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 |
