The Book of Isaiah begins a major section of the Old Testament called “The Prophets.” There are four so-called “Major Prophets” followed by another twelve “Minor Prophets.” The primary difference between “major” and “minor” is simply the length of their writings which was a product of the number of years that they prophesied.   

As I mentioned in my opening email, when most people think of “prophets,” their minds usually begin thinking about the prophecies of future events that were foretold by the prophets. Although all of the prophets did that to varying degrees, the main focus of all of the prophets was upon “forthtelling” the Word of God rather than “foretelling” the future. God raised up the prophets to proclaim His desire for the people to repent of their sins and turn back to God. Along with that, came promises of blessings if they did so and certain calamity if they failed to heed the message of the prophets to repent and turn to God.

Isaiah’s prophetic ministry lasted for about sixty years (from about 740 – 680 BC), and spanned the reign of four different Kings of Judah. Others have noted that the Book is like a “miniature Bible,” with the first 39 chapters (there are 39 chapters in the Old Testament) pronouncing judgment upon Israel and surrounding nations for their sins, and the next 27 chapters (there are 27 chapters in the New Testament) declaring a message of hope as the nation looked forward to the coming Messiah and Savior who would suffer crucifixion and bear our sins.

As a friend and trusted counselor for many, Isaiah warned each of the kings not to trust alliances with other nations but to place their trust in the  LORD. He was a contemporary of two other prophets whom we will meet later (Micah and Hosea), and brought God’s Word to the Northern Kingdom (Israel) during her last years before being conquered by the Assyrians in 722 BC; and then warned the Southern Kingdom (Judah) not to follow in the footsteps of her sister to the north. He prophesied that without repentance, their demise would not come from Assyria, but from another nation that had not yet appeared on the world scene, namely Babylon. And that fall would not come for another 136 years after the fall of Israel, but it would surely come if they did not return to the LORD.

There are so many wonderful and meaningful verses in the Book of Isaiah for us to remember. The first is a prophecy that we often remember during Christmas time as we reflect upon the birth of Jesus,

“For unto us a child will be born; unto us a son will be given; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Is. 9:6).

Prophesying about Jesus’ birth was one thing, but Isaiah also prophesied about Jesus’ death on the cross,

“He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief…Surely our griefs He Himself bore , and our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening of our well-being fell upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Is. 53:3-6).

As the Gospel was being spread around the Roman empire, the Apostle Paul would enter synagogues in city after city, arguing with the Jews that Jesus was indeed their long-expected Messiah. The Jews needed proof from the Old Testament, and Paul would usually turn to this passage in Isaiah 53, offering proof of the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy as he proclaimed Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins and subsequent resurrection from the dead. As Paul “argued” (like an attorney) the proof that Jesus was indeed the Messiah prophesied by Isaiah, I’m pretty sure that Paul quoted again from the Book of Isaiah, pleading with them to apply reason to his argument, saying,

“Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD, though your sins be as scarlet, they will be as white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they will be like wool” (Is. 1:18).

 I know that the Apostle Paul would also encourage us to do the same. Let’s look at the Good News as a “reasonable” message of salvation and hope. And it comes, not through good works or religious ritual, but through repentance and faith in Christ. Sound “unreasonable?” Here is how Isaiah explains God’s plan of salvation as he shares God’s own words,

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts; neither are your ways My ways; For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Is. 55:8-9).

God doesn’t “think” like we do, nor does He “do” things as we would do them. Many would love to “work their way into heaven,” one day proudly standing before God, telling Him of all their accomplishments. But God values humility above all else, and realizes that no amount of good works could atone for our sins. That’s why the way of the cross was God’s way, and it still is if you want to receive the forgiveness of sins. And so, I’d like to close with just one more verse from this amazing Book, and it’s a plea for each of you who have not yet received the forgiveness of sins and new life that Jesus came to give us. Here it is,

“Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his ways, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the LORD, and He will have compassion on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Is. 55:6-7).

Let’s all heed and respond to the words of Isaiah the prophet. His words are still as valid today as they were over two and a half millennia ago! Blessings to all of you.