The Book of Isaiah

Isaiah began his ministry in the year of King Uzziah’s death (about 740 BC). He continued as a prophet in Jerusalem during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah.

According to tradition Isaiah was martyred by being sawed in half under the wicked son Manasseh, son of Hezekiah, who reigned between 685-642 BC.

The vision, which was seen by spiritual perception by Isaiah, in the year of Uzziah death (about 740BC) when his ministry commenced, began with these words. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the Lord has spoken I have fed and brought up sons and have made them great and exalted them. But they have rebelled and broken away from Me. The ox has instinct enough to know his owner, and the donkey his master’s bed, but Israel does not know or recognise Me as Lord. My people do not want to consider or understand.

They had become a sinful nation. A people laden with immoral and unjust behaviour. An offspring of evildoers and sons who dealt corruptly! They had forsaken their belief in the Lord, despised, shown contempt and provoked the Lord to anger by becoming so estranged a nation of people.  

The Lord in his grace and mercy and as angry as He was, said through Isaiah. Why should you be stricken and punished any more since it brings no correction. Your whole heart is sick and your body is feeble.  And as they had not bothered to seek Him as a whole nation their country lies desolate, their cities were burning and strangers are devouring your land in your very presence. Jerusalem is left desolate like a deserted booth in a vineyard and like a besieged city (spared, but in the midst of desolation).

Isaiah continues to express how the Lord goes on to say. ‘What is the use of the multitude of sacrifices to Me unless they come from the heart. Also, He had had enough of the burnt offerings of rams and those fat fed beast without obedience: He no longer delighted in the blood of bulls. Lambs or goats without righteousness. He asked that they bring no more offerings of incense as it has become an abomination to Me.

In Isaiah 1:14 The Lord expresses how He hates their New Moon festivals and hypocritically appointed feasts. They are an oppressive burden to Me, and I am weary of bearing them. And in 1:15 The Lord says He will hide His eyes from your prayers even though you make many. I will not hear them as your hands are full of blood!

Furthermore, Isaiah implores the people to listen to the Lord as He asks His people to ‘Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean, do not commit evil in front of My eyes (Cease to do evil)’

In Isaiah 1:17 we begin to see how much more the Lord is yearning for His people to do right. He asks them to seek justice for the oppressed and to correct the oppressor. He mentions to defend the fatherless and plead for the widows.

The love of our Father in Heaven stretches wide and although their sins were filled with blood, He expresses using His beautiful compassion, mercy and grace, and asks the people to reason together with Him. This love is resplendent of a Godly Father who requires that His children become obedient in order that they shall eat the good of the land.

It is not until chapter 9:1 that we see, during judgement, a promise shining through, and a certainty about deliverance. In the former time The Lord bought into contempt the land of Zebulun and Naphtali but soon He will make it glorious, of, the Sea of Galilee, the land beyond the Jordan. Galilee of the nations.

9:2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light; those who have dealt in the land of intense darkness and the shadow of death, upon them has the Light shined.

Isaiah 9:3-5 Here we see God multiplying the nation of Israel, bringing immense joy like a harvest, and shattering the darkness of their enemies culminating in the destruction of all war garments and boots as fuel for fire. This moment in time symbolizes the end of conflict and the return of peace and prosperity under God's coming Messiah.

Isaiah 9:6 is especially beautiful as it poetically calls into being the coming messiah with these endearing words: For unto us a Child is born, to us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 9:7 Of the increase of His government and of the peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from the time forth even forever-more. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this.  It is His fierce dedication and protection for His covenant and people.

Isaiah 11:1-10 mentions the Messiah’s righteous rule as a shoot from the stump of Jesse who was David’s father.  

From this time forward until Chapter 33 we see the hand of correction by the Lord. The blessings and grace bestowed. The disciplining of the Israelite peoples as a whole nation whose rebelliousness refused to heed to His word. The prior foretelling of Jesus arrival as a saviour through Isaiah’s words. We start to see how the people are crying out asking the Lord to be gracious to them. They are starting to realise, the Lord is exalted, for He is dwelling on high: He will fill His Zion with moral, spiritual, and correct speech and attitude and there shall be stability. An abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge: and the reverential fear and worship of the Lord. This shall be their treasure, and His also.

In Isaiah 40:3 there are key passages referring to Jesus coming. There is a voice coming in the wilderness who will continue to foretell and prepare the way of the Lord Jesus in the desert. The New Testament writing refer to him as John the Baptist.

Isaiah 44:22: The Lord allows His grace to flow through and says "I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you".

Isaiah Chapter 48 God speaks to Israel, revealing Himself as the eternal, unchanging Creator and Redeemer, His consistent teaching, promises refinement through suffering and ultimate redemption for His own name's sake, culminating in a call for His people to flee Babylon and declare His glory as the one who leads and redeems them. In Isaiah 48:16 we read how Jesus himself asks them to come near and listen to this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning: from the time that it happened. I was there. And now the Lord God has sent His Spirit in and with me. Thus says the Lord, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit. Who leads you in the way that you should go.

Isaiah 48:18 begins with this: Oh that you had listened to My commandments! Then your peace and prosperity would have been like a flowing river, and your holiness and purity of the nation like abundant waves of the sea. Your offspring would have been like the sand, and your descendants like the offspring of the sea. Your name would not be cut off or destroyed from before me. Go out of Babylon, fleeing from the Chaldeans! With a voice of worship declare, tell this, cause it to go forth even to the end of the earth. The Lord has redeemed His servant, Jacob. When He led them through the desert, they were not thirsty as He split the rock for them, to drink from the gushing waters.

If we look at Isaiah 49, we again see the grace and compassion of the Lord towards his people as Jesus himself speaks asking all to listen saying  The Lord has called me from the womb: from the body of my mother He has named my name. And He has made my mouth a sword: in the shadow of His hand, I am hidden and made me the arrow and in the quiver. He has kept and concealed me. And the Lord said to me, You, are my servant in whom I will be glorified.

Isaiah 49 also refers to the period of the Babylonian Exile which occurred around 597-538BC. Fulfilled by Cyrus the Greats Decree is specifically the promise of restoration and return from exile for the Judeans and even though the Prophet Isaiah lived between 740 to 680 BC He forswore this future event through divine inspiration. This chapter offers comfort, a promise of Gods enduring love and a divinely orchestrated return, with other nations assisting in bringing Israel back home. Cyrus the Great's decree, famously recorded in the Book of Ezra.

So, what are the lessons we learn from all that transpired in Isaiah’s timeline and ministry on Earth, to proclaim the coming of the Messiah and the redemption of the Israelite peoples.

Firstly, we must not harden our hearts to the Lord and His way. We must open our hearts, and see that all things work together for the good of the Father firstly then for our good. We have been placed here, as the children of the Most High, and to enjoy all the fruits of His labour for us. To live in harmony with him as His children and to live happily beside our neighbours.

When things, seem to be going sideways and we need a little help. It is best to rise and praise the Lord for all He has done for us. We must come boldly before the throne of the Lord asking for His grace and blessings, to receive what it is He has for us. Then to lay our thoughts at Jesus feet and wait for a reply. It may not arrive immediately in the way you were asking, but you will receive an answer.

Thank you for reading this right to the end!

Christine Stephanie Mammarella

Country Grace Australia

Key reference:

Old and New Testament: The Book Of Isaiah.

Learn more about Country Grace Australia: here

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