Isaiah

General Introduction of the Prophetical Books

The division known as ‘the Prophetical Books’ in the Old Testament begins with the book of Isaiah.  There are 17 books under this division and are further divided into two main subdivisions known as ‘The Major Prophets’ (Isaiah – Daniel) and ‘The Minor Prophets’ (Hosea – Malachi).  The highlight of the entire Old Testament prophetical messages can be summed up in Micah 6:8 – “He has shown you, O mortal, [i] what is good.  And [ii] what does the Lord require of you? (1) To act justly and (2) to love mercy and (3) to walk humbly with your God,” which is the reverberation of what the Lord Almighty asked of the children of Israel prior to occupying the Promised Land, which is mentioned in Deuteronomy 10:12-13, that “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but [A] to fear the Lord your God, [B] to walk in obedience to him, [C] to love him, [D] to serve the Lord your God (D1) with all your heart and (D2) with all your soul, and [E] to observe the Lord’s (E1) commands and (E2) decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.” 

The Book of Isaiah

The book of Isaiah is one of the earliest prophetical messages that is recorded and preserved, upon God’s command, as an everlasting witness: “Go now, write it on a tablet for them, inscribe it on a scroll, that for the days to come it may be an everlasting witness.  For these are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the Lord’s instruction” (Isaiah 30:8,9).  

God promised His people His blessings, such as His presence, which refers to God’s comfort and peace for His people, His protection, which refers to God’s shelter and security upon His people, and His provision, which refers God’s care and love for His people.   In return, His people pledged to love Him, obey and abide in the law He gave them, worship Him alone, and love one another.  Isaiah, like the other prophets, points out the failures of the covenant people in fulfilling what they had pledged before God.  In the light of this failure, God responds through prophet Isaiah: 

When you [a] spread out your hands in prayer, [b] I hide my eyes from you; [c] even when you offer many prayers, [d] I am not listening.  [God responds to them in this way because] Your hands are full of blood! [now what?] [i] Wash and make yourselves clean.  [ii] Take your evil deeds out of my sight; [iii] stop doing wrong.  [iv] Learn to do right; [v] seek justice.  [vi] Defend the oppressed.  [vii] Take up the cause of the fatherless; [viii] plead the case of the widow (Isaiah 1:15-17).

After exposing their sinful state before their eyes, God is challenging His people to present themselves before Him in order to make a deal for themselves and for their descendants.  

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord.  “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.  19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; 20 but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken” (Isaiah 1:18-20).

The reward for obeying the above deal (if they are willing and obedient), their sins will be forgiven due to God’s compassion (the positive benefits of a righteous way of life).  But, the consequence of disobeying the deal (if they resist and rebel), their obliteration from the wrath of God (the negative outcome of an unrighteous way of life).  Since there is no escape from God’s plan of rewarding the just and punishing the wicked, the justice of God is highlighted in the book.  There are only two ways to deal with this scenario – ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ situation: that is,  either (i) ‘Condemnation/Judgment’ (Isaiah 1–39) or (ii) ‘Compassion/Salvation’ (Isaiah 40–66).  

The person of Isaiah

The name Isaiah means, ‘The Lord is salvation.’  

  • Isaiah was a descendant of the royal house of Judah in Jerusalem.  According to the Rabbinic literature (Jewish Talmud1), Isaiah was the son of Amoz who was one of the brothers of king Amaziah of Judah (2 Chronicles 25:1).  Isaiah was a contemporary of prophets Hosea and Micah
  • He married to a prophetess (Isaiah 8:3) and they had two sons.  The older one was named Shear-Jashub (Isaiah 7:3), which means ‘a remnant will return,’ and the younger was Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz (Isaiah 8:3), means ‘quick to the plunder.’ Both these names contained symbolic messages in relation to the nation of Judah
  • Isaiah served in the prophetic council of several kings in Judah, predominantly during the the reign of Uzziah2, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah (Isaiah 1:1) and, probably, in the early years of Manasseh’s reign.  As a man of God, he communicated God’s will for Judah’s spiritual as well as foreign affairs to the kings and his officials
  • He served the Lord faithfully for more than five and half decades beginning his prophetical calling during the reign of king Uzziah (who died3 approximately in 740 BC) and ending his prophetical ministry with the death of king Hezekiah in c. 687 BC
  • According to the Jewish tradition, Isaiah was martyred in 680 BC, by being sawn in two at the order of king Manasseh4, the evil son of king Hezekiah5 (Hebrews 11:37).  Manasseh became king at the age of 12 and he reigned for 55 years in Jerusalem (2 Kings 21:1)

Highlights Isaiah’s Ministry

  • The book of Isaiah includes historical narratives, prophetic visions and oracles, and parables (for example, the parable of the vineyard in Isaiah 5)
  • God used him to spread the light of truth during the spiritual darkness in Judah for he was a man of faith and courage
  • Isaiah began his ministry during the threatening expansion of the Assyrian empire
  • Isaiah witnessed one of the greatest tragedies of all-time in Hebrew history:
    • The ‘Watch Mountain’ (that is, Samaria – the capital city of Israel) of the Northern Kingdom (Israel) was destroyed by the Assyrians around 722 BC  
    • the descendants of Jacob were slaughtered in their own homes by the Assyrian army
    • The remaining ones were taken as captives and dislocated to different regions of the neighboring nations
    • the fleeing of Hebrew refugees to all around the then known world, as close as the Southern Kingdom – Judah, and as far as to the sub-continent India, 
    • The nation of Israel, especially Samaria (the capital) was resettled by the heathens (2 Kings 17:24).  Samaria means, ‘Watch Mountain’
  • the spiritual and moral decline of the Southern Kingdom –  Judah
    • Isaiah warned Ahaz, the king of Judah, not to seek help from the Assyrian king against Israel and Aram, 
    • He warned king Hezekiah not to make alliance with other nations to fight against Assyria, 
    • Isaiah counseled Judah’s kings Ahaz and Hezekiah not to place their confidence in their wealth, army size, or foreign support – rather trust solely in the Lord as their security.  

The Title, Date, and Authorship

The title of the book is designated after its author, יְהוֹשֻעַ Yeshayahu, Isaiah.  The name Isaiah simply means, ‘The Lord is Salvation.’ It is believed that the book is written sometime between 700 and 680 BC, which is about 700 years prior to the birth of Christ.

There are various opinions regarding the authorship of the book.  The opinion of one group of biblical scholars of the past and the present is that the book of Isaiah was written by more than one author.  Since the book is divided into two major parts, Isaiah 1 – 39 and Isaiah 40 – 66, these scholars assigned Isaiah as the author for only the first major part of the book (Isaiah  1 – 39) and the rest of the book (Isaiah 40 – 66) was said to be written by a different author (or authors) about 100 to 150 years later.  The reasons for such claim is that Isaiah 1 – 39 talks about what is going on during Isaiah’s time and Isaiah 40 – 66 talks about what is going to come after Isaiah’s life-time, that is, Judah’s return to their home-country after Babylonian captivity (586 B.C).

The opinion of another group of numerous Old Testament scholars from various time periods believes that the entire book was written solely by prophet Isaiah.  Reasons for such claims: 

  • these scholars believe that the book itself does not disagree with Isaiah’s authorship of the entire book – this claim is based on Isaiah 1:1, which stands as the opening verse for the entire book and the recurring use of the phrase ‘The Holy One of Israel’ throughout the book [used 12 times in Isaiah 1 – 39 and 14 times in Isaiah 40 -66].
  • they claim that God is able to reveal the things to come in advance to His chosen ones.  In this regard, the prophetic messages recorded in Isaiah 40 – 66, particularly in 42:8-9; 44:6-8; 45:1; 47:1-11; 53:1-12.
  • Isaiah’s name is mentioned about 16 times in the book
  • the Jewish Talmud attributes Isaiah as the author of all parts of this book
  • New Testament writers agree that the entire book of Isaiah is written solely by prophet Isaiah.  For instance: 
    • Isaiah 42: 1 – 4 quoted in Matthew 12: 17 – 21
    • Isaiah 40: 3 quoted in Matthew  3:3 & Luke 3:4
    • Isaiah 6: 9 – 10 & 53:1 quoted in John 12: 37 – 41
    • Isaiah 53: 7 – 9 quoted in Acts 8: 28 – 33
    • Portions of Isaiah 10, 53, and 65 quoted in Romans 9: 27 & 10:16 – 21 

Again, some others view the book’s authorship in a different way.  According to them, the book of Isaiah is divided in to three major divisions.  They labelled the first division as ‘Proto-Isaiah’ (Isaiah 1 – 39), the second as ‘Deutero-Isaiah’ (Isaiah 40 – 55), and the third as ‘Trito-Isaiah’ (Isaiah 56 – 66).

  • Proto-Isaiah (Isaiah 1 – 39) – this group believes that only this part was written by prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz
  • Deutero-Isaiah (Isaiah 40 – 55) – they believe that this part is written by someone else during the exilic period, perhaps 100 to 150 years later
  • Trito-Isaiah (Isaiah 56 – 66) –​ it is a collection of different passages regarding Israel’s Restoration, Redemption and blessing that was written and compiled about 100 to 150 years later

Resemblances between ‘The Bible’ and ‘the book of Isaiah’

Bible: Total number of Books = 66

Isaiah: Total number of chapters = 66

 

Bible: Major Divisions = 2 [Old Testament – 39 books; New Testament – 27 books]

Isaiah: Major Divisions = 2 [1st division 39 chapters; 2nd division – 27 chapters]

 

Bible: Major Theme = Salvation in Christ

Isaiah: Major Theme = Salvation through Messiah

 

The common theme that connects the Bible and the book of Isaiah is the redemptive work of Christ – The Messiah.

Major Focus of the Book

The message of the book ranges from Isaiah’s call (Isaiah 6:5) to the end of the era – the age of the new heavens and a new earth (Isaiah 65:17).  Isaiah’s three-fold prophecies include:

  • Judgement: Isaiah prophesied the Lord’s judgement upon Judah and the neighboring nations due to their sins, hypocrisy, and social injustices
    • Sin: Sin simply means, missing the mark.  Anything that is against the will of God we have, know, hear, see, or grasp in our lives is sin.  In Judah’s case, their unfaithfulness and disobedience caused them to sin.  Romans 3:23: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” 
    • Hypocrisy: Judah dishonored God (Isaiah 1:2 – 4; 29:13; Matthew 15: 7 – 9).
    • Social injustice: it has been present throughout the ages and is also a theme in Isaiah

 

  • Hope: Isaiah prophesied the Lord’s restoration work among the Jewish exiles
    • Bringing them back to their own country: Isaiah 43:5-7 says, “Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.”
    • Making them a light to the rest of the world: Isaiah 49:6 says, “Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

 

  • Promise: Isaiah prophesied the coming of the Messiah, in the line of David, who would provide hope for everyone who lived righteously under both the Old and New covenants
    • Old Covenant: the Law – hope of redemption by observing and obeying the Law (Luke 10:26-28)
    • New Covenant: the grace – hope of redemption by believing and confessing Jesus as the Lord and Savior of one’s life (Romans 10:9)

The Thematic Divisions of the Book

The book is divided in to two major divisions: Isaiah 1 – 39 and Isaiah 40 – 66.  

I.  Isaiah 1 – 39: The dominant themes of this division are sin and judgement 

    • Isaiah 1 – 12: Isaiah’s warnings against Judah’s sin- 
      • Sin of idolatry: Exodus 20:4 states “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.” [in a natural way, an idol could be one’s beauty, duty, possessions, relationship, or anything as such].
      • Sin of immorality: Exodus 20:14 & 17 (Galatians 5:19 – 21)
        • pre-marital physical relationship (I Corinthians 7:7-9)
        • extra-marital physical relationship [adultery] (Matthew 19: 9)
        • homosexual relationship (Romans 1:26-28)
        • prostitution (I Timothy 1:9-10)
          • In order to avoid such sins, one needs to understand the true meaning of love and to understand true meaning of love one needs to know the four Greek terms used for ‘Love.’ C.S.  Lewis used these four terms to explain different kinds of love.
            • φιλία Phileo: friendly love or fondness for one another (brotherly love)
            • ἔρως Eros: Romantic love – between husband and wife (Song of Solomon endorses such love between a lover and beloved)
            • στοργή Storge: It is the kind love and affection that develops between parents and children, or brothers and sisters
            • ἀγάπη Agape: Divine love – it is sacrificially unconditional and perfectly pure love, which is the greatest of all the above-mentioned loves
      • Sin of social injustice: Social injustice could be prevalent all-around us, but as a child of God, we need to perceive things the way God sees or hear them.  The Old and New Testaments warn us against every kind of social injustice (Zechariah 7: 9 – 10; Romans 12: 15 – 18; Proverbs 18:5).  
      • Isaiah’s testimony of his own cleansing from sin gives us hope that we too can be cleansed from our own known or unknown sins (Isaiah 6:1 – 13)
        • The Context of the Complaint against Judah (Isaiah1:1-31)
        • Isaiah’s call and Commissioning: (Isaiah 6:1-13)
        • Judgement against:
          • Judah (Isaiah 2:5 – 4:1; 5:1-30; 8:1-22)
          • Israel and Assyria (Isaiah 9:8 – 10:34)
        • Promise of Blessings (Isaiah 2:1-4; 4:2-6)
        • Prophecy regarding Messiah’s coming: 
          • The signs of Immanuel (Isaiah 7:1-25)
          • First coming (Isaiah 9:1-7)
          • Second Coming (Isaiah 11:1-12:6)
    • Isaiah 13 – 23: Isaiah’s prophecies against nations around Judah regarding their sins and God’s judgement:
      • Judgement against
        • Judah/Jerusalem (Isaiah 22:1 – 14)
        • Shebna (Isaiah 22:15-25)
      • Judgement against neighboring nations:
        • Babylon (Isaiah 13:1-14:27)
          • Lucifer’s Five ‘I will’ statements & fall (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17)
            • I will ascend to heaven, v.13a
            • I will exalt my throne above the stars of God, v.13b
            • I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain, v.  13c
            • I will ascend above the top of the clouds, v.14a
            • I will make myself like the Most High, v.  14b
        • Philistines (Isaiah 14:28-32)
        • Moab (Isaiah 15:1-16:14)
        • Damascus (Isaiah 17:1-14)
        • Cush & Egypt (Isaiah 18:1 – 20:6)
        • Babylon (2) (Isaiah 21:1-10)
        • Edom (Isaiah 21:11-12)
        • Arabia (Isaiah 21:13-17)
        • Tyre (Isaiah 23:1-18)
    • Isaiah 24 – 35: Devastation of the Earth and prophetic promises about future salvation
      • Promise of deliverance (Isaiah 25:1-26:19)
      • Blessing (Isaiah 35:1-10)
      • Judgement against the Earth (Isaiah 24:1–23; 26:20–27:13; 34:1-17)
      • Woe to:
        • Ephraim and Jerusalem (Isaiah 28:1-32:20)
        • Assyrians (Isaiah 33:1-24)
    • Isaiah 36 – 39: King Hezekiah’s life situation
      • Sennacherib, the Assyrian king, threatens Judah (Isaiah 36:1-22)
        • God’s judgement upon the Assyrians (Isaiah 37:21-38) (185,000 killed) 
      • Hezekiah’s Prayer (Isaiah 37:14-20)
      • Hezekiah’s illness and divine healing (Isaiah 38:1-22) [refer 2 Kings 18:13–20:21]
      • Hezekiah’s pride and fall (Isaiah 39:1-8)

 

II.  Isaiah 40 – 66: The dominant theme of this division is God’s greatness and His redemptive plan:

    • Isaiah 40:1 – 48:22 Deliverance and Comfort promised for God’s people
      • Promise of comfort for God’s people (Isaiah 40:1-42:25)
      • Deliverance of foretold for the remnant (Isaiah 43:1-45:25)
      • God’s judgement upon Babylon and freedom for Israel (Isaiah 46:1 – 48:22)
    • Isaiah 49:1 – 53:12 Prophetic promises about Messiah: the suffering Servant
      • The suffering Servant’s Mission (Isaiah 49:1-50:11)
      • Deliverance foretold for the remnant (Isaiah 51:1 – 52:12)
      • Suffering and atoning death of the suffering Servant (Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12)
    • Isaiah 54:1 – 59:21 Israel’s Restoration, Redemption and blessing foretold
    • Isaiah 60:1 – 66:24 Prophetic visions about Zion’s glory and Restoration
      • Glory of Zion: prosperity and peace promised (Isaiah 60: 1-22)
      • Vision about Messiah’s anointing and Mission (Isaiah 62: 1-11)
      • Intercession for Zion’s Deliverance (Isaiah 63:1-64:12)
      • Judgement and promise of Salvation and Hope (Isaiah 65:1 – 66:24)

Isaiah’s Exclusive Devotion

  • times throughout Isaiah].  He is holy, all-powerful, and the One who will judge the entire world for their sin and unrighteousness
  • The book of Isaiah is one of the most studied books in the Old Testament because it takes its readers to the beginning of time [the creation of heavens, earth and human life (42:5)] and leads them forward in time to the final judgement and creation of new heavens and a new earth (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22)
  • The meaning of Isaiah’s name is ‘The Lord Saves / the Lord is Salvation.’  So, he is considered as ‘the prophet of salvation’ and called ‘the evangelical prophet.’ The term ‘Salvation’ is mentioned about twenty-six times throughout the book.
  • Isaiah 53 presents the Messiah as ‘the suffering Servant’ and the narration of His death on the cross is the most detailed portrayal of Jesus’ atoning death for sinners in the entire Old Testament
  • He emphasized that God’s full purpose of salvation will be fulfilled only through the Messiah.  Isaiah’s prophecies about Jesus Christ and His ministries are clear and complete.  Isaiah highlighted the announcement of the Messiah’s:
    • virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14), 
    • glorious rule (Isaiah 9:1-7), 
    • coming (Isaiah 40:3–5), 
    • sacrificial death (Isaiah 52:13–53:12) 
    • return in glory to take His chosen ones (Isaiah 60:2–3),  
    • proclamation of the good news (Isaiah 61:1) 

Messianic Titles in the book of Isaiah

  • The Holy Seed (Isaiah 6:3)
  • The Immanuel – ‘God with us’ Child (Isaiah 7:14)
  • The Light for those walk-in darkness (Isaiah 9:2)
  • The Child who rules (Isaiah 9:6-7):
    • A wonderful Counselor
    • A Mighty God
    • An Everlasting Father
    • The Prince of Peace
  • A Shoot from the stump of Jessie (Isaiah 11)
    • A Branch that bear fruit (Isaiah 11:1-2)
      • The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him
      • the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding
      • the Spirit of counsel and of power
      • the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord
    • who will not judge based on what He sees or hears (Isaiah 11:3) 
    • A Ruler who rules the Kingdom of Justice and Righteousness (Isaiah 11:4).  His rule is attributed in Isaiah 11:6-9 as follows:
        • the wolf will live with the lamb (11:6),
        • the leopard will lie down with the goat (11:6),
        • the calf and the lion and the yearling together (11:6)
        • a little child will lead them (11:6).
        • the cow will feed with the bear (11:7),
        • their young will lie down together (11:7),
        • and the lion will eat straw like the ox (11:7).
        • the infant will play near the hole of the cobra (11:8),
        • and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest (11:8).
        • they will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain (11:9),
        • for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord (11:9).  
    • A Root of Jesse (Isaiah 11:10)
    • The Messiah (Isaiah 42:1)
    • The suffering Servant (Isaiah 52-53)
    • The Deliverer of the people (Isaiah 55:1-5)
    • The Good News Bringer (Isaiah 61:1-3)

Isaiah’s use of ‘the servants of the Lord:’ who are they?

  • The nation of Israel (Isaiah 41:8-9)
  • The Messiah (Isaiah 42:1)
  • The Lord’s prophets (Isaiah 44:24-26)
  • The redeemed (Isaiah 65:8-9)

Contemporary Lessons drawn from Isaiah

  • Repent and return to the Lord: God is inviting His people to repent from their sins [all kinds of iniquities, wickedness, and evil desires], and return to Him
  • Trust and Obey the Lord: God is asking His people to place their trust in the Lord and obey His commandments 
  • Hope in the Lord: God is inspiring His people to have a greater hope for a better future
  • Receive reward from the Lord: God is reassuring His people of the peace and comfort that comes from the Lord

Luke 10:25-28 … is part of a ‘Q & A’ session between ‘an expert in the law’ and Jesus,

Q: v.25, “… Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus response, v.26 “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”

27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind;’ and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied.  “Do this and you will live.” 

In the similar way, we must align our words and deeds according to the path set in the Scripture!  Surely we will live now and will continue to live with Him forever!  Amen!

Elaboration (of the superscripts)

תַּלְמוּד / Talmud simply means ‘instruction or learning.’  The term refers to the collection of writing of the ‘Jewish Oral Law.’  The Jewish Talmud appears in two forms: (i) the Mishnah (משנה), a written compendium of the oral Torah of Rabbinic Judaism published in 200 A.D; and (ii) the Gemara ( גמרא), an exposition of the Mishnah and other related subjects written in 500 AD.

2 Chronicles 26:1 states that Uzziah became King at the age of 16 and he reigned in Jerusalem 52 years, whereas according to 2 Kings 15:1-7, the name of King Uzziah is mentioned as Azariah.

God blessed king Uzziah but when he became powerful, he disobeyed God and God afflicted him with leprosy until his death (2 Chronicles 26:16-21).

 2 Kings 21:2 states that “He (Manasseh) did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites,” and according to 2Kings 21:16 “… Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end—besides the sin that he had caused Judah to commit, so that they did evil in the eyes of the Lord.”

 “He [Hezekiah] did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done (2 Kings 18:3).

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