In Today's Email:
Welcome to the Book of Isaiah!
The Book of Isaiah is often regarded as the most beautifully written of all the non-poetic books. Isaiah (“the salvation of Jehovah”) had a lengthy ministry of around 60 years length through the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. There are Jewish traditions that place him as Uzziah’s cousin and that tell of his martyrdom under Manasseh by being sawn in half (perhaps referenced in Hebrews 11:37). One of features of this book are the many Messianic prophecies. Isaiah and Psalms are far and away the two most quoted and referenced Old Testament books in the New Testament.
A few quick facts about Isaiah:
The author is Isaiah. Modern criticism invented the idea that the book is compilation of two or three authors. These supposed authors are often called “Proto-Isaiah”, “Deutero-Isaiah”, and “Trito-Isaiah”. Strangely. the same evidence is used to argue for a single author that is used to argue for multiple. I find no reason to doubt a single author. The testimony of the New Testament authors supports Isaiah being the single author of this book.
This book was written around 700 B.C. The earliest prophecies date maybe fifty years earlier. Isaiah had a very lengthy ministry, and this is a compilation of a lifetime’s work. Roughly his ministry fits in the passages of II Kings 14-19 and II Chronicles 26-33
The key verse is 53:6 – “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
A brief outline:
Prophecies of Judgment – Chapters 1-35
Historical Interlude – Chapters 36-39
Prophecies of Promise – Chapters 40-66
Key chapters:
Chapter 6 – Vision of the Lord in Heaven
Chapter 40 – Comfort from the Mighty God
Chapter 53 – The Suffering Savior
Isaiah 1 Notes
In this chapter Judah is called to repent of their sins.
vs. 1 – Title page for the book, giving its author and setting.
vs. 2-15 – The children of Israel are condemned by their sins. This is specifically directed at the Kingdom of Judah. They deserved judgment, and if not for God’s mercy should have been destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah. They vainly tried to worship God through the motions of keeping the Law, but their hearts were fully corrupted. God refuses their worship and their prayers.
vs. 16-20 – An appeal for Judah to repent of their sins and seek the Lord. If they did so, He would restore His blessing on them. If they refused, He would send judgment. One of my favorite verses is vs. 18 as God offers to reason with them so they could see that His way was best.
vs. 21-23 – Jerusalem, representing the kingdom, has its sad spiritual state displayed. It had become a hive of sin and not the holy city it was supposed to be. The leadership was failing the nation in their perverted justice.
vs. 24-31 – The purifying flames of judgement would come to bring the people back to God. They would be purified as silver is refined in fire. They had chosen to chase after idolatry (vs. 29) and they would be consumed in the raging fire of judgment.
Isaiah 2 Notes
In this chapter we look ahead to future blessings and judgment.
vs. 1-4 – A picture of the future blessing of the Millennial Kingdom of Christ. In those “last days” of prophecy, all nations will look toward the Messiah’s throne in Jerusalem. Peace and prosperity will fill the earth under His rule.
vs. 5 – A call to repent and turn to the Lord to be part of the Kingdom to come.
vs. 6-9 – Isaiah presents more indictments against Judah. They had put their faith in the Gentile powers and false religions. They trusted in their wealth and military power. All men, from the commoner to the ruler, worshipped and trusted in their worthless idols.
vs. 10-22 – The “Day of the Lord” is described. Sometimes it is only called “that day” or “the day”. This term describes many important events in prophecy and overall is mentioned almost 100x in Scripture. Primarily, it concerns the judgments of the Tribulation and of Christ’s victorious return to set up His kingdom. It may extend to all end times events. When this appears, pay careful attention. Here, the righteous are told to seek refuge as God’s judgment is poured out. Mankind will be humbled and forsake their idols. None may stand against the righteous anger of the Almighty God. Not that this is necessary so that Kingdom from the opening of the chapter may be established.
Isaiah 3 Notes
In this chapter the case is presented and judgment passed against Judah.
vs. 1-7 – What is described here sounds like complete societal collapse brought on by judgment. All that the nation held dear and put their trust in would be removed. The world would be turned upside down for them. No one will step forward to lead the people and take responsibility.
vs. 8-9 – The prophet speaks as if the judgment had already fallen. God had declared it, so it was a sure to happen as if it already had happened. The sins and refusal to repent doom the nation.
vs. 10-15 – The nation would reap the harvest they had sown. The righteous will be treated better, but the wicked would be destroyed as they had destroyed others.
vs. 16-23 – Someone said you can discern much about a society by the behavior of their women. The women of Judah were lifted up in arrogance and opulence. God promises to humble them, striking at their beauty and their worldly goods.
vs. 24-26 – Again, what is described is the world turned upside down for Judah. The perfumed air surrounding its women would turn to a stench. All their beauty turned to ugliness. The victorious warriors would be defeated. All the mirth and laughter would turn to sorrow and weeping as God’s judgment purged them of their sins.
Isaiah 4 Notes
In this chapter we see beyond the judgment to future blessing.
vs. 1 – This opening verse is a transition from the previous chapter’s theme of judgment. The men of the nation were killed in battle, and the many women beg to taken as wives by the survivors.
vs. 2-6 – God looks beyond the day of judgment to the blessing on the other side. While the judgment just seen is historical in the Babylonian conquest of Judah, the blessed restoration of these verses has no historical parallel. God has jumped from the lowest day for Israel to its greatest. The Messiah (the Branch) is present. The earth is blessed. Jerusalem is no longer in ruins and its residents are fugitives. Now these both stand as exalted on earth. God had fully purged Israel from their sins and they have embraced their Messiah. God dwells among them, caring for them as He did in the Exodus.
Closing Thoughts
I know I mentioned in the notes, but 1:18 is one of my favorite verses in the Bible. We are told to have faith in God, but that faith is a reasonable faith. God offers us salvation and the forgiveness of sins. We cannot do anything about our sin because of our sinfulness. God can because He is holy. This simply makes sense. If our sins bar us from Heaven, how could our good deeds grant us entrance? Consider the offer. Consider the alternatives. There is no choice between them. The only reasonable answer to all of life’s problems is the Lord.
Hymn for Today
Our hymn today is “Though Your Sins Be as Scarlet”, written by Fanny Crosby in 1880.
Though your sins be as scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though your sins be as scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they be red like crimson,
They shall be as wool!
Though your sins be as scarlet,
Though your sins be as scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow,
They shall be as white as snow.
Hear the voice that entreats you,
O return ye unto God!
Hear the voice that entreats you,
O return ye unto God!
He is of great compassion,
And of wondrous love;
Hear the voice that entreats you,
Hear the voice that entreats you,
O return ye unto God!
O return ye unto God!
He’ll forgive your transgressions,
And remember them no more;
He’ll forgive your transgressions,
And remember them no more;
Look unto Me, ye people,
Saith the Lord your God!
He’ll forgive your transgressions,
He’ll forgive your transgressions,
And remember them no more,
And remember them no more.