The Book of Overview

“When Scripture Speaks, God Speaks.” — Augustine

Background and Genre: • Isaiah is one of the Major Prophets writing around 740 BC. • Isaiah is the third-largest written book, behind Jeremiah and the . • The is itself the major source of its information. • Background material is contained in 2 Kings 15-21 and 2 Chronicles 26-33. • Contemporary prophets were Amos and Hosea, prophets to the Northern Kingdom. • Isaiah and Micah wrote to the Southern Kingdom of . • He prophesied during the reign of (or Azariah as noted in 2 Kings), Jotham, , and . • Jewish tradition informs us that Isaiah was probably an aristocrat because of his easy access to Kings. “Go out to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-jashub.” :3

Theology: “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead the third day, and repentance for forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning in . You are witnesses of these things.” Luke 24:46-48 God • Isaiah proclaims an awesome God, dwelling in a high and holy place. “For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.’” :15 • He has a plan for the whole world, and is sovereign, even to the last detail of creation and the plan for redemption. “This is the purpose that is purposed concerning the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations.” :26 • This God sends his only begotten son to rectify what sin has destroyed bringing life to mankind. “He says: ‘It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of and to bring back the preserved of ; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.’” :6 Man • Human beings are created in the image of God. “Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” :7 • The human heart is far from God. “And the Lord said: ‘Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,’” :13 • Our human efforts can’t save, and we are in danger of burning in eternity under God’s just wrath. “The sinners in are afraid; trembling has seized the godless: ‘Who among us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?’” :14

Christ • Isaiah sees a clear vision of the pre-incarnate Christ. “In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!’” :1-3 • Christ would be born of a virgin and would be called . “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 • Christ would be our substitutionary atonement and would rise from the dead and swallow up death forever. “And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations.” :7 • Christ would continue to speak to his bride until she is perfected in glory.

“Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to the daughter of Zion, “Behold, your salvation comes; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.’” :11