Click on the
"Isaiah" label for other posts in this series.
Sources include the Truth
for Today Commentary on Isaiah, the Bible Knowledge Commentary, Be Real by
Warren Wiersbe, and various study Bibles.
Background: Judah,
8th-Century BC
792-740 BC Uzziah
(Azariah). 2 Kg 15; 2 Chr 26
- 740 Isaiah’s Call.
Assyria on the rise.
752-736 BC Jotham.
2 Kg 15; 2 Chr 27
736-720 BC Ahaz.
2 Kg 16; 2 Chr 28
- 734-732 Aram/Syria
and Israel unite vs. Judah.
- Isaiah offers Ahaz a
sign. Judah will not fall.
- Ahaz turns instead
to Assyria for protection.
729-699 BC Hezekiah.
2 Kg 18; 2 Chr 29
- Isaiah: God again to
spare Judah from Assyria.
- 722 Israel falls to
Assyria.
Isaiah 6
6:1-13 Isaiah’s Call
Note the contrast between
Uzziah (the human king who dies and loses power) and Yahweh (the divine King
who reigns forever). Uzziah, also called Azariah, had a long (52-year),
prosperous reign (2 Chr 26:1-15). However, he became proud, broke God’s law
when he entered the temple, and was struck with leprosy (2 Chr 26:16-20).
Of course, Isaiah’s
vision also reveals Yahweh as the true sovereign ruler, in contrast with the
various Assyrian kings that would soon appear to control the world. Throughout
the book, the prophet notes this distinction. See, for example, Isa 10 and Isa
40.
Seraphs, literally “burning ones,” are angels that are only mentioned
here in Scripture. Covering their faces with two wings indicates their humility
before God. Their covering their feet with two other wings may denote service
to God, and their flying may speak of their ongoing activity in proclaiming
God’s holiness and glory.
It was from my late
friend J. M. Powell that I first saw the “Woe-Lo-Go” outline of this chapter,
which he used as an illustration of worship. First we must see ourselves, lost
in sin. Then we come to the grace of God for forgiveness. Finally we accept the
Lord’s commission to take His saving message to the world.
I have adapted and
expanded that outline below.
Woe!
Contemplation: “I
saw.”
Confession: “Woe is
me!”
Conviction: “I am
unclean!”
Lo!
Cleansing: “Your sin
is forgiven.”
Go!
Call: “Whom shall I
send?”
Consecration: “Here am
I.”
Commission: “Send me!”
Concern: “How long?”
Conclusion: “Until
judgment.”
Comfort: “The seed
(remnant).”
Think of the
Scriptures and hymns taken from this passage. See “Holy, Holy, Holy”
Also note that,
according to John 12, it was Jesus whom Isaiah saw.
Jn 12:37 But
though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing
in Him. 38 This was to fulfill
the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our
report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 For
this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, 40 “He
has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, so that they would not see
with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and I heal
them.”
Isaiah 7
7:1-2 Stress
734 BC. Ahaz is King
of Judah. Pekah is King of Israel. Rezin is King of Aram (Syria). When Ahaz of Judah
will not join Aram and Israel in a coalition against Assyria, Aram (Syria)
& Israel (Ephraim) attack Judah.
7:3-9 Stop
Shear-jashub: “a
remnant shall return.”
Isaiah to Ahaz: “No
fear! They won’t succeed!”
7:10-16 Sign
God, not Ahaz,
chooses: virgin, son Immanuel.
Irony: Ahaz asks
Assyria for help. 2 Kg 16:7
Isaiah’s Telescope –
7:14
According to the NT
this is clearly a prophecy regarding the virgin conception and birth of Jesus
to His mother Mary, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Ultimate and complete
fulfillment –
Matt 1:18-25 Virgin =
Mary; Immanuel = Jesus.
Miraculous conception,
fulfilling Isaiah’s words.
Immanuel (God with us)
in flesh. True deity.
Grk parthenos “virgin”
renders Heb ’almâh, “unmarried woman of marriageable age.”
So … how was this a
sign to Ahaz? Note 7:15-16.
In his own day a
virgin would (marry and) bear a son.
Within a short period,
during the son’s childhood, Aram (732) & Israel (722) would fall. This is
exactly what happened, in 732 BC.
Immanuel (God with us)
in spirit. Cf. 8:8, 10.
7:17-25 Strike
Even though God would
spare Judah from complete destruction at the hands of Assyria, He would still use
Assyria to discipline Judah severely.
Isaiah 8
8:1-4 Fall of Israel and Aram
Isaiah had already
prophesied of the fall of the Aram-Israel alliance (7:4–17). Now he gave
another prophecy of the same event. As in chapter 7, this prediction also
involved the birth of a baby, this time to Isaiah and his wife, a prophetess.
Some have seen this birth as the short-term fulfillment of the prediction in
7:14.
Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz,
the longest personal name in the Bible, means “quick to the plunder, swift to
the spoil.” Assyria’s soldiers would shout these words to their comrades as
they defeated and plundered their foes. Assyria would advance rapidly.
Assyria would soon
plunder Aram and Israel.
8:5-8 Invasion of Assyria
Having rejected God’s
gentle waters, they would face the powerful flood of Assyria. The enemy would
rush on into Judah, as the mighty Euphrates.
8:9-15 Victory of Yahweh’s Power
Through it all, God
was with Judah. Isaiah used the same term “Immanuel” to close verse 10 - God is
with us. Even though the nations would raise a war cry and prepare for battle against
Judah, they would not succeed. They would be shattered, a fact stated three
times in verse 9 for emphasis. Even though they would carefully work out a strategy
and a plan for battle they would not succeed because God was with Judah
(“Immanuel” in Heb.; cf. 7:14; 8:8).
Some would say, “This
is a conspiracy, of human origin!”
Others would realize
that this was the LORD’s work of judgment.
Choice: fear man
(fail). Fear Yahweh (escape).
The LORD would be a
sanctuary, a place of safety, for those who believe in Him, but for those who
do not believe Him, He would be the means of destruction (a stone … a rock.… a
trap, and a snare). Peter quoted part of Isaiah 8:14 (1 Peter 2:8), referring
to those who reject Jesus Christ.
8:16-22 Fulfillment of His Word
The testimony, also
called the instruction, refers to the words of God that have come to Isaiah.
These were to be kept safely (bind up . . . seal up) by Isaiah’s disciples.
They would keep the pronouncements of God secure until the events prove them
true.
Hold God’s word fast;
wait until the events occur.
Some would choose to
consult mediums and would fail.
Others would choose to
consult God’s Word and would escape.
The children who are
signs and wonders are Shear-jashub (7:3) and Maher-shalal-hash-baz (8:1).
In what way were they
signs and symbols? Each one had a name that held significance for the nation’s
future. Isaiah’s name, “Yahweh is salvation,” was a reminder that God will
ultimately deliver His people. Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz’s name reminded the people
that the Aram-Israel alliance would be broken by the Assyrians who would
plunder those nations. The name Shear-Jashub kept before the people the truth
that a believing remnant would return from captivity (cf. 10:21–22).
Hebrews 2:13 ascribes
Isaiah 8:17c–18a to Christ. He would fully take on and identify with human
nature. We, His brothers and sisters, are the children noted in the quotation.
Isaiah 6-8 in the New
Testament
Note what a prominent
part this section of Scripture plays in the NT.
6:1-4 – Re 4:1-11; 15:8
6:6 – Re 8:3-5
6:9-10 – Mt 13:14-15; Mk
4:12; Lk 8:20; Jn 12:40; Ac 28:26; Ro 11:8
7:14 – Mt 1:21-23
8:14-15 – Ro 9:32-33; 1 Pe
2:8; Lk 20:18
8:18 – He 2:13
