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THE PROPHET ISAIAH
Introduction
The opening verse of this great book gives us information
concerning the prophet Isaiah and the period covered by his official
ministry. "The Vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning
Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah,
kings of Judah." Of his personal history we know but little. Jewish
tradition claims that he was related to King Uzziah. That he must have
come from a prominent family may be gathered from the fact that he had
ready access into the presence of the kings of Judah, Ahaz and Hezekiah,
and probably also the others. That he was married we learn from the book.
He had two sons which bore prophetic names. The one was Shear-Jashub (a
remnant shall return), prophetically indicating that God would leave a
remnant of His people. The second son was Maher-shalal-hash-baz, which
means "hasting to the spoil, hurrying to the prey," prophetic of the
coming and threatening invasion of Assyria.
Nothing else is said of his personal history in the book which
bears his name nor do we find anything about his death. There is a
trustworthy tradition that he lived during the reign of Manasseh, also
that he suffered martyrdom, because he reproved the vices and idolatries
rampant during the reign of that wicked king. This tradition says that
the mode of his death was by being sawn asunder. (See Hebrews 11:37
which, in case this tradition is true, would apply to Isaiah.) Josephus,
the great Jewish historian, speaks of the cruel persecutions under the
reign of Manasseh in the following words: "He barbarously slew all the
righteous men that were among the Hebrews; nor would he spare the
prophets, for he every day slew some of them, till Jerusalem was
overflowed with blood."
The Times of Isaiah
Isaiah lived during the eighth century before Christ. This is fully
confirmed by the chronology of the kings of Judah mentioned in the first
verse of the book. To understand fully the prophecies which he made in
the name of Jehovah, a good knowledge of the times in which he lived and
acted as Jehovah's mouthpiece is eminently necessary. We shall enter into
it a little more fully to help the student of this book.
Isaiah must have lived to a very old age, for it is quite certain
that for fully seventy years he exercised his God-given office. Two
hundred and forty years before Isaiah the kingdom of Israel had been
divided, after Solomon's apostasy. The glory had departed from both the
kingdom of Israel or Samaria (also called Ephraim), and the kingdom of
Judah. Both had been greatly affected by civil wars and conflicts with
other nations. The kingdom of Israel sunk deeper and deeper, ruled over
by a number of depraved kings, who plunged the people into the grossest
idolatries with the accompanying immoralities, so that God's righteous
judgment fell upon it first. During the prophetic ministry
of our prophet the judgment fell on the ten tribe kingdom of Israel.
About the year 736 B.C., Tiglath-Pileser, the Assyrian king, had killed
Rezin, the king of Damascus, with whom Pekah the king of Samaria had
made an alliance. Tiglath-Pileser then invaded the northern kingdom of
Israel, took many cities in Gilead and Galilee and carried the
inhabitants into his own country. (See 2 Kings 16:5-9; Amos 1:5, etc.)
This was the first captivity of Israel. The rest of the inhabitants of
Samaria, the kingdom of the ten tribes, were carried away by the
successor of Tiglath-Pileser, that is Shalamaneser. (Read about this in
2 Kings 17:3-18, 1 Chronicles 5:26, and Hosea 8:16). Now, Isaiah's home
was in Jerusalem, the capital of the kingdom of Judah, and he witnessed
from there the calamity which had come upon the ten tribes.
Isaiah began his ministry under the reign of Uzziah. He was a good
king, a worshipper of the Lord, yet he did not remove the places of
idolatrous worship. He had a sad end (2 Kings 15:1-5). He is also called
Azariah. Chapter 6 in Isaiah tells us that he had his great vision in
the year when this king died of leprosy.
The son of Uzziah, Jotham, reigned in his stead. He did not trouble
himself about the high places and the idolatrous groves, and the
condition of the nation was that of corruption (2 Kings 15:32-26). He
built cities, castles and towns; he prepared for war in time of peace.
The ancient Assyria had seen its end with Sardanapulus and in its place
arose the two kingdoms of Assyria and Babylonia. Babylonia soon took the
lead and Assyria was joined to the Chaldean monarchy. The dissolution of
the great Assyrian monarchy took place during the reign of Jotham, yet
we have not evidence that Isaiah uttered a definite prophecy during the
reign of Jotham. He probably did, but we cannot locate it in the book.
Then came Ahaz, the twelfth king of Judah. He was an ungodly ruler
and his reign was marked by disaster. (See 2 Chronicles 28; 2 Kings 16.)
In idolatry such as burning incense in the valley of Hinnom, and burning
his children in the fire of idol worship, he was as wicked, or almost so,
as his grandson Manasseh. As a punishment the Lord sent the kings of
Syria and Samaria against him. In one day Pekah the king of Syria killed
a large number of Jews and took 200,000 captive. They were only saved
from deportation by the intercession of the prophet Obed. The full
record of this is found in 2 Chronicles 28. Then Ahaz trembled before
this strong alliance and resolved in calling in the aid of the Assyrian.
It was at that time that prophet and king met at the waterworks as
recorded in chapter 7. The prophet assured the wicked monarch that
Jerusalem had nothing to fear from Syria and Samaria, that Jehovah would
protect Jerusalem. He urged Ahaz to ask a sign, which he refused to do.
Then the Lord gave him a sign, that of the virgin who should conceive
and bring forth a son and call his name Emmanuel. It is a prediction
concerning the virgin birth of Israel's Redeemer King, the Son of God.
The thought is this; How can Jerusalem and Judah perish as long as He,
the Messiah, David's Son and David's Lord, has not come? Isaiah also
told the king that the menace then threatening would be speedily removed,
but that his alliance with the Assyrian would bring disaster. But Ahaz,
though he saw a fulfillment of the prophecy concerning the kings of
Syria and Samaria, did not heed the warning. When an invasion of the
Edomites and Philistines threatened (2 Chronicles 28:17, etc.), he
turned again to his old ally, the king of Assyria. He made him costly
presents. Tiglath-Pileser, as already stated above, conquered the kings
of Syria and Samaria. Ahaz visited his heathen friend and ally in
Damascus, and when he saw there a beautiful altar, he sent a model of it
to Urijah, the priest, in Jerusalem, who constructed one like it, and
afterward Ahaz used it to commit idolatry and all the abominations which
go with it. (See 2 Kings 16.) But the prophecy about disaster through
the Assyrian king was not fulfilled during the lifetime of this wicked
king. It came with Sennacherib's invasion during the reign of the next
king Hezekiah. He invaded the land but could not touch Jerusalem.
Hezekiah, the son of Ahaz, was the very opposite to his wicked
father. He was one of the most godly kings which occupied the throne of
David. He started in with overturning the altars of idolatry and cutting
down the groves where his predecessors had permitted the wicked
religious ceremonies of heathendom. Then the temple was renovated. He
also destroyed the brazen serpent which Moses long ago had made, and
which had been preserved as an object of idolatry, much as ritualistic
Christendom worships the literal cross of wood or metal. He restored
furthermore the observance of Passover. After his successful war with
the Philistines, he decided to cast off the yoke of the Assyrian by not
paying the tribute which his father Ahaz had promised to pay. Then
Sennacherib advanced with a large army and spread ruin in every
direction. Hezekiah fortified Jerusalem and prepared for a siege (2
Chronicles 22:1-8). Then he sent ambassadors to the Assyrian and sued
for peace. Sennacherib demanded a large sum of money and gave him
assurance that the army would be withdrawn (2 Kings 18:13-15). Hezekiah
agreed and stripped even the temple of its treasures to pay the vast sum.
Then Sennacherib went down to Egypt but was defeated by Tirhaka, king of
Ethiopia. Maddened by the defeat he approached Jerusalem again, and sent
messengers from Lachish and demanded its surrender. Hezekiah then spread
the whole matter before the Lord, in the house of the LORD, and received
the answer that the city was safe. Isaiah's ministry in all this is
found in the historical portion of his book. When Sennacherib dared to
advance towards the city, the angel of the Lord slew 185,000 of his men
in one night. It must be remembered that a large portion of the
prophecies of Isaiah up to chapter 39 are occupied with these events,
and can only be rightly understood in the light of the history of Judah
of that period.
Concerning the Authorship of Isaiah
We have stated before that according to Jewish tradition Isaiah
perished by the hands of wicked men by being sawn asunder. Equally
wicked men have "sawn him asunder" in a different way. We mean the
so-called "higher or destructive critics." Did Isaiah really write this
book? Could it be the work of one man? Are there not evidences of a
composite authorship? These and other questions have been raised, and
their answers given by men whose boast is of superior scholarship, of
greater knowledge than the knowledge of the past generations; men who
blasphemously assert that their finite brains have absorbed more
knowledge in these matters than the infinite Lord of Glory, the Lord
Jesus Christ, possessed in the days of His dwelling on earth.
For some 2,500 years no one ever thought of even suggesting that
Isaiah did not write the book which bears his name. The criticism of
this book and the denial of this great prophet being the sole author of
it is a very modern thing. It started with a man by the name of Koppe,
who attacked, in 1780, the genuineness of chapter 1. He was followed by
another theologian who expressed doubt as the Isaiah being the author of
chapters 40-66, generally called the second part of Isaiah.
Rosenmureller, the notorious Eichorn, the Hebraist Gesenius, Ewald and
others took a hand in it in sawing Isaiah asunder, each questioning
certain portions of the book. The great Leipzig professor, Franz
Delitzsch, also joined the band of "scientific butchers," and declared
that the second part of Isaiah is of post-exilic authorship. This was
done by him in 1889, and after this with the year 1890 a veritable flood
of criticism set in, led, by Canon Driver, George Adam Smith, Duhm,
Stade, Hackman, Comill, Cheyne and many others. Their infidel
discoveries have been readily accepted in this country and are now being
taught in Methodist colleges, in the Union Theological Seminary of New
York, the Chicago University, in Baptist, Presbyterian and other
denominational institutions. But let it be said that there are also
scholars just as mature as these critics who stand up for the Isaiahan
authorship of the whole book. We mention Stier, Weber, Strachey,
Naegelsbach, Barnes, Bodenkamp, Cobb, Benjamin Douglass, Green,
Thirtle, and many others.
The critics have invented a Deutero-Isaiah, that is a second Isaiah,
who should have written the second part. Then another set of "scholars"
with their scientific microscope discovered that this Deutero-Isaiah
could not have written everything of this second part; that there was a
third, or Trito-isaiah, who wrote chapters 55-66. They also found out
with their scholarship that parts were written in Babylon, and other
parts in Palestine. They are still at it, "sawing Isaiah asunder." To
mention their methods, their hair-splittings, their philological
objections and their claims would fill pages, and we would, if we were
to follow it, oblige our readers to examine the inventions of the
natural, darkened heart of man, which does not believe in God. There are
1,292 verses in the book of Isaiah. Out of these the ultra critics allow
262 verses to be genuine and the rest, 1,030 verses, are rejected by
them.
We repeat here what we say in the studies of Isaiah at the close of
our analysis and annotations.
But what does all this mean? It is a denial of what is written in
the first verse of this book, "The vision of Isaiah, the son of Amoz,
which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah,
Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah." And if several men wrote this book, if part
was written during the Babylonian captivity and other parts added after
the captivity, then this statement with which the book begins is untrue.
This first verse assures us that the book is a whole, that all we find
in it is the vision of one man. To deny this breaks down the
truthfulness of the book and reduces it to the level of common
literature. This is what the critics have done. But the book of Isaiah
is quoted in the New Testament. The Jews always believed this book to
have been written by Isaiah. They held this belief when our Lord was on
the earth. He Himself read in the synagogue of Nazareth from chapter 61
which critics deny to be the writing of Isaiah. Quotations from Isaiah
are frequently found in different parts of the New Testament. Twenty-one
times we read of Isaiah and his words in the New Testament. The phrases
used are the following: "Spoken by the prophet Esaias;" "Fulfilled which
was spoken by Esaias;" "Well did Esaias prophesy;" "In the book of the
words of Esaias;" "As said the prophet;" "These things said Esaias;"
"Well spake the Holy Spirit by Esaias," "Esaias also saith;" "Esaias
saith." This is evidence enough that the Lord and the Holy Spirit
through the evangelists and the Apostle Paul set their seal to this
uncontradicted and unanimous belief that Isaiah wrote this book. The
critics by their methods impeach the testimony of the Lord Himself or
charge the infallible Lord of Glory to have been limited in His
knowledge and that He acquiesced in the current traditional belief of
the Jewish people, knowing better Himself.
All the arguments of the critics are disproven by the book itself.
One only needs to study this book and the careful study will bring out
the unanswerable fact of the unity of the book of Isaiah. Only one
person could have written such a book and that person did not write it
by himself, but was the mouthpiece of Jehovah. This is the conclusion of
an intelligent and spiritual study of the book itself. The silly and
arbitrary restrictions the critics make, that Isaiah could not have
written certain passages, because it was beyond his horizon, or that he
could not have mentioned Cyrus, the Persian king, by name, over 150
years before he was born, springs from the subtle infidelity which is at
the bottom of the destructive criticism, which denies the supernatural
altogether.
The Message of Isaiah
The name Isaiah means "Jehovah saves" or "Jehovah is salvation." He
has well been called the evangelical prophet. There are more direct
quotations as well as indirect allusions to this great book in the New
Testament than from any other prophetic book. Josephus relates that
Cyrus, the Persian king, was greatly moved by the reading of the book of
Isaiah, one of the evidences, that Isaiah was not compiled after the
exile. In the passage where Josephus speaks of the edict issued by Cyrus
permitting the Jews to return, he says: "This was known to Cyrus by his
reading the book which Isaiah left behind him of his prophecies; for
this prophet has said that God had spoken thus to him in a secret vision,
'My will is that Cyrus, whom I have appointed to be king over many and
great nations, send back My people to their own land, and build My
temple.' This was foretold by Isaiah 140 years before the temple was
demolished. Accordingly, when Cyrus read this and admired the divine
power, an earnest desire and ambition came upon him to fulfill what was
so written." The early church held Isaiah in great esteem and recognized
its great message. When Augustine had been converted he asked Ambrose
which book he would advise him to study first. Ambrose told him, "The
prophecies of Isaiah." All the great men of God, the instruments of the
Spirit of God like Luther, Calvin, Knox and others acknowledged the
greatness of this book and its message.
What Peter says as to the contents of the writings of the prophets
of God is more true of Isaiah than of any of the other prophetic books
except the Psalms. "The Suffering of Christ and the glory that should
follow." Isaiah's message reveals the Redeemer and King of Israel. He is
the "Holy One of Israel" mentioned by this title twenty-five times. The
Redeemer of Israel is Jehovah the Creator. He announced His virgin birth,
the child to be born of the virgin, the Son given, and reveals the
titles of that Son (9:6). He describes Him in His lowliness, His
tenderness, His miracles, as the servant of Jehovah, and above all as
the sin-bearer in that wonderful fifty-third chapter. But how much more
Isaiah was permitted to reveal of His glory. He pictures in prophetic
vision that kingdom which is yet to come, and which will come with the
return of our Saviour-Lord. The details of His coming, His glory and His
kingdom are unfolded in the special lecture on this subject which the
reader finds with the other lectures at the close of the annotations.
Another great message is the predictions of future glories for and
blessings for Israel, Jerusalem and the nations. These have been grouped
by us in the third lecture on Isaiah under the following heads:
(1) Israel's Restoration to their Land,
(2) Israel's Spiritual Blessings,
(3) The Blessings for the Land,
(4) The Future of Jerusalem,
(5) The Future Blessings of the Nations,
(6) The Blessings for all Creation.
The Division and Scope of Isaiah
The book is an organic whole which proves that it can never be the
piecemeal work of a number of men who assumed the name of Isaiah. That
the language of the second part differs so much from the style of the
first is no argument against the unity of the book at all. The style
changes according to the character of the prophecy. "His style is suited
to the subject and changeth with it. In his denunciations and
threatenings, he is earnest and vehement; in his consolations, he is
mild and insinuating. He so lives in the events he describes that the
future becomes to him as the past and present" (Hengstenberg). If we
believe that Isaiah was but the mouthpiece of Jehovah, that he wrote
under the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit, as He moved him and
put the words into his pen, all difficulties disappear. But as we have
already stated the scope of the book is conclusive evidence of both, the
inspiration of the book and its Isaiahic authorship.
There are two great sections first of all. The one, chapters 1-35,
contains the earlier prophecies. Chapters 40-66 the later prophecies.
Between these two portions is a historical parenthesis contained in
chapters 36-39.
in the earlier prophecies judgments are announced upon Jerusalem,
Judah and upon nations, while blessings of the future are also given,
but they take a secondary place. In the later prophecies we likewise
read of judgments but the major portion reveals the glories and
blessings of the future.
In the earlier prophecies the Assyrian invasion as it took place is
announced, giving at the same time a prophetic forecast of a future
invasion from the north in the time of the end. In the later prophecies
the Assyrian is no longer mentioned. The Babylonian captivity announced
in the thirty-ninth chapter is seen by the prophet as past and he
predicts the return and beyond that the return of the remnant from the
greater dispersion and the final glory of the kingdom with the coming of
the King.
We shall now give the scope and division of these books.
I. THE EARLIER PROPHECIES (1-35)
1. Prophecies under the Reign of Uzziah, Jotham and Ahaz (1-12)
2. The judgment of the Nations and the Future Day of Jehovah (13-27)
3. The Six Woes. Judgment Ruins and Restoration Glories (28-35)
Each section of the earlier prophecies foretells great judgments
but each section ends with the vision of a regathered and restored
people.
THE HISTORICAL PARENTHESIS (36-39)
II. THE LATER PROPHECIES (40-66)
1. In Babylon: Deliverance Promised through Cyrus (40-48)
2. The Servant of Jehovah: His Suffering and His Glory (49-57)
3. Jewish History in the Endtime: The Glory of Israel and of the
Coming Age (58-66)
Each section begins with a chapter which is the key to the whole
section. Each concludes with a description of the two classes which
compose the nation especially in the last days, and that there is no
peace for the wicked but punishment.
Analysis and Annotations
The reader will find that every chapter has been analyzed as to its
contents. We have not made copious annotations, because the three
lectures on the book of Isaiah as found at the close of the analysis
cover the contents of this book in such a manner that detailed
annotations for a study of the book can be omitted. We suggest that all
who desire to study this
great prophecy in a closer way read carefully the introduction, and
after that the three lectures on "The Scope of Isaiah," "The Messianic
Predictions" and "Future Glories and Blessings." These lectures should
be carefully studied and every passage should be looked up. After this
has been done, take up the book section by section and follow the
analysis we give and consult the lectures whenever needed.
I. THE EARLIER PROPHECIES (1-35)
1. Prophecies under the Reign of Uzziah, Jotham, and Ahaz (1-12)
CHAPTER 1
Jehovah's Case Against Judah and the Promise Of Restoration
The title of the book and contents (1:1)
The moral and religious decline of the nations (1:2-15)
Jehovah's exhortation and appeal (1:16-20)
The result of obstinate refusal (1:21-24)
The promise of restoration (1: 25-3 1)
The promised restoration of Jerusalem is still future. The
"afterward" when the earthly Jerusalem is to be called "The City of
Righteousness" refers to the second coming of Christ. Compare with
Jeremiah 33:14-26.
CHAPTER 2
Zion's Future Glory and the Day of Jehovah
The glories in the latter days (2:1-4)
Exhortation to walk in the light (2:5)
The corruption of the people (2:6-9)
The day of Jehovah (2:10-22)
The vision of verses 1-4 is altogether future. When Israel is
converted and in possession of the land, when once more a house of
Jehovah will stand in Israel's land, then this great prediction will be
fulfilled. Compare with Micah 4:1-5. The Day of the Lord (Jehovah) is
the day of His visible manifestation to deal with the earth in judgment.
Compare with Isaiah 24, etc., Zephaniah 1.
CHAPTER 3
judgments upon the Rulers and the Daughters Of Zion
The judgment against the rulers (3:1-7)
Jerusalem's sad condition (3:8-9)
Jehovah's message (3:10-15)
The worldliness of the daughters of Zion (3:16-23)
Their humiliation in judgment (3:24-4:1)
This chapter describes the corrupt conditions among the professing
people of God in Isaiah's day. A similar corruption and worldliness
prevailing in our age demands divine judgment.
CHAPTER 4
Zion's Future Cleansing and Glory
Israel regathered and cleansed (4:2-4)
Jehovah's visible glory revealed (4:5-6)
The Branch of the Lord (Jehovah) is the Lord Jesus Christ. After
judgment has been executed cleansing is promised and glory is
established on Mount Zion.
CHAPTER 5
The Song of the Vineyard and the Six Woes
The song of the vineyard and Jehovah's lament (5:1-4)
The judgment upon the vineyard (5:5-7)
The wild grapes (5:8-23)
First woe against covetousness (5:8-10)
Second woe against fleshly lusts (5:11-17)
Third woe against mockers (5:18-19)
Fourth woe against moral insensibility (5:20)
Fifth woe against conceit (5:21)
Sixth woe against lawlessness (5:22-23)
Jehovah's anger and the invader announced (5:24-30)
Compare the song of the vineyard with Matthew 21:33-44. The wild
grapes of Israel fully correspond to the wild grapes of nominal
Christendom. "If God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He
also spare not thee" (Rom. 11:21).
CHAPTER 6
The Prophet's Vision and New Commission
The time of the vision (6:1)
Jehovah of hosts (6:2-4)
The prophet's woe (6:5)
The cleansing (6:6-7)
"Here am I. Send me." (6:8)
The new commission (6:9-10)
The limitation of the judgment (6:11-13)
Note the eight steps: vision, conversion, self-judgment, cleansing,
self-surrender, communion, commission, intercession. This vision is the
glory of Christ (John 12:41). The fulfillment of the hardening judgment
of the nation, the blinding of their eyes did not set in completely in
Isaiah's day. Study carefully Matt. 13:14-15; John 12:39-41; Acts
28:25-27.
However, Israel's blindness is not permanent.
CHAPTER 7
The Prophet before King Ahaz
The king in trouble (7:1-2)
Isaiah sent and his message (7:3-9)
A sign offered and refused (7:10-12)
The sign: The virgin birth (7:13-16)
The advent of the Assyrian (7:17-25)
Study carefully the historic setting of this chapter and 2
Chronicles 28:1-27. See lecture on "Messianic Predictions." In verse 14
the virgin birth of Christ is announced. Much of the controversy is
around the word "virgin" (almah), which the critics declare does not
mean a virgin but a young married woman. However, they err. In Genesis
24:43, Exodus 2:8, Psalm 68:25, Song of Solomon 1:3, etc., the same word
is used, and it means "virgin" in these and other passages. The
Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Old Testament made some 300 years
B.C., translates the Hebrew "almah" with "pardenos," the Greek for
virgin. Matthew 1:23 confirms this Messianic prediction.
CHAPTER 8
Jehovah's Word Through Isaiah and the Assyrian Announced
The divine instruction and Maher-shalal-hash-baz (8:1-4)
The Assyrian to come (8:5-8)
The answer of faith (8:9-10)
A word to the faithful remnant (8:11-20)
The coming great distress (8:21-22)
The names are significant. Isaiah heard the word
"Maher-shalal-hash-baz," and then is told to call his newborn son by
this name. The name means "swift for spoil, hasty for prey." Isaiah's
other son was named "Shear-Jashub,"
which means "a remnant shall return."
The names of the sure witnesses are equally full of meaning. Urijah
(Jehovah is light), Zechariah (Jehovah remembers), and Jeberechiah
(Blessed of Jehovah).
Verses 14 and 15 are deeply interesting. It is the rejection of
Immanuel, Christ. Compare with chapter 28:16 and read the following
passages: Luke 2:34, 20:18; Matthew 21:44; Rom. 9:32, 33; 1 Pet. 2:8.
Also note the quotation of verse 18 in Hebrews 2:13. The great
distress is a description of what awaits apostate Israel.
CHAPTER 9
The Message of Hope Concerning Israel's Future
and the Impending Judgments
The Messiah, His Name, His rule, His kingdom (9:1-7)
Judgment upon Israel (9:8-12)
The impenitent nation (9:13-17)
The wrath of Jehovah (9:18-21)
Unrighteous judges and three questions (10:1-4)
Matthew 4:12-16 quotes the opening verses of this chapter. This
applies to His double advent. The first and second coming of the Lord
are wonderfully blended together in verses 6-7. The nation in
impenitence and God's wrath against them has had its past and present
fulfillment. It is not yet exhausted. It looks forward to the coming day
of wrath.
CHAPTER 10
The Assyrian, His invasion of Immanuel's land, and His end
The first four verses belong to the preceding chapter.
A description of the Assyrian enemy (10:5-11)
The overthrow of his army announced (10:12-15)
The punishment (10:16-19)
The return of the remnant (10:20-23)
The faithful remnant comforted (10:24-27)
The Assyrians march against Jerusalem (10:28-32)
Jehovah's intervention (10:33-34)
This is an interesting and important chapter. The Assyrian enemy
was used by God to punish his people. In chapters 7 and 8 his coming
was announced. In this chapter we read a fuller description of this
great troubler and how he invaded the land of Israel. God addresses him
as the rod He uses in anger against His people. While all this had a
past fulfillment a similar invasion of the land of Palestine will be
enacted before the times of the Gentiles close and the King of Kings
appears. The Assyrian of the end time comes from the North; therefore he
is called in Daniel's prophecy "the King of the North." Antiochus
Epiphanes is a type of this final outward foe of Israel. Study carefully
with this chapter Isaiah 14:24-25; Isaiah 30:31-33; Micah 5:1-7; Daniel
8:23-26; 11:40-45; Psalm 74:1-10; Psalm 89. Jehovah shall suddenly make
an end of him. Verses 33-34 compare with Daniel 11:45.
CHAPTER 11
The Coming King and His Kingdom
The King: Who He is and what He will do (11:1-5)
The peace and blessing He brings (11:6-10)
The gathering of scattered Israel (11:11-16)
It is a great vision of the future which this chapter unfolds. The
critics deny that the blessed Person mentioned in the opening verses is
our Lord Jesus. They think Hezekiah or Josiah is meant. 2 Thess. 2:8
shows that it is our Lord. Link verses 1-5 with chapter 9:6-7. Again His
coming in humiliation and His coming in exaltation are here interwoven.
We behold His reign in righteousness. Verses 6-10 need not to be
spiritualized, as it is so often done. Romans tells us (8:18-23) that a
literal groaning creation, travailing together in pain until now, will
be delivered of its groans and curses. The hour of deliverance strikes
with the "manifestation of the Sons of God." However, this manifestation
does not take place till the Lord is manifested the second time. In the
coming kingdom to be established on earth and ruled over by the King
from above, creation will be put back into its original condition.
Israel's regathering will be from a worldwide dispersion. It will
be "the second time." It does not and cannot mean the return from
Babylon, but the return from their present exile of almost 2,000 years.
CHAPTER 12
Israel's Salvation Hymn
When Israel will sing (12:1)
What Israel will sing (12:2-3)
To whom Israel will sing (12:4-5)
The Holy One in the midst (12:6)
It is Israel's future song of praise for salvation. Read in this
light what a wonderful meaning this little chapter has. The song will be
sung by the delivered and blessed remnant "in that day." In what day?
When the Lord arises to judge; when He is manifested in His glory; when
He brings back the captivity of His people.
2. The judgment of the Nations and the
Future Day of Jehovah (13-27)
CHAPTER 13
The Burden of Babylon
Jehovah's call to the judgment of Babylon (13:1-5)
The day of Jehovah: When Babylon falls (13:6-16)
Babylon overthrown (13:17-22)
The great judgments announced in this part of Isaiah were only
partially fulfilled in the past. The great Babylon which came into
existence as the mistress of the world after this prophecy had been
given, fell by the Medes (verse 17 and Daniel 5). The judgment of this
Babylon is meant here first. But the Babylon of the past is the type of
a Babylon of the future, another mistress of the ecclesiastical and
commercial world. It is yet to appear in its final form (Rev. 17-18).
Its fall comes in the day of the Lord. This great day is described in
verses 6-16 in this chapter.
CHAPTER 14
Israel's Restoration and Blessing After Babylon is
Fallen and the Burden of Philistia
Israel's restoration and exaltation (14:1-2)
The proverb against the king of Babylon (14:3-11)
The triumph over Lucifer (Satan) (14:12-20)
Babylon's destruction (14:21-23)
The Assyrian broken (14:24-27)
The burden of Philistia (14:28-32)
When the last great Babylon is overthrown the Lord will remember
His people and Jerusalem in mercy. He will then set His people in rest
in their own land. The king of Babylon here in this chapter is not
Nebuchadnezzar, nor his grandson Belshazzar, but the final great king of
Babylon. It is the little horn of Daniel 7, the great political head of
the restored Roman empire. Behind this final king of the times of the
Gentiles looms up Satan, who energized that wicked and false king. The
description of him who was "Lucifer," the light-bearer, and his fall is
of deep interest.
CHAPTER 15
The Burden of Moab
The Destruction Announced (15:1-9)
CHAPTER 16
The Burden of Moab Continued
God's call to Moab to repent (16:1-5)
Moab's pride and judgment (16:6-14)
The fifteenth and sixteenth chapters form one prophecy. Moab's land
bordered on the land of Israel. The historical facts concerning Moab may
be studied and followed through the following passages: First Samuel
14:47; Second Samuel 8:2; Second Kings 1:1; 3:4; Second Chronicles 20;
Second Kings 8:20; 24:2. Moab's sin and judgment are frequently mentioned
by the prophet. See Amos 2:1-3. A great past judgment of Moab's is
described in 15:1-9. The call in chapter 16:1 to send a lamb has nothing
to do with Him who is "the lamb of God." The exhortation becomes clear
by reading Second Samuel 8:2 and Second Kings 3:4, 5. Christ, however,
is in view in verse 5, chapter 16. A remnant of Moab is to be left and
in the time of the end we find Moab mentioned again. Read Isaiah 11:14
and Daniel 11:41. The final ruin of Moab is described in Isaiah
25:10-12.
CHAPTER 17
The Burden of Damascus and Judgment upon Ephraim
Damascus to be a ruinous heap (17:1-3)
Judgment upon Ephraim (17:4-11)
Woe to the enemies of Israel (17:12-14)
Damascus was the ancient city of Syria, mentioned for the first
time in Gen. 15. Syria and Ephraim had made common cause against the
house of David. Tiglath-pileser, King of Assyria, executed the judgment
upon Damascus and made of it a ruinous heap. But the judgment is also
future. And the enemies of Israel, which trouble His people, will be
troubled "in that day." It is a solemn word with which this chapter
closes, "This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them
that rob us."
CHAPTER 18
When Israel Will be Brought Back
The land beyond the rivers of Ethiopia (18:1)
The ambassadors sent (18:2)
The trumpet blown and Jehovah's Message (18:3-6)
Israel restored to Mount Zion (18:7)
An interesting prophecy concerning a nation of great power, which
will be used in the bringing back of God's ancient people.
CHAPTER 19
The Burden of Egypt
The judgment announced (19:1-15)
Egypt blest with Israel in the last days (19:16-25)
Egypt has passed through many judgments. Hundreds of years after
the divine predictions had been given the Word of the Lord was
accomplished. The final judgment upon Egypt comes in that day when the
Lord appears in visible glory. Egypt will come, like other nations, to
the front once more at the close of the times of the Gentiles. But mercy
is also in store for Egypt. Egypt will be called "His people." When the
Lord smites Egypt that land will return to Him. It will then be lifted
out of the dust and receive a place of blessing only second to that
which Israel will enjoy.
CHAPTER 20
The Near-Punishment of Egypt by Assyria
Isaiah walks naked and barefooted (20:1-2)
The meaning of his action (20:3)
Egypt punished by Assyria (20:4-6)
A strong party in Jerusalem looked to Egypt for help from the
threatening Assyrian invasion. This prophecy shows the utter
hopelessness of expecting help from Egypt. The victory of Assyria over
Egypt is predicted.
CHAPTER 21
The Burdens of the Desert of the Sea, of Dumah, and Arabia
The burden of the desert of the sea (Babylon) (21:1-10)
The burden of Dumah (21:11-12)
The burden upon Arabia (21:13-17)
The fall of Babylon is predicted, for Media is mentioned. This event
was over two centuries in the future. Isaiah beholds the Persian hosts
advancing. Such is prophecy, "history written in advance."
CHAPTER 22
The Burden of the Valley of Vision (Jerusalem)
Jerusalem's deplorable state (22:1-4)
The invading armies (22:5-7)
The siege and the calamity (22:8-14)
Shebna (22:15-19)
Eliakim (22:20-25)
This is another intensely interesting prophecy. Jerusalem has
passed through many sieges and at last in part the prophecy has been
fulfilled. But there is another siege of Jerusalem impending. It will
come after the message of the fall of the final Babylon. See Zechariah
14. Still more interesting are Shebna and Eliakim, mentioned in this
chapter. Shebna, the proud one, is the usurper, the type of the
Antichrist. Eliakim is the type of Christ, He whose right it is to reign.
It is Christ displacing Antichrist, which is seen in verses 15-25.
Compare 22:22 with Rev. 3:7.
CHAPTER 23
The Burden of Tyre
Tyre's great disaster (23:1-5)
The complete overthrow (23:6-14)
Tyre's future restoration and degradation (23:15-18)
Tyre typifies the commercial expansion and glory of the world.
Behind this commercial glory stands Satan, the god of this age. Read
Ezekiel 28:11-19. Nebuchadnezzar carried out judgment upon Tyre (Ezek.
29:17-18). A revival of Tyre is also predicted. We call attention to a
statement in the beautiful Forty-fifth Psalm, a millennial Psalm. When
the King appears, surrounded by His own, "The daughter of Tyre shall be
there with a gift" (Ps. 45:12). It is what is indicated in Isaiah's
vision, "And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the Lord."
CHAPTER 24
The Day of Jehovah
Jehovah dealing with the earth (24:1)
All classes affected (24:2)
The Desolations described (24:3-12)
The Jewish Remnant during the trouble (24:13-20)
The punishment of the high ones and kings (24:21-22)
Jehovah's reign in Mount Zion and Jerusalem (24:23)
A marvellous chapter. Not a word of it has ever been fulfilled. The
great day of Jehovah is that day of which Isaiah speaks in chapter
2, Zephaniah in chapter 1, Zechariah in chapters 12-14 and every other
prophet. It is the day of 2 Thess. 1:7-10.
Notice that chapters 24-27 are a continuous prophecy. To break them
into chapters has been a mistake. Study the phrase "in that day." Find
what Jehovah will do in the day of His manifestation. He will judge and
He will bless. Singing begins in that day.
The high ones in verse 21 are the wicked spirits in the heavenly
places (Ephesians 6). The Kings on earth are the Kings mentioned in
Psalm 2 and Rev. 19:19. Their visitation after many days will be a
visitation of judgment and not of blessing.
CHAPTER 25
Israel's Praise and the Blessings of the Kingdom
The praise of the delivered nation (25:1-5)
The blessing for all nations during the Kingdom (25:6-8)
Israel rejoicing after waiting (25:9)
Moab and Israel's enemies judged (25:10-12)
In the foreground of this chapter stands another hymn of praise,
which redeemed Israel will sing in "that day." Jehovah has done
wonderful things for His people. Compare with chapter 12:5; Psalm 46:8-9, etc.
The blessings for all nations are described in verses 6-8. The
mountain is Zion (Isaiah 4:5-6, Psalm 132:13-14). From there the streams
of blessing will gush forth. Then "all the ends of the earth shall
remember, and turn unto the Lord, and all the kindreds of the nations
shall worship before thee" (Ps. 22:27). Darkness will be removed and all
tears wiped away. All this does not relate to the eternal state, but to
conditions on the earth.
CHAPTER 26
Judah's Glory Song
Praise for Jehovah's faithfulness and mercies (26:1-6)
The experiences of waiting during the night (26:7-11)
The assurance of peace and deliverance (26:12-18)
Assurance of restoration and preservation (26:19-21)
We call attention to verses 12-21. Annihilationists base upon these
words the evil doctrine that the wicked are not raised, but destroyed.
The fact, however, is that verses 13 and 14 do not teach a physical
resurrection. The teaching is that the lordship of other nations over
Israel is forever gone. No other lords will ever rise again to domineer
over Israel.
Death and resurrection are often used in the Old Testament as
symbols of Israel's national death and national resurrection. See Hosea
6:2; Ezekiel 37; Daniel 12:2 and verse 19 of the present chapter.
CHAPTER 27
Israel's Enemies Overthrown and the Great Restoration
Assyria, Babylon and Egypt punished (27:1)
What Jehovah has done and will do (27:2-11)
The vineyard established and the glorious consummation (27:12-13)
This is a fitting finale to the second section of this book.
Israel's chief enemies are indicated by the leviathan, the serpent and
the dragon. Behind them stands the serpent and the dragon, Satan. When
these enemies are overthrown and Satan is bound then "Israel shall
blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit."
The last word tells of Israel's literal regathering under the
blowing of the trumpet (Matt. 24:31) and their future worship in
Jerusalem. The ending of the first and second sections are
alike. They reveal Israel's future glory and blessing.
3. The Six Woes of the Prophet, Judgment Ruins
and Restoration Glories to Come (28-35)
CHAPTER 28
The First Woe and the Message of Assurance
Ephraim addressed (28:1-6)
Jerusalem equally corrupt and guilty (28:7-8)
The prophet mocked (28:9-10)
The prophet's answer (28:11-13)
Their covenant with death (28:14-15)
The message of assurance (28:16-22)
How Jehovah judges (28:23-29)
The first woe is directed against the ten tribes, Ephraim. The
judgment is that which fell upon them through the invasion of
Sennacherib. Yet glory is also in store for the scattered, so-called,
lost tribes. A remnant will return. Verse 5 describes this glory.
The prophecy here and in the subsequent chapters was not by any
means fulfilled when the Assyrian came into Israel's land. Its greater
fulfillment is in the future, when the Assyrian once more invades
Israel's land. See chapter 10. The covenant with death and agreement
with hell (verse 15) must be compared with Daniel 9:27. It is the time
when the apostate Jewish nation enters into a covenant with the coming
prince and worships Antichrist. This verse and the message from the Lord
in verses 16-22 are deeply interesting.
CHAPTER 29
The Second Woe Against Ariel and the Third Woe
The fall of Ariel (Jerusalem) predicted (29:1-4)
Their enemies dealt with by Jehovah (29:5-8)
The people's condition: Blinded and religious formalists (29:9-14)
The third woe (29:15-16)
In that Day: joy and blessing for the meek and iniquity punished
(29:17-24)
Ariel means "the lion of God." It is one of the names of Jerusalem.
A great siege of Jerusalem is predicted. Neither Sennacherib's invasion
nor the siege of Jerusalem by the Romans accomplished this prophecy. At
the end of this age the King of the North (Assyrian) and confederate
nations with him will besiege Jerusalem. Of this the chapter gives us
the history. Sennacherib's army is a type of the King of the North. Read
again chapter 10 and study with this chapter before us Zechariah 12-14;
Micah 4:11; 5:4-15, and especially the last part of Daniel 11. After
that last siege of Jerusalem "that day" will bring blessing for the
faithful and punishment for the wicked.
CHAPTER 30
The Fourth Woe Against Alliance With Egypt
The alliance and its failure (30:1-7)
The written table against the rebellious people (30:8-14)
Jehovah's word of encouragement (30:15-17)
The nation blest and restored (30:18-21)
Idolatry ceases and the land restored (30:22-26)
The accomplishment by the coming of the Lord (30:27-33)
While this chapter had a significance, like all these prophetic
utterances, for the people in Isaiah's day, its complete revelation can
only be grasped in the light of what is yet to come. The Jewish people
have never yet possessed the blessings of verses 18-20. These will come
as a result of the second coming of Christ. See verse 30.
CHAPTER 31
The Fifth Woe Against Them that Go Down to Egypt
The Egyptian Alliance condemned again (31:1-3)
Jehovah promises to deliver Jerusalem (31:4-9)
All looks forward towards the future. It is Jerusalem's glorious
future. The Lord will deliver it; He will preserve it (verse 5).
CHAPTER 32
The Coming King and His Kingdom
The King and His rule (32:1-8)
The careless women addressed (32:9-12)
The judgment of the land and the city (32:13-14)
The hope of the future (32:15-20)
The connection with the previous chapter is obvious. In chapter
31:4-9 the coming of the Lord for the deliverance of His people and the
punishment of their enemies is predicted. "So shall the Lord of Hosts
come down to fight Mount Zion and the hill thereof." And now in the
beginning of chapter 32 the coming King and His righteous reign is
revealed. The King is the Man Christ Jesus, "a hiding place from the
wind and a cover from the tempest."
Verses 13-14 describe once more the judgment which rested upon the
land and the city. But it is not permanent. "Until the Spirit be poured
upon us from on high." This great outpouring of the Spirit connected
with the restoration of Israel's land has not yet taken place. It comes
in that day. Read Joel 2.
CHAPTER 33
Sixth Woe Against the Assyrian and What Is to Follow
The judgment announced (33:1)
The prayer of the faithful remnant (33:2-6)
The judgment executed (33:7-13)
The judge in the midst of Zion (33:14-16)
The King beheld in His beauty (33:17-23)
Healing and forgiveness the result of the coming of the King (33:24)
This is the last mention which is made of the Assyrian apart from
the historical chapters. Here again the judgment of the final Assyrian
is in view. When the Lord arises and is exalted the judgment of the last
great enemy of Israel will be executed. This judgment scene is described
in verses 9-13. The prayer of the faithful remnant is recorded in verses
2-6. The remnant is that portion of the nation which holds to Jehovah
and His word in the last days. Their prayer will be answered by the King,
whom they shall see in His beauty. What Zion will be then and what the
Lord will be to His earthly people is seen in the rest of the chapter.
CHAPTER 34
The Day of Jehovah
Addressed to the world: Jews and Gentiles involved (34:1)
The shaking of the earth and the heavens (34:2-8)
The day of vengeance (34:9-17)
This is one of the darkest chapters in the Bible. A worldwide
judgment is described such as has never taken place in the history of
the world. The indignation of the Lord is then upon all nations and upon
their armies. Like chapter 33, it tells of the great judgments to come.
CHAPTER 35
Restoration Glory and the Kingdom
Creation blest and the glory of the Lord revealed (35:1-2)
The spiritual and material blessings of the kingdom (35:3-9)
The return of the ransomed of the Lord (35:10)
What follows the great judgments of the day of Jehovah, when our
Lord Jesus Christ is revealed from heaven in flaming fire, is now
brought forward in this final chapter of the first great part of
Isaiah's vision. The unscriptural view, that the coming of the Lord in
judgment means the complete end of the world, is once more answered.
After judgment ruin comes restoration glory. What that glory is we find
in this chapter. Read it carefully and also the "Studies in Isaiah"
which follow this analysis. The last verse shows the ransomed of the
Lord returning to Zion, delivered from sorrow and sighing, filled with
joy and singing salvation songs. It is the bringing back to their own
land of a delivered people.
A brief word of review. Each section of Part I, chapters 1-35,
foretells great judgments. Judgments upon Jerusalem, the land of Judah,
the nations, the whole world. These visions were not at all fulfilled in
the past judgments. The day of the Lord ("in that day" ba yom hahu, a
phrase so often used by Isaiah) will bring these threatened judgments.
But there are the predictions of restoration and blessing, which always
follow that day. Each of the three sections end with the vision of a
regathered and restored people, brought back to their land. The scope
is perfect because it is divine.
THE HISTORICAL PARENTHESIS (36-39)
The center of the book of Isaiah is a brief but deeply interesting
historical account of events during the reign of King Hezekiah. His name
is mentioned not less than thirty-one times in these chapters. His great
works in reformation and otherwise are recorded in 2 Kings 18:4-7,
2 Chronicles 29-30:5-22, 2 Kings 20:20. From Proverbs 25:1 we learn that
he was a great lover of the Word of God, for he had it copied, perhaps
by many scribes. He was 25 years old when he ascended the throne and
reigned 29 years, 727-699 B.C. No doubt he was one of the greatest
kings of Judah.
The events recorded in these chapters are not put together
chronologically. The king's sickness, prayer and recovery occurred
before the attempts of Sennacherib to take Jerusalem and the subsequent
complete overthrow of the Assyrian hosts. This arrangement has its
meaning. These historical chapters are designed for an appendix to the
earlier prophecies (1-35) and for an introduction to the later
prophecies (40-66). The Assyrian enemy is repeatedly predicted in the
earlier prophecies. Indeed he is seen as the enemy of God's people, the
rod of God's anger to punish His disobedient people. How the Assyrian
came and the angel of the Lord smote the camp is therefore put first,
because it is related to the first prophecies of Isaiah. In connection
with Hezekiah's pride in chapter 39 the future Babylonian captivity is
announced. The later prophecies look upon the people as in Babylon,
assuring the remnant of restoration, not alone from the dispersion in
Babylon but the future great restoration, the regathering from all
countries.
We give a brief analysis of these four chapters and leave it to the
reader to gather up the blessed lessons of confidence in God,
dependence upon Him, of prayer, as well as others, in which these
chapters abound.
CHAPTER 36
The Threatening Enemy
The Assyrian invasion (36:1-3)
Rabshakeh's mockery (36:4-10)
Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah's Request (36:11)
Rabshakeh's address in Hebrew defying God (36:12-20)
The silence of the people (36:21)
The terror of Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah (36:22)
CHAPTER 37
Hezekiah in the House of the Lord and
Sennacherib's Second Attempt
Hezekiah's humiliation and Isaiah sent for (37:1-5)
The message from the prophet (37:6-7)
Rabshakeh's letter (37:8-13)
Hezekiah's prayer (37:14-20)
The prayer answered (37:21-35)
The army of Sennacherib judged (37:36)
The judgment upon Sennacherib (37:38)
CHAPTER 38
Hezekiah's Sickness and Healing
Isaiah's startling message (38:1)
Hezekiah's prayer (38:2-3)
The prayer heard and the sign (38:4-8)
The king's sorrow and joy, a psalm of praise (38:9-20)
The remedy for the recovery (38:21-22)
The message of approaching death startled the king because at that
time he had no son. If he had died what then would have become of the
Messianic hope through the house of David? Beautiful it is to hear the
Lord say through Isaiah, "Thus saith the Lord, the God of David, thy
father." Before that Isaiah gave him the message "For I will defend this
city to save it for Mine own sake and for My servant David's sake.
CHAPTER 39
Hezekiah's Self-Exaltation
The ambassadors of Merodach-baladan (39:1)
Hezekiah's boasting (39:2)
Isaiah's inquiry (39:3-4)
The Babylonian captivity announced (39:5-7)
Hezekiah's submission and comfort (39:8)
The prediction of Isaiah of the Babylonian captivity, fulfilled
through King Nebuchadnezzar about 100 years after these words were
spoken, is startling. The reader will bear in mind that the Assyrian was
not yet overcome, for the sickness and self-exaltation of Hezekiah
preceded the judgment of Sennacherib's army. The Assyrian and not
Babylon was the threatening enemy. God's Spirit alone could enable
him to make such a prediction.
II. THE LATER PROPHECIES OF COMFORT AND GLORY (40-66)
Like the first part this second part of Isaiah has three sections.
The three sections of the first part revealed the judgments to come upon
the Jewish people, Jerusalem, the nations and the earth. The three
sections of the second part reveal the great blessings in store for the
people of Israel, Jerusalem, the nations and the earth, after the
judgments are passed. These sections give the past, present, and the
future history of the Jewish people.
In the first section (40-48) they are seen prophetically in Babylon,
but about to be delivered and brought back to the land. Cyrus is
predicted as the chosen instrument. However, this section looks also
beyond the return of the remnant from Babylon. Their present dispersion
and coming restoration is predicted as well.
In the second section (49-5 7) we find this period of their history
more fully brought forward. In this section the servant of Jehovah is
more fully revealed. He came to His own and they received Him not. They
hid their faces from Him and esteemed Him not. In consequence of this
rejection Israel is not gathered (49:5), while those who are afar Off,
the Gentiles and the isles of the sea, hear of the salvation of God. It
is the present age which can be traced in this section. Israel not
gathered and the rejected One is given for a light to the nations. The
great central figure in this section is the suffering servant of Jehovah
(chapter 53).
In the third section we discover their future history. Here we see
Him, who suffered, as the victorious King. A remnant is seen back in the
land and the glories and blessings of the future burst forth in
marvelous splendor.
1. In Babylon: Deliverance Promised Through Cyrus (40-48)
CHAPTER 40
The Opening Message: Key and Introduction to this Section
Comfort for His people (40:1-2)
The voice in the wilderness (40:3-5)
The prophet's message (40:6-8)
The message to Zion (40:9-11)
The supremacy of Jehovah (40:12-26)
Comfort for Jacob and Israel (40:27-31)
The first verses of this chapter are the key and introduction to
the entire section. The Lord now speaks in comfort to Jerusalem and
announces the pardoning of her iniquity and that in blessing she will
receive double for her sins. In verses 3-11 the first and second coming
of Christ are again blended together. John the Baptist was that voice
crying in the wilderness (John 1:23). Not in Matthew, but in Luke,
Isaiah 40:3-5 is quoted with the exception of verse 5. In its place the
Holy Spirit saith, "And all flesh shall see the salvation of God." The
glory of the Lord will be revealed with the second Advent. When that
glory appears Israel is saved, in the meantime the salvation of God is
offered to the Gentiles. Jehovah speaks in this chapter of Himself and
the evidences that He is God. This is the peculiar feature of the entire
section. All is spoken to encourage the faith of His people. Blessed
lessons we find here. Verses 27-31, however, will only be fully realized
in the future kingdom.
CHAPTER 41
Jehovah's Challenge
The address to the islands and the peoples (41:1)
Jehovah's question, Cyrus and his ways predicted (41:2-4)
Nations troubled on account of Cyrus (41:5-7)
Israel as Jehovah's servant (41:8)
The message of comfort and assurance of restoration (41:9-20)
Jehovah's second challenge: He alone can declare things to come
(41:21-24)
The future things revealed (41:25-29)
Cyrus is here mentioned for the first time, though not yet by name.
He is in view in verses 2-3 and 25. His work as a mighty conqueror is
outlined and the consternation of the surrounding nations on account of
it is described. Verses 18-20 go beyond the times of Cyrus. They can
only be fulfilled when He who is greater than Cyrus will appear.
CHAPTER 42
The True Servant of Jehovah
The Servant of Jehovah and His mission (42:1-4)
His future work among the nations (42:5-9)
The future song of redemption glory (42:10-13)
Jehovah's manifestation in power (42:14-17)
The address of exhortation to the deaf and blind nation (42:18-25)
Matthew's Gospel (12:20) tells us that this servant is the Lord
Jesus Christ. Mark the different phases of His character and work while
on earth and His future work when He appears again. The song of
redemption glory will be sung only when He is manifested. Israel is seen
as a people robbed and spoiled. None saith "Restore." This is their
present condition.
CHAPTER 43
Jehovah Speaks in Comfort to His People
What Jehovah is and will be to Israel (43:1-7)
Second address to the blind and deaf people (43:8-13)
Jehovah deals with their enemies (43:14-17)
Blessed things to come: They shall show forth My praise (43:18-21)
Jehovah's loving appeal and promise to remember their sins no more
(43:22-28)
Chapters 43-45 must be studied together. Jehovah speaks in these
chapters as nowhere else in the prophetic Word. Note the many
declarations Jehovah makes. "I have redeemed thee," "I will be with
thee," "I have loved thee," "I have made him," "I am the LORD, I will
make a way in the wilderness." All God's people can lay claim to these
blessed words of promise and assurance. Ultimately Israel will possess
and enjoy these great blessings.
CHAPTER 44
Jehovah Continues to Speak
Spiritual blessings promised by the gift of the Spirit (44:1-5)
Jehovah the First and the Last (44:6-8)
Idolatry rebuked (44:9-20)
Remember! Return! Sing! (44:21-23)
The faithful Jehovah, the Redeemer (44:24-27)
Cyrus named (44:28)
The outpouring of the Spirit upon Israel's seed promised in the
beginning of the chapter has not yet taken place. Compare with chapter
32:15 and 59:21. Verses 21-23 look forward to the coming age of blessing.
Then Israel will be "Jehovah's servant" on the earth; then their
transgressions will be blotted out. Then the heavens, the earth, the
mountains and the trees will break forth in singing. In verse 28 Cyrus
is mentioned by name. This great Persian King was then in the distant
future an unborn being. Jehovah knew him and named him through Isaiah.
He calls him "my shepherd" and predicts his work. Josephus declares that
when Cyrus found his name in the book of Isaiah, written 220 years
before, an earnest desire laid hold upon him to fulfil what was written.
CHAPTER 45
The Word of Jehovah to Cyrus, to Israel
and to the Ends of the Earth
Thus saith Jehovah to Cyrus (45:1-13)
Thus saith Jehovah: Israel shall be saved (45:14-17)
Thus saith Jehovah to the ends of the earth: Every knee to bow
(45:18-25)
Cyrus is called in this chapter God's anointed (Messiah). Jehovah
called him by name, but it was for the sake of Israel. But it is well to
bear in mind that Cyrus, God's instrument, called and prepared to make
the restoration of a remnant possible, is likewise a type of Christ,
through whom alone the promises of God to the nation can be accomplished.
Note the statements "Israel shall be saved in Jehovah with an
everlasting salvation" (verse 17). "All the ends of the earth will be
saved" (verse 22). Then idolatry will be rebuked (49:9-20). But notice
the order. First Israel must know salvation and as a result the ends of
the earth will look and be saved. The most precious gospel truths found
here are well known.
CHAPTER 46
Babylon Is to Fall
The Babylonian idols carried by the beasts (46:1-2)
How Jehovah carries His people (46:3-4)
The divine reproach (46:5-7)
A ravenous bird (Cyrus) to come from the east (46:8-11)
Salvation in Zion (46:12-13)
The opening verses are comforting. The helplessness of the
Babylonian idols is described. They have to be carried. They cannot
deliver out of captivity, for they themselves have gone in to captivity.
But Jehovah carries His people from birth to old age. The last verse
takes us beyond the fall of the Babylon of the past. When the final
Babylon described in Revelation is accomplished then it will be true "I
will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory."
CHAPTER 47
A Description of the Fall of Babylon
Babylon's degradation announced (47:1-3)
Israel acknowledges the redeemer (47:4)
Retribution for Babylon (47:5-7)
The destruction swift and sure (47:8-15)
In chapter 14 a similar description of Babylon and the fall of the
king of Babylon is recorded. All has its meaning for the future.
CHAPTER 48
The Divine Restatement Concerning His People,
Their Condition and Future
Their condition and Jehovah's predictions (48:1-8)
Jehovah acts for His Name's sake (48:9-11)
I am He" (48:12-16)
Israel's future blessing (48:17-21)
No peace for the wicked (48:22)
This chapter touches once more upon the different phases of
Jehovah's messages from chapters 40-47. Israel's apostate condition,
Jehovah's sovereign grace and mercy towards them, Cyrus (verses 14-15),
the blessings of the future for a converted remnant of His people, are
all mentioned again. Solemn is the declaration that whatever Jehovah
does, whatever comfort and peace He bestows, however grand and glorious
the blessings of the future are, the wicked are forever excluded. There
is no peace unto the wicked.
This chapter closes the first section of the second part of Isaiah.
Babylon, Cyrus and Jehovah's majesty and glory, revealed in predicting
future things, the helplessness of idols and Jehovah's mercy and power
manifested in the restoration and blessing of His people are the
leading features of this section.
2. The Servant of Jehovah, His Suffering and His Glory (49-57)
CHAPTER 49
The Servant of Jehovah and His Mission
The servant speaks of himself (49:1-3)
He complains of failure (49:4)
Jehovah's answer to him (49:5-13)
Zion speaks (49:14)
Jehovah's answer (49:15-26)
This entire chapter is the key to the whole section. The Servant of
Jehovah, the Lord Jesus Christ, stands in the foreground. He is seen as
the Rejected One, who complains that He has labored in vain. The
ultimate result of His Work is prophetically described. In the opening
verses He speaks of His call. To bring Jacob to God is why He appeared
in the midst of His own. But Israel is not gathered, for they rejected
Him (verse 5). The nation abhorreth Him. Israel's gathering was not
accomplished at the first advent. The nation was set aside. By their
fall salvation came to the Gentiles. This is fully revealed in verses
6-7. In verses 8-13 we find the future work of Christ as King. When it
is accomplished the heavens will sing and the earth will be joyful.
Zion's present complaint (verse 14) is answered by promises of
restoration.
CHAPTER 50
The Servant Speaks of His Determination and Suffering
(verses 1-3 belong to the preceding chapter.)
The cause of Zion's present desolation (50:1-3)
The Servant's self-witness (50:4)
His obedience and His suffering (50:5-6)
His victorious triumph (50:7-9)
The two classes: Those who fear Him and those who reject Him
(50:10-11)
The Suffering One is speaking. Little comment is needed on this
chapter if the reader will use the above outline.
CHAPTER 51
Jehovah Encourages His Faithful People, the Remnant of Israel
The call to remember Abraham (51:1-2)
Zion to be comforted (51:3)
His righteousness near and His arm to judge the people (51:4-6)
Fear ye not (51:7-8)
The prayer of faith (51:9-11)
Jehovah answers (51:12-16)
The suffering of the nation to end (51:17-23)
The Lord speaks to His faithful people. He reminds them of Abraham
and the covenant. He assures them that the wilderness of Zion shall
become like Eden, like the garden of the Lord. Judgment shall overtake
the earth. It is beautiful to see how the faithful pray in faith after
this message from Jehovah (verses 9-11), and how Jehovah answers them
(verses 12-16).
CHAPTER 52
Zion Awakening and the Coming of the Lord
(it is unfortunate that chapter 52:1-12 is detached from chapter
51 and that the last 3 verses of chapter 52 are detached from the
chapter which follows. The correct division is chapter 51-52:12, chapter
52:13-53:12.)
Zion called to awake (52:1-5)
"In that day" Behold it is I (52:6)
The results of the return of Jehovah (52:7-12)
The Servant's suffering and glory (52:13-15)
The last paragraph of chapter 51 gives the divine declaration that
the suffering and affliction of Israel is to end. "Behold I have taken
out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my
fury; thou shalt no more drink it again" (51:22). Now Zion assured of
the end of suffering is called upon to awaken and put on beautiful
garments. She is to arise from the dust. Such is the glorious future of
Jerusalem. Verses 7-12 reveal the blessed results of the Coming of the
Lord. Then it shall be said, "Thy God reigneth." Then and not before
"all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God" (52:10).
Verses 13-15 connect with chapter 53:1-12. Chapters 51-52:12 are
parenthetical.
CHAPTER 53
The Sinbearer and His Victory
The marred visage and His exaltation (52:13-15)
His life and His rejection by the nation (53:1-3)
The work of the Sinbearer: smitten, afflicted and bruised (53:4-6)
His submission and His deliverance (53:7-9)
His glorious reward (53:10-12)
In "Messianic predictions," at the close the reader will find hints
on this great chapter. We do not repeat them here. The New Testament
fully bears witness to this great vision of the cross of Christ, the
vicarious suffering of the Son of God and its blessed results. To reject
them as meaning Christ and His work of atonement is equivalent to the
rejection of the revelation of the New Testament and especially the
rejection of the Person of our Lord. The chapter is one of the greatest
in this book. After chapter 52 the Servant of Jehovah is no longer
mentioned. He is seen in the next section as the King coming with power
and executing the judgments of God.
CHAPTER 54
Israel Called to Sing
The blessings of restoration (54:1-6)
Mercy bestowed (54:7-10)
The earthly glory of Jerusalem (54:11-14)
Jehovah keeps and defends His people (54:15-17)
After the cross the singing. What singing there will be in the
earth when at last "they will look upon Him, whom they have pierced."
Israel will some day know the full meaning of Isaiah 53, and when He is
owned at last the glories and blessings of restoration will, through
infinite grace, be bestowed upon them. Enlargement and faithfulness will
be the results. The shame of Israel's youth and long widowhood is ended.
The forsaking is ended. Everlasting kindness will be their happy portion.
The fear and sorrow of Israel are ended because "He hath poured out His
soul unto death."
CHAPTER 55
Salvation's Offer and Provision
The invitation to everyone and the promise (55:1-2)
The sure mercies of David (55:3-5)
The exhortation to seek and to forsake (55:6-7)
God's thoughts and God's ways (55:8-11)
The joy, peace and glory of the future (55:12-13)
The scope and application of this chapter must not be limited.
While Israel eventually will break forth in singing as the result of
believing on Him, whom they once despised, the invitation to a free and
full salvation goes forth to every one. It is the great gospel
invitation in this book. But the national promises to Israel are in
evidence in verses 3-5. And when Israel is redeemed the invitation to
salvation will go
forth as never before. Now individuals are saved. Then nations will be
brought into the kingdom. "Nations that knew not thee shall come unto
thee because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for He
hath glorified thee."
CHAPTER 56
Salvation Enjoyed by the Strangers and Eunuchs
Strangers and servants joined unto the Lord to serve Him and
to love the Name of the Lord (56:1-8)
The first eight verses of this chapter stand by themselves.
Strangers to the commonwealth of Israel and eunuchs are gathered in. It
is the result of the gracious invitation of the preceding chapter and
that again is the result of the work of the Servant of Jehovah and His
vicarious suffering. While these verses look forward to the kingdom we
have in them a hint of what God does now in gathering strangers. The
gathering of the others in verse eight can only take place when the
outcasts of Israel are brought in.
Chapters 56:9-57:14 must be read continuously.
CHAPTERS 56:9-57:21
The Condition of the Apostate Nation and the two Classes
The condition of the shepherds of Israel (56:9-12)
Apostate Israel (57:1-14)
The two classes (57:15-21)
The final chapter of this second section corresponds to the last
chapter of the first section (chapter 48). The sad condition of the
people Israel is pictured. This is their national apostasy throughout
this age, while strangers are joined to the Lord and the church is
gathered. The worst is yet to come. Chapter 57:9 looks forward to the
great apostasy during the great tribulation. The king is the Antichrist,
who takes his seat in the temple and claims worship (2 Thess. 2). They
worship him, the masterpiece of Satan, and thus they debase themselves
unto hell.
Gracious is the promise to the feeble remnant, those who are
contrite and humble. "I have seen his ways and will heal him. I will
lead him also and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners." Peace
is promised to him that is afar off (Gentiles) and to him that is near
(Israel). It will be fully realized in the kingdom. "But the wicked are
like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire
and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." It is the
same solemn declaration which stands last in chapter 58. Comfort and
peace for all, except for the wicked. It is a complete answer to the
heresy of the present day, which claims that all Israel, including the
wicked dead, will be saved and have a share in the Kingdom of Peace.
3. Jewish History in the Endtime: their Future Glory and
the Glory of the Coming Age (58-59)
This third and last section of the vision of Isaiah can only be
understood and appreciated if it is studied in the light of other
prophecies which predict the final events with which the times of the
Gentiles close. That period consists of 7 years, the last 3 1/2 being
the great tribulation. According to these predictions a part of the
Jewish nation will be back in their land. These returned Jews will
consist of two classes, a faithful remnant who own their condition,
trust in Jehovah and in the national promises, and an unbelieving mass.
The latter will be the large majority and hate their own brethren. In
their unbelief they will build another temple and eventually will accept
the false messiah, the Antichrist. The struggles and troubles of the
endtime can easily be traced in this last section. The faithful remnant,
their fears and hopes, their sufferings and prayers are written here, as
well as their deliverance through the coming Of the King, the Lord Jesus
Christ. The prophetic descriptions of the future of Jerusalem, the land
of Israel, the restored nation, the spiritual blessings and the glories
in store for this earth are the most magnificent in the entire book.
CHAPTER 58
The Condition of the People, Repentance, and
the Blessings to Follow
The Prophet's commission (58:1)
The transgression and sins of Jacob uncovered (58:2-5)
The divine requirements (58:6-7)
What Jehovah promises (58:8-14)
Once more the Prophet is commissioned to cry and this time to call
the people to repentance. Such will be the case during the time of the
end. The first advent of the Lord was heralded by John the Baptist, who
called the nation to repentance. The second advent will be preceded by
another call to repentance. It is before us in this chapter. See also
Malachi 4:3-6.
In verses 9-14 we have all the great future blessings of the
converted remnant of Israel described. It is the entire section in
embryo.
CHAPTER 59
Apostasy and Confession, Jehovah's Intervention and
the Coming of the Redeemer
The deplorable condition of the people (59:1-8)
The confession (59:9-15)
Jehovah's intervention (59:16-19)
The coming of the Redeemer (59:20-21)
The corruption of the people during the endtime is first described.
But grace is at work and a part of the people confess their sins. They
confess that they are in darkness, that they are blind, that they
stumble and are like dead men. They confess that salvation is far from
them. They confess their lying, their departure from God and their
revolt. It is their future repentance. Then Jehovah sees and intervenes.
He answers the confession in person. He comes to repay the adversaries.
He comes in mighty judgment power. As a result they will fear His name.
The Redeemer then comes to Zion and appears for the salvation of them
that turn from transgression. Compare this with Romans 11:25-32.
CHAPTER 60
The Glory Chapter: The Morning of a New Age and Its Blessing
The light and glory has come (60:1)
The darkness before the morning (60:2)
The conversion of the Gentiles (60:3)
The dispersed brought home (60:4)
The conversion of the world (60:5-9)
Jerusalem restored and glorified (60:10-16)
The theocratic kingdom established: Its material and spiritual
glories (60:17-22)
A small volume might be written on this glory chapter. The reader
will note how all stands connected with chapters 58-59. First the call
to repentance, then the uncovering of Jacob's transgression, their
confession, the answer of Jehovah by His personal manifestation. He
deals with His adversaries and appears as Redeemer in Zion. Then the
glory light breaks forth. It is the dawn of the morning. That morning
was preceded by gross darkness--universal apostasy and corruption. After
the glory has broken forth the kingdom age begins. The conversion of the
Gentiles will take place and Jerusalem will be indeed the city of a
great King. Then at last all the people will be righteous. How strange
that Christendom should ignore these majestic predictions and their
divine order.
CHAPTER 61
The King, Jehovah's Messenger: His People and
their Salvation Song
Jehovah's Messenger and His work (61:1-5)
His people a kingdom of priests and their work (61:6-9)
The salvation song (61:10)
The blessings of the whole earth (61:11)
Luke 4 tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ applied the opening
verses to Himself. The destructive criticism denies both the Isaiah
authorship of this chapter and its messianic application. The satanic
origin of this kind of criticism is here fully exposed. But our Lord did
not quote the whole of verse 2. He only read up to "the acceptable year
of the Lord." This sentence marks the work He did in His first advent.
The day of vengeance is introduced by His second advent. The results of
His second coming are described in the verses which follow. Then Israel
will be the kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exodus 19). They will
sing the song of salvation (verse 10). Righteousness and praise will
follow.
CHAPTER 62
Zion's Glory
He will not rest (62:1)
The new names (62:2-5)
The intercession and the answer (62:6-9)
The accomplishment at hand (62:10-12)
The intercession in the beginning of the chapter is that of Christ.
He will not rest till He has accomplished His purpose in His earthly
people and in Zion. When it is accomplished Gentiles and kings will
witness it. Zion then shall be called by a new name. The forsaken one
will no longer be forsaken; the desolation of the land will cease. She
shall be called Hephzibah (my delight in her); the land will be Beulah
(married). All points to the glorious consummation of the kingdom, and
other watchmen intercede and give Him no rest till He establish and make
Jerusalem a praise in the earth. Faithful Jews, men of prayer will
during the great tribulation call on God to make good His Word and
fulfil His promises. May God's people even now plead and intercede for
the hastening of all His purposes. "Behold, thy salvation cometh, behold
His reward is with Him and His work before Him." Note the results of His
coming in verse 12.
CHAPTER 63
The Executor of the Day of Vengeance
The glorious appearing (63:1)
The day of vengeance (63:2-6)
Rev. 19:11-21 corresponds to this marvelous description of the
coming King. Before in this section we read of the day of vengeance, the
Lord's intervention in behalf of His people and the overthrow of their
enemies. The day of vengeance is now beheld by the prophet. The
acceptable year is closed and judgment sweeps the earth. Often this
chapter is quoted as meaning the salvation work of Christ. It has
nothing to do with that. It is His judgment work. It is unfortunate that
the sixty-third chapter is not ended in our Bibles with the sixth verse.
Verses 7-19 belong to chapter 64.
CHAPTER 63:7-19-64:12
The Great Intercessory Prayer
Jehovah's loving kindness and power in the past remembered (63:7-14)
Their deepest need (63:15)
The cry of faith, Thou art our Father (63:16)
The increasing plea (63:17-19)
The prayer for Jehovah's manifestation (64:1-4)
Confession and humiliation (64:5-7)
The cry for mercy and help (64:8-12)
This is one of the greatest prayers in the Bible. The prophet no
doubt prayed it first of all, and the Spirit of Christ through him. But
its full meaning will be reached when the faithful remnant of Israel in
the endtime cries for help and deliverance during the great tribulation.
When Daniel discovered that the end of the Babylonian captivity was at
hand, he uttered a great prayer (Daniel 9). The same beautiful spirit
of a contrite heart, confession of sin, trust in Jehovah, pleading for
Jerusalem and expectation of deliverance, which characterizes Daniel's
prayer is seen in this great prayer. Many of the prayers in the book of
Psalms are the prayers of the remnant suffering in the land before the
second advent.
The remaining two chapters contain the answer to this prayer.
CHAPTER 65
Jehovah's Answer: The Rebellious and Their Judgment,
the Faithful and Their Blessings
The divine rebuke to the apostates (65:1-8)
The elect seed (65:9-10)
The judgment of the apostates (65:11-12)
The blessings of Jehovah's servants and the contrast (65:13-16)
The glories and blessings of the future (65:17-25)
The first eight verses give a description of the iniquities
practiced by apostate Israel. Judgment will overtake them in the day of
vengeance. Then the blessings of Jehovah's true servant (the remnant)
are declared. They shall eat, drink, rejoice and be blessed. All is
contrasted with the wicked who have forsaken the Lord. A marvelous
revelation concerning the future is given in verses 17-25. When will all
this be accomplished? It begins with the day of Jehovah; that day of the
Lord is one thousand years. At the close of it the new heavens and a new
earth will be created. Then, when eternal ages begin the complete
fulfillment is reached. But the blessings of the Millennium are also
before us. Jerusalem is created a place of rejoicing and His people, the
people of the kingdom, Jews and Gentiles, obedient to the laws of the
kingdom, will enjoy the material blessings here predicted. And groaning
creation is seen once more delivered.
CHAPTER 66
The Finale: The Two Classes and the Prophecy of
Isaiah in a Retrospect
The apostates and their wicked worship (66:1-4)
The remnant suffering and encouraged (66:5)
The sudden manifestation of the Lord (66:6)
The nation's rebirth (66:7-9)
Jerusalem's supremacy and glory (66:10-14)
The warning of judgment (66:15-18)
The regathering after judgment (66:19-21)
The blessings for the righteous (66:22-23)
The destiny of the wicked (66:24)
This great chapter is the fitting conclusion of the prophecy of
Isaiah. The leading predictions contained in Isaiah concerning the
future are once more restated. The opening verses have mystified many
readers of this book. The apostate part of the Jewish nation, restored
in unbelief (a restoration now going on), erect a temple once more and
resume their ancient worship. This worship without faith in Jehovah is
an abomination before Him. It were as if they offered swine's blood.
Their coming judgment is announced in verse 4. The pious remnant, the
praying remnant is seen once more. They tremble at the Word of the Lord.
The unbelievers in their own nation hate them. They are mocked because
they expect Jehovah's intervention from above. "Let the Lord be
glorified"--they say in ridicule (verse 5). Then the coming of the Lord
takes place. This is described in the sixth verse. The nation's rebirth,
the supremacy and glory of Jerusalem, additional warnings, the gathering
of the people into the kingdom, the blessedness of the righteous and the
destiny of Jehovah's enemies conclude the chapter and the book.
The reader will have noticed that each section of the second part
begins with a chapter which is the key and introduction to the section.
Each concludes with a description of the two classes which compose the
nation in the last days and emphasizes the fact that for the wicked
there is no peace, but punishment. Each section reveals a person. The
first section reveals Cyrus, under whom the remnant returned from
Babylon; the second, the suffering Servant of Jehovah; the third, the
King of Glory to execute vengeance and deliver His people. May He give
us to see these wonderful things to come. May the vision of the future
be the inspiration of our lives.
THE SCOPE OF ISAIAH
It is a great book which bears the name of Isaiah. The scope of the
book and the contents are of indescribable grandeur. The more it is
read, the more its majestic greatness takes hold of the heart and mind
of the reader. The revelations and predictions it contains are the
foundations of our faith. They unfold the future of Israel, describe the
glories of the kingdom to come and the blessings in store for this earth.
Isaiah is the prophet of the future. The supernatural origin of the
writings of this noble prophet is in evidence throughout the entire book.
The work of the Critics. Perhaps no other book has been of late
years so much attacked by the destructive critics as the book of Isaiah.
This in itself is an evidence of its genuineness and inspiration. Satan
through his instruments attacks especially those parts of God's Word
where the Holy Spirit has revealed the Person of our Lord, His work and
His coming kingdom. It is the first move towards the rejection of the
Person of Christ. In reading some of the critical works on Isaiah one is
reminded of a dissecting room. These critics follow the tactics of the
Jewish King Jehoiakim. He took the penknife and cut the scroll upon
which God's message through Jeremiah was written. I wonder if
archaeologists will some day find that penknife. If so it ought to be
presented as a precious relic to the school of the destructive critics
who might build a shrine for it in one of their institutions.
It would be interesting to follow the history of this criticism. We fear, however, it would
not be very edifying to us who are believers in the inspiration of this
book. What the critics have especially attacked is the authorship. They
tell us that the book of Isaiah is of a composite origin. Isaiah did not write the entire book
which bears his name. For about 2500 years no one ever thought of even
suggesting that Isaiah did not write the book. Then they invented an
unknown person who is called the Deutero-Isaiah, i.e., a second Isaiah,
who is said to have written the sublime chapters 40-66. With this they
did not stop. They found out that this Deutero- Isaiah only wrote
chapters 40-55 and a Trito-Isaiah wrote the greater part of chapters
55-66. With their supposed learning they discovered that some of these
chapters were written in Babylon and others in Palestine. Some of the
most radical critics have even gone beyond this.
To give the result of the work of the critics, men like George
Adams Smith, Canon Driver and A. B. Davidson, declare that out of the 66
chapters, which compose the book of Isaiah forty-four were not written
by Isaiah. Others cut out more than that so that actually they claim out
of the 1292 verses found in the book of Isaiah only 260 were penned by
the prophet.
But what does all this mean? It is a denial of what is written in
the first verse of this book. "The vision of Isaiah, the son of Amoz,
which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah,
Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah." And if several men wrote this book, if part
was written during the Babylonian captivity and other parts added after
the captivity, then this statement with which the book begins is untrue.
This first verse assures us that the book is a whole, that all we find
in it is the vision of one man. To deny this breaks down the
truthfulness of the book and reduces it to the level of common
literature. This is what the critics have done. But the book of Isaiah
is quoted in the New Testament. The Jews always believed this book to
have been written by Isaiah. They held this belief when our Lord was on
the earth. He Himself read in the synagogue of Nazareth from chapter 61,
which the critics deny to be the writing of Isaiah. Quotations from
Isaiah are frequently found in different parts of the New Testament.
Twenty-one times we read of Isaiah and his words in the New Testament.
The phrases used are the following: "Spoken by the prophet Esaias";
"Fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias"; "Well did Esaias prophesy"; "In
the book of the words of Esaias"; "As said the prophet Esaias"; "The
saying of Esaias the prophet"; "These things said Esaias"; "Well spake
the Holy Spirit by Esaias"; "Esaias also saith";
"Esaias saith." This is evidence enough that the Lord and the Holy
Spirit through the evangelists and the Apostle Paul set their seal to
this uncontradicted and unanimous belief that Isaiah wrote this book.
The critics by their methods impeach the testimony of the Lord Himself
or charge the infallible Lord of Glory to have been limited in His
knowledge and that He acquiesced in the current traditional belief of
the Jewish people, knowing better Himself.
All the arguments of the critics are disproved by the book itself.
One only needs to study this book and the careful study will bring out
the unanswerable fact of the unity of the book of Isaiah. Only one
person could have written such a book and that person did not write it
by himself, but was the mouthpiece of Jehovah. This is the conclusion of
an intelligent and spiritual study of the book itself. The silly and
arbitrary restrictions the critics make, that Isaiah could not have
written certain passages, because it was beyond his horizon, or that he
could not have mentioned Cyrus, the Persian king, by name, over 150
years before he was born, springs from the subtle infidelity which is at
the bottom of the destructive criticism, which denies the supernatural
altogether.
Turning to the book we find that there are two great parts:
1. The earlier prophecies (1-35)
Historical parenthesis (36-39)
2. The later prophecies (40-66)
In the first part we find that Isaiah witnesses against the moral
and religious conditions of the people. Judgments are announced upon
Jerusalem, Judah and upon the nations. Judgments to come are the leading
features in the first 35 chapters. The blessings of the future after the
execution of these judgments are also revealed, but they take a
secondary place. We see in the first part the gathering of the
storm-clouds, we hear the rolling thunders of divine judgment, and in
the distance the calm and sunshine after the storm. The second part is
introduced with the words of comfort, "Comfort ye, comfort ye, my
people." While we read also of judgments in this part the great
revelation of the later prophecies of Isaiah is the restoration which is
in store for Jerusalem and the great blessings which the nations and the
earth will receive when Jerusalem has been restored and her people
redeemed.
in the first part the Assyrian is announced to come against
Jerusalem. The Assyrian invasion stands in the foreground. This Assyrian
enemy however is the prophetic type of another external foe, who appears
in the endtime. Then the deliverance of Jerusalem is announced and the
Assyrian completely overthrown. In the second part the Assyrian enemy is
no longer mentioned. From this we conclude that these chapters were
written after the Assyrian period. Israel's restoration from Babylon and
from the greater dispersion which has lasted so long is predicted in the
second part. The wonderful results of this restoration are here revealed.
These two parts are therefore inseparable. The Isaiah who wrote of
judgments is the Isaiah who makes known the blessings. The entire book
gives the history of Israel, past, present and future. Both parts reveal
Him who is the Holy One of Israel, the Redeemer. His incarnation, His
obedience as God's servant, His rejection, His suffering and death, His
second coming and kingdom rule are progressively revealed from chapters
1-66.
The division of the first part. If we omit chapters 36-39, which
are historical, we find that the main divisions of the first part are
three.
First division (1-12). In this division we find first Israel's sin
and apostasy; their hardening; God's judgment upon them. This is
followed by a vision concerning the future, 2:1-5. Six woes are
pronounced in chapter 5 upon the apostate nation. We find the birth of
the Redeemer announced. His Person, His work and His future glory are
indicated. The Assyrian is mentioned for the first time; his pride and
overthrow are pictured. The section closes with a vision of the future.
The second coming of Christ, the restoration of the people Israel and
what will come in blessing to the Gentiles and to creation is predicted.
It closes with a beautiful song of praise, which redeemed Israel will
sing in that day. Attention has often been called to the fact that the
opening verses and chapters of a book give the key for the whole book.
The first twelve chapters of Isaiah contain the whole book of Isaiah in
embryo.
Second division (13-27). Here we find first the judgments upon
different nations announced. Babylon's judgment stands in the foreground.
When that final judgment falls upon Babylon and its king, Israel will
find mercy and in a triumphant utterance celebrate the fall of the king
of Babylon. All this has a meaning for the future. Then judgments are
announced against other nations. Palestina, Moab, Damascus, Ethiopia,
Egypt, Elam, Arabia and Tyre are mentioned. Eleven chapters, 13-23, are
taken up with those judgments, which were only partially fulfilled in
the past.
With the twenty-fourth chapter the subject of judgment is continued.
Chapters 24-27 contain a great prophecy. The judgment announced is the
coming judgment for this world when the Lord Jesus Christ appears the
second time. All classes are affected by it and the high ones that are
on high (Satan and his angels) and the kings on earth are involved in it.
This portion ends with several songs of praise. The remnant of Israel
praises Jehovah for deliverance and for His mercy to Jerusalem. Then
there is
a prophecy concerning the blessings of the future, when the Lord in
connection with the blessing bestowed upon Israel will make a feast of
fat things for all people. The last verse of this section announces once
more the regathering of His scattered people to bring them back to
Jerusalem. The great trumpet mentioned in 27:13 is the same of which the
Lord speaks in Matthew 24:31, only our Lord tells us in addition that
the angels will be used in this service.
Third division (28-35). In this section we find first six woes. The
first section also contained six woes. The first woe is against Ephraim.
Then follows the woe against Ariel (Jerusalem) that distress is to come
upon this city. Blessing is promised after this visitation. Then there
is a third woe against those who seek to hide their counsel from the
Lord and their works are in the dark. The fourth woe is upon those who
enter into an unholy alliance with Egypt, seek help there instead of the
Lord. The fifth woe is directed against those who trust in the arm of
flesh, in horses and chariots. The sixth woe is against the Assyrian
destroyer. But alongside of these woes we find the promises of blessing
to Israel in the future. A king is to reign in righteousness. The work
of righteousness is to be peace. Jerusalem and Israel's land is to be
desolate till the Spirit be poured out from on high, then the wilderness
shall be a fruitful field (32:13-20). The 34th chapter is a great
prophecy of the future day of the Lord when His indignation will be upon
all nations and when His fury will be poured out upon all nations and
when His fury will be poured out upon all their armies. It is the day of
the Lord's vengeance and the year of recompenses for the controversy of
Zion (verse 8). The last chapter in this section, chapter 35, shows
again the future blessings for Israel and for the earth and the return
of His people to Zion. And they come with singing. "And the ransomed of
the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy
upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and
sighing shall flee away."
We call attention to the fact that these three great sections
follow the same course and end in the same way. The ending of each
section reveals the restoration of Israel, the singing of the redeemed
people and the blessing which will result from restored and blest Israel
for the nations and for the earth.
in dividing the earlier prophecies of Isaiah into three sections we
have not considered chapters 36-39. These chapters are of a historical
character, Hezekiah's experience with the Assyrian invasion, Hezekiah's
prayer, the prophet's message to the king, the destruction of the
Assyrian army, the king's sickness and recovery and his fall into pride,
are the contents of these four chapters. They may be looked upon as an
appendix to the first part of Isaiah's vision and the preface to the
second part. The Assyrian and his destruction is the culmination of the
first part; the prediction of Isaiah concerning the Babylonian captivity
(chapter 39:6-7) opens the way for the later prophecies.
The division of the second part. In these later prophecies we find
likewise three great sections. However the character of the predictions
found in the second part differs much from the earlier prophecies. The
historical settings so prominent in the first part are entirely absent
in the second. We briefly hint at the structure and contents of these
three divisions.
The first division (40- 48). This section begins with the message
of comfort to Jerusalem. The first two verses of the fortieth chapter
are the keynotes of the great symphony of Israel's future blessing and
glory, which gradually breaks forth in this part, swelling higher and
higher. "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye
comfortably to Jerusalem (literally: to the heart of Jerusalem) and cry
unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is
pardoned; for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her
sins." Throughout these later prophecies we find the comfort in store
for His people, that their wanderings will end in restoration, their
enemies will be conquered and their sins pardoned. Should it surprise
anyone that the language employed in these great messages differs very
much from the language of the first and earlier prophecies?
We find in this opening section a great deal of the majesty and
glory of the God of Israel. A contrast is made between Israel's God and
the idols of the nations. The one great proof brought forward is that
the God of Israel has the power to predict future events. Read chapter
41:21-25. All this is spoken to encourage the faithful remnant of Israel
to trust in Jehovah. In view of the Babylonian captivity, which Isaiah
had announced this is of special meaning. Again and again Jehovah speaks
in these chapters of Himself and His power to forgive, to save and to
deliver. "I am He--the first and the last--I even I am the Lord; and
beside me there is no saviour--I am the Lord your Holy One, the creator
of Israel, your King--there is no God beside me--a just God and a
Saviour"; these are a few of the direct utterances of Jehovah through
Isaiah in this section. Jehovah has the power to save and to deliver His
people.
Here we read of "the servant of Jehovah." It has a twofold meaning.
The redeemed remnant of Israel is spoken of as the servant of the Lord.
This is what Israel will be in the future. But this title as used in the
opening verses of chapter 42 refers to Christ.
The people of Israel are prophetically seen in this section in
Babylon but about to be delivered from Babylon. The great deliverer
Cyrus, whom God called, is named in this portion of the book. The Lord
who speaks of His power to tell the future things manifests this power
in naming an unborn being and telling beforehand what his work was to be.
Cyrus and his mission are recorded over 150 years before this Persian
king was born and the record is found in chapter 44:24-45:25. Cyrus is
called "the anointed"--"my shepherd"--"whose right hand Jehovah
upholdeth"--"who performs all Jehovah's pleasure." He is likewise called
"a ravenous bird from the east" (46:11). The return from Babylon is
predicted to take place through the instrumentality of this king. But a
greater restoration through a greater Anointed One, the Redeemer of
Israel, is promised in these chapters. The end of the section looks
forward to that great coming restoration. The last verse declares "there
is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked."
The second division (49-57). This section brings the servant of
Jehovah prominently before us. It is no longer the redeemed Israel, nor
Cyrus, but the Lord Jesus Christ comes fully into view. The opening
verses of chapter 49 with which this division begins are again the
keynote to the entire section. The Servant of the Lord is here called
Israel, for He is the true Israel. In Him God is glorified. He Himself
breaks out in the mournful complaint. "I have labored in vain, I have
spent my strength for naught." He is called to bring Jacob to God, yet
Israel is not gathered. But the Gentiles hear of Him, whom Israel
refuses. "I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou
mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." All is indicated in
these verses what the Servant of the Lord would do. His people, the
nation, would despise Him and Israel would not be regathered at once but
the Gentiles were to hear of Him. In chapter 50:4-11 we read again of
Him. Here His suffering is mentioned more fully. "I gave My back to the
smiters and My cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not My
face from shame and spitting" (50:6). The last time this Servant, the
Christ, is mentioned by Isaiah is in chapter 53. Here we find the
marvellous portrait of Him who suffered, died as the sinbearer and of
His exaltation. After the sublime fifty-third chapter the Servant of the
Lord is not mentioned again.
This section also speaks of what is in store for Israel when at
last they believe in Him whom they once despised. The most glorious
promises follow the fifty-third chapter. The fifty-fourth chapter has
never yet seen its fulfillment and can only be fulfilled when the
remnant of Israel bows before the One whom they once despised. These
chapters of this section look forward to their future blessing. The last
verse of the second division is the same as the last verse of the first
division, "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked."
The third division (58-66). This is the great finale of Isaiah's
symphony of Israel's coming restoration and redemption. It is the most
majestic and sublime portion of the book. Here the remnant of Israel
takes a more leading part. While in the previous chapters of these
prophecies we hear promises of restoration in this concluding division
we see a small and feeble remnant actually back in the land. It has
nothing to do with the small remnant which returned from Babylon. It is
a remnant of believing Jews brought back to the land and suffering in
the midst of the great tribulation which precedes the glorious
manifestation of the Lord and the literal fulfillment of the promises of
the blessing for Jerusalem. We have a record of their soul exercise, their
troubles and their prayers in chapter 63:7-64:12. In chapter 64:1 they
pray for the coming of the Lord. And that coming in great power and
glory is described in this division. The Redeemer comes to Zion and He
comes bringing the day of vengeance for all His enemies (chapter 59:20;
63:1-6). But who is able to expound the glorious things which are spoken
of Jerusalem and the future of His redeemed people? Beginning with the
sixtieth chapter we find an almost unbroken prediction of what is to be
in the day when the Redeemer comes to Zion, what it will mean for His
earthly people, for Jerusalem, for the nations and for all creation.
This section is closely linked with certain predictions in the earlier
prophecies; in fact, these closing chapters are expansions of the former
vision of Isaiah as found in chapters 2:1-5; 11-12, and others. The last
chapter is a resume of the great events predicted before. Here once more
we read of the sudden manifestation of the Lord from heaven, the
deliverance of the remnant of His people, the peace like a river for
Jerusalem, the bringing back of the scattered sheep of Israel, the fiery
judgments of the Lord and the conversion of the Gentiles. The last verse
reveals the judgment upon the wicked. Their worm shall not die; their
fire shall not be quenched. This fully corresponds with the ending of
the two previous divisions, when the Lord saith, "there is no peace for
the wicked."
The same order of revelation prevails in the second part of Isaiah
as in the first. We have seen how every division in the first part
closed with predictions of blessing for Israel, their restoration and
the glory of Jerusalem as well as the blessings which the whole earth
will receive when that has come to pass. The same revelation is
contained on a larger scale in the second part. The same order of events
is maintained. And how solemn it is that each division of the later
prophecies of Isaiah in the second part of his book closes with the
declaration of the punishment, yea, the eternal punishment of the wicked.
There is no peace for the wicked. Their worm dies not; their fire is not
quenched. Evil teachers claim there is a restitution of all things
including the wicked dead. Isaiah in his vision makes known what that
promised restitution of all things is. The restoration of Israel; the
restoration of Israel's land; the restoration of Jerusalem; peace for
this earth; deliverance for groaning creation--all these he reveals. But
solemnly God has said, "There is no peace for the wicked."
The great unity of the book of Isaiah proves that he wrote the
entire book. The arrangement and contents tell us that it is not the
work of man, but of the Spirit of God.
MESSIANIC PREDICTIONS IN ISAIAH
It would be of much interest and profit if we could take up each
division of this great prophetic book and study some of its revelations.
This we cannot do. But we shall point out two great topics which are
progressively revealed in the vision of Isaiah. We shall study first the
messianic unfoldings in this book, and then the great coming events,
such as Israel's future blessings in the earth and the blessings of the
kingdom to come.
Of all the prophets Isaiah saw the most about Christ. Only the book
of Psalms contains a larger number of messianic predictions. Every glory
of our Lord and every phase of His life on earth were beheld by this
great man of God. His incarnation, His growing up in Nazareth, His
public ministry, His message to the people, His rejection by the nation,
His sufferings, the shame and the cross, His death with its meaning, His
resurrection, His ascension, His glorious exaltation and future
manifestation as well as His work as Prophet, Priest and King, are all
found in this book. We shall point out some of these great predictions
and the connection in which we find them.
The Redeemer promised is Jehovah Himself. That the Messiah is
Jehovah Himself, who appears on earth in the midst of His people, God
manifested in the flesh, is seen in this entire book. The call of Isaiah
to the prophetic office was in a great vision in which he saw Jehovah
and His glory (Chapter 6). Whom he beheld is explained in the Gospel of
John, the Gospel which tells us so fully of the essential deity of the
Lord Jesus. "These things said Esaias when he saw His glory and spake of
Him" (John 12:41). He who was on the earth and whom His own received not
is the One whose glory Isaiah saw in the temple vision.
He is called throughout Isaiah "the Holy One of Israel."
Twenty-five times this title of the Lord, who deals in judgment and in
mercy with His people, is found in Isaiah. Read 1:4; 5:19, 24; 10:20;
12:6; 17:7; 29:19; 30:11, 12, 15; 31:1; 37:23; 41:14, 16, 20; 43:3, 14;
45:11; 47:4; 48:17; 49:7; 54:5; 55:5; 60:9, 14. This phrase is found
in only six other passages in the Old Testament. The Holy One of Israel
is Jehovah; He is the Redeemer of His people. "Our Redeemer Jehovah of
hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel" (47:4). "Thus saith Jehovah,
thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel" (48:17). This Holy One is the
Creator. "The Holy One hath created it" (41:20). He hath stretched the
heavens and laid the foundations of the earth (41:13). He appeared as
the Holy One in their midst and they knew Him not but despised Him. In
chapter 50:2-9 He is beheld as the One who clothes the heavens and who
gives His back to the smiters. In chapter 49:7 the Redeemer, Jehovah,
the Holy One, is seen as despised and abhorred by the nation. At His
second coming Isaiah predicts Israel shall discover that the rejected
and despised One is Jehovah. "Therefore My people shall know My Name,
therefore they shall know that I am He" (52:6). The words "I am He"
(Ani Hu) is a divine Name and our Lord used it when He said to the woman
at the well "I am" and to the company in the garden of Gethsemane.
In chapters 7 and 8 His name is revealed as "Immanuel," God with us.
Throughout Isaiah's vision the Redeemer, the Anointed One who is
rejected by the nation, who suffers and dies, who comes again to dwell
in the midst of His people, is Jehovah.
His incarnation. The first messianic prediction in Isaiah relates
to the incarnation of the Son of God. We find it in chapter 7:14. As it
is well known its messianic character is denied by Jews and by the
higher critics. The virgin birth is clearly predicted in these familiar
words by Isaiah and the Holy Spirit in the first chapter of the New
Testament tells us of the fulfillment of the words spoken by the Lord
through Isaiah. In the first chapter of Luke the full announcement of
the birth of Immanuel by the virgin is made by Gabriel to Mary. The
rejection of this first great prophecy of the incarnation means the
rejection of the incarnation itself.
Such alas! has been the case. We do not attempt to enter into the
objections which are made against Isaiah 7:14. Not one of them has any
foundation. The authority of the New Testament is sufficient to any
believer.
The historic setting, however, is interesting and solves the
problem why Isaiah received just this message at that time. Ahaz was
threatened by King Pekah of Israel and by Rezin of Damascus, because he
refused to make common cause with them against Assyria. He preferred the
friendship of Assyria. When it became known that these two kings were
planning an attack upon Jerusalem, Ahaz and the whole city were terror
stricken. He decided at once to send to Assyria for help. How he sent
messengers with valuable gifts to Tiglath-Pileser and called himself his
servant and his son, is written in 2 Kings 16:7-8.
Isaiah was then told by God to meet Ahaz at the waterworks of
Jerusalem and to take his son Shear-Jashub along. The meaning of this
name is "the remnant shall return." In his interview with the king the
prophet exhorts him to be true to Jehovah and that the house of David
has nothing to fear. If he accepted the divinely given message he would
be quiet and delivered of his fear and faintheartedness. Then God offers
Ahaz a sign, either in the depth or in the heights above. But the
unbelieving king refused the offer. His wicked heart dreaded the
consequences of such a sign. He did not want to be near to God and get a
sign that God was near to him. He felt that in such a case he would have
to abandon what God condemns and give up the alliance with the Assyrian.
Then God gives the sign. It is the sign of the birth of the Messiah. The
Deliverer is first announced in the Bible as being the seed of the woman;
then as coming of the seed of Abraham from Isaac and Jacob; then of
Judah and finally that He should be of the house of David. Here the
prediction is narrowed down to the fact that He should be born of a
virgin, necessarily of the house of David. Ahaz the King of Judah feared
for Jerusalem and the royal line. He had no cause to fear for God
promised David a son to come from his loins, He whom King David
addressed as his Lord, the root and offspring of
David. The house of David was perfectly secure. Thus the unbelief of
Ahaz was made the occasion for this great prediction. Christ to be born
of the virgin and yet "God manifested in the flesh."
In chapter 9:6 the incarnation is announced once more and in a
prophetic vision it is seen as already accomplished, "For unto us a
child is born, unto us a son is given." The child is the Son of the
virgin and He is God's unspeakable gift, the Son. As Man born of the
woman He will have the government upon His shoulder and possess the
throne of David. This looks forward to His second coming. The Son given
is the Wonderful Counsellor, the Mighty God, the
Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. His humanity and deity are here
blended together.
His life and ministry on earth. The leading features of this
blessed life and service on earth are revealed in Isaiah. We call
attention to a few of the more prominent predictions.
His lowliness. He who was rich became poor for our sake. This
poverty seems to be indicated in Isaiah 7:15, "butter and honey shall He
eat." His lowliness is more fully predicted in 53:2, "For He shall grow
up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of the dry ground; He
hath no form and comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no
beauty that we should desire Him."
The Servant of the Lord. As such He is filled with the Spirit. "And
the Spirit of the Lord is upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and
understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge
and of the fear of the Lord" (11:2). "Behold My servant whom I uphold,
Mine elect in whom my soul delighteth; I have put My Spirit upon Him"
(42:1). His method is seen; He is unostentatious in His service. "He
shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause His voice to be heard in the
street" (42:2). His loving tenderness. "A bruised reed shall He not
break and the smoking flax shall He not quench; He shall bring forth
judgment unto truth" (42:3). These words are applied to Him in the New
Testament (Matthew 12:18-20). His obedience we find predicted in chapter
50:5: "The Lord hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither
turned away back." His message is given likewise. "The Spirit of the
Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good
tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to
proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them
that are bound, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord" (61:1-2).
It is a well known fact that our Lord read these words in the synagogue
of Nazareth and pronounced them fulfilled. He also gives us a very
important hint in reading this prediction. He stopped short in reading
this passage. The rest belongs to His second coming. The first and
second coming of Christ are repeatedly blended together.
As servant of the Lord He brings light. "The people that walked in
darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the land of the
shadow of death upon them hath the light shined" (Matthew 4:15-16).
His miracles are also touched upon. In chapter 35 we read: "Then
the eyes of the blind shall be opened and the ears of the deaf shall be
unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of
the dumb sing." When He appeared in the midst of His people He did these
miracles to prove to the nation that He had the power of the kingdom in
His hands; however Isaiah 35 looks forward to the kingdom, which is yet
to come.
His rejection by the people Israel. This rejection was predicted by
Isaiah. As already quoted in chapter 49:4, He is seen as despised and
abhorred by the nation, so that He mournfully complains, "I have labored
in vain, I have spent my strength for nought." On account of this
rejection "Israel is not gathered" (verse 5). More fully is this
rejection of the Servant of the Lord seen in the great fifty-third
chapter. "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and
acquainted with grief-, and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was
despised and we esteemed Him not."
His mission to the Gentiles. While Israel is predicted to reject
this servant, the Gentiles are to see His light and rejoice in His
salvation. It is true most of these predictions await His future work,
when He comes again and the Gentiles will be given to Him for an
inheritance, but they also imply what is now in force. "I the Lord have
called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand and keep thee,
and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles"
(42:6-7). "It is a light thing that Thou shouldest be My servant to
raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the desolations of Israel
that Thou mayest be my salvation to the end of the earth" (49:6).
Through Him Gentiles are saved now and when He comes again even the ends
of the earth will know Him and He will reign over the Gentiles. Unto Him
every knee must bow and every tongue shall swear (45:23).
The sufferings of Christ. It was given to Isaiah to behold 700
years before the Son of God appeared on earth an almost complete picture
of the sufferings of Christ and their vicarious character. How the
obedient servant was to be treated by men is for the first time mentioned
in chapter 50:6: "I gave My back to the smiters and My cheeks to them
that plucked off the hair, I hid not My face from shame and spitting."
But the great revelation of the sufferings of Christ is found in the
famous fifty-third chapter. It is the culmination of the second part of
Isaiah. The center of the chapter is "brought as a Lamb to the
slaughter." The most ancient as well as reliable Jewish expositors apply
the chapter to Messiah. The great expositors of the Church in the past
have all read the story of the cross of Christ in this chapter. The New
Testament repeatedly quotes Isaiah 53 and knows no other fulfillment
than in Him, who was the man of sorrows.
The Spirit-filled evangelist Philip heard the eunuch reading from
this chapter and then opened his mouth and preached Jesus unto him. The
infidel Jews have invented a theory which teaches that the nation's
sufferings are described and not the Messiah's. This wicked denial the
destructive critics have fully indorsed.
The last three verses of chapter 52 belong to the fifty-third
chapter. If we count them to the great chapter we find five progressive
parts:
1. The Servant-His suffering and His exaltation, so that the nations are
astonished at Him and kings shut their mouths. It is the keynote of the
prediction that follows (52:13-15).
2. His life and His rejection by the nation (53:1-3).
3. His sufferings; smitten, afflicted, wounded and bruised (53:4-6).
4. His submission and His deliverance (53:7-9).
5. His glorious reward (53:10-12).
But what is all contained in this matchless chapter! We have in it
a description of the Servant, the vicarious sufferer, the triumphant
victor as nowhere else. Twelve great statements are made concerning His
work on the cross:
1. He hath borne our griefs.
2. Carried our sorrows.
3. He was wounded for our transgressions.
4. Bruised for our iniquities.
5. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him.
6. With His stripes we are healed.
7. The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
8. For the transgression of my people was He smitten.
9. Made His soul an offering for sin.
10. He shall bear their iniquities.
11. He bears the sin of many.
12. Made intercession for the transgressors.
His holy, spotless character is revealed. As a lamb He suffered in
patience. He had done no violence nor was deceit in His mouth. He
suffered and died for others. He suffered for His people (John 11:50-51).
It was God who smote Him, the Lord who bruised Him, who put Him to grief.
There is in the whole Bible no grander unfolding of John 3:16 than this
great chapter. Whoever rejects Isaiah's vision of the Sinbearer, rejects
the gospel and denies the atoning work of the cross.
We also behold His grave, we see Him risen in this chapter, exalted,
interceding, justifying many, having a seed, an offspring as the last
Adam, securing the travail of His soul and dividing the spoil with the
great. Ah! who can tell out the majestic grandeur of this great peak in
God's revelation! After this great vision, the Servant of the Lord is
not mentioned again, nor His sufferings. The glory side comes more fully
in view in chapters 54-66. And it will be fully realized when Israel has
confessed Him, whom they once rejected.
The predictions of glory and the second coming of Christ. More
numerous and richer are the messianic predictions, which reveal His
exaltation and the fact of His glorious second coming.
Isaiah beheld His personal, visible and glorious coming, not as the
sufferer but as the King. He saw Him coming in majesty and glory. His
glory is seen in these visions as covering Jerusalem and the land and
eventually the whole earth. He comes to Zion to redeem His people and
deliver them out of the hands of their enemies. He comes to overthrow
the wicked one and to execute the judgments of God on the earth. He
comes to establish peace and dwell in the midst of His people and rule
as King over the nations. We can call attention to a very few of the
many predictions from different chapters; our remaining study will bring
this great theme more fully to our view.
"He shall judge among the nations and shall rebuke many people; and
they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into
pruninghooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither
shall they learn war any more (2:4). This is the program of God. Peace
on earth will thus be accomplished. It follows His visible manifestation.
He appears in the glory of His majesty and will alone be exalted in that
day (2:10, 11). His glory will cover Jerusalem (4:5). "With
righteousness shall He judge the poor and reprove with equity for the
meek in the earth; and He shall smite the earth with the rod of His
mouth and with the breath of His lips shall He slay the wicked" (11:4).
"The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters
cover the sea" (11:9). "Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion; for
great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee" (12:6). "I will
punish the world for their evil and the wicked for their iniquity"
(13:11). "Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove
out of her place in the wrath of the Lord of Hosts, and in the day of
His fierce anger" (13:13). "The Lord of hosts shall reign in Mount Zion
and in Jerusalem and before his ancients gloriously" (24:23). "And it
shall be said in that day, Lo this is our God, we have waited for Him
and He will save us; this is the Lord we have waited for Him, we will be
glad and rejoice in His salvation" (25:9). "The Lord cometh out of His
place to punish the inhabitants of earth for their iniquity" (26:21).
"Behold a King shall reign in righteousness" (32:1). "And the Glory of
the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together (40:5).
"And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from
transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord" (59:20). "Arise, shine for thy
light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee" (60:1).
"Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah?
this that is glorious in His apparel, traveling in the greatness of his
strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art
Thou red in thine apparel, and Thy garments like him that treadeth in
the winevat? I have trodden the wine-press alone; and of the people
there was none with Me: for I will tread them in Mine anger, and trample
them in My fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon My garments,
and I will stain all My raiment. For the day of vengeance is in Mine
heart, and the year of My redeemed is come. And I looked, and there was
none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore
Mine own arm brought salvation unto Me; and My fury, it upheld Me.
And I will tread down the people in Mine anger, and make them drunk in
My fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth" (63:1-6).
"For behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with His chariots
like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with
flames of fire. For by fire, and by His sword, will the Lord plead with
all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many. For I know their
works and their thoughts; it shall come, that I will gather all nations
and tongues; and they shall come, and see My glory. And I will set a
sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the
nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal and
Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard My fame, neither have
seen My glory; and they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles"
(66:15-16; 18-19).
These are a few of Isaiah's predictions concerning the future glory
of our Lord and the work of judgment and mercy He will execute. May it
be our delight to meditate on these great prophetic unfoldings of the
Person and the glorious work of our Lord, till some day we shall be face
to face with Himself and through grace become partakers of His glory.
FUTURE GLORIES AND BLESSINGS
The book of Isaiah abounds in great predictions of glories and
blessings in store for this earth and its inhabitants. Not one of these
have been fulfilled in the past, nor are they now in process of
fulfillment. They must therefore be fulfilled in the future. To this we
might add that not one of these great predictions can be fulfilled till
the predicted judgments have taken place.
Isaiah uses some 45 times the phrase "in that day." He uses these
words almost exclusively in the earlier prophecies contained in chapters
1-35. This day is the day when Jehovah is manifested and when He deals
in judgment with the earth. We give a few of the more prominent passages
in which that day is mentioned (chapter 2:10-22). Here the day is
described as bringing the exaltation of the Lord and the utter casting
down of all that is lofty and high (chapter 13:9-13). These words tell
us that it is the day in which the world will be punished for its
wickedness and that heaven and earth will be shaken (chapter 24). In
this great judgment chapter we read that all classes will be affected by
it, the earth will reel to and fro like a drunkard and be removed like a
cottage. Then the kings on earth will be punished. The high ones on high,
the wicked spirits in the heavenlies, will be shut up in prison. This
great day Isaiah beheld is the day "when the Lord Jesus shall be
revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire taking
vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our
Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thess. 1:7-8). Such a day has not yet been. It
will surely come. Never before have things been so ripe for that day as
they are now.
Whatever we find in future glories and blessings in Isaiah is
always in connection with that day. The glories and blessings do not
precede that day, but the day precedes the glories and blessings
promised. Therefore we say the fulfillment of these great predictions
has not been in the past, they are not now being fulfilled and they
cannot be fulfilled till the storm clouds of divine judgment have swept
over this earth and the Lord has been manifested.
The great majority of Christians hold the unscriptural view that in
the Church and through the Church the visions of Isaiah are fulfilled in
a spiritual way. But they forget the great day in Isaiah and the fact
stated that the glories and blessings predicted follow that day.
What then are these predicted glories and blessings? We find that
the larger number of them belong to the people Israel. We look at these
first.
The future blessings of Israel. This wonderful people has a
wonderful future. God has not cast them away and to them still belong
the promises and the glory. Israel is set aside throughout this present
age and judicially blinded. Isaiah had to announce this fact. We find
that in the vision which called him into the prophetic office the
message was given to him that the nation should not hear and that their
eyes should be blinded. The consummation of this predicted blindness
came after they had rejected Christ. We find these words of Isaiah
(6:10) quoted three times in the New Testament. In Matthew 23:13-15.
Israel had then rejected Him and He began to teach the mysteries of the
kingdom of heaven in parables. In John 12:40 when the Lord was about to
suffer and to die. In Acts 28:27 at the close of the book of Acts after
the gospel had been preached to them by the Holy Spirit come down from
heaven. They rejected it and the last statement of the Apostle of the
Gentiles, who loved his people so well, is a significant one, "the
salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles and they will hear it." Since
then the message Isaiah received has been fully carried out. They are
judicially blinded and scattered among the nations. Their land is
desolate. Their city is trodden down by the Gentiles. Their sufferings
and woes have been indescribable. God has hidden His face from them and
in His wrath He has forsaken them.
But Isaiah's vision tells us likewise that this condition is not to
be permanent. The curse will be changed into blessing and they will
receive double for all their sin.
Their restoration to the land. They will be brought back to the
land. In chapter 11:10-12 we find one of these unfulfilled predictions
of Israel's restoration. It has been taught that these words were
fulfilled in the return of the remnant from Babylon. Notice, however,
that it saith "and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four
corners of the earth." It speaks of a gathering from a world-wide
dispersion, not from the Babylonian captivity. It includes the islands
of the sea and it is distinctly stated that the Lord shall set His hand
again the second time to recover the remnant of His people. The entire
chapter shows that it is a future thing.
In chapter 14:1-2 is another unfulfilled prediction. "For the Lord
will have mercy on Jacob and will yet choose Israel, and set them in
their own land." The nations are mentioned as helping them to return.
This fact is indicated elsewhere in Isaiah (chapters 18:7, 66:20). This
regathering is stated in 27:13. "And it shall come to pass in that day,
that the great trumpet shall be blown and they shall come which were
ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of
Egypt and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount of Jerusalem." Also
read 35:10; 43:5-6; 49:10-12. All the great predictions in the later
prophecies concerning Israel's glorious state in the land make such a
regathering necessary.
The spiritual blessings. The calling of Israel as a nation is
stated in Exodus 19:5-6. "Now therefore if ye will obey my voice, indeed,
and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me,
above all people, for all the earth is mine. And ye shall be unto me a
kingdom of priests and a holy nation." Up to now this has never been;
yet God's gifts and calling are without repentance. The day is coming
when the Lord in His infinite grace will bestow upon the remnant of His
people such spiritual blessings, that they will be healed of all their
backslidings and become a holy nation and a kingdom of priests in the
earth.
This is beautifully revealed in the first song of redemption in
chapter 12. Closely connected with their regathering predicted in the
preceding chapter is their grateful expression for the spiritual
blessings they received. His anger is turned away, comfort has come at
last. They sing and praise for Jehovah has done excellent things. Then
the Lord gives them rest from their sorrows, fear and hard bondage
(14:3). The songs of redemption in chapters 25-26 celebrate the same
blessings. The forgiveness of their sins is promised in chapter 33:24,
"the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity." "I,
even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake,
and will not remember thy sins" (43:25). "I have blotted out, as a thick
cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins return unto me, for
I have redeemed thee" (44:22). This is followed by a song. "I will bring
near My righteousness; it shall not be far off, and My salvation shall
not tarry and I will place salvation for Israel My glory" (46:13). Read
also 54:6-10. Then the Spirit of God will be poured out upon them. This
is promised in chapter 32:15. The promise is connected with their
restoration to the land. The same promise is found in chapter 59:20-21.
First the Redeemer comes to Zion and the Spirit is promised unto Israel
and Israel's seed. These great future blessings are especially revealed
in chapters 61 and 62. "But ye shall be named the priests of the Lord,
men shall call you the ministers of our God." Thus their priestly
calling among the nations will be realized. But when? After the day of
vengeance, the second coming of the Lord (verse 2). The same blessings
are stated in verses 7 and 10. Then they shall be called "the holy
people," "the redeemed of the Lord" (62:12). In one day the new birth of
the nation will take place (66:8).
But let us understand that these blessings are not for the apostate
portion of the nation. Millennial Dawnism, as well as others, claims
that all Israel will receive these blessings, not alone the wicked
element which sides with the man of sin and worships him, but also all
the past generations who died in their sins will be raised up and
brought back to the land and possess these things. No such teaching is
found in the Word. Ezekiel 37, the vision of the raising up of the dry
bones, has nothing to do with a physical resurrection; it is a type of
their national restoration. Ezekiel 20:38 makes it clear that the rebels,
the apostates, will have no share in these blessings. These will not
enter into the land saith the Lord. Two parts of the people will be cut
off and die and the third part only shall be brought through the fire.
The blessings for Israel's land. The land of Israel, Palestine, is
called by Isaiah "Immanuel's land" (8:8). Desolation has come upon it on
account of the transgressions of the people. It is now an unfruitful
land, a land of wastes and ruins. But there is a glorious future for
Immanuel's land and He who lived His blessed life in that land, where He
shed His blood and died, will also make it a glorious land. We can only
link a few passages together where this is promised. Read 30:23-26;
60:17-22; 61:4; 62:4-5; 65:21-24.
The future of Jerusalem. Jerusalem, still trodden down by the
Gentiles, has a glorious future. It will become the great capital of the
kingdom, which will cover the whole earth. In chapter 1 Isaiah speaks of
Jerusalem as a harlot and that murderers dwell in it. This is true now
and blood-guiltiness rests upon it. But afterward, Isaiah announces,
"thou shalt be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city."
That will be after the Lord has come. Then "out of Zion shall go forth
the law and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem" (2:3). The Holy One of
Israel will make His dwelling place there and cover it with His glory
(4:2-6; 11:9-10; 12:6; 24:23). Then they will rejoice on account of it.
"In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; we have a
strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks" (26:1).
33:20-21 shows another picture of Zion and Jerusalem. Also 54:11-14;
Jerusalem will be a praise in the earth (62:7). "But be glad and rejoice
forever in that which I create; for behold I create Jerusalem a
rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem and joy
in My people, and the voice of weeping shall no more be heard in her,
nor the voice of crying" (65:18-19). What a beautiful word this is! His
people rejoice in Him and He rejoices in them. Jerusalem has become at
last the place of joy and peace and Jerusalem is His joy. Then He will
fully have the travail of His soul and be satisfied. Once more Jerusalem
is mentioned in the last chapter, "Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be
glad with her, all ye that love her, rejoice for joy with her, all ye
that mourn for her" (66:10). The nations redeemed will rejoice. But we
may well think of the joy of the glorified saints, including all the
saints, both the Old Testament and New Testament saints. They all loved
Jerusalem. We love Jerusalem, and when He rejoices in the accomplishment
of His purposes we shall rejoice with Him. His joy will be our joy in
glory.
The future blessings of the nations. Closely linked with these
great future blessings and glories for Israel His people are the
blessings of the Gentiles. The many predictions which concern the
Gentiles cannot be fulfilled till Israel and Jerusalem have entered into
their blessing. The conversion of the world is nowhere taught to take
place in this present age through the church, but it is always found in
connection with converted Israel. This is an important principle. The
day of the Lord will bring great judgments for the Gentile world. When
these judgments are in the earth the inhabitants of the world will learn
righteousness (chapter 26:9). The Lord will deal in great and world-wide
judgments with the Gentiles, especially with those which had the light
and turned from the light. But there will be Gentiles who turn to God
during these great judgments and believe the testimony, the gospel of
the kingdom, preached at that time (Matthew 24:14). What are the
blessings promised to these nations? We touch upon a few. In chapter
2:2-4 we find one of the most comprehensive. The nations will go up to
that house of the Lord, which is yet to be built and which will be,
according to another prophecy, a house of prayer for all nations. This
great prediction is sadly spiritualized. It is applied to the church;
and the fulfillment was, it is claimed, when the Lord selected the
twelve apostles on a mountain. It has nothing whatever to do with the
church nor with the church age. When Jerusalem has been restored, the
nations which are left will go there to worship. Then war will end and
not before. This is God's peace program. In 11:9-10 we read that the
earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord and the Gentiles
will seek Him. The great things, which He hath done, will be known in
all the earth (12:5). Greater still is the vision of chapter 15:6-8. A
feast of fat things will be made. Now God has spread the gospel feast
and invites all to come. "Come, for all things are now ready." But the
invitation to this feast will soon end. Then comes "the supper of the
great God," a fearful judgment to which the fowls of heaven are invited
(Revelation 19:16-18). This is followed by the feast of all peoples. The
veil which is now over the heathen nations will be destroyed and all
tears will be wiped away; the tears of sickness, the tears of want, the
tears of affliction, the tears of sorrow. The gathering of the nations
will be to Israel; they will be joined to them and thus the kingdom will
extend over the whole earth. "Lift up thine eyes round about and behold,
all these gather themselves together and come to thee" (49:18). World
conversion, the multitude of nations brought to the knowledge of God
(not into the Church) is beautifully predicted in chapter 60. First we
see the glory of the Lord shining forth; this is His second coming. But
in what state does He find the earth? "Behold, darkness shall cover the
earth and gross darkness the people." This is the apostasy, the moral
and spiritual darkness the Lord will find on the earth. It will soon be
changed by His glorious appearing. The Gentiles will then be brought
to that light.
"And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the
brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see; all
they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come
from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Then thou shalt
see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged;
because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the
forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. The multitude of camels
shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from
Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall show
forth the praises of the Lord. All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered
together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they
shall come up with acceptance on Mine altar, and will glorify the house
of My glory. Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to
their windows? Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of
Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold
with them, unto the name of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of
Israel, because He hath glorified thee. And the sons of strangers shall
build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee; for in My
wrath I smote thee, but in My favor have I had mercy on thee. Therefore
thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor
night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that
their kings may be brought. For the nation and kingdom that will not
serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted"
(60:3-12).
This is the vision of the kingdom to come. That coming age,
introduced by the visible and glorious coming of Christ, will mean the
end of idolatry and the worshipping of the Lord. "All flesh shall come
to worship before Me, saith Jehovah" (66:23).
The blessings for all creation. In Romans 8 we read of the future
and complete deliverance of groaning creation. It will come with the
manifestation of the sons of God. That manifestation takes place when
the Lord Jesus Christ comes again. He who created all things and whose
creation was marred by sin; He who came into His creation and died for
the creature's sin, will in that coming day deliver creation from its
curse. The blessings of a delivered creation were beheld by Isaiah.
"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie
down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling
together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear
shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall
eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of
the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den"
(11:6-8).
Also read chapter 65:25. Only the serpent will continue to crawl in
the dust as an abiding witness of Satan and sin; also as a warning, for
after the kingdom age Satan will be loosed for a little season
(Revelation 20:7).
All waits for the coming of these great blessings and glories. We
insist again that they cannot come till "that day" of Isaiah's vision
has appeared. It will surely come, though it has tarried long. Judgment
ends the present age and blessings for Israel, the nations and all
creation are the characteristics of the age to come. The church and her
heavenly destiny was not seen by Isaiah. In the New Testament we read
exclusively of the church, how it began and how it will suddenly end.
When the predicted judgments smite the earth the true Church is gathered
home and is in His presence. Her destiny is not an earthly kingdom, an
earthly Jerusalem, but with the King, the Lord of Glory in the heavenly
Jerusalem. The destiny of the church is not to be ruled over in the
kingdom, but to rule over the kingdom. May God's Spirit give unto us the
power to enjoy these great revelations and rejoice in them even before
they are accomplished.
THE ACTORS OF THE PERIOD OF ISAIAH
Chronologically Arranged
Before Christ
765 Isaiah born
789-740 Uzziah
784-745 Jeroboam II
745-737 Menahem
745-727 Tiglath-pileser III
740 The call of Isaiah's vision, chapter 6
740-736 Jotham
738 Arpad, Calno, Carchemish and Damascus taken by Tiglath-pileser III
737-736 Pekahiah
736-730 Pekah
736-727 Ahaz
734 Syro-Ephraimitic war; Gaza captured by Tiglath-pileser III; Galilee
carried captive to Assyria
732 Damascus taken by Tiglath-pileser III
730-722 Hoshea
727-699 Hezekiah
727-722 Shalmaneser IV
722 Fall of Samaria; end of the kingdom of Israel
722-705 Sargon II
721-709 Babylonia under Merodach-Baladan
720 Battle of Karkar; Sargon II conquers Arpad, Hammath and Damascus.
Battle of Raphia
717 Sargon II conquers the Hittites, takes Carchemish, their capital
714 Hezekiah's sickness
712 Merodach-Baladan sent messengers to Hezekiah
711 Siege of Ashdod by Sargon II
709 Merodach-Baladan driven from Babylonia by Sargon II
705-681 Sennacherib
703 Merodach-Baladan again king over Babylonia
701 Siege of Jerusalem by Sennacherib; Judah, Moab, Edom, Ammon and
Philistia made to pay tribute. Tirhakah (afterwards "king of
Ethiopia") head of the Egyptian army under Shabaka
699-643 Manasseh, king of Judah. Tradition claims that under Manasseh,
Isaiah suffered martyrdom