Isaiah

Wayne Jackson wrote this overview of the book of Isaiah. This was taken from the July 1975 edition of The Christian Courier, published by the East Main Street Church of Christ in Stockton, California and edited by Jackson.

There may be no book of the Old Testament that will pay richer dividends to the Bible student than the marvelous Book of Isaiah. The book bears the name of its remarkable author Isaiah, or as the name is in Hebrew, Yesha Yahu, meaning "Jehovah is salvation." The very name of the prophet sets the tone of the message which ultimately thrusts the mind forward many centuries to the coming of Him who would be the very embodiment of Jehovah's salvation.

AUTHORSHIP - Over the past two centuries there has been a concentrated attack upon the unity of the Book of Isaiah. Radical critics, due to a prejudice against the concept of predictive prophecy, have contended that certain portions of the narrative were not penned by the prophet, but were rather authored many years later by unknown writers. It is generally conceded that Isaiah may have written chapters 1-39 but liberals allege that there are at least two sections penned by others. These are: chapters 40-54 (commonly termed 2nd Isaiah) and chapters 55-66 (denominated 3rd Isaiah).

Of this theory it may be said : (a) This is a relatively modern notion. The ancient Jews knew absolutely nothing of it for the seven centuries preceding the coming of Christ. And for the first seventeen centuries of the Christian era, Biblical scholars never even hinted at a multiple authorship for this illustrious book. (b) The theory of a 1st, 2nd and 3rd Isaiah is both arbitrary and artificial, rejecting both the internal and external evidence for the book's unity. For example, no clearer evidence could be desired than that of the testimony of Christ and His inspired New Testament pensmen. They quote from all of the alleged sections of the narrative and simply attribute it to Isaiah. See John 12:37-41 where the Lord quotes from Isaiah chapters 53 and 6 in the same breath, crediting the prophet with both statements, even joining the two passages by saying, "Isaiah said again..." (v. 39)

Isaiah was the son of Amoz (1:1), not to be confused with the prophet Amos; he lived in Jerusalem with his wife and two sons. (7:3; 8:3) The ministry of this noble man of God occurred some two hundred years after the division in the United Kingdom, in the administrations of Judah's kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. Bible scholars believe his work may have spanned some forty to sixty years. An ancient tradition suggests that Isaiah was martyred in the days of wicked Manasseh (who is on record as shedding much innocent blood [II Kings 21:16]), being sawn asunder with a wooden saw. (Cf. Hebrews 11:37)

THE MESSAGE - A major emphasis of Isaiah's ministry was to urge the southern kingdom of Judah to return to Jehovah, the "Holy One of Israel" (this expression is used about 25 times in the book). The northern kingdom of Israel has forsaken the Lord having become immersed in idolatry and carnality; they will fall to Assyria in 721 B.C. Judah is sandwiched between two pagan political forces, ascending Assyria to the northeast, and declining Egypt to the southwest. In the shadows of these two looming powers, Judah was inclined to form alliances for protection. They desperately needed to learn however, that "Jehovah is salvation", that protection derives from Him and that the ultimate deliverance will come through the Messiah.

ARRANGEMENT OF THE BOOK - A main thread running through the Book of Isaiah relates to the fact that God sends either judgments or comforts, depending upon how people respond to Him. Around this theme, the book falls into two major sections. Chapters 1-39 might be styled "Judgment from God" while chapters 40-66 stress the concept of "Comfort from the Lord." The following arrangement will assist one in grasping the main divisions of the book.
     I. Judgment from God (1-39)
          A. Prophecies concerning Judah and Jerusalem. (1-12)
          B. Prophecies relating to foreign nations. (13-23)
          C. Judgments upon the nations. (24-27)
          D. A section of "woes". (28-35)
          E. A historical interlude concerning events in the reign of Hezekiah. (36-39)
     II. Comfort from God (40-66)
          A. A prophecy of deliverance from the impending Babylonian captivity. (40-48)
          B. Jehovah's suffering Servant. (49-57)
          C. Future glory with the coming of the Christian age. (58-66)

GLIMPSES OF THE COMING MESSIAH - Isaiah is known as the Messianic prophet, for interlaced all through his message are glorious glimpses of the promised Christ. Some of these are:
     1. According to Isaiah 6, the prophet is permitted to view the Lord upon His throne. in the midst of that majestic scene he is made keenly aware of human sinfulness and exclaims, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of hosts." That this was actually the pre-incarnate Christ that he saw is evidenced by the clear statement of an inspired apostle who declared: "These things said Isaiah, because he saw His (Christ's) glory; and he spake of Him." (John 12:41)
     2. The great prophecy of Immanuel's birth to the virgin is foretold in 7:14. The apostle Matthew certifies the true meaning of the passage. (Matthew 1:22-23)
     3. The rejection of Jehovah (Christ) as a "stone of stumbling" and "rock of offense" is predicted in 8:13-14. (Cf. I Peter 2:8; 3:14)
     4. In 9:6-7 Christ is seen as "Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" and heir to David's throne. (See Luke 1:32)
     5. The benevolence and universality of the Messiah's reign during the Christian age is vividly portrayed in 11:1-10. Note Paul's use of this in Romans 15:12.
     6. The precious, tried and sure foundation cornerstone to be laid in Zion is viewed in 28:16, and referred to on several occasions in the New Testament. (Romans 9:33; I Peter 2:6)
     7. In 40:3-5 a preview is given of John the Baptist and his preparatory work for the One who came to reveal the "glory of Jehovah" to "all flesh." (Note Matthew 3:3)
     8. The Lord's compassionate and just mission is stressed in 42:1-4. (Cf. Matthew 12:18-21)
     9. Isaiah 53 is a veritable galaxy of prophecies pointing to the atoning work of the Savior and many details connected therewith. (Acts 8:32-35; John 12:38, etc.)

Read this magnificent book and watch your faith grow!