Theme: Of all the prophetical
writings the book of Isaiah is
the most beautiful and sublime.
In none of the other books do we
obtain such a glorious view of
the Messiah and of His kingdom.
Because of its emphasis of GOD's
grace and His redemptive work in
relation to Israel and the
nations, the book of Isaiah has
been called "The Fifth Gospel,"
and its author, "the Evangelist
of the Old Testament."
The two main divisions of the
book will aid us in finding its
Theme.
The keynote of the first
division (chaps. 1-39) is
"Denunciation."
As we read this section we hear
the rumblings of GOD's wrath
against apostate Israel and
against the idolatrous nations
surrounding them. In these
chapters are prophesied Israel's
captivity by the Babylonians,
and the tribulation and
judgments of the last days.
The keynote of the second
division (chaps. 40-66) is
"Consolation."
This section contains prophecies
of Israel's return from the
Babylonian captivity and of
their final restoration and
gathering to Palestine in the
last days. With these two
last-named divisions in mind, we
may sum up the theme of Isaiah
as follows: The wrath of GOD
resulting in Israel's
condemnation and tribulation;
the grace of GOD resulting in
their salvation and exaltation.
Author: Isaiah.
Isaiah, the greatest of the
prophets, was called to the
ministry in the reign of Uzziah
(Isaiah Ch. 6). His name, which
means "salvation of the Lord,"
well describes his ministry and
message. He prophesied during
the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham,
Ahaz and Hezekiah, and perhaps
during the reign of Manasseh
(between 757-697 B. C.). He was
a statesman as well as a
prophet, for we find him
speaking and acting in
connection with the public
affairs of the nation.
Tradition tells us that he was
put to death by the wicked
Manasseh by being sawed asunder.
Scope: The historical events
recorded in Isaiah cover a
period of about 62 years from
about 760 to 698 B. C.
CONTENTS:
Isaiah naturally divides itself
into the following three
sections:
I. The condemnatory section,
containing for the most part
rebukes of Israel's sins (Chs.
1-35).
II. The historical section,
containing the account of the
Assyrian invasion, and GOD's
merciful deliverance of
Jerusalem and Hezekiah's healing
(Chs. 36-39). These chapters
form a link between the first
and last section. They serve as
an appendix to the first
section, for they record the
prophecy of the Babylonian
captivity (39:5-8), which was
the penalty of Israel's sins
condemned in chapters 1-35.
Because of this same prophecy,
chapters 36-39 form an
introduction to the last section
which deals with Israel's
restoration from captivity.
III. The consolatory section,
containing words of comfort to
chastised Israel and promises of
restoration and blessing (Chs.
40-66).
As a basis for our study we
shall use the following outline:
I. Prophecies concerning Judah
and Jerusalem (Chs. 1-12).
II.
Prophecies of judgments on the
nations (Chs. 13-23).
III. Prophecies of world
judgments ending in Israel's
redemption (Chs. 24-27).
IV.
Prophecies of judgment and mercy
(Chs. 28-35).
V. Invasion and deliverance of
Judah (Chs. 36-39).
VI. Deliverance from captivity
through Cyrus (Chs. 40-48).
VII.
Redemption through suffering and
sacrifice (49-57).
VIII. The
future glory of the people of
GOD (58-66).
SECTION I: CONDEMNATORY
Before continuing the study of
Isaiah let the student read II
Chronicles 26:1 to 32:33, which
will give him the historical
background of the book.
I. Prophecies Concerning Judah
and Jerusalem (Chs. 1 to 12).
Isaiah begins his prophecy with
a vigorous denunciation of the
sins of Judah and Jerusalem. In
chapter one he strikes the chief
keynotes of the entire book. He
describes Israel's utter
apostasy, an apostasy so great,
that were it not for the fact
that the Lord in His grace had
left a remnant, the nation would
have been exterminated as were
Sodom and Gomorrah (vv. 1-9).
Apostate Israel has still the
form of godliness, but it is
simply an empty formality which
is a stench in the Lord's
nostrils (vv. 10-15). Then
follows a promise of pardon (vv.
16-23), and a promise of
restoration through judgment
(vv. 24-31).
Chapters 2-4 contain three
pictures of Zion:
(1) Her exaltation in the last
days (2:1-4), after the ushering
in of the millennial kingdom.
(2) Her present condition of
ungodliness, pride and idolatry
(2:5 to 4:1).
(3) Her
purification by the fires of
judgment in the last days
(4:2-6).
Isaiah continues his
denunciation of the sins of
Judah and Israel (Ch. 5). The
following is a brief summary of
chapter 5:
1. In the Parable of the
Vineyard is shown Israel's
punishment for their failure to
fulfill the responsibilities
that their blessings and
peculiar privileges have laid
upon them (5:1-7; compare Matt.
21:23-46).
2. Six woes are pronounced
against the nation (5:8-24);
against the avaricious rich (vv.
8, 9), against lovers of
pleasure (vv. 11, 12), against
skeptics (vv. 18, 19), against
preachers of false doctrine (v.
20), against the self-righteous
(v. 21), against unjust judges
(vv. 22, 23).
3. Judgment against the nation
is prophesied, in the form of
foreign invasion (5:25-30).
Chapter 6 contains the account
of Isaiah's call to the
ministry.
Notice:
1. The vision - the glory of
CHRIST (compare John 12:41).
2. The effect of the vision -
the prophet's consciousness of
his own sinfulness (v. 5).
3. His cleansing and his call
(vv. 6-8).
4. His message - the judicial
blinding of Israel for their
willful rejection of the light
(vv. 9, 10; compare Matt. 13:14,
15; John 12:39, 40; Acts
28:25-28).
5. His cry "How long?" (v. 11,
i.e., how long Israel's
blindness would last). The
general import of the answer in
verses 12, 13 is that this
condition will last until there
has been a long captivity and
exile and a return of a faithful
remnant. (See also Matt. 23:39;
Luke 21:24; Rom. 11:25).
Chapters 7:1 to 9:7 contain a
warning to the king of Judah
against forming an alliance with
the king of Assyria. The kings
of Israel (of the ten tribes)
and of Syria had united to
invade Judah (7:1) and were
planning to place a strange king
on the throne of David.
Ahaz, fearing for the safety of
Judah and for the continuance of
the throne of David was
preparing to make an alliance
with the king of Assyria (II
Kings, Ch. 16). It was at this
point that Isaiah was sent to
Ahaz to reassure him and to
exhort him to trust in the Lord
instead of in the king of
Assyria, for the plans of his
enemies would be frustrated
(7:1-9).
Ahaz fears that the line of
David will cease if his enemies
succeed in capturing Jerusalem
(7:6). Therefore the Lord
Himself gives him a sign that
the house of David will endure
forever. This sign is the birth
of a child from a virgin (7:14;
compare Matt. 1:21), a child who
shall be a light to those
Israelites sitting in darkness
(9:1,2), and who shall reign
over the house of David forever
(9:6, 7).
Chapters 9:8 to 10:4 contain an
account of the calamities which
the Lord had sent upon the ten
tribes, but which have gone
unheeded. These calamities were:
foreign invasion (9:8-17),
anarchy (9:18-21), and impending
captivity (10:1-4 ).
Chapter 10:5-34 sets forth the
Assyrian nation as the
instrument of GOD's judgment
upon Judah. The nation upon whom
Judah once relied for help (Ahaz
sought alliance with
Tiglath-Pileser, king of
Assyria) has now become a
scourge against them. Though the
Lord has commissioned the
Assyrian nation to chastise
Israel, yet He will judge the
former for their pride and
arrogance against the One who
had used them (10:5-19). Israel
will then learn not to put their
trust in idolatrous nations (v.
20). However severe Israel's
chastisements may be in any age,
GOD in His mercy will always
leave a remnant who will form
the kernel of a new nation
(vv.20-23). The Jews are not to
fear the king of Assyria, who
will march upon Jerusalem, for
the Lord will destroy him in a
supernatural way (10:24-34;
compare II Kings, Chs. 18, 19).
As the prophet predicts the
Lord's deliverance of Israel
from the Assyrian, his
perspective reaches over to the
end-time when Israel will be
delivered from the anti-type of
the Assyrian -the Antichrist,
and when the Messiah, the Son of
Jesse, will establish all Israel
in their land, and usher in the
millennial kingdom (Chs. 11,
12).
II. Prophecies of Judgments on
the Nations (Chs. 13 to 23)
The events prophesied concerning
the nations in chapters 13 to 23
were fulfilled in a few
generations after their
prediction. While these
prophecies found a near
fulfillment by Israel's return
from captivity it should be
remembered that many of them
have a future fulfillment in the
last days.
The end of prophetic perspective
was the millennium, the age
bringing Israel's final
restoration and subsequent
exaltation. In comforting and
exhorting the nation, the
prophets generally pointed to
that far-off event, for, short
of this, they could promise no
permanent blessing for the
nation.
With this thought in mind of
Israel's final restoration, the
prophet, by the inspiration of
the Spirit, predicted the future
in the light of the present;
i.e., he made present and
imminent occurrences a type of
future and remote events.
For example: when prophesying a
soon-coming national
tribulation, and restoration he
would usually look beyond these
events into the future and
foretell Israel's final
tribulation and final
restoration in the last days.
The principle which we have just
mentioned is known as the "law
of double reference," and is
found operative in all prophecy
in general.
The following are the nations
mentioned in this section:
1. Babylon (13:1 to 14:27). The
destruction of the Babylonian
Empire by the Medes and Persians
is foretold. This event, to the
prophet is a foreshadowing of
the destruction of the empire of
Antichrist together with its
emperor and his inspirer, Satan
(14:9-17). This to be followed
by
Israel's restoration (14:1-6).
2. Philistia (14:28-32). The
Philistines are warned not to
rejoice over Israel's invasion
by the Assyrians, for such will
be their fate also. Verse 32
looks forward to Israel's future
restoration.
3. Moab (Chs. 15, 16). The
destruction of Moab by the
Assyrians is predicted within
three years from the time of the
utterance of the prophecy. Note
reference to last days in 16:5.
4. Damascus, i.e., Syria (Ch.
17). In addressing to Syria a
warning of coming judgment, the
prophet mentions also her ally,
Ephraim (the ten northern
tribes) . For Israel there
gleams a ray of hope of
restoration in the last days
(vv. 6, 7, 13).
5. Ethiopia (Ch. 18). This
chapter describes Ethiopia as in
great excitement, sending
ambassadors hither and thither,
seeking help against the
expected Assyrian invader.
Isaiah tells these ambassadors
to return and quietly watch the
Lord bring to nought the attempt
of the Assyrians to conquer
Judah.
6. Egypt (Chs. 19, 20). Here are
prophesied the judgments of the
Lord upon Egypt-civil war,
subjugation beneath an
oppressor's yoke and national
decadence. Looking forward to
the millennial days, the prophet
sees Egypt restored, and
together with Assyria, forming
an alliance with Israel
(19:18-25).
7. "The wilderness of the sea,"
i.e., Babylon (21:1-10). Another
prophecy of Babylon's
subjugation by the Medes and
Persians.
8. Dumah, i.e., Edom (21:11,
12). Edom is seen in great
anxiety making inquiry
concerning the future. The
answer is disappointing but
sympathetic.
9. "The valley of vision," i.e.,
Jerusalem (Ch. 22). The prophet
pauses in his denunciations of
the heathen nations to utter a
warning against the inhabitants
of Jerusalem, who were indulging
themselves in luxury and
merry-making while the enemy was
standing at their door.
10. Tyre (Ch. 23). Isaiah
predicts that Tyre shall be laid
waste, her commercial glory
humbled, her colonies become
independent of her, and she
herself forgotten seventy years.
However there is a promise of
her restoration.
III. Prophecies of World
Judgments Ending in Israel's
Redemption (Chapters 24 to 27)
In chapter 24 the prophet
announces a general judgment of
the land of Palestine and of the
kings and nations of the earth,
this is to be followed by
Israel's restoration.
Chapter 25 records the song that
Israel will sing after their
restoration, a song celebrating
the Lord's might in destroying
the cities of their enemies and
His faithfulness in defending
Jerusalem.
the Lord will make a feast to
all nations in Mount Zion will
remove the covering of spiritual
blindness from their eyes, will
abolish death, and wipe away all
tears. All His enemies of whom
Moab is typical and
representative, will be
destroyed.
Chapter 26:1-19 records Israel's
song of praise and testimony
after their restoration to
Palestine.
the Lord calls upon the faithful
remnant of Israel to hide in the
shelter which He has prepared
for them to shield them from the
great tribulation (26:20 to
27:1). After the tribulation the
true vineyard of the Lord will
be protected against the briars
and thorns of foreign invasion
(27:2-6). Israel's chastisements
have been light compared to
those of the other nations (vv.
7-11). After their chastisement
they will be regathered (vv.
12-13).
IV. Prophecies of Judgment and
Mercy (Chs. 28-35).
The above-named chapters contain
a series of woes against
Samaria, Jerusalem and Edom,
interspersed and ending with
comforting promises of Israel's
restoration and blessing.
1. Woe to the proud, scoffing,
spiritual and civil drunken
leaders of Samaria and Jerusalem
(Ch.28).
2. Woe to Jerusalem, for the
formality and insincerity of her
worship (Ch. 29:1-14).
3. Woe to those who attempt to
make plans in secret, thinking
to hide them from GOD
(29:15-24).
4. Woe to those who go to Egypt
for help, instead of trusting
the Lord (Chs. 30, 31).
5. At this point the prophet
introduces a picture of the
millennial kingdom, where
justice shall prevail,
administered by the Lord's
righteous King the Messiah (Ch.
32).
6. Woe to the Assyrians for
their treacherous dealing with
Gou's people (Ch. 33).
7. Woe to Edom, Israel's
implacable foe, and a type of
their enemies of the last days
(Ch. 34).
8. Israel's glorious restoration
to the Holy Land (Ch. 35).
SECTION II. HISTORICAL
V. The Invasion and Deliverance
of Judah (Chs. 36 to 39).
This section forms an appendix
to chapters 1 to 36 in that it
records the fulfillment of the
predictions concerning the
invasion of Judah by the
Assyrians and her deliverance by
the Lord (Chs. 8; 10:5-34;
31:5-9).
This same section serves as an
introduction to chapters 40 to
66 in that it records the
prophecy of the Babylonian
captivity (39:5-8), thus
preparing the way for the
promises of restoration.
We may sum up the contents of
this section as follows:
1. Sennacherib's invasion (Ch.
36).
2. Hezekiah's prayer and the
Lord's answer (Ch.37).
3. Hezekiah's sickness and
recovery (Ch. 38).
4. Hezekiah's folly (Ch. 39).
SECTION III: CONSOLATORY
VI. Deliverance from Captivity
through Cyrus (Chs. 40 to 48).
The above section predicts
Israel's deliverance from
Babylon by Cyrus, the king of
the Persians, who overthrew the
Babylonian empire (See also Ezra
1:4). The main thought running
through these chapters is: The
greatness of the Lord in
contrast with the gods of the
nations. The following is a
brief summary of their contents:
1. Chapter 40 is the key chapter
of this section. The prophet is
exhorted to comfort Israel in
view of the coming Deliverer
(vv. 1-11), the Lord's greatness
(vv. 12-26), and of His power to
give strength to the weary (vv.
13-31).
2. The central thought of
chapter 41 is: the Lord's power
shown by His ability to predict
future events (See vv. 1-4, 22,
23).
3. The Lord has predicted
Israel's temporal deliverance
through Cyrus. Now in Chapters
42:1 to 43:13 He promises
spiritual deliverances through
His Servant, the Messiah.
4. This spiritual deliverance is
to be effected by the blotting
out of Israel's sins by the
grace of GOD. This is the
message of chapters 43:14 to
44:23.
5. In chapters 44:24 to 45:25 we
are given a description of the
mission of Israel's deliverer
-Cyrus, king of the Persians,
who is here a type of the
Messiah. It should be noted that
Cyrus was surnamed and
commissioned by the Lord 150
years before his birth (45:1-4).
6. Chapters 46, 47 describe
GOD's judgments on Babylon,
Israel's captor and oppressor.
7. The argument of chapter 48 is
as follows:
Since the Lord, one hundred and
fifty years before, had
predicted the restoration of
Israel from Babylon through a
heathen prince, the exiles could
not claim that it was the power
of idols that caused Cyrus to
liberate them.
VII. Redemption through
Suffering and Sacrifice (Chs. 49
to 57).
The above-named chapters
describe the Author of Israel's
spiritual redemption - the
Servant of the Lord.
The main theme is: redemption
through suffering. The following
is a brief summary of the
chapters:
1. The ministry of Messiah, the
Servant of the Lord (Ch. 49).
2. The humiliation of the
Messiah by rebellious Israel
(Ch. 50).
3. Encouragement to the faithful
remnant of Israel to trust in
GOD both for deliverance from
their long Babylonian exile and
from their present dispersion
(Chs. 51:1 to 52:12).
4. The rejection, humiliation,
death, resurrection and
exaltation of the Messiah (Chs.
52:13 to 53:12).
5. Israel's repentance for their
rejection of the Messiah to be
followed by their restoration
(Ch. 54).
6. The result of Israel's
restoration - the call of all
nations to faith in the Messiah
(Chs. 55, 56).
7. Comforting promises to the
faithful remnant in Israel, and
denunciations of the wicked of
the nation (Ch. 57).
VIII. The Future Glory of the
People of GOD (Chs. 58 to 66).
The prevailing thought of the
above division is: the
establishing of GOD's universal
kingdom and its triumph over
every form of evil. The
following is a brief summary of
its contents:
1. An exhortation to practical
religion as opposed to mere
formality (Ch. 58).
2. An exhortation to Israel to
forsake their sins which have
separated between them and GOD
(59:1-15). Seeing the
helplessness of Israel in their
iniquity and the inability of
any of their leaders to help
them, GOD Himself, in the person
of the Messiah, comes to rescue
them from their sins and from
their enemies, after which He
makes an everlasting covenant
with them and puts His Spirit
within them (59:16-21).
3. Then follows a picture of
Israel's glory after their
affliction (Ch. 60).
4. Chapter 61 sets forth the
twofold commission of the
Messiah to bring Gospel mercy at
His first coming and judgment on
unbelievers and comfort to Zion
at His second coming.
5. The appointing of
intercessory prayers for Zion's
restoration (Ch. 62).
6. Chapter 63:1-6 stands by
itself. It gives us a vivid
picture of the Messiah as the
Avenger of His people at His
second coming.
7. Chapters 63:7 to 64:12 record
the intercessory prayers of the
faithful Jewish remnant. They
remind the Lord of His mercy and
grace to their nation in the
past, and plead for that same
mercy and grace in the
forgiveness of their sins and in
the restoration of their land.
8. In His answer to the prayer
of His people (Chs. 65:1-16),
the Lord justifies His dealings
in relation to His people.
Because of Israel's apostasy He
has cast them off and turned to
a people that did not seek Him
neither were called by His name
- the Gentiles. In Israel, the
Lord distinguished two classes:
His own servants and the
apostates. Only the former will
be delivered while the latter
will perish.
9. Isaiah closes his prophecy
with a glorious prophecy of the
coming of the millennial kingdom
(65:17 to 66:24). People will
grow old like the patriarchs;
they will enjoy the possession
of houses and vineyards
(65:17-24). Even the nature of
ferocious beasts will be changed
(65:25).
Religion will become spiritual
and universal and mystic cults
will disappear and their
adherents will be punished
(66:1-5). Zion's population will
be marvelously increased and the
people will rejoice (66:6-14).
After judging those nations that
have gathered themselves against
Jerusalem (vv. 15-18), the Lord
will send His servants to preach
the glad tidings to them (v.
19). Those who once persecuted
Israel will transport them to
Palestine (v. 20), and from
among those who were once
enemies of the true religion,
the Lord will choose ministers
to serve before Him (v. 21), as
representatives of a worship
which will be universal (vv.
22-24).