Isaiah - Hope For You Today
Prophecy in Scripture
Today’s Verse and Thought
“And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, ‘Here I am! Send me.’ ”(Isaiah 6:8)
The Prophet Isaiah
In an amazing vision of the throne room of heaven, we are given a glimpse into God’s selection of Isaiah the prophet when the Lord said, “Whom shall I send?”
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train[a] 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!”And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.”(Isaiah 6:1-4)
Chapter six of Isaiah is a flashback to the day when he was first called by God. Often when we read Scriptures, the story isn’t linear. Such is the case with Isaiah as the book opens with Isaiah already prophesying about a vision in Isaiah 1:1, while chapter six takes us back to Isaiah’s original calling.
“The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.”(Isaiah 1:1).
Isaiah was Israel’s prophet during the reign of several kings of Judah from approximately 740 to 700 BC. He wrote his visions in the book of Isaiah, and his prophecies are referenced in several Old Testament books, as well as the New.
We don’t know a lot about the man himself, but we do know that his ministry was significant. He foretold about the captivity of Israel, by Assyria, as well as Judah, by Babylon - a span of about 135 years covering the two events.
Isaiah predicted the downfall of Israel when they grew prideful, and allied with Syria rather than God. The leaders of Israel sought strength from humans and ignored their reliance on God Most High. This proved to be their undoing.
The following passage focuses on the immediate threat of Assyria to Israel (AKA Ephraim) as they allied with Syria, and it also predicts Israel’s ruin as a “shattered” people.
"For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people.”(Isaiah 7:8-9)
While Isaiah’s message included severe warnings, God never leaves His people without the hope of restoration. Several of Isaiah’s prophecies speak of a future time of redemption in passages that point to Jesus, the Messiah, and His coming Kingdom.
“Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty.”(Job 5:17)
Isaiah Prophecies About Messiah and the Kingdom
One of Isaiah’s most profound prophecies was the pronouncement that Messiah - “the root of Jesse” - would save, not only Israel, but also the entire Gentile world. Paul spoke of the root of Jesse (Isaiah 11) as the one coming for all nations.
“And again Isaiah says, ‘The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.’”(Romans 15:12)
Isaiah is one of the most complex and rich prophetic books in the Bible. His visions were both current and distant. He not only predicted Jesus’ arrival over 700 years later, but Isaiah also proclaimed a future time of universal peace and reconciliation for the whole world.
We see one example of the prediction of Jesus in Isaiah 11:1-5, and then in verse 6, the passage shifts even further into the future when “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.”(Isaiah 11:6). The latter part of chapter 11 is yet to be fulfilled.
Another common element of scripture are complex prophecies. The Word may be speaking of one time period and in the next verse, we are flung far into the future. And some prophecies are applicable for any time period as their lessons and wisdom are relevant no matter what year it is.
This prophecy in chapter 11 is like this. For Isaiah gives hope to the people of his time, but the ultimate fulfillment is for us more than 2000 years later. Today we are waiting for the time of the end when the Kingdom of Jesus will reign on earth in peace; when the lion and lamb lay down together.
If the sign of a true prophet is 100% accuracy, and all of Isaiah’s predictions that are historical have proven true, you and I can take great comfort in the assurance that a future Kingdom of peace is coming.
Isaiah and His Contemporaries
Several other Biblical prophets - Micah, Hosea, and Amos - were contemporaries of Isaiah. In Deuteronomy 19:15, the Levitical Law states that "a matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses". This principle was applied to both legal disputes and prophetic declarations for the nation of Israel. The idea was that multiple witnesses corroborating a message added credibility and strength to the truth being proclaimed.
Isaiah, Micah, Hosea, and Amos, all prophesied during the 8th century BC, and their overlapping messages could be viewed as a collective "witness" to the truth of God's judgment and His call to repentance.
Micah was a prophet in Judah around the same time as Isaiah. His ministry overlapped with Isaiah's, and their messages were often similar, though Micah's prophecies focus more on justice and the coming judgment against Israel and Judah. Both prophets warned of destruction by Assyria and Babylon, but, again they also spoke of God's eventual restoration of Israel. God is always a God of hope.
Hosea prophesied in the northern kingdom of Israel, a few decades before the fall of Israel to Assyria in 722 BC. While Isaiah focused on Judah and the southern kingdom, Hosea's messages were primarily towards the northern kingdom of Israel. Though their ministries were distinct, both Isaiah and Hosea addressed the nation's spiritual unfaithfulness.
Amos was another contemporary prophet, primarily for the northern kingdom of Israel. His ministry was also more focused on justice and condemning the northern kingdom's sins. His message paralleled Isaiah's call for repentance and judgment on Israel and its neighbors.
The book is divided into several sections, with different types of prophecies in each. Some of them have been fulfilled and others have yet to take place.
To be continued…
Today’s Question
Verses to Explore
“And as Isaiah predicted, “If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring, we would have been like Sodom and become like Gomorrah.”(Romans 9:29).
“Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you.”(Deuteronomy 8:5)
Today’s Prayer
Father I wish all people could grasp how amazing your love is. You have given us so many “proofs” of the reality of Scripture. Over and over you give us assurances and examples of things that have come to pass. We can see historical proof of so many things that have happened just as you said. It’s not that our faith must have proof, but it is reassuring that we can completely trust in your Word because you prove trustworthy and you never change. In our lives today, trust has become a rare commodity. I am so thankful that no matter how deceitful Satan is, we can 100% trust you. And your Word assures us of a great hope of a future Kingdom of peace that is coming. Thank you seems so inadequate. How do we pour out our hearts in gratitude for such a glorious promise of our eternal future? Our hearts are overflowing and grateful. We pray all honor and glory are yours. Amen❤️