Lesson 9: Isaiah

By the end of this lesson, the student should:

(1) Recognize the nature of biblical prophecy.

(2) Know the likely date and historical setting of Isaiah.

(3) Be able to outline the primary themes and purposes of Isaiah.

(4) Appreciate the messianic promises of Isaiah.

(5) Understand the arguments for a single author for the book of Isaiah.

(6) Relate the message of Isaiah to the needs of today’s world.

► Read Isaiah. (Review the Lesson 9 assignments before reading the book of Isaiah).

► Memorize Isaiah 9:6–7.

► What was the ministry of Old Testament prophets like? How much of their message was clear to their audience, and how much was hidden until the future?

The Old Testament prophetic books include the Major Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel) as well as the 12 Minor Prophets (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi). Before studying the individual books, it is helpful to study the role of the prophet in Old Testament Israel.

The writing prophets ministered from roughly 800 B.C. to 450 B.C. Earlier prophets, such as Elijah and Elisha, did not leave a written record of their preaching. The 16 writing prophets are remembered by the books bearing their names.

The Hebrew Bible used three words to refer to a prophet. These titles show the role of the prophet in Israel. The first two words (hozeh and ro’eh) come from a root that means “to see.” These words tell us that a prophet was someone who saw the things of God. The third word (nabi) means “a called one.” It refers to a person who has been called by God to bring God’s message to other people.

The prophetic books show several characteristics of the prophets:

1. The prophets did not speak their own message; they brought God’s message. Over 350 times, the prophetic books include the phrase “Thus says the Lord.” The prophets were called to bring God’s Word to God’s people.

2. The prophets spoke God’s message to their own generation. Their message was given first to their own people. When we read the prophets, we should ask, “How did the prophet’s immediate audience understand his message?” Knowing how the first audience understood the prophet’s message helps us better understand his message for today.

3. The prophets spoke God’s message to future generations. The prophets saw the things of God. The first words of the book of Isaiah are similar to many of the prophets: “The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz…” (Isaiah 1:1). Through visions and special revelation, God revealed future truths to his prophets. The prophets saw both future judgment and future restoration.

As we study the prophetic books, we will see certain themes repeated frequently. Three themes appear throughout these books:

Faithfulness to the Covenant

Repeatedly, the prophets reminded their audience that Israel was called to be God’s chosen people. At Sinai, Israel made a covenant with God. This covenant was more than rituals and sacrifices; it required personal holiness before God and justice towards other people. Prophets such as Micah and Amos confronted Israel with the nation’s failure to live in obedience to the covenant.

The Day of the Lord

The prophets referred to the “day of the Lord” nearly 20 times. The prophets show three aspects of the day of the Lord. It will be a time of:

• Judgment on unbelievers.

• Cleansing of God’s people.

• Salvation for those who are faithful.

The Coming of the Messiah

An important message of the prophets is the promise of the Messiah. Bible scholars have found as many as 300 Old Testament prophecies pointing to the coming of the Messiah.

Historical Setting of Isaiah

Isaiah, the son of Amoz, ministered in the royal court of Judah during the late eighth century B.C. Isaiah’s name means “The Lord has saved,” a name that foreshadows a central theme of Isaiah’s ministry, salvation for God’s people.

Isaiah’s call to prophetic ministry came in the year that King Uzziah died (Isaiah 6:1), approximately 740 B.C. He recorded the death of Sennacherib in 681 B.C. (Isaiah 37:38). This dates the book of Isaiah to approximately 740–680 B.C.

Isaiah ministered during the reigns of four kings of Judah: Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, and Manasseh. Jewish tradition says that Manasseh killed Isaiah by having him sawn in half.

During the early years of Isaiah’s ministry, Tiglath-Pileser III expanded the Assyrian empire. Pekah, the king of the Northern Kingdom, attacked Judah because Ahaz refused to join an alliance against Assyria (Isaiah 7:1, 2 Kings 16:5). Refusing to heed Isaiah’s objections, Ahaz appealed to Assyria (Isaiah 7:3–9, 2 Kings 16:7–9). Isaiah’s message gave a sign for the immediate future and a prophecy of the birth of the Messiah (Isaiah 7:10–17).[1]

After the death of Ahaz, his son Hezekiah rebelled against Assyria (2 Kings 18:1, 7) and entered an alliance with Egypt (Isaiah 30:1–2). In response, the Assyrian ruler Sennacherib attacked Judah in 701 B.C. Hezekiah was first defeated and forced to pay tribute to Assyria (2 Kings 18:14–16). Later, Hezekiah rebelled against Sennacherib. This time, Sennacherib sent messengers to threaten the city. Hezekiah took the letter and laid it in front of the Lord in the Temple. He asked God to rescue Judah: “So now, O Lord our God, save us, please, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O Lord, are God alone” (2 Kings 19:19). In response to Hezekiah’s prayer, the angel of God attacked the Assyrian army, killing 185,000 men and driving the Assyrians out of Judah (2 Kings 19, Isaiah 37). The rest of Hezekiah’s reign was a time of peace.

Purpose of Isaiah

With the fall of the Northern Kingdom, Judah faced a test. Would she follow Israel in apostasy, or would she be faithful to God? Isaiah warned of judgment for Judah’s sin. He encouraged Judah with the promise of salvation if she returned to the covenant.

Overview of Isaiah

Isaiah is sometimes seen as a Bible in miniature. The first 39 chapters (corresponding to the 39 books of the Old Testament) show God’s justice in judging Judah and the surrounding nations. Because God is a holy God, he cannot overlook sin. The last 27 chapters (corresponding to the 27 books of the New Testament) comfort Judah with the promise of a coming Messiah.

A book that covers 60 years, four kings, two great empires (Assyria and Babylon), and that prophesies events hundreds of years in the future is difficult to summarize in a few paragraphs. As you read Isaiah, this outline will guide you through the book. The summary of themes will suggest important ideas to follow.

Outline of Isaiah:

(1) Prophecies of Judgment (Isaiah 1–35)

• An emphasis on judgment

• Addressed primarily to the rebellious people of Isaiah’s time

• Warns that Assyria will defeat the Northern Kingdom of Israel

• Messages of judgment on many nations, including Israel, Assyria, Babylon, Philistia, Moab, Damascus, Cush, Egypt, Edom, Judah, and Tyre

• Salvation for the faithful (Isaiah 35)

(2) Historical Interlude (Isaiah 36–39)

• Sennacherib’s threat and God’s deliverance (Isaiah 36–37)

The story of Sennacherib finishes the Assyrian emphasis of Isaiah 1–35. It takes place in 701 B.C. and shows that faith in God brings God’s blessing.

• Hezekiah’s illness and miraculous recovery (Isaiah 38)

• Hezekiah’s foolish visit with Merodach-baladan from Babylon (Isaiah 39)

The story of Merodach-baladan’s visit in 711 B.C. begins the Babylonian emphasis of Isaiah 40–66. Judah’s sins will lead to the Babylonian exile.[2]

(3) Messianic Prophecies of Comfort (Isaiah 40–66)

• An emphasis on restoration and promise

• Addressed to faithful people of all generations

• Comfort and deliverance for Judah (Isaiah 40–48)

• A coming Servant will provide redemption (Isaiah 49–55)

• God will restore all who are faithful to the covenant (Isaiah 56–66)

Important Themes in Isaiah

The Remnant

God will preserve a remnant: those who are faithful to God in spite of the apostasy of the nation as a whole (Isaiah 1:9). Isaiah named one of his sons “Shear-jashub” (“the remnant shall return”) as a prophetic message that God would bring the faithful remnant back to Jerusalem after the exile (Isaiah 7:3, Isaiah 10:20–21).

God, the Holy One of Israel

Early in his prophetic ministry, Isaiah saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up (Isaiah 6:1). God was surrounded by seraphim calling, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” (Isaiah 6:3). This vision transformed Isaiah’s life and ministry. Over 20 times, Isaiah referred to the Lord as “the Holy One of Israel,” a name that shows God’s holiness and sovereignty.[3] An important aspect of Isaiah’s message is that Israel faces judgment because they have ignored the holiness of the God they profess to worship.

The sovereignty of the Holy One of Israel is seen in his judgment on the enemies of Israel. God commanded Isaiah to name one of his sons “Maher-shalal-hash-baz,” a name that represented speedy judgment against Judah’s enemies (Isaiah 8:1–3). To the surprise of Judah, God’s sovereignty is also seen in his judgment on Judah because of her apostasy.

Ultimately, the Holy One of Israel will restore his people. Isaiah foresaw a day when God’s people would no longer be called “Forsaken,” but would be called “My Delight Is in Her.” He foresaw a day when the land would no longer be called “Desolate,” but would be called “Married” (Isaiah 62:4). Instead of an apostate nation, Judah will be called “The Holy People”; instead of exiles, they will be “The Redeemed of the Lord”; instead of being rejected, they will be “Sought Out”; instead of being abandoned, Jerusalem will be called “A City Not Forsaken” (Isaiah 62:12).

The Coming of the Messiah

Because of its emphasis on the coming Messiah, Isaiah has sometimes been called the “Fifth Gospel.” Isaiah prophesies that the Messiah will redeem Judah and all who turn to him in faith. In his first sermon at Nazareth, Jesus read from Isaiah and proclaimed that he had come to fulfill the promises made by the prophet (Luke 4:16–30, Isaiah 61:1–2, and Isaiah 58:6).

In the last section of Isaiah, the prophet foretells the coming of the Messiah, God’s Anointed One. He will be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14); he will serve the needy (Isaiah 61:1–3); he will suffer to redeem humankind (Isaiah 52:13–53:12); he will someday reign in glory (Isaiah 60–66). Because of the Messiah, the future of God’s people is bright—regardless of their present circumstances.

Some biblical critics argue that this book was not written by Isaiah alone. They say that Isaiah 1–39 came from Isaiah himself, while chapters 40–66 were written by a second author who lived more than 100 years after Isaiah. They call these authors “Isaiah of Jerusalem” and “Second Isaiah.” These critics doubt the testimony of the New Testament to Isaiah as the author. Evangelicals believe that God spoke the entire book of Isaiah to his prophet. This chart shows the argument of critical scholars and an evangelical response.

Reasons to accept Isaiah as the author of the entire book:

1. Isaiah 1:1 names Isaiah, son of Amoz, as the author.

2. All early Hebrew copies of Isaiah show the book as one book. There is no evidence that Isaiah 1–39 and 40–66 were ever treated as two separate books.

3. The New Testament writers refer to Isaiah as the author of the entire book. The New Testament includes a total of 20 references to the two sections of Isaiah. John 12:38–41 is a particularly important example because John quotes from Isaiah 6:10 and Isaiah 53:1 in consecutive verses, attributing both verses to Isaiah. Other examples include Matthew 3:3, Acts 8:28–33, and Romans 9:27–29.

Isaiah in the New Testament

Isaiah is one of the Old Testament books most frequently quoted in the New Testament. Examples of Isaiah’s prophecies and their stated fulfillments in the New Testament:

Throughout Jesus’ ministry, the gospel writers saw Jesus as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecies. God’s promises to restore and redeem his people were partially fulfilled in the return from Babylon; the promises were more completely fulfilled in the redeeming work of Jesus of Nazareth. The ultimate and final fulfillment will be seen when God’s family is reunited in worship around the throne of God.

Isaiah Speaks Today

Isaiah’s message was relevant both to Judah in his day and to us in ours. To a nation that faced the choice of following Israel into apostasy or remaining faithful to God, Isaiah spoke of the judgment that comes to those who are unfaithful to God. He warned both Judah and other nations that the Holy One of Israel could not ignore sin. In today’s permissive culture, we must remember that God judges sin.

To a nation that would soon face Babylonian exile, Isaiah spoke of God’s blessing on the remnant that remains faithful to God. In the face of today’s threats to followers of Christ, we must remember that God honors those who remain faithful to him. He promises to hear and restore those who repent. Isaiah speaks powerfully to the needs of the 21st century.

(1) Choose one of the following assignments:

Option 1: Group Assignment

Discuss the description of Jesus in Isaiah 53. Show how Jesus fulfilled these prophecies. Write a brief summary of your group’s discussion.

Option 2: Individual Assignment

As you read the book of Isaiah, make a list of prophecies about the coming Messiah. List scriptures in Isaiah that contain messianic prophecies and then list New Testament scriptures that show the fulfillment of the prophecies.

(2) At the beginning of the next lesson, take a test based on this lesson. Study the test questions carefully in preparation.

If needed, download a printable PDF of all the Test questions here.

(1) What phrase shows that the prophets were bringing God’s Word, not their own message?

(2) List three themes that appear throughout the prophetic books.

(3) The day of the Lord will be a time of what three things?

(4) List two purposes for the book of Isaiah.

(5) Isaiah ministered during the reign of which four kings of Judah?

(6) Who is the remnant in the book of Isaiah?

(7) What name of God is used in Isaiah to show God’s holiness and sovereignty?

(8) List three reasons to accept Isaiah as the author of the entire book of Isaiah.

(9) Name two fulfillments of Isaiah’s prophecies that are named in the New Testament.

(10) Write Isaiah 9:6–7 from memory.