Introduction of Isaiah
It has been called the ‘Mount Everest’ of the Bible: a sweeping, grand prophecy that tells us so much indispensable revelation of the people of God and of the Messiah to the nations, Jesus of Nazareth. Not only is it deep in its information, it is also highly poetic, like Shakespeare is to English, Isaiah is in Hebrew (the King James Version also highlights the poetic side of Isaiah).
Starting with the call of the prophet, to Judah and Jerusalem, Isaiah speaks about an amazing vision of God on His throne in heaven. There the Lord gives the call ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us’ (6:8). Isaiah quickly volunteers and thus begins a great adventure for him and the world.
Sixty-six chapters long, just as the Bible has 66 books, and neatly divided in 39 chapter and 27 chapters, just as the Bible has 39 books of the Old Testament and 27 books of the New.
One of the great stories is the unsuccessful Assyrian siege of Jerusalem, which is repeated in II Kings and II Chronicles. This was among the greatest crises in Israelite history and had nature taken its course, all of Biblical and world history would have been altered. The Assyrians lost the siege because of divine intervention, forecast by Isaiah’s prophetic ministry (Note: two ‘souvenirs’ of the siege in 701 BC are Hezekiah’s Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City Jewish Quarter and Hezekiah’s Tunnel in the City of David).
In addition, there are other dramatic prophecies that were fulfilled in and after Isaiah’s day. Israel, the church, and the world, have been greatly enriched because of this great book.
Isaiah is the most quoted prophet in the New Testament, with 21 references by name and 66 direct quotations. Twenty of the 27 books take a reference from Isaiah. Chapter 53 is directly quoted or alluded to numerous times.
If you ever go to the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, the centrepiece of it all is the ‘Shrine of the Book,’ dedicated to the Dead Sea scrolls And in the centre of the shrine is a replica of the ‘Isaiah scroll’ – the entire book of Isaiah in ancient Hebrew on one impressive scroll. What is even more impressive is that modern Hebrew readers have no problem reading Isaiah’s Hebrew from 2,000 years ago. Truly, God’s Word abides forever (40:8).
Hebrew Name of Isaiah
The Hebrew name is yesha-yahu, meaning ‘Yahweh/God is our salvation.’ As Bob Gass aptly says, Jesus had to be God to save us and man to die for us. Isaiah 12:2: Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
Author of Isaiah
Who is the author of Isaiah? The answer should be relatively easy – Isaiah 1:1 saysIsaiah the son of Amoz. Because the depth and breath of prophecy, the fact that Isaiah predicts the rise of Cyrus the Great of Medo-Persia 150 years before his coming; the distinctive between chapters 1-39 versus 40-66, there has been speculation of ‘two Isaiahs.’ This creates problems, especially since one of those ‘Isaiahs’ has been deceitful, dressing up history as prophecy.
Yet the unity and affirmation of ‘one Isaiah’ is found in the New Testament (e.g. John 12:37-41 quotes Isaiah 6:9-10; 53:1; Romans 9:27; 10:16-21 reflects Isaiah 10,53; 65); the Talmud, the Septuagint, and Ecclesiasticus. Isaiah had a long ministry from 740-680 and lived through the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. This full, lengthy career explains the richness and variety of the book.
The great Bible teacher G. Vernon McGee made these comments about the ‘two Isaiah theory.’ ‘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.’ [1]
Portrait of Christ in Isaiah
Isaiah is replete with many Messianic prophecies and portraits of Christ:
(7:14) Immanuel
(8:14, 9:6) Stone of Stumbling, Rock of Offence, Sanctuary.
(9:6) Wonderful Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace
(11:1) Rod out of Jesse
(11:10) An ensign of the people
(28:16) Precious cornerstone; firm foundation
(42:1) My servant, My Elect
(43:14) Lord your Redeemer
(49:2) Polished Shaft
(51:9,10) Arm of the Lord
(53:3) Man of Sorrows – the suffering servant
(59:20) The Redeemer
(63:9) The Angel of His Presence
In addition to these portraits, we have some important references regarding the life of Christ, including:
• His virgin birth (7:14; 9:6);
• His simplicity of lifestyle (7:15);
• His family (11:1);
• His anointing (11:2);
• His glorious global 1,000 year reign (11:3-16; 32);
• His resurrection (25:8);
• His gentleness (42:1-4);
• His suffering and death (53).
Theme
Despite the length of the book, the theme is simple: God is our salvation.
Chapters 1-39 speak of God to Judah, the region, and the world, about holiness, righteousness, and divine judgment.
Chapters 40-66 speaks of Messiah, His grace, compassion and comfort.
Key Verses
‘Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory’ —Isaiah 6:3
‘For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice form that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this’ — Isaiah 9:6-7
‘All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all’ — Isaiah 53:6
Summary of Isaiah
The book begins with God’s call on Judah and Jerusalem. From there, the coming Messiah is introduced (6-12), including the vision of God in heaven, the great sign of a virgin giving birth to Immanuel. There are the burdens against the nations, including Babylon, Philistia, Moab, Damascus, Ethiopia, Egypt, wilderness of the Sea, Dumah (Edom), Arabia, Valley of Vision, and Tyre. After this are the ‘woes’ and subsequent deliverance: the earth will be destroyed but there is victory over death itself. Woes are pronounced over the drunkards of Ephraim, Jerusalem, and evil-doers, yet God will be gracious. From chapters 36-39 is the details of the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem in 701 BC. Judah is miraculously delivered. Hezekiah’s illness and sin are dealt with. In the ‘comfort chapters’ of Isaiah 40-66, God and His servant are revealed. The people are called to righteous living. The Messianic reign is described in chapters 60-66.
Outline of Isaiah
• Prophecies of Condemnation (1-35)
• Historical section (36-39)
• Prophecies of Comfort (40-59)
• Messianic reign (60-66).