Immerse: Prophets - Flipbook - Page 67
IMMERSED IN ISAIAH
T H E P R O P H E T I S A I A H was a contemporary of Micah, but his book contains twelve times as much material. It addresses many other nations
besides Judah—the entire creation, in fact—and also a variety of significant periods in Israel’s covenant history, even beyond the prophet’s
lifetime.
While Isaiah is a long book to read, it is foundational for seeing how
God’s relationship with humanity moves forward from the earlier covenants to the new covenant introduced by Jesus. New Testament writers quote from Isaiah more often than any other book except Psalms.
The collection of Isaiah’s oracles has eight major parts:
The first part (pp. 57-78) is set during a significant crisis in Judah’s
history. Israel and Syria (also known as Aram) have invaded Judah, and
they intend to replace King Ahaz with a puppet king of their own. The
Lord uses this occasion to file a covenant lawsuit against the people
of Judah for the same injustice and insincere worship that doomed the
northern kingdom of Israel. In the midst of the disaster, Isaiah foresees
the birth of a godly king who will establish justice and bring peace to
the land. While these oracles initially envision King Hezekiah, they also
point to the long-term story of the coming Messiah.
The oracles in the second part of the book (pp. 78-95) address other
nations and speak to future developments: the coming campaigns of
the Assyrians, the rise of Babylon, the conquest of Judah, and the exile
and return of God’s people.
In both the third (pp. 95-101) and fifth (pp. 114-116) parts, the perspective expands beyond individual nations. And in these sections, as is
so often done in the prophets, Isaiah first describes ruin but then turns
to restoration. This vision ultimately merges with the anticipated return
of the Judean exiles and reveals the connection between the rescue of
God’s people and the renewal of God’s good world:
Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days.
The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses.
Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers
and singing and joy! . . .
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