Personal background
Isaiah means “Yahweh is salvation.” His name forms a summary of his message. Israel could not save themselves; redemption was made possible by God through one who would perfectly manifest Him. In this great servant, Yahweh would work salvation from sin and death.
Isaiah was the son of Amoz (not the prophet Amos). Jewish tradition indicates that Amoz was the brother of king Amaziah, king Uzziah’s Father. Isaiah and Uzziah would, therefore, be cousins.
According to Isa. 8:3, he was married to a prophetess. This, no doubt, refers to her own role as one through whom God worked and not to her capacity as “Mrs. Isaiah.”
Following a glorious vision of the Lord enthroned, Isaiah accepted the mantle of prophetic office. His task was not pleasant, for the people were dim of spiritual sight and dull of hearing with the things of God. From the start, he knew few converts would result from his efforts (Isa. 6:1-10).
The length of his active service was 60 to 68 years. From Isa. 1:1, we know it began during the reign of Uzziah. Two references provide evidence that it lasted from then until after Hezekiah’s death. Isa. 37:38 refers to the death of Sennacherib, which is generally placed five years after the death of Hezekiah. II Chron. 32:32 indicates Isaiah recorded all the acts of Hezekiah.
Since Jotham and Ahaz both reigned 16 years and Hezekiah reigned 25 years, we can see that Isaiah had a long, active life in the Lord’s service.
Historical background
Isaiah began his prophecy during the final days of Uzziah’s reign. Uzziah was known for his military success, building fortified cities, conquering surrounding areas and maintaining a powerful standing army. He acquired great wealth and water rights. However, he arrogantly usurped the priestly functions burning “incense upon the altar of incense” and was subsequently punished with leprosy (II Chr. 26:6ff).
Jotham was Uzziah’s son by Jerushah who was a “daughter of Zadok” (II Chr. 27:1). Uzziah thus had married a women of the tribe of Levi of the house of Aaron. (Perhaps Uzziah felt this entitled him to feel at home in the temple.) Jotham was faithful to God, extended his father’s building efforts and subdued the Ammonites for three years. He did not, however, provide strong leadership for the people; instead he permitted them to worship falsely and behave corruptly (II Chr. 27:2-6).
The failures of Uzziah and Jotham prepared the way for one of Judah’s most depraved monarchs. Ahaz desecrated the vessels of the house of God, shut the doors of the temple, made altars in every corner of Jerusalem and throughout his kingdom, burned his children in the fire, turned to astrology and utterly forsook any reliance on Yahweh. During his reign, the Assyrians put Judah under tribute, Judah lost their southern trade routes to Edom and the Philistines invaded, capturing many cities. In every respect, Ahaz’s reign was a disaster (II Chr. 28).
When Hezekiah succeeded Ahaz, the fruit of Isaiah’s work was evident. He was personally faithful to Yahweh and labored to turn the nation around. He insisted on right worship, reopened the temple, broke up the idols and removed the high places. To Isaiah, the time before Hezekiah would have been a period of great frustration, trial, grief and anger while Hezekiah’s reign would be a time of hope and rejuvenation.
Basic division
The common division is to note the book as being in two parts: chapters 1-39– the judgments of God; 40-66 — the comforts of God. Incidentally, this parallels the structure of the Bible with 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament ones.
A further subdivision may offer a helpful way to remember the book: chapters 1-35 — the judgments of God (with 13-23 being against specific nations); 36-39 — contemporary history of the book; 40-66 — comforts of God. Either outline is an oversimplification for the themes of judgment and consolation are woven throughout the book.
Chapters 36-39 are extremely important as they form the bridge between the two larger sections. Chapter 36 records the Assyrian invasion in the 14th year of Hezekiah. In 37, we find Hezekiah’s prayer, his appeal to Isaiah and God’s deliverance by destroying the huge Assyrian army. Chapter 38 covers Hezekiah’s illness and recovery, including the divine promise he would live 15 more years. In chapter 39, Hezekiah’s sin regarding the Babylonians is recorded, which leads into prophecies of coming captivity and provides the setting for the subsequent message of comfort, redemption and healing through the great servant of God.
Two Isaiah’s
Because of the differences in the two basic sections of the book, many non-Christadelphian writers have argued that there are two books written by two different people at widely separated points of time. Cynics further argue that the specific identification of Cyrus (ch. 45) 150 years before he was born is too exact a prophecy for them to swallow.
However, the evidence supporting Isaiah as the single writer is conclusive. In the first place, Jewish scholars living in the period 250-180 B.C. assume the book is a unified message under one writer. This is clearly reflected in the Septuagint, which was produced during this period. Second, one section of the Dead Sea scrolls begins a column at 38:8 and continues it right through 40:2 with no break or indication that another source was involved.
The most telling evidence is New Testament citations of Isaiah. There are 21 direct references in the New Testament to all parts of the book, each one referring to the author as Isaiah. There is no doubt that first century believers viewed Isaiah as the sole writer.
The reference to Cyrus is actually a remarkable example of fulfilled prophecy. In his Jewish history written in the first century A.D., Josephus records that the Jews believed Cyrus was compelled to issue the decree for the Jews to return and rebuild Jerusalem after he had been shown Isaiah’s prophecy.
Furthermore, the differences between the two main sections of the book are more apparent than real. When the prophecy is read with care, the same key points are made in both the early and the later sections. For example, a beautiful comparison is maded by setting Isa. 6:3 alongside of 40:2-6. One of the seraphim cried to another saying, “the whole earth is full of his glory” (6:3). “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD…and the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (40:2-6). The filling of the earth with the glory of God is a common emphasis in both sections of the book. The redemption of Zion is likewise stressed throughout. 1:27 — “Zion shall be redeemed with judgment:” 52:9 — “the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.” These are but two of many examples.
Great Times
There are several themes that run throughout Isaiah which can be usefully color-coded to bring them readily to one’s attention. Following are a few examples:
Gentiles as well as Jews
2:2 “all nations will flow unto (the house of the Lord).”
11:10 “there shall be a root of Jesse…to it shall the Gentiles seek.” 55:1 “Ho everyone that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no money.”
56:8 The Lord GOD saith “Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.”
60:1 “The Gentiles shall come to thy light.”
Warfare against sin
11:4 “With the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.”
24:21 “In that day the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high.”
49:2 “He hath made my mouth like a sharp sword…and made me a polished shaft.”
50:8 “Who will contend with me? let us stand together; who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.” 61:2 “To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God.”
National and personal peace
2:4 “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”
9:6-7 “And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end.”
26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
53:5 “The chastisement of our peace was upon him.”
54:10 “The covenant of my peace shall not be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.”
Other themes to pursue are the last days, Zion, the remnant and quotes and allusions in the New Testament.
We welcome any questions you may run across as you do your daily readings.
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