March 1 - Isaiah Introduction

March 1 - Isaiah Introduction

"The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah." (Isaiah 1:1)

Warren Wiersbe says that Isaiah lived in momentous days. Those words are hardly enough to express what was happening during this time.

In Isaiah 6:1, we find that Isaiah was commissioned in the year that King Uzziah died. Historians know that this date is 739 bc. He prophesied during the next 3 kings of Judah: Jotham, his son Ahaz and then Hezekiah. While Isaiah was in the southern kingdom of Judah, the prophets Hosea and Amos were speaking to the northern kingdom of Israel.

Israel became divided just after the death of Solomon (1 Kings 12:1-33). The ten northern tribes formed the kingdom of Israel with Samaria as their capital city while the tribes of Benjamin and Judah united to form the kingdom of Judah with Jerusalem as their capital city. With this split, the priesthood and the throne of David remained with Judah.

During this period of time, Assyria and Egypt were fighting to gain power over the region. Israel and Judah were physically between these two powerful countries. They could not ally with each other, so they had to choose to become allies with either Assyria or Egypt. Israel fell to Assyria in 722 bc. They were exiled and Samaria was resettled with people from all over the region (2 Kings 15). These tribes became known as the Ten Lost Tribes. They disappeared from the Biblical account after this.

Judah avoided this because there were a few kings at this critical juncture that chose to listen to God and allow Him to guide them.

We don't know a lot about Isaiah, but there is information scattered throughout scripture. We find that he is the son of Amoz. This information is repeated several times, there were many Isaiahs living during this time. Amoz is not the same person as the prophet Amos. He was married to a woman known as "the prophetess" (Isaiah 8:3) and they had two sons. These young men were named Shear-jashub (a remnant shall return) and Maher-shalal (quick to plunder, swift to the spoil).

Isaiah's name means "salvation of the Lord." He ministered in Judah, probably spending most of his time in Jerusalem for over 50 years. He mentions Sennecharib's death (an Assyrian king) of 681 bc in Isaiah 37:38. Tradition holds that he was martyred by Manasseh, Hezekiah's son.

Isaiah is the most quoted Old Testament book in the New Testament. Paul quotes from this book at least 80 times in his letters and in at least three of his sermons in Acts. Jesus quoted from Isaiah to Paul on the Damascus road.

Some interesting things about Isaiah. Isaiah has 66 chapters - the Bible has 66 books. Isaiah is broken into two sections, the first section has 39 chapters and is a history of the sinfulness of Israel. The Old Testament (the first section of the Bible) has 39 books and is a history of the sinfulness of Israel. The second section of Isaiah has 27 chapters and deals with the person and ministry of the Messiah. The New Testament (the second section of the Bible) has 27 books and deals with the person and ministry of the Messiah. Both Isaiah and the Bible end with descriptions of the new heaven and new earth. (Willmington's Bible Handbook)

This book is about salvation, redemption, deliverance. Isaiah called out to a nation that was in the middle of incredible upheaval. Judah was being attacked from every side and the people of Judah were sinful. God denounced their sin, but offered hope of eternal life in His kingdom.

The beauty of Isaiah's words can't cover up the power that God speaks through them.

"Hear, O heavens! Listen O earth! For the Lord has spoken ..." (Isaiah 1:2a)