The Book of Isaiah
Introduction:
“This book is called, in the New Testament, sometimes “the Book of the Words of the Prophet Esaias,” Luke 3:4, sometimes only the “Prophet Esaias,” Acts 8:28, 30, and sometimes, as here, the “Book of the Prophet Esaias,” Luke 4:17.
It stands first of all the prophets; though the order of the prophets, according to the Jews, is, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah, and the twelve. But it is here placed first, not because Isaiah prophesied before the other prophets; for Joel, Jonah, Hosea, and Amos, begun before him, namely, in or before the days of Jeroboam the Second; but because of the excellency of the matter contained in it.
It is that no one writes so fully and clearly of the person, offices, grace, and kingdom of Christ; of his incarnation and birth of a virgin; of his sufferings and death, and the glory that should follow, as he does. John, the forerunner of Christ, began his ministry with a passage out of him concerning himself, Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4; John 1:23.
Our Lord preached his first sermon at Nazareth out of this book, Luke 4:17-21 and it was in this the eunuch was reading when Philip came up to him, who from the same Scripture preached to him Christ, Acts 8:28-35. — John Gill’s Expositor.
The Prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, (not Amos,) was one of the most distinguished of the Hebrew prophets. He began to prophesy at Jerusalem towards the close of the reign of Uzziah, about the year 759 B. C., and exercised the prophetical office some sixty years, under the three following monarchs, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, Isaiah 1:1.
His Call and Anointing: Isaiah 6:1-8.
His Family: Isaiah 7:3; Isaiah 8:3-4.
Isaiah is generally regarded as the Greatest of the Old Testament Prophets:
1) Because he is preeminently the Prophet of Redemption.
2) Many of the passages in his book are among the finest in literature. Some modern scholars have studied this poetical prophecy as a botanist studies flowers, dissecting and analyzing them. By the use of this scientific method the beauty and unity of the book, like that of the rose, is almost forgotten as the different parts are pulled to pieces for examination.
A Brief Summary of the Book:
Section 1: Refers chiefly to events leading up to the Captivity, Isaiah 1:1–39:8.
1) Exhortations and warnings of Divine Judgments mingled with predictions of better days and the coming of the Messiah, Isaiah 1:1-12:6.
2) Prophecies respecting surrounding nations, -Assyria, Babylonia, Moab, Egypt, Philistia, Syria, Edom, and Tyre, etc., Isaiah 13:1–23:18.
3) Writings concerning the sins and misery of the people, promises of salvation, a song of Confidence in God, and his care over his vineyard, Isaiah 24:1-27:13.
4) Chiefly woes pronounced upon Ephraim (name often used for the northern kingdom of Israel, Isaiah 11:13; Jeremiah 31:6; 50:19.) and Jerusalem (southern Kingdom of Judah and Benjamin), especially for trusting in foreign alliances, Isaiah 28:1-31:9.
5) Promises of a Righteous King, and the outpouring of the Spirit, the exaltation of the Righteous, and the turning of the wilderness into a Garden of the Lord, Isaiah 32:1-35:10.
6) Hezekiah’s deliverance from the Assyrians, and the lengthening of his life, Isaiah 36:1-39:8.
Section 2:
The second part of the book contains Predictions, Warnings, and Promises which refer to events beyond the Captivity, and reach on down the centuries through the Christian Dispensation. This portion of the prophecy is especially rich in Messianic references.
Key Word: “Salvation.” “Isaiah” means, “Salvation of Jehovah.”
Salvation:
1) Wells of, Isaiah 12:3.
2) Joy of, Isaiah 25:9.
3) Walls of, Isaiah 26:1.
4) Everlasting, Isaiah 45:17.
5) Day of, Isaiah 49:8.
6) Feet of the heralds of, Isaiah 52:7.
7) Spread of, Isaiah 52:10.
8) Arm of, Isaiah 59:16.
9) Helmet of, Isaiah 59:17.
10) Garments of, Isaiah 61:10.
11) Light of, Isaiah 62:1.
Seven Everlasting things Mentioned:
1) Strength, Isaiah 26:4.
2) Judgments, Isaiah 33:14.
3) Joy, Isaiah 35:10.
4) Salvation, Isaiah 45:17.
5) Kindness, Isaiah 54:8.
6) Covenant, Isaiah 55:3.
7) Light, Isaiah 60:19.