Isaiah 1 - 4

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In my opinion, the book of Isaiah is one of the greatest books of the Bible!  I’ve learned so much about God’s character, His love, His holiness, His forgiveness, His mercy, His grace, His wonderful promises…as well as “why” Israel is so hated among nations throughout the world. I’ve also learned a lot about the Great Tribulation period and what’s going to happen during Christ’s Millennial Reign on earth…all from this book.  It tells us SO MUCH, and I’ll do my best to help you glean some of these incredible insights.

But first, as you can see, the book of Isaiah is a historical book detailing the prophecies of Isaiah and his warnings to the nation of Judah as they were declining into idolatry and corruption. The remaining 11 tribes of Israel were already scattered abroad the middle east and were no longer an ally of their brother nation Judah. The rest of the tribes of Israel had declined into sin far earlier and were basically decimated. God was no longer sending prophets to them, because they just wouldn’t listen! However, the nation of Judah was a little more fortunate. They continued a few years longer in following the desires of God. But, as we come to the book of Isaiah, we see that Judah has now becoming a corrupt nation (much like the remaining 11 tribes of Israel) and is receiving stern warnings of judgment from God through His prophet Isaiah.

In the Hebrew Bible, the book of Isaiah begins a set of books called the Latter Prophets, including also Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the Twelve Minor Prophets (so called because of their small size by comparison with the major prophetic books of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, and not at all suggesting that they are of minor importance.) Thus Isaiah occupies pride of place among the Latter Prophets. 

Who wrote the book?

Isaiah is often considered the author of the book that bears his name, and is considered by many scholars as the greatest of the writing prophets. His name means "The Lord saves." He was a contemporary of Amos, Hosea and Micah, beginning his ministry in 740 b.c., the year King Uzziah died (see note on 6.1). According to an unsubstantiated Jewish tradition (The Ascension of Isaiah), he was sawed in half during the reign of Manasseh (Heb. 11:37). Isaiah was married and had at least two sons, Shear-Jashub (7:3) and Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz (8:3). He probably spent most of his life in Jerusalem, enjoying his greatest influence under King Hezekiah. Isaiah is also credited with writing a history of the reign of King Uzziah (2 Chron. 26:22).

Many bible scholars believe Isaiah was the author of the book that bears his name, however no one really knows for sure. Jewish scholars tend to give the credit to the last king Isaiah served – King Hezekiah. Some have even assumed that both have contributed since chapters 1 – 39 tends to look like the writings of one author (from a Hebrew perspective) and chapters 40 – 66 tend to look like that of another.  Either way, the book is an historical account of the prophecies of Isaiah and the events and spiritual climate of Judah at the time.

Isaiah served as one of God’s major prophets serving the nation of Judah during the reign of 4 kings – Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah as seen in Isaiah 1:1. Much like the evangelist Billy Graham was in our generation, so Isaiah was in his – a notable spiritual leader who fearlessly proclaimed God’s word to a sinful generation.

The Background:

Isaiah’s name in Hebrew, Yesha‘yahu means ‘the Lord Yahweh saves’. He prophesied from 739-681BC under the reign of four of its kings—Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (Isaiah 1:1).

Isaiah wrote during the stormy period marking the expansion of the Assyrian empire and the decline of Israel. About 733 B.C. the kings of Aram and Israel tried to pressure King Ahaz of Judah into joining a coalition and war against Assyria. Ahaz chose instead to ask Tiglath-Pileser for help, a decision which was vehemently condemned by Isaiah (7:1). Assyria did assist Judah and conquered the northern kingdom in 722-721 B.C. This made Judah even more vulnerable, and in 701 B.C. King Sennacherib of Assyria threatened Jerusalem itself (36:1) Later, the godly King Hezekiah prayed earnestly, and Isaiah predicted that God would force the Assyrians to withdraw from the city (37:6-7).

Nevertheless Isaiah warned Judah that her sin would bring captivity at the hands of Babylon. The visit of the Babylonian king's envoys to Hezekiah set the stage for this prediction (39:1,6)). Although the fall of Jerusalem would not take place for nearly 150 years later around 586 B.C., Isaiah assumes the destruction of Judah and proceeds to predict the restoration of the people from captivity (40:2-3). God would redeem his people from Babylon just as he rescued them from Egypt. Isaiah predicts the rise of Cyrus the Persian, who would unite the Medes and Persians and conquer Babylon in 539 B.C (41:2). The decree of Cyrus would allow the Jews to return home in 538/537 B.C.

God called Isaiah into ministry the year that King Uzziah died (Isaiah 6:1-13). Judah became very prosperous under Uzziah’s reign. However, because of injustice and corruption this increase in wealth was not enjoyed by everyone with the contrast between the rich and the poor reaching an alarming state. The focus of the first thirty-nine chapters of Isaiah is the soon-to-come judgement of God upon Judah. You can’t just do as you please and get away with it. That’s the first lesson we learn from Isaiah. The people of Judah had turned their backs on God. In 1:4 God says, “Oh what a sinful nation they are. They are loaded down with a burden of guilt.”  As a result, God cut them off from His help. In fact, God was so angry with them that He says in 1:13-15 – “Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts; the incense of your offerings disgusts me!  As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath  and your special days for fasting—they are all sinful and false. I want no more of your pious meetings. I hate your new moon celebrations and your annual festivals. They are a burden to me. I cannot stand them! When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look.”

What displeased Him most was their hypocrisy. They pretended to be holy, but they weren’t at all.  What God saw was exactly what Jesus saw in the Pharisees and Sadducees in Matthew 7 – hypocrites!  No one likes a hypocrite. They act one way for show, but they’re really another.  Therefore, God tells them He wants to see a genuine life of holiness, not the outward appearance of it. (Isaiah 1:11-16). We can’t fool God. He knows everything that we do including our motives and the attitude of our heart.

And here’s the wonderful mercy and grace of God – although God sternly warns Judah he also gives them the antidote.  He tells them exactly what they need to do to avoid His judgment in 1:16-17.  They simply need to seek His forgiveness and come clean from sin. Plus, they needed to start living a Godly lifestyle. What God is asking isn’t hard. But it does take a willingness to surrender to do God’s will instead of our own.

Notice also what He says in 1:18 – “Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you white as snow.”  In other words, regardless of how wicked they’ve become or no matter what evil they’ve committed, God says He’s willing to forgive it all if the people are willing to turn from their evil ways and start living a life that pleases Him.

What would you do?  

Perhaps God is offering you the same opportunity right now!

The rest of chapter 1 continues with just how disgusted God is with them. He warns them that he will bring disaster on them as a nation if they continue to refuse His warnings.

As we move into chapter 2, God offers them hope. In fact, He shares about the future 1000-year reign of Jesus Christ. In 2:2, it begins with talking about “the last days”. And what’s described here is exactly what will happen once Christ returns to earth after the rapture and the great tribulation period. It says He will establish Jerusalem as the worship center of the world and that people from all over the world will come to worship the Lord Jesus Christ as He teaches them God’s ways.

He says He’ll settle international disputes. All nations will seek peace, and war will finally come to an end – or at least until the end of the 1000-year reign of Christ.

As we come to 2:10-21, we read about the Great Tribulation period spoken of in the book of Revelation when the world will “hide in caves” to hide themselves from God’s judgment.

In chapter 3, God offers the nation a choice between having a wonderful life or a life of destruction. Sadly, they choose the latter. 

Today, we often act much in the same way as Judah - we refuse to listen to God!  And, God offers the same - a wonderful life or a life of pain.  When we sin, we do it because we refuse to listen to God. But, much like here in the first three chapters, God offers a solution and a choice. And it’s a very simple choice – repent or else!

What about you?  Are you right with God?  If not, He offers you the same opportunity of forgiveness. No matter how wicked you’ve been, He’ll forgive you – if you truly repent of your wicked ways, turn to God, and start living the life that please Him. It’s not hard – it’s simply a choice.  How will you choose?