Isaiah. The centerpiece is the poem of Isaiah 60-62 where the Servant of the Lord announces the Good News of the coming of God’s justice, mercy and peace to all who turn to the Lord. Those that reject the Servant of the Lord and his message will experience ultimate judgment. But those who receive it will become fellow servants and inhabitants of the new Jerusalem – that is, the new heavens and the new earth (Isaiah 65:17-25).
This conclusion to Isaiah’s grand vision shows that his message was not only to the inhabitants of Jerusalem who lived in his time, but it is a message for all peoples and for every generation. God will fulfill His covenant purposes through the Suffering Servant-Messianic King, to create a covenant family of all nations. These members of God’s family are those who look in faith to the suffering Servant-King Jesus and who wait in patient hope for a renewed creation where justice reigns. This is Good News.
QOTD: Where does your ultimate hope rest?
For Friday, I will post a blog on Isaiah 1-3.