By Mary Fairchild
1581 Bunting Clover Leaf Map; Israel in the center.
ISAIAH, THE PROPHET OF GOD—When Isaiah was born, Assyria was the dominant world power. Under Jehu, Israel began paying tribute to Assyria, and, when Isaiah was a young man, the Assyrians took many northern Israelites captive. Twelve years later (722 B.C.) Samaria fell, and the nation of Israel came under Assyrian domination. Then the Assyrians attacked Judah, destroying 46 walled cities and taking 200,000 captives from Judah. It was through Isaiah’s prayer and advice to King Hezekiah, and by God’s direct miraculous intervention that the powerful Assyrian army was stopped at the walls of Jerusalem. This spectacular deliverance from Sennacherib’s army occurred about 689 B.C. (Isa. 36:2—37:37). One hundred years later, Judah was conquered and taken captive to Babylon. Though Isaiah had prophesied this judgment, he did not live to see it.
A TRUE PROPHET OF GOD—Before the Scriptures were completed, God chose to reveal future events through men called prophets; Isaiah was one of those prophets. A true prophet of God must pass three tests:
1. His prophecy must always come to pass. One hundred percent accuracy is the standard for the true prophet of God (Deut.18:20-22).
2. His message must always correspond with the Scriptures. Moses told the children of Israel that any prophet whose message contradicted the written record must be rejected.
3. His life style must correspond with his message. “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them”
(Matt. 7:20).
THE BOOK OF ISAIAH—The book of Isaiah is the longest of the five major prophetic books in the Bible (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Revelation). The Lord gave Isaiah detailed information about the Lord Jesus Christ: His birth, His suffering, His death, and His future reign. Isaiah testifies years before to the “sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:11). Isaiah tells us more about the atoning work of Christ and how to be saved than any other Old Testament book. The words of Handel’s “Messiah” come directly from the book of Isaiah. During His earthly ministry, Jesus cited the prophecy of Isaiah 61:1-2 as inspired Scripture and written by Isaiah.
THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS—In the 1950s when the newly discovered Dead Sea Scrolls were examined, the book of Isaiah (written over 2,000 years ago) was essentially identical to the book of Isaiah in our Bible. Isaiah lived and prophesied in and around Jerusalem. His words were to correct and to comfort Judah, and he also prophesied about surrounding nations and those that tormented Judah. His outlook was worldwide and included the whole purpose of God as he saw the intent of God to bless the whole world through His chosen people, but he also saw that the blessings could not come until the sins of God’s chosen nation were judged.
THE ISAIAH SCROLL—One of the Dead Sea Scrolls was identified as the BOOK OF ISIAH. It was written 2,000 years ago, and is 1,000 years older than any known manuscript of any Hebrew Old Testament book—an amazing discovery. It is a roll, written on parchment, about 24 feet long, made up of sheets about 10 by 15 inches, sewed together, in script of ancient Hebrew, with evidence that it was made in second century B.C. This, and the other scrolls, had originally been carefully sealed in earthenware jars. Evidently, they were part of a Jewish library which had been hidden in this isolated cave in time of danger, perhaps of the Roman conquest of Judea.
JUDGMENT LEADS TO PEACE WHICH ALWAYS FOLLOWS RIGHTEOUSNESS—The book of Isaiah emphasizes two states of a nation (or an individual): judgment and peace. Isaiah shows how judgment leads to peace. Then, as he deals with peace, he shows how it always follows righteousness. Between these two purposeful messages is a historical section.
CHAPTERS 11-12: describe the glorious reign of Jesus Christ (the Branch—a descendant of
David) in knowledge and power over both Jews and Gentiles.CHAPTERS 40-41: wonderful words of comfort from our great God.CHAPTER 45: God is the only hope for Israel and for us.
CHAPTER 53: Jesus Christ suffered for us. (This chapter is referred to 85 times in the New Testament.)
CHAPTER 55: God invites all to be saved.
CHAPTER 57:20-21: The wicked are in continual torment.
CHAPTER 64:6-8: Isaiah describes what we are and what we can be if we are moldable in the hands of the Lord.
CHAPTER 65:17-25: When God has stopped the clock of time and has destroyed the earth by fire, He will create a new heaven and a new earth where the redeemed will live with Him forever (2 Pet.
3:7; Rev. 21:1).
WORKS CITED
- Revelation and Church History
- Church Age
- Old Testament Study
- KING JAMES BIBLE
- MATTHEW HENRY COMMENTARY
- A Beka Book High School Bible Series “United Kingdom: Kings of Israel A;” 1995 Pensacola Christian College; www.abeka.com