Summary of the Book of Isaiah

Author:
Isaiah 1:1 identifies the author of the book of Isaiah as the Prophet Isaiah. Full article: Who wrote the book of Isaiah? Who was the author of Isaiah?

Date of Writing:
The book of Isaiah was written between 739 and 681 B.C.

Purpose of Writing:
The Prophet Isaiah was primarily called to prophesy to the Kingdom of Judah. Judah was experiencing times of revival and times of rebellion. It faced threats of destruction from Assyria and Egypt but was spared due to God’s mercy. Isaiah delivered a message of repentance from sin and hopeful anticipation of God’s future deliverance.

Key Verses:

Isaiah 6:8, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’”

Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

Isaiah 9:6, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 14:12-13, “How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.”

Isaiah 53:5-6, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Isaiah 65:25, “The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, says the LORD.”

Brief Summary:
The book of Isaiah reveals God’s judgment and salvation. God is “holy, holy, holy” «And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. », (Isaiah 6:3), and therefore He cannot allow sin to go unpunished (Isaiah 1:2; Isaiah 2:11-20; 5:30; 34:1-2; 42:25). Isaiah portrays God’s impending judgment as a “consuming fire” (Isaiah 1:31; Isaiah 30:33).

At the same time, Isaiah understands that God is a God of mercy, grace, and compassion (Isaiah 5:25; Isaiah 11:16; Isaiah 14:1-2; 32:2; 40:3; 41:14-16). The nation of Israel (both Judah and Israel) is blind and deaf to God’s commands (Isaiah 6:9-10; 42:7). Judah is likened to a vineyard that should be, and will be, trampled on (Isaiah 5:1-7). Only because of His mercy and His promises to Israel, will God not allow Israel or Judah to be completely destroyed. He will bring restoration, forgiveness, and healing (43:2; 43:16-19; 52:10-12).

More than any other book in the Old Testament, Isaiah focuses on the salvation that will come through the Messiah. The Messiah will one day rule in justice and righteousness <(Isaiah 9:7; Isaiah 32:1). The rule of the Messiah will bring peace and security to Israel (Isaiah 11:6-9). Through the Messiah, Israel will shine as a light to all nations (Isaiah 42:6; Isaiah 55:4-5). The Messiah’s earthly kingdom (Isaiah chapters 65-66) is the ultimate goal to which the entire book of Isaiah points. It is during the reign of the Messiah that God’s righteousness will be fully revealed to the world.

In a seeming paradox, the book of Isaiah also portrays the Messiah as one who will suffer. Isaiah chapter 53 vividly depicts the Messiah suffering for sin. It is through His wounds that healing is accomplished. It is through His suffering that our sins are removed. This apparent contradiction finds resolution in the Person of Jesus Christ. In His first coming, Jesus was the suffering servant of Isaiah chapter 53. In His second coming, Jesus will be the victorious and reigning King, the Prince of Peace “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”, (Isaiah 9:6).

Foreshadowings:
As mentioned earlier, chapter 53 of Isaiah foretells the coming Messiah and the suffering He would endure to atone for our sins. In His sovereignty, God orchestrated every aspect of the crucifixion to fulfill all prophecies of this chapter, as well as all other messianic prophecies in the Old Testament. The imagery of chapter 53 is powerful and prophetic, providing a comprehensive view of the Gospel. Jesus was despised and rejected (v: 4; Matthew 27:46), and wounded for our sins (v: 5; Hebrews 10:10). Despite His sinlessness, God placed our sins on Him, and in Him, we received God’s righteousness “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”, (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Practical Application:
The book of Isaiah vividly presents our Redeemer. He is the exclusive path to heaven, the sole means of receiving God’s grace, the singular Way, Truth, and Life (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). Understanding the immense price Christ paid for us, how can we disregard or turn away from “so great a salvation”? “how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him;”, (Hebrews 2:3). We have only a limited time on earth to come to Christ and accept the salvation He alone provides. There are no second chances after death, and an eternity in hell is an enduring consequence.

Do you know individuals who profess belief in Christ but act deceitfully, displaying hypocrisy? This is a fitting depiction of how Isaiah perceived the nation of Israel. Israel maintained a facade of righteousness, yet it was superficial. In the Book of Isaiah, the Prophet Isaiah urges Israel to obey God.

Isaiah desired that individuals would wholeheartedly embrace his message, not merely superficially. He hoped that his audience would be moved to renounce evil, seeking forgiveness and restoration from God upon hearing or reading his words.