Isaiah

Isaiah


Explain the historical background and purpose of the prophet: Isaiah’s ministry spanned six decades! No wonder the book has 66 chapters! His ministry was in the Southern Kingdom of Judah and during his ministry the Northern Kingdom of Israel fell to the Assyrians in 722 BC. His messages of repentance were heeded by the people of Judah and the Southern Kingdom was spared the cruel domination of Assyria.

What does the book show of the character and nature of God? Where does one begin with such a question? While the book is largely predictive, it is incredibly rich because mostly it is God Himself who is quoted. The Nicene Creed says of the Holy Spirit: "I believe in the Holy Spirt, the Lord and giver of Life. Who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, Who spake by the prophets." This confession went though my mind continually as our team read this astounding book. Fear and love. Repentance and forgiveness. The Promise of Messiah . . . It seems all that we could humanly know of God’s character, is sequestered within this tome.

What does this book show about God’s redemptive plan for mankind? Of all the prophets, it’s in Isaiah that most of the prophecies are of the coming Messiah. All 700 years before the fulfilment. This is enough to make a believer of any doubter! Or so you would think . . . The Messianic chapters are scattered throughout the book and several have been inspirational words set to the glorious music of Handel who certainly does them justice! "But many were amazed when they saw Him. His face was so disfigured He seemed hardly human, and from His appearance, one would scarcely know He was a man. And He will startle many nations. Kings will stand speechless in His presence. For they will see what they had not been told; they will understand what they had not heard about." Isaiah 53: 14-15

Personal Application: I have always loved this book. Knowing so much more about the background in which it was written, and the people it was written for has made it so much more meaningful. That statement I can make for every book we’ve read so far! Yet in this reading I found my heart moved when the Messianic passages were read. The reason is two fold. They are the promise of salvation for the Gentile and this makes me very glad. But they are also the promise of deliverance for Israel first of all. Yet so many of our elder brothers these past 2,000 years have never had the scales removed from their eyes . . . We were all to have been in this together! And so the passages are both glad tidings and sad tidings.

Point of Passion: My prayer is for those in whom the revelation of Yeshua has not yet come. God’s hand is still upon this nation! This people! We don’t know the result of the final prophecies. They sound like something wonderful is yet to be fulfilled for the called out people of the Abrahamic Covenant. "As surely as my new heavens and earth will remain, so will you always be my people, with a name that will never disappear . . ." Isaiah 66:22