Categoria: Isaiah

This the final chapter of Isaiah’s prophecy contrasts true worship with empty ritualism and form emphasizing that God is high above all. God says: “Heaven is my throne and earth is my footstool”. But God rejects sacrifices that don’t go hand in hand with obedience and humility. The text then goes on to tell how God brings judgement on the sinful whilst blessing Jerusalem extending peace to her like a river, because as a mother cares for her child so I will care for you in Jerusalem… and the hand of the Lord will be made known to his servants… but his fury will be shown to his foes… and he will rebuke with flames of fire. For there is coming a day of judgement with fire… but the surviving faithful ones will proclaim God’s glory among the nations… and so will your name and descendants endure… and all mankind will come and bow before me. 

Isaiah 65 gives God’s reaction to Israel’s rebellion. It starts: “To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, Here am I, here am I!… I have held out my hands to an obstinate people… a people who continually provoke me… who eat the flesh of pigs… such people are smoke in my nostrils… I will pay back in full… but I will not destroy them all… I will bring forth descendants from Jacob… but as for you who forsake the Lord… I will destine you for the sword.” Thus the rebellious will go hungry but the obedient will eat… my servants will drink but the rebellious will go thirsty… my servants will sing for joy but they will wail. 

Then in the final section of the chapter a perfect future is envisaged with new heavens and a new earth… I will create Jerusalem to be a delight… where there will be no weeping or crying…. with no infant mortality or early adult deaths, with death at a hundred deemed young… as the days of a tree so will be the people… and they will be a people blessed of the Lord… and before they call I will answer… and the wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox!

Isaiah 64 is a glorious prayer asking for God to step in and rescue his people: “Come down to make your name known to your enemies… you come to the help of those who gladly do right… but when we sinned you were angry… yet Lord you are our father. We are the clay and you are the potter. Do not be angry beyond measure, O Lord… because all that we treasured lies in ruins… will you keep silent ad punish us beyond measure?”

Isaiah 63 presents a powerful man who is “mighty to save… striding forward in the greatness of his strength”, who trampled his enemies in the winepress of vengeance… and defeated the nations in his anger. The text then goes on in stark contrast to talk about the kindness of the Lord… with the many good things he has done… according to his compassion… and so he became their saviour… in his love and mercy he redeemed them… despite their rebellions. Then Israel recalls the days of Moses and the Red Sea… dividing the waters. Finally Isaiah prays for God to look down from heaven and return the tribes of his inheritance because God’s enemies have defiled the temple.

Isaiah 62 is a prophecy of hope saying that no longer will Jerusalem be called deserted but will be called by a new name: “Hephzibah” which means ‘my delight is in her’, and the land will be called “Beulah” which means ‘married’, and it says “as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you”. Then God says that he has put watchmen to intercede for the establishment of Jerusalem and for her to be the praise of the earth. God then promises that they will enjoy the fruits of their work and not have things taken away from them by foreigners. Then the Lord proclaims: “Say to the daughter of Zion, see your Saviour comes! And see that his reward is with him… and will be called the redeemed of the Lord!”

Isaiah 61 is a messianic prophecy about preaching good news and freedom “in the year of the Lord’s favour”. This text was applied to himself by Jesus in Luke 4:17-21. The Messiah is anointed by the Spirit to preach good news to the poor and to comfort all who mourn. Then the rebuilding of ancient ruins is predicted renewing ruined cities and you will be called ministers of God enjoying everlasting joy. God then declares his love for justice and promises an everlasting covenant and their descendants will be known among the nations. The chapter concludes rejoicing for being clothed with righteousness, like bride and bridegroom, making righteousness and praise spring up before the nations.

Isaiah 60 is a prophetic message of hope declaring Jerusalem’s dark days over saying that God’s light had come. So it starts: “Arise, shine, for your light has come and the glory of the Lord rises upon you… Nations will come to your light… you will look and be radiant… and the riches of the nations will come… herds of camels will cover your land… and I will adorn my glorious temple… foreigners will rebuild your walls… the glory of Lebanon will come to you… all who despise you will bow at your feet… and will call you the city of the Lord, Zion of the Holy One of Israel… then you will know that I the Lord am your saviour… I will make peace your governor and righteousness your ruler… and the Lord will be your everlasting light… and they will possess the land forever… I am the Lord and I will do this swiftly!”

Isaiah 59 says “surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save… but the problem is your iniquities which have separated you from God… the way of peace they do not know… they are swift to shed innocent blood.” The people then admit that “justice is far from us… like the blind we grope in the dark… we all growl like bears and moan mournfully like doves… for our offences are many… rebellion and treachery against the Lord… turning our backs on God… so truth has stumbled in the streets.” Then the text says that God intervenes because there was no-one to solve the problem so he did it himself… He put on the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation and repaid wrath to his enemies… and the Redeemer will come to Zion for those who repent of their sins…. and God’s spirit and word will be with his people for ever.

Isaiah 57 condemns Israel’s repeated idolatry, pagan practices and spiritual adultery. At the start the premature deaths of righteous people are mentioned as they go unnoticed by the wicked. Then Israel is condemned for spiritual adultery and rebellion, even sacrificing their children in pagan rituals! They have even put pagan signs on their doors. “You have been false to me and not remembered me… when you cry out for help let your collection of idols save you!… but the man who makes me his refuge will inherit the land. Then God declares: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit… peace, peace to those far and near… and I will heal them… but there is no peace for the wicked.”

Isaiah 56 points to a more inclusive message of salvation which includes foreigners and eunuchs and which encourages one and all keep the sabbath. “These I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer… which will be a house of prayer for all nations”. The chapter closes warning against corrupt leaders. These “watchmen” and “shepherds” are condemned for being lazy (“they lie around and dream”) and are selfish (“each seeks his own gain”).

Isaiah 54’s prophetic message holds Israel as a “barren woman” symbolizing the nation after the Babylonian exile. She is told to “burst into song and shout for joy” because things are about to change! For “you will spread out to the right and to the left… and dispossess nations!” God therefore says he is Israel’s “husband” and “redeemer”. He says: “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back.” God then promises not to be angry with Israel again in a similar promise that he made to Noah, and says that even if the mountains shake his unfailing love will not be shaken! God then promises to rebuild Jerusalem using precious stones and he promises that “all your sons will be taught by the Lord.” He then concludes saying that “no weapon forged against you will prevail!

Isaiah 53 is one of the most extraordinary prophetic and messianic texts of the Bible foretelling by about 700 years the amazing vicarious suffering of Christ the Messiah. I remember memorizing this chapter as a boy at Sunday School in London. The Messiah, opposite to what many might have expected, would be “despised and rejected… has no beauty or majesty to attract us to him… one from whom men hide their faces”. The Messiah suffers not for anything he did but for our transgressions… for our iniquities… for the iniquity of us all. However the servant messiah was led to his death like a lamb led to its slaughter, yet he never contested it at all. Yet all was God’s plan to redeem us and the suffering servant was exalted after his sacrificial atonement.

 Isaiah 52 brings a message of hope and restoration exhorting Jerusalem to awake and prepare for release from Babylonian captivity. “Awake, O Zion… free yourself from the chains round your neck, O captive daughter of Zion”! The text then proclaims: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news… of salvation… who say to Zion your God reigns… when the Lord returns to Zion they will see it with their own eyes”. Then the people are told to depart from Babylon purifying themselves from it. And the Lord will go before his people and be their rearguard. Then the chapter concludes presenting the servant of the Lord who would suffer extraordinarily prior to being “raised and lifted up and highly exalted”.

 Isaiah 51 brings a message of comfort to Judah: “The Lord will surely comfort Zion… and make her deserts like Eden… my salvation is on the way… my arm will bring justice to the nations… my salvation will last forever… my righteousness will last through all generations”. Then comes a cry for God to reveal his power like at the Red Sea so that his people enter Zion with singing. God then exhorts people not to fear men because he is the Lord their God and says to Zion “You are my people”. Finally Jerusalem is exhorted to awake from the effects of God’s judgement… and from the goblet of my wrath you will never drink again.

Isaiah 50 shows that Israel’s exile is not due to lack of strength on God’s behalf or of God’s lack of care, but it was due to Israel’s sin. The messianic servant is attentive to God’s teaching: “He wakens me morning by morning wakening my ear to listen like one being taught”. The servant is submissive: “I offered by back to those who beat me… I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting”. However the servant has set his face like flint and feels sure he will not be shamed. “It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me”. The chapter concludes challenging people to trust the Lord even if they walk in darkness, but warns that those who create their own light will be judged.

Isaiah 49 is a triumphant all-embracing servant song prophesying restoration of Israel and the taking of salvation to the gentiles. The servant’s messianic mission was based on preexistent calling “to bring back Jacob to him and gather Israel to himself… I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth… the Holy One of Israel has chosen you.” God promises to restore Israel:  “in the day of salvation I will help you… be free!… I will turn all my mountains into roads… they will come from afar… and shout for joy!” God goes on to assure Israel that he will not forget them… as he has tattooed them on the palm of his hand… and will restore them… and God says he will also beckon to the Gentiles and lift up his banner to the peoples… “then all mankind will know that I, the Lord, am your Saviour, your Redeemer”.

Isaiah 48 rebukes Israel for its stubbornness: “I knew how stubborn you were with sinews of your neck like iron and your forehead of bronze”. Hence God tested Israel in the Babylonian furnace of affliction and “have refined you though not as silver”. God says that he predicted things far ahead of time so that it couldn’t be claimed that idols had brought them to pass! God goes on to say that “for my own name’s sake I delay my wrath… for my own sake I do this… I will not yield my glory to another.. I am the first and the last… I am the Lord God who teaches what is best for you… Leave Babylon, flee from the Babylonians! Announce this with shouts of joy!”

 Isaiah 47 predicts that Babylon will be reduced to dust: “Go down, sit in the dust, virgin daughter of Babylon; sit on the ground without a throne… no more will you be called queen of kingdoms”. The text goes on to say that God had allowed Babylon to castigate Israel to fulfill his will, but they had exaggerated and acted cruelly “and showed no mercy… you have trusted in your wickedness… a catastrophe you cannot foresee will suddenly come upon you”. The text goes on to condemn Babylon’s use of magic spells, sorceries, astrologers and stargazers who will be unable to do anything for them.

Isaiah 46 compares the gods of Babylon, that are carried around everywhere, with the almighty sovereign Lord that “has carried the house of Jacob since their birth”. “Even to your old age and grey hairs I am he who sustains you… I have made you and will carry you”. “To whom will you compare me?… I am God and there is no other… my purpose will stand and I will do all that I please… what I have said I will bring to pass… listen to me you stubborn hearted… my salvation will not be delayed”.

Isaiah 45 is a prophecy concerning God’s choice of Cyrus the Great of Persia to conquer Babylon and release the Jewish exiles. Initially God calls Cyrus “his anointed… to subdue nations before him… so that you may know that I am the Lord… I am the Lord and there is no other”. The text goes on to reaffirm God’s sovereignty who cannot be questioned but does what he wants and chooses who he wants to do his will like Cyrus who will rebuild Jerusalem. God then distinguishes himself from idols as “all the makers of idols will be put to shame… but Israel will be saved by the Lord with an everlasting salvation… by the creator God of which there is no other”. The text then closes calling the nations to God: “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God and there is no other… and before me every knee will bow and by me every tongue will swear”. 

Isaiah 45 is a prophecy concerning God’s choice of Cyrus the Great of Persia to conquer Babylon and release the Jewish exiles. Initially God calls Cyrus “his anointed… to subdue nations before him… so that you may know that I am the Lord… I am the Lord and there is no other”. The text goes on to reaffirm God’s sovereignty who cannot be questioned but does what he wants and chooses who he wants to do his will like Cyrus who will rebuild Jerusalem. God then distinguishes himself from idols as “all the makers of idols will be put to shame… but Israel will be saved by the Lord with an everlasting salvation… by the creator God of which there is no other”. The text then closes calling the nations to God: “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God and there is no other… and before me every knee will bow and by me every tongue will swear”. 

Isaiah 44 is a chapter of comfort and promise. God starts telling Israel not to be afraid because he will “pour water on the thirsty land… and pour out my spirit on your offspring”. Then God declares: “I am the first and I am the last… the incomparable Rock”! God then goes on to ridicule the stupidity of idolatry saying: “All who make idols are nothing… he makes an idol and bows down to it… but they know nothing, understand nothing… and the same wood they use to cook with is what they use to make their god!” The chapter closes with God saying: “I have swept away your offences like a cloud… return to me, for I have redeemed you… burst into song, you mountains… for the Lord has redeemed Jacob… Jerusalem shall be inhabited and the towns of Judah shall be built… let Jerusalem be rebuilt and the temple’s foundations laid”.

 Isaias 43 is a wonderful declaration of God’s redeeming love: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine”. When you pass by waters, rivers and fire I will be with you. God goes on to ridicule powerless idols and refers to the Israelites as “my witnesses”. Then God goes on to promise to deliver his people from Babylon and for this he says “I am making a way in the desert”. Then the Lord says: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” Finally God says: “I am he who blots out your transgressions… and remember your sins no more”. God’s mercy is supreme.

Isaiah 42 brings us the first of 4 ‘servant songs’ presenting us with a chosen and gentle servant Messiah (Jesus) filled with the Holy Spirit. Initially the “chosen” one is presented as a gentle bringer of “justice to the nations”. The servant is to be “a covenant for the people and a light for the gentiles”, opening blind eyes and freeing “captives from prison”. “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols”. The text then calls all to “sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth… give glory to the Lord”. It goes on to address “blind and deaf” Israel because “you have seen many things yet paid no attention; your ears are open, but you hear nothing”.

Isaiah 41 is a chapter of comfort encouraging Israel saying: “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God”. Initially God summons everyone to witness his power through the calling up of a leader from the east (Cyrus the Great?) to deliver his people: “Who has stirred up one from the east, calling him in righteousness to his service?” God then goes on to tell Israel to trust him saying: “I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”. God then encourages “worm Israel, O little Jacob… I will make you into a threshing-sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth”. God goes on to promise water where there is none for the poor and needy. Finally God stresses the futility of useless idolatry incapable of predicting the future or of doing anything! “They are all false! Their deeds amount to nothing”.

Isaiah 40 brings a total shift in emphasis, from now on to the end of the book, focusing on comfort and blessing rather than judgement and difficulties. “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God”, says Isaiah at the start. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem”. (This chapter again reminds me of Handel’s Messiah) “Every valley shall be raised up… the glory of the Lord will be revealed… the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever… the Sovereign Lord comes with power… he tends his flock like a shepherd… the nations are like a drop in a bucket… to whom will you compare God?… He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth… lift your eyes and look to the heavens: who created all these?… do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God… he gives strength to the weary… those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength… they will walk and not faint”!

 Isaiah 39 and 2 Kings 20:12-19 are virtually identical telling the story of Hezekiah receiving envoys from Babylon to whom he unwisely showed off all his treasures in his storehouses. Isaiah rebuked this telling him that one day everything he had showed off would be “carried off to Babylon”! Hezekiah was relieved that this would not occur during his lifetime.

Isaiah 38 has parallels in 2 Kings 20 and 2 Chronicles 32. Some people incorrectly presume that the Book of Isaiah is situated on a timescale after 2 Kings/2 Chronicles owing to its position in the Bible, but this is not the case. The chapter tells the same story seen in Kings/Chronicles of King Hezekiah’s terminal illness with a divine extension of 15 years given in answer to his prayer. This 15 year healing is confirmed by the solar sign: “The sunlight went back the ten steps it had gone”. Hezekiah’s response to his illness and recovery was: “In the prime of my life must I die?… like a weaver I have rolled up my life… my eyes grew weak… I am troubled Lord so please come to my aid… You restored me to health and let me live… for death cannot sing your praise… the living they praise you”.

 Isaiah 36 registers the invasion of Judah by king Sennacherib of Assyria in 701 BC. Sennacherib “attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them”, and his field commander challenges King Hezekiah of Judah questioning his and Jerusalem’s “strategy and military strength” as well as questioning Jerusalem’s dependance on Egyptian support which he ridicules as being like a “splintered reed of a staff” which you certainly can’t lean on! Then the field commander jests that Sennacherib’s army is on a divine mission to defeat Judah and that Judah’s god doesn’t stand a chance! Then in a clear scare mongering tactic the commander speaks loudly in the language of the people banding about the Assyrian threats and humiliation. “Do not let Hezekiah deceive you. He cannot deliver you!… don’t listen to Hezekiah… make peace with me… how can the Lord deliver Jerusalem from my hand?” And Hezekiah’s leaders despaired! 

Isaiah 35 is an extremely joyful chapter of restoration and healing! A barren desert is transformed into a lush productive paradise! “The wilderness will rejoice and blossom… it will burst into bloom… they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendour of our God… strengthen the feeble… be strong and do not fear… the eyes of the blind will be opened and the deaf will hear… water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert… there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness… no lion will be there or any ferocious beast…. but only the redeemed will walk there and the ransomed of the Lord will return and enter Zion with singing!”

Isaiah 31 warns Judah against trusting Egypt’s power as a solution to its defence against Assyria. “Woe to those who go down to Egypt… who trust in their multitude of chariots… Egyptians are men not God!… the Lord will protect Judah like a lion and like hovering birds God will shield Jerusalem… so return to God… because Assyria will fall by the sword… declares the Lord whose fire is in Zion”. 

Isaiah 29 prophecies God’s judgement on Jerusalem which is called “Ariel” which means ‘Lion of God’ – i.e. as the capital of the tribe of Judah. God communicates through Isaiah that Jerusalem/Ariel with be besieged and “brought low, you will speak from the ground”. However God says that he will deliver Judah from this enemy and “your enemies will become like fine dust”. But God goes on to call the Judeans spiritually blind and drunk unable to understand divine revelation because “he has sealed your eyes and covered your heads”. He goes on to say that the people are hypocrites who “come near me with their mouth and honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me”. Then the chapter concludes predicting future restoration when “in that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll… and the eyes of the blind will see… no longer will Jacob be ashamed… and they will keep my name holy”.

Isaiah 27 concludes the Apocalypse section of chapters 24 to 27 pointing to God’s victory over evil represented by the Leviathan: “He will slay the monster of the sea.” Then comes the vineyard, representing Israel, which is “fruitful… I the Lord watch over it… I water it continually… guard it day and night… Israel will bud, blossom and fill all the world with fruit.” However reference is then made to Israel’s suffering for its sin resulting in the removal of their pagan altars: “No Asherah Poles or incense altars will be left standing”. Then Israel will be regathered for worship in Jerusalem: “Those who were perishing in Assyria and those who were exiled in Egypt will come and worship the Lord on the holy mountain.”

Isaiah 25 is a prophetic celebration of God’s victory over death: “He will swallow up death forever and wipe away the tears from all faces”. The chapter starts exalting God for his faithfulness and for God having been a refuge for the poor and needy… a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. It then goes on to foretell a messianic banquet: “A feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine… and God will swallow up death forever.” And those who trust in God will be glad and rejoice in his salvation… “surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us.”

 Isaiah 24 is often described as Isaiah’s apocalypse! For it describes a future devastation of the earth by God: “The Lord is going to lay waste the earth… and the devastation will affect all groups and classes equally… the earth will be totally plundered… a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt… cities lie desolate… terror and pit and snare await you O people of the earth… the earth reels like a drunkard… so heavy is the guilt of its rebellion… in that day the Lord will punish… kings will be herded like prisoners bound in a dungeon.”  

Isaiah 21 has 3 prophetic oracles against Babylon, Edom and Arabia predicting divine judgement upon them which involves their destruction. First of all comes Babylon: “I will bring to an end all the groaning she caused… Babylon has fallen… all the images of their gods lie shattered on the ground… O my people, crushed on the threshing-floor… I tell you what I have heard from the Lord Almighty.” Secondly comes the oracle against Edom: “Watchman, what is left of the night… he replies – Morning is coming but also the night.” Finally comes the oracle concerning Arabia: “They flee from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and from the heat of battle… the survivors will be few… the Lord has spoken.”

This chapter tells how Isaiah lived out a prophetic message by walking around naked for 3 years! This act symbolized that Assyria would lead away stripped the Egyptians and the Cushites and those who put their trust in these nations will be afraid and put to shame. 

Isaiah 19 is an oracle about Egypt which predicts God’s judgement on Egypt through civil strife with Egyptian against Egyptian, brother against brother, neighbour against neighbour, city against city and kingdom against kingdom. Egypt will suffer economic failure with the drying up of the River Nile: “The river bed will be parched and dry…. the canals will stink… the fields along the Nile will be parched… the fishermen will be without work”. Also Egypt’s leaders will be failures: The officials of Zoan have become fools… the Lord has poured into them a spirit of dizziness… in that day the Egyptians will be like women and the land of Judah will bring terror to the Egyptians. But eventually Egypt will turn to the Lord and in that day the Egyptians, Assyrians and Israel will worship together.

This prophecy is against Cush which is south of Egypt in what today is Sudan and Ethiopia. It warns Cush “which sends envoys by sea in papyrus boats” to wait for God’s timing. “Go, swift messengers, to a people tall and smooth-skinned… when a trumpet sounds you will hear it… I will remain quiet and look on… he will cut off the shoots with pruning knives… at that time gifts will be brought to the Lord Almighty from a people feared far and wide.”

 Isaiah 17 is an oracle against Damascus which includes condemnation of Israel (Ephraim) allied to Syria. The oracle also states that idolatry is worthless before God and so is all human strength. “See Damascus will no longer be a city… the fortified cities will disappear from Ephraim… in that day the glory of Jacob will fade… in that day men will look to their maker… they will not look to their handmade altars or Asherah poles… and all will be desolation… you have forgotten God your saviour… therefore the harvest will be as nothing… in the evening sudden terror and before the morning they are gone!”

Isaiah 16 continues the prophecy against Moab which was started in the previous chapter. “Like fluttering birds pushed from the nest, so are the women of Moab… the oppressor will come to an end, and destrution will cease; the aggressor will vanish from the land…