Introduction to the Book of Isaiah

Isaiah is a prophetic book. Prophecies rest on the essential idea of God. The prophets, penetrated by this inner knowledge of His character, became conscious of the eternal laws by which the world is governed: that sin is man's ruin, and must be followed by judgment, but that God's covenant mercy to His elect is unchangeable.

It is widely accepted that the book of Isaiah is rooted in the historic prophet called Isaiah, son of Amoz (not Amos); contemporary of Jonah, Amos and Hosea, who lived in the Kingdom of Judah during the 8th century BC. There is also widely accepted speculation that this prophet did not write the entire book of Isaiah. The observations which have led to this are as follows:

·        Historical situation → Chapters 40–55 presuppose that Jerusalem has already been destroyed (they are not framed as prophecy) and the Babylonian exile is already in effect – they speak from a present in which the Exile is about to end. Chapters 56–66 assume an even later situation, in which the people are already returned to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the Temple is already under way.
·       Anonymity → Isaiah's name suddenly stops being used after chapter 39.
·       Style → There is a sudden change in style and theology after chapter 40; numerous key words and phrases found in one section are not found in the other.

The commentary prepared by Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown and published in 1871 encourages us to recognize that all the speculation surrounding authorship, historicity and authenticity do not infer any lack of authority in the text. History, as written by the prophets, is retroverted prophecy…as the past and future alike proceed from the essence of God. An inspired insight into the past implies an insight into the future, and vice versa. According to JF&B, the use of the present and preterit in prophecy is no proof that the author is later than Isaiah. For seers view the future as present. Moreover, in events foretold, the order, succession, and grouping are presented, but the intervals of time are often overlooked.

In any case, my coming thoughts surrounding Isaiah’s writings will reflect the more traditional view that a single man wrote the entire volume of prophesy.

Isaiah opens by setting out the themes of judgment and subsequent restoration for the righteous. God has a plan which will be realized on the "Day of Yahweh", when Jerusalem will become the center of his worldwide rule. On that day all the nations of the world will come to Zion (Jerusalem) for instruction, but first the city must be punished and cleansed of evil. Israel is invited to join in this plan.

Chapters 5–12 explain the significance of the Assyrian judgment against Israel: righteous rule by the Davidic king will follow after the arrogant Assyrian monarch is brought down.

Chapters 13–27 announce the preparation of the nations for Yahweh's world rule;

Chapters 28–33 announce that a royal savior will emerge in the aftermath of Jerusalem's punishment and the destruction of her oppressor. The oppressor (now identified as Babylon rather than Assyria) is about to fall.

Chapters 34–35 tell how Yahweh will return the redeemed exiles to Jerusalem.

Chapters 36–39 tell of the faithfulness of king Hezekiah to Yahweh during the Assyrian siege as a model for the restored community.

Chapters 40–54 argues that the restoration of Zion is taking place because Yahweh, the creator of the universe, has designated the Persian king, Cyrus The Great, as the instrument to that end.

Chapters 55–66 are an exhortation to Israel to keep the covenant. God's eternal promise to David is now made to the people of Israel/Judah at large. The book ends by enjoining righteousness as the final stages of God's plan come to pass, including the pilgrimage of the nations to Zion and the realization of Yahweh's kingship.

Here is a timeline of teh Book of Isaiah as it unfolds...

739 BC	Isaiah Complains of Zion's Corruption	Isaiah 1 - 5
739 BC	Isaiah's Vision and Commission	Isaiah 6
735 BC	Isaiah's Prophesy of Immanuel	Isaiah 7
734 BC	Uriah and Zechariah	Isaiah 8
730 BC	Isaiah Prophesies a Child Is Born	Isaiah 9
730 BC	Isaiah Prophesies Judgments Upon Israel	Isaiah 9:8
730 BC	Isaiah Prophesies Judgment on Assyria	Isaiah 10
730 BC	Isaiah Prophesies The Root of Jesse	Isaiah 11
730 BC	Isaiah's Joyful Thanksgiving	Isaiah 12
725 BC	Isaiah Prophesies against the Nations	Isaiah 13 - 22
725 BC	Isaiah's Valley of Vision	Isaiah 22
725 BC	Isaiah's Burden of Tyre	Isaiah 23
725 BC	Devastation on the Earth	Isaiah 24
725 BC	Isaiah's Songs of Praise	Isaiah 25 - 27
725 BC	Isaiah's Further Warnings	Isaiah 28 - 32
725 BC	Isaiah Prophesies a King Shall Reign	Isaiah 32
725 BC	Isaiah Declares God's Judgments	Isaiah 33, 34
725 BC	Isaiah Declares the Joyful Will Flourish in Zion	Isaiah 35
712 BC	Hezekiah's Illness and Healing	2 Kings 20, Isaiah 38
711 BC	Hezekiah Shows Treasures	2 Kings 20:12, Isaiah 39
711 BC	Isaiah Prophesies Captivity and Restoration	Isaiah 40 - 66
701 BC	Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem	2 Kings 18, Isaiah 36, 2 Chronicles 32
701 BC	Hezekiah's Prayer	2 Kings 19, Isaiah 37

Here is Jeremiah's 627 BC	Timeline for context... The Call of Jeremiah	Jeremiah 1
627 BC	Jeremiah Declares Judah Forsakes God	Jeremiah 2 - 6
627 BC	Jeremiah's Message at the Temple Gate	Jeremiah 7 - 10
622 BC	Jeremiah Proclaims God's Covenant	Jeremiah 11, 12
609 BC	Jeremiah Proclaims Covenant Is Broken	Jeremiah 13 - 20
609 BC	Jeremiah Prophesies against Egypt	Jeremiah 46
609 BC	Jeremiah Prophesies against Philistia	Jeremiah 47
594 BC	Jeremiah Prophesies against Moab	Jeremiah 48
594 BC	Jeremiah Prophesies against Ammon	Jeremiah 49
588 BC	Jeremiah's Conflicts	Jeremiah 21 - 33
588 BC	Jeremiah Prophesies Judgment on Judah	Jeremiah 34 - 45
586 BC	The Fall of Jerusalem	2 Kings 25, Jeremiah 52
586 BC	Jeremiah Prophesies against Babylon	Jeremiah 50, 51