My Redeemer > Bible > Isaiah > Introduction
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by Nathaniel M. Van Cleave,
Doctorate in Theology/Doctorate in Divinity
Lecturer, Theology Faculty
Spanish Bible College
Montebello, California
Author: Isaiah
Date: Around 700-690 B.C.
Theme: Salvation
Key Ideas: Judgment of sin, Messianic promise
Key Words: Salvation, Redeemer, righteousness, peace, consolation
Author: The first verse of this book designates Isaiah, the son of Amoz, as its author. The name, "Isaiah", means "Jehovah is salvation". On four occasions Isaiah assures that he had the vision and received the prophecy that this book contains. His name also appears twelve times in II Kings and four in II Chronicles.
In the New Testament the Book of Isaiah is directly quoted twenty-one times and in each case it's attributed to the prophet Isaiah. Some scholars, who find difficulty accepting the prophetic predictions which anticipate future events with great detail, have denied that Isaiah had been the author of chapters 40-66. They have titled this second section as the "Deutero Isaiah" (Second Isaiah), and insist that these chapters that speak of things that happened after Isaiah, like the Babylonian captivity of Judah, the return from exile and Cyrus' ascension to the throne (the Persian monarch who ordered the return of the Jewish people to their land, 45:1), must have been written later and attributed to the famous prophet.
However, if the divine inspiration of the Scriptures and the possibility of the supernatural is accepted, there's no difficulty recognizing the unity of the book and the authorship of Isaiah. After all, Isaiah and other prophets of their time prophesied events of the life of Jesus that occurred 700 years later. Moreover, the critics pass over the fact that Isaiah had access to the Book of Deuteronomy, which predicted the captivity as well as the return from exile (Deut. 29; 30). If the mention of Cyrus (44:28; 45:1) is an obstacle, what about the mention of Bethlehem, the place where Jesus was born, which was mentioned and predicted by Micah, a contemporary of Isaiah (Mic. 5:2)?
There are other arguments that favor the existence of only one Isaiah: 1: words and key phrases that are distributed uniformly throughout the entire book; 2) the passages and color are also uniform. The superior excellence of the literary style in the Hebrew poetry in the final chapters of Isaiah can be explained by the change of emphasis, from condemnation and entreaty, to exhortation and consolation. In any case, in spite of the face that we consider is evident that only one pen wrote Isaiah, by defending this theses we aren't trying to impugn the sincerity of those who believe the contrary.
Date: Isaiah declared that he had prophesied during the reigns of "Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah" (1:1). Some think that he received the calling of a prophet in the year in which the king Uzziah died, which occurred around the year 740 B.C. (6:1,8). However, it seems that he began as such during the final decade of Uzziah's reign. As the death of the Assyrian king Sennacherib, who passed away around 680 B.C., is mentions, he must have lived some years after Hezekiah. According to tradition, Isaiah was martyred during the reign of Manasseh, Hezekiah's son. Many believe that the phrase "were...sawed" in Hebrews 11:37 is a reference to the death of Isaiah. It could be that the first part of the book had been written in the early years of Isaiah's public activity, and the final chapters, after he had retired from it.
If Isaiah began to prophesy around 750 B.C., his ministry must have developed simultaneously, during a brief period, with that of Amos and Hosea in Israel, and Micah in Judah.
Background: Isaiah prophesied in the most crucial period of the history of Judah and Israel. The kingdom of the south, like that of the north, had enjoyed some fifty years of increasing prosperity and power. Israel, governed by Jeroboam and six other lesser kings, had succumbed to pagan worship practices; Judah, under Uzziah, Jotham and Hezekiah, had maintained a certain formal faithfulness to orthodoxy, but had gradually fallen into a serious moral and spiritual decline (3:8-26). The existence of secret places of pagan worship was tolerated; the rich oppressed the poor; women neglected their families seeking the pleasures of the flesh; many priests and prophets gave themselves over to drunkenness and pleasures (5:7-12,18-23; 22:12-14). Even when Judah experienced a brief spiritual rebirth under king Josiah (640-609 B.C.), Isaiah understood very well that the covenant recorded by Moses in Deuteronomy 30:11-20 had been violated in such a way, that Judah inevitably faced punishment and captivity, as occurred in the case of Israel.
Isaiah began his ministry in the same period of the foundation of Rome and the first Greek Olympic games. The future European powers weren't yet ready to launch the conquest of far-off lands, but several Asiatic empires went beyond their frontiers. Assyria was especially interested in expanding to the south and west. The prophet, knowing well the international situation, knew that conflict was imminent. Assyria seized Samaria in 721 B.C.
Purpose: One of the purposes of Isaiah was to declare GOD's discontent with the sins of Judah, Israel and the neighboring nations. Almost all the Hebrew words that designate sin are utilized by the prophet. At the same time, he tried to induce GOD's people to abandon their disobedience in order to avoid the disaster that approached, an effort that only achieved limited success. However, his principal purpose may have been to establish the foundation for the hope and promise that would guide the faithful remnant of GOD's people in the future. Thus, the book is filled with promises of restoration and redemption, the assured coming of the Messiah, the salvation of all the nations and the triumph of GOD's plans in spite of the intervals of suffering.
Literary Form: (HBH) The book contains a multitude of individual literary types, often woven together in a highly artistic and rhetorically effective manner. Among the more common forms are the judgment speech (where the prophet accuses the nation of wrongdoing and announces its coming doom), the exhortation to repentance, the salvation announcement (which promises GOD's intervention for His suffering people), and the salvation oracle (in which the LORD encourages His people not to fear). Other forms include the disputation speech (where GOD responds to an accusation or complaint by His people) and the trial speech (where GOD argues His case with Israel or with the pagan nations). The book contains prophetic messages, mostly in poetic form characterized by parallelism of thought and vivid imagery, and biographical material about Isaiah.
Most of the judgment messages appear in chapters 1-39. The majority of the salvation speeches occur in chapters 40-66. Still it is overly simplistic to say that the theme of chapters 1-39 is judgment and that of chapters 40-66 salvation. In each of the major sections of chapters 1-39, the message moves from judgment to salvation.
Purpose and Theology: (HBH) As a messenger of Israel's and Judah's covenant LORD, Isaiah warned that GOD's people were about to be judged for breaking their covenant with Him. Though their punishment would be severe, GOD would ultimately judge the nations as well and reestablish His people in their land.
In the development of this major theme of salvation through purifying judgment, several contributing themes emerge. Isaiah has much to say about Zion (Jerusalem), GOD's dwelling place. He prophesied and witnessed the city's miraculous deliverance from the Assyrians. The event foreshadowed and became a guarantee of Jerusalem's eventual vindication and glorification before the nations. However, a time would come when Jerusalem would have to endure extreme hardship and its people suffer the humiliation of exile. Nevertheless, GOD would not abandon the city. He would lead His people out of exile in a grand new exodus and bring them back to the Promised Land. Once again Zion would be inhabited. This vision was only partially fulfilled about 538 B.C., when the Persian ruler Cyrus allowed exiles to go back to Palestine. The full restoration of Israel awaits a future time when covenant renewal is complete [compare Isa. 55 with Rom. 11:27].
The Servant of the LORD [the focal point of the so-called servant songs of chapters 42-53] plays a prominent role in the restoration of Israel. Portrayed as a new Moses who mediates a new covenant for the nation, this servant suffers on behalf of GOD's people and brings them redemption. Subsequent biblical revelation identifies this servant as Jesus Christ. In the earlier chapters of Isaiah we see a more traditional portrayal of the Messiah as a mighty Davidic ruler who conquers the enemies of GOD and establishes justice in Israel and among the nations.
The book also emphasizes GOD's sovereignty over the nations. He raised up Assyria and Babylon as instruments to punish His rebellious people but then destroyed them because of their arrogance and cruelty. Time and time again the LORD declared His infinite superiority to the idol-gods of the nations. They were products of human hands and inactive, but He is the sovereign Creator who superintends the universe..
Structure of the Book: (IBD) With its 66 chapters, Isaiah is the longest prophetic book of the Old Testament. Most scholars agree that the book falls naturally into two major sections, chapters 1-39 and chapters 40-66. One good way to remember the grand design of the book is to think of the sections as a parallel to the two main parts of the Bible. The first section of Isaiah contains the same number of chapters as the number of books in the Old Testament (39). The second part of the book parallels the New Testament in the same way - 27 chapters for the 27 books of this section of the Bible.
The general theme of the first part of Isaiah's book is GOD's approaching judgment on the nation of Judah. In some of the most striking passages in all the Bible, the prophet announces that GOD will punish His people because of their sin, rebellion, and worship of false gods. But this message of stern judgment is also mixed with beautiful poems of comfort and promise. Although judgment is surely coming, better days for GOD's Covenant People lie just ahead. This section of Isaiah's book refers several times to the coming Messiah. His name will be called Immanuel (7:14). As a ruler on the throne of David, he will establish an everlasting kingdom (9:7).
Other significant events and prophecies covered in the first section of Isaiah's book include his call as a prophet (ch.6), GOD's judgment against the nations surrounding Judah (chapters 13-23), and a warning to Judah not to seek help through vain alliances with Egypt (chapters 30-31).
During Isaiah's time, Judah's safety was threatened by the advancing Assyrian Empire. When the king of Judah sought to protect the nations' interests by forming an alliance with Egypt to turn back the Assyrians, Isaiah advised the nation to look to their GOD for deliverance - not to a pagan nation led by an earthly ruler. He also prophesied that the Assyrian army would be turned back by GOD before it succeeded in overthrowing the nation of Judah (30:27-33).
The second major section of Isaiah's book (chaps. 40-66) is filled with prophecies of comfort for the nation of Judah. Just as Isaiah warned of GOD's approaching judgment in the first part of his book, the 27 concluding chapters were written to comfort GOD's people in the midst of their suffering after His judgment had fallen. The theme of this entire section may be illustrated with Isaiah's famous hymn of comfort that GOD directed the prophet to address to the people: "Comfort, yes, comfort My people!" says your GOD: "Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins" (40:1-2).
Isaiah's message in this part of his book is that after their period of judgment has passed, GOD's Covenant People will be restored to their place of responsibility in GOD's plan for the salvation of the world. The great suffering through which they were passing was their period of captivity as exiles of the pagan nation of Babylon. This theme of suffering on the part of GOD's people is demonstrated dramatically by Isaiah's famous description of the Suffering Servant. The nation of Israel was GOD's suffering servant who would serve as GOD's instrument of blessing for the rest of the world after their release from captivity and restoration as His Chosen People (42:1-9).
But Isaiah's prophecy also points beyond the immediate future to the coming of Jesus Christ as the Messiah several centuries later. The heart of this stunning prophecy occurs in chapter 53, as Isaiah develops the description of GOD's Servant to its highest point. The Servant's suffering and death and the redemptive nature of His mission are clearly foretold. Although mankind deserved GOD's judgment because "we have tuned, every one, to his own way" (53:6), GOD sent His Servant to take away our sins. According to Isaiah, it is through His suffering that we are made right with GOD, since "the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (53:6).
Isaiah closes his book with a beautiful description of the glorious age to come (chaps. 60-66). In that day the city of Zion, or Jerusalem, will be restored. GOD's people will gather there to worship Him in all His majesty and glory. Peace and justice will reign, and GOD will make all things new.
Special Considerations: (IBD) One unusual passage in the Book of Isaiah gives us a clue about how GOD views His work of judgment and salvation. The prophet describes GOD's judgment as "His unusual act" (28:21). If judgment is GOD's unusual act, does this not imply that salvation is the work more typical of Him as a loving GOD? It is an interesting question to think about as we express thanks to GOD for the marvelous insights of Isaiah and his important book.
Personal Application: No book of the Old Testament, with the possible exception of Psalms, speaks with such power and suitability to the contemporary church as Isaiah. Isaiah has been called the "Messianic prophet" and "the evangelical prophet". He prophesied for all ages by preaching so much about the first as well as the Second Coming of Christ. His name means "salvation", a salvation that reaches not only his contemporaries, but to all peoples and nations in the centuries to come. This salvation comes from a Redeemer who has paid for the sins of men; it is always a vicarious salvation obtained by grace.
The period uncovered by Isaiah's prophecy won't come to an end until the Son of David is exalted to the throne of grace over his peaceful kingdom (2:1-5; 11:1-9; 42:1-4; 61:1-11; 65:17-25; 66:22,23).
Isaiah's message is as powerful today as it was in his time. It represents a ray of holiness in the midst of the sordidness of Israel's sins; he called his contemporaries to give up the practice of social injustice, carnal tolerance, to abandon their trust in the power of the flesh, the hypocrisies of their formal religiosity. He also warned about the consequences that would arise if they continued sinning.
Christ Revealed:> After his resurrection Jesus walked with two of his disciples and, "beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself" (Luke 24:27). Surely on that occasion he must have fully quoted the Book of Isaiah, because 17 chapters of his book contain prophesies relating to the Messiah.
In Isaiah Christ is spoken of as "LORD", "Renewer of Jehovah", "Immanuel", "Wonderful Counsellor", "mighty GOD", "eternal Father", "Prince of Peace", "Root of Jesse", "Cornerstone", "King", "Shepherd", "Servant of Jehovah", "Chosen", "Lamb of GOD", "Redeemer" and "Anointed".
Chapter 53 is the greatest prophecy of the Old testament about the redemptive work of the Messiah. No text of the Bible presents the purpose of Christ's vicarious death in a more complete way than this chapter. It is directly cited nine or ten times by the authors of the New Testament: 52:15 (Rom. 15:21); 53:1 (John 12:38; Rom. 10:16); 53:4 (Matt. 8:17); 53:5 (Rom. 4:25; I Pet. 2:24); 53:7,8 (Acts 8:32,33); 53:9 (I Pet. 2:22); 53:10 (I Cor. 15:3,4); 53:12 (Luke 22:37). There are many other details not directly cited, of the prophecy contained in chapter 53, which are fulfilled in the New Testament.
The Holy Spirit in Action: The Holy Spirit is specifically mentioned on fifteen occasions in the Book of Isaiah, without counting the references to the power, effects or influence of the Spirit. There are three general categories under which the work of the Holy Spirit is described:
- The Spirit anointing the Messiah and giving him the power to reign on the throne of David (11:1-12); as the Suffering Servant of the LORD, who would heal, illuminate and bring justice to the nations (42:1-9); as the Messiah in both advents (61:1-3; Luke 4:17-21).
- The Spirit is poured out on Israel to allow it a triumphal restoration, such as occurred in Exodus (44:1-5; 63:1-5), protect it from its enemies (59:19), and preserve the covenant between Israel and Jehovah (59:21). However, Israel must be careful not to rebel and aggrieve the Holy Spirit (63:10; Eph. 4:30).
- The work of the Spirit in the creation and preservation of nature (40:13; see also 48:16).
The LORD Jesus, whose earthly ministry is achieved in the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit, as Isaiah had prophesied, promised to pour out his Spirit over the Church in order to give it the necessary power to achieve the work of the Great Commission.
Introduction to Isaiah - Truth in Action throughout Isaiah
Genesis - Exodus - Leviticus - Numbers - Deuteronomy - Joshua - Judges - Ruth - I Samuel - II Samuel - I Kings - II Kings - I Chronicles - II Chronicles - Ezra - Nehemiah - Esther - Job - Psalms - Proverbs - Ecclesiastes - Song of Songs - Isaiah - Jeremiah - Lamentations - Ezekiel - Daniel - Hosea - Joel - Amos - Obadiah - Jonah - Micah - Nahum - Habakkuk - Zephaniah - Haggai - Zechariah - Malachi
Matthew - Mark - Luke - John - Acts - Romans - I Corinthians - II Corinthians - Galatians - Ephesians - Philippians - Colossians - I Thessalonians - II Thessalonians - I Timothy - II Timothy - Titus - Philemon - Hebrews - James - I Peter - II Peter - I John - II John - III John - Jude - Revelation
ISAIAH, PRINCE OF OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS ("Exploring the Old Testament" by C. E. Demaray, PhD, Donald S. Metz, D.R.E. and Maude A. Stuneck, PhD; edited by W. T. Purkiser, PhD; published 1967 by Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City)
Isaiah, the son of Amoz, was born in Jerusalem, probably of noble parentage, about 765 B.C. There is a Jewish tradition that he was a cousin of King Hezekiah. He was a younger contemporary of the North Kingdom prophets Amos and Hosea, whom he must have known in his youth. He is said to have prophesied in the reigns of four kings of Judah: Uzziah, Jothan, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (1:1). But from the reference to Uzziah's death, which is mentioned in connection with the prophet's call (6:1), we may assume that his active ministry began about 740 B.C.6 Perhaps soon after this date he was married to a "prophetess" (8:3), who bore him two sons. The very names given these sons embodied a message to Judah and Jerusalem (8:18).6
Having been brought up in Jerusalem, Isaiah doubtless received the best education the capital could afford. The style of his writing betrays a rhetorical training of the highest order, and his knowledge of world affairs was probably greater than that of any other man of his time. "He knew not only books but men; consequently he was well fitted to be the political and religious counselor of the nation."7
Isaiah was without question the greatest of the writing prophets. We have from Yates a colorful and graphic description of the prophet as he is viewed by his critics:
As a preacher of social righteousness, he had no equal among the prophets. He had deep convictions, kingly courage, clear vision, spiritual intuition, and unusual power in driving home the truth...With his head in the clouds and his feet on the earth he spent his days trying to help sinful people to see GOD as he knew Him, hate sin as he hated it, and turn as devotedly to the work of blessing human hearts...Dignified oratory poured forth from a pure heart with peculiar directness and uncanny effectiveness.
As a spiritual giant Isaiah stands as the loftiest peak among the mountains...He walked with GOD, and that divine fellowship did something for him that is indescribable. From intimate touch with GOD he was able to make others sense something of His infinite loveliness and His precious nearness, as well as the transcendent qualities that set Him so far above men. The deep spirituality of the prophet gave his words added meaning as they came to human ears. With all his heart he hated uncleanness and loved holiness. He spent his life trying to get Israel to become acquainted with GOD and His word and to trust implicitly in His guidance.
As a writer Isaiah is superb. For versatility of expression and brilliance of imagery he has no superior among Hebrew writers. His poetry is comparable to the best in ancient or modern times. He is a perfect artist in words. Jerome likens his oratory to that of Demosthenes. He was truly one who spoke as he was "moved by the Holy Ghost" (II Pet. 1:21).
5Chapters 1-5 are probably placed at the beginning as a suitable introduction to the prophet's discourses. They are usually given a date somewhat later than chapter 6.
6Shear-jashub, "a remnant shall return" (7:3) and Maher-shalal-hash-baz, "he hasteneth to the prey" (8:3). The meaning seems to be that a fierce nation would take them into captivity, from which only a remnant would return. 7G. L. Robinson, The Book of Isaiah, p. 20.ISAIAH [Jehovah has saved] (Illustrated Dictionary of the Bible; Herbert Lockyer, Sr., Editor with F.F. Bruce and R.K. Harrison; pub. by Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville)
A famous Old Testament prophet who predicted the coming of the Messiah; the author of the Book of Isaiah. Isaiah was probably born in Jerusalem of a family that was related to the royal house of Judah. He spent his early years as an official of King Uzziah (Azariah) of Judah (II Chron. 26:22). When Uzziah died (740 B.C.), Isaiah received his prophetic calling from GOD in a stirring vision of GOD in the Temple (Is. 6). The king of Judah had died; now Isaiah had seen the everlasting King in whose service he would spend the rest of his life.
Isaiah was married to a woman described as "the prophetess" (Is. 8:3). They had two sons whom they named Shear-Jashub, "A Remnant Shall Return" (Is. 7:3) and Maher-shalal-Hash-Baz, "Speed the Spoil, Hasten the Booty" (Is. 8:3). These strange names portray the two basic themes of the Book of Isaiah: GOD is about to bring judgment upon His people, hence Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, "Speed the Spoil, Hasten the Booty" (Is. 8:3). The strange names portray the two basic themes of the Book of Isaiah: GOD is about to bring judgment upon His people, hence Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz; but after that there will be an outpouring of GOD's mercy and grace to the remnant of people who will remain faithful to GOD, hence Shear-Jashub.
After GOD called Isaiah to proclaim His message, He told Isaiah that most of his work would be a ministry of judgment. Even though the prophet would speak the truth, the people would reject his words (6:10). Jesus found in these words of Isaiah's call a prediction of the rejection of his message by many of the people (Matt. 13:14-15).
Isaiah's response to this revelation from the LORD was a lament: "LORD, how long?" (Is. 6:11). The LORD answered that Isaiah's ministry would prepare the people for judgment, but one day GOD's promises would be realized. Judah was to experience utter devastation, to be fulfilled with the destruction of the city of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 587-586 B.C. (Is. 6:11). This destruction would be followed by the deportation of the people to Babylon (Is. 6:12). But although the tree of the house of David would be cut down, there would still be life in the stump (Is. 6:13). Out of the lineage of David would come a Messiah who would establish His eternal rule among His people.
Isaiah was a writer of considerable literary skill. The poetry of his book is magnificent in its sweep. A person of strong emotion and deep feelings, Isaiah also was a man of steadfast devotion to the LORD. His vision of GOD and His holiness in the Temple influenced his messages during his long ministry.
Isaiah's ministry extended from about 740 B.C. until at least 701 B.C. (Is. 37-39).. His 40 years of preaching doom and promise did not turn the nation of Judah from its headlong rush toward destruction. But he faithfully preached the message GOD gave him until the very end.
According to a popular Jewish tradition, Isaiah met his death by being sawn in half during the reign of the evil king Manasseh of Judah. This tradition seems to be supported by the writer of Hebrews (Heb. 11:37). Certainly Isaiah is one of the heroes of the faith "of whom the world was not worthy" (Heb. 11:38).