Isaiah was one of the major prophets in the Old Testament. He lived in the 8th century BC and his ministry spanned over 40 years under the kings of Judah – Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah (Isaiah 1:1). Isaiah’s name means “Yahweh is salvation” which summarizes his message that judgment and exile were coming, but God would restore and redeem his people.
Isaiah prophesied to the people of Judah at a time when the nation faced threats from foreign powers like Assyria and Egypt. His message called the people to repentance and faithfulness to God. But he also looked ahead to a future messianic king and servant who would bring salvation. Many of Isaiah’s prophecies were fulfilled in Christ which is why he is sometimes called the “evangelical prophet.”
Isaiah’s Call and Commission
Isaiah chapters 1-39 contain prophecies concerning Judah and the surrounding nations. These were given during the period when Assyria was the dominant world power. Isaiah 6 records Isaiah’s dramatic call and commissioning as a prophet. He saw a vision of Yahweh on his heavenly throne. The seraphim declared God’s holiness and Isaiah realized his own sinfulness. But he was cleansed and commissioned to be God’s messenger, even though the people would reject his message (Isaiah 6:9-13). Nevertheless, God told Isaiah to faithfully proclaim His word anyway.
Prophecies about Judah and Surrounding Nations
Many of Isaiah’s early prophecies condemned idolatry and sin in Judah. He pronounced coming judgment on the nation, but also promised future restoration. Some key prophecies in Isaiah 1-39 include:
- Oracles against foreign nations like Babylon, Philistia, Moab, Syria, Ethiopia and Egypt (Chapters 13-23)
- A prophecy that Assyria would attack Judah but God would miraculously deliver Jerusalem (Chapters 36-37)
- A prophecy of comfort that there is no God like Yahweh who cares for His people (Chapters 40-48)
- Predictions about the coming Messiah and his suffering servant role (Chapter 53)
Historical Background in Isaiah
Isaiah contains references to the political and military events during his lifetime. The prophecies refer to actual kings, nations and battles. Understanding this history helps us interpret his message. Some key historical events behind Isaiah’s prophecies include:
- The rise of Assyria – This superpower destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 BC. Isaiah warned that Judah was next.
- Sennacherib’s invasion – The Assyrians nearly captured Jerusalem around 701 BC but God intervened (Isaiah 36-37).
- Babylon’s rising influence – Isaiah predicted Babylon would later conquer Judah.
- Hezekiah’s reforms – This godly king trusted Isaiah’s counsel and brought religious renewal.
Isaiah’s Messianic Prophecies
One of Isaiah’s most important contributions was prophesying about the Messiah. In his own time, Isaiah counseled King Ahaz to trust in God, not foreign powers, for protection. To encourage Ahaz, Isaiah said God would give a sign – a virgin would conceive and bear a son who would be called “Immanuel” or God with us (Isaiah 7:14). This ultimately points forward to Jesus Christ’s virgin birth.
Isaiah contains other prophecies that describe Christ’s person and work in rich detail:
- Isaiah 9:1-7 – The child who would be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God…” This passage describes Christ’s deity and the establishment of His eternal kingdom.
- Isaiah 11:1-5 – The Spirit-empowered servant from Jesse’s line who will rule in righteousness and equity.
- Isaiah 42:1-9 – God’s chosen servant who will bring justice and salvation to the nations.
- Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12 – The suffering servant who dies to bear the sins of many and makes intercession for transgressors.
The depth and detail of Isaiah’s messianic prophecies led early Jewish rabbis to say “The entire Book of Isaiah is an exposition of the Messianic hope.” When the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 was reading Isaiah 53, the apostle Philip explained to him that this passage was ultimately fulfilled in Christ.
Isaiah’s Impact in the New Testament
No other Old Testament book is quoted or alluded to more often in the New Testament than Isaiah. Here are some examples of New Testament passages that relate back to Isaiah’s prophecies:
- Matthew 3:3 quotes Isaiah 40:3 regarding John the Baptist’s preparatory role.
- Luke 4:17-21 describes Jesus reading Isaiah 61:1-2 about Himself in the synagogue at Nazareth.
- John 12:38 quotes Isaiah 53:1 to explain Jewish unbelief in Jesus.
- Acts 8:32-33 quotes Isaiah 53:7-8 as the passage the Ethiopian eunuch was reading.
- Romans 10:16 quotes Isaiah 53:1 to illustrate Israel’s disobedient response to the gospel.
- Hebrews 2:13 quotes Isaiah 8:17-18 regarding Jesus’ identification with humanity.
The New Testament authors were clearly influenced by Isaiah’s prophecies. They realised that many of these texts were fulfilled in Jesus Christ hundreds of years later. Isaiah’s messianic predictions laid an early foundation for recognizing Jesus as the promised Savior.
Major Themes in Isaiah
Some key themes emerge in the book of Isaiah that summarize its main messages:
- Judgment for sin – Isaiah warned Judah that God would judge their sins with calamity and exile. But this judgment had a redemptive purpose.
- God’s sovereignty – Isaiah emphasized God’s supreme power and authority, even using God’s name “Yahweh of Hosts” or “Lord of Armies” over 50 times.
- A remnant preserved – Even in judgment, God would preserve a faithful remnant through whom He would still accomplish His purposes.
- Messianic salvation – Despite national judgment, Isaiah looked ahead to a Messiah who would bring eternal salvation.
- Universal mission – Isaiah envisioned a time when all nations would stream to Jerusalem to worship the true God (Isaiah 2:2-4).
Outline of Isaiah
Isaiah can be outlined in several different ways. One helpful outline divides the book into three major sections:
- Chapters 1-39 – Prophecies about judgment and salvation for Judah/Jerusalem in Isaiah’s time
- Chapters 40-55 – Prophecies of comfort and redemption through the coming Messiah
- Chapters 56-66 – Oracles anticipating the future restoration of Zion
Isaiah’s call and commission are recorded in chapter 6. The messianic predictions cluster in chapters 7-12, with the prominent suffering servant passage in 52:13-53:12. The final chapters promise a new creation and depict the true worship in God’s restored kingdom.
Isaiah’s Immediate Audience
Isaiah’s original audience was the people of Judah, both leaders and commoners, living in and around Jerusalem in the 8th-7th centuries BC. His prophecies contain messages of warning, judgment, comfort and hope directed at their situation. But Isaiah made clear that God’s purposes included even more than just Judah – the book has a universal outlook.
Isaiah mentions people from many nations indicating his wider intend audience. And the messianic prophecies look far beyond Isaiah’s own times. So the book was meant not just for its original hearers but for future generations as well, including both Jews and Gentiles (Isaiah 42:6).
Composition of Isaiah
Jewish and Christian tradition ascribes the entire book of Isaiah to the prophet Isaiah who lived in the 8th century BC. He is described as the author in passages like Isaiah 1:1 and 2 Chronicles 26:22. However, since the late 1700s some scholars have proposed multiple authors for Isaiah based on differences in style and historical setting in various sections.
Critical scholars often divide Isaiah into three major sections with different authors: Chapters 1-39 (Proto/First Isaiah), 40-55 (Deutero/Second Isaiah) and 56-66 (Trito/Third Isaiah). But conservative scholars argue thematic unity and prophetic authorship support single authorship by Isaiah himself. Either way, the New Testament quotes from all sections of Isaiah as authoritative Scripture.
Isaiah and Politics
As a prophet, Isaiah naturally interacted with kings and rulers. His message had political implications for foreign affairs, national security, economics and more. Isaiah counseled kings during his lifetime, but he also critiqued bad policies and pointed people to God as the ultimate authority. Some key ways Isaiah interacted with politics include:
- Warning Judah not to make alliances with Assyria or Egypt but trust God instead
- Critiquing social injustice, judicial corruption, and economic inequity in Judah
- Condemning the social elite’s moral compromise and religious hypocrisy
- Predicting the rise and fall of kingdoms based on God’s decree
- Looking ahead to a future kingdom ruled perfectly by the Messiah
Isaiah and Ethics
In his ethical instruction, Isaiah condemned sin and called God’s people to live righteously. He pronounced woes on those who disobeyed God’s moral law. Isaiah envisioned a future kingdom where righteousness and justice would flourish. Some key ethical themes in Isaiah include:
- Calling leaders and people to do justice, correct oppression, defend the helpless
- Denouncing greed, pride, hypocrisy, empty religion, idolatry
- Emphasizing caring for the poor and needy as an essential duty
- Describing the Messiah’s righteous character and just reign
- Promise of a “new heavens and new earth” with no injustice or corruption
Fulfillment of Isaiah’s Prophecies
Many of Isaiah’s prophecies came to pass in the years following his ministry, while others awaited future fulfillment. Some examples of fulfilled prophecies include:
- The Assyrian invasion and unsuccessful siege of Jerusalem (Isaiah 36-37)
- Babylon defeating Judah and carrying away exiles (Isaiah 39:5-7)
- Cyrus allowing exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem (Isaiah 44:28 – 45:1)
- Gentiles coming to Jerusalem to worship God (Isaiah 2:2-3)
- The Messiah’s coming and redeeming work (Isaiah 53)
Yet Isaiah also looked ahead prophetically to new heavens and new earth which is ultimately fulfilled in Revelation 21-22. So Isaiah contains both prophecies already fulfilled and those yet awaiting complete fulfillment in Christ’s second coming.
Key Passages in Isaiah
As a lengthy prophetic book, Isaiah contains many important passages. Some key sections to focus on include:
- Isaiah 6 – Isaiah’s vision and call as a prophet
- Isaiah 7:14 – Prophecy of Messiah’s virgin birth
- Isaiah 9:1-7 – Prophecy of the divine child who would rule eternally
- Isaiah 11 – Prophecy of the Spirit-empowered Messiah from Jesse’s line
- Isaiah 40 – Declaration of comfort as God the warrior comes to deliver
- Isaiah 42 – Prophecy of God’s gentle servant who brings justice and salvation
- Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12 – Prophecy of the suffering servant who dies for sins
- Isaiah 65-66 – Promises of new heavens, new earth and new Jerusalem
Challenging Sections in Isaiah
Certain parts of Isaiah raise challenging questions. However, careful study can provide helpful insight into these sections:
- Isaiah 13-14, 21 – Did Isaiah accurately predict the fall of historical Babylon? Or was this prophecy projected back on him after the events?
- Isaiah 34-35 – Does this describe an ideal return from exile in Isaiah’s day, or the ultimate future restoration?
- Isaiah 40-55 – Do these chapters assume the Babylonian exile, indicating a later author? Or can they be read as predictive prophecy?
- Isaiah 56-66 – Do the conditions described best fit a post-exilic setting, suggesting a third Isaiah?
Conservative scholars have offered reasonable explanations supporting the unity of Isaiah. But differences in interpretation remain among scholars on these issues.
Enduring Significance of Isaiah
Isaiah remains vitally important today for several reasons:
- It reveals God’s character and ways of dealing with humanity
- It calls all people to repentance and faith in God
- It promises comfort to those who trust in the Lord
- It points clearly to Jesus Christ as the suffering servant and reigning King
- It provides ethical direction for living righteously
- It looks ahead to the fulfilment of God’s kingdom promises
For both Jews and Christians, Isaiah provides illumination about God and His purposes. It calls us to live with moral integrity as we trust in the salvation He provides. Isaiah inspires our hope in Christ’s return and the glorious vision of a renewed creation. The Church continues to gain wisdom, warning and encouragement from the enduring words of this prophetic book.