The prophet Isaiah is of royal descent. He was born in Jerusalem to his father Amos, the brother of Amaziah, king of Judah. By the great grace of God, which was in him, Isaiah was honored to see the Lord of hosts on the throne of heaven, surrounded by six-winged seraphim, who eternally sing: “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord.” Isaiah is one of the four most influential prophets in the Old Testament. In his book, he is announcing the coming of Jesus Christ, our Lord, and Savior.
He prophesied many things, both to people and to nations. Once, for three days, he walked completely naked through the streets of Jerusalem, predicting the imminent fall of Jerusalem under the Assyrian king Sennacherib, and admonishing the king and the chiefs of the people not to rely on the help of the Egyptians and Ethiopians, as they would soon be conquered, by the same Sennacherib, they trust in the help of God Most High.
Archaeological evidence that Isaiah existed
The prophet Isaiah existed if it turns out that he had a clay seal, 2,700 years old, which was just found by archaeologists. It is assumed that he was an adviser to the king of ancient Judea, Ezekiel. Scholars believe that the Hebrew inscription imprinted in clay once read, “It belongs to the prophet Isaiah.” This could be the first proof of the existence of a famous prophet outside the Bible. The damaged clay seal was excavated in Ophel, an area in East Jerusalem, between the City of David and Temple Mount sites.
Isaiah’s name (‘Yesha’yahu’ in Hebrew) is visible on the seal. However, the seal is damaged, so some archaeologists are not certain, whether it refers to a biblical prophet or some other person of the same name who lived at the time. While others are positive that that seal belongs to Isaiah himself.
(Archaeological Evidence for Prophet Isaiah)
History
The book of the prophet Isaiah is the most comprehensive book of the Old Testament. One of the larger messages of this book is the spread of peace. At the time when the prophet lived, three great powers fought for supremacy. Assyria was then the dominant authority. Israel was the target of Assyria. Their goal was not only political and economic but also spiritual. They also wanted to subdue them spiritually. In 722 BC, Assyria conquered the Northern kingdom-Israel (10 tribes). However, there is the Southern kingdom of Judah, still free, with two tribes. These ten tribes constantly fall away from God until Assyria subdues them completely. But the tribe of Judah remained faithful to God.
Isaiah was a prophet in the Southern Kingdom. As he came from the royal family, he had access to the court and easily approached the emperor. The prophet encouraged the people he could communicate with people. According to the Jewish story, he died a horrible death. He was cut with a saw. It is not known whether this is true or it is just a story. Somewhere there is information that they put him in a hollow log and then cut him. He was a man like all men; he was married and had two sons.
To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. Isaiah 1:11-14 KJV
Chapter 1
Summary: Israel’s repulsion and punishment. The call to truly address God, not just bring sacrifices.
Promises and threats.
At the very beginning, in the second verse of the book of the prophet Isaiah, Isaiah speaks to everyone. He says, the Heavens hear, and the earth listens because the Lord speaks. We see that the message is very important. In the next verse, he compares the people of Israel to an ox and a donkey. He even says that an ox and a donkey are better because they know their master and Israel does not. In later verses, he speaks of the sins of Israel. As they left the Holy One of Israel, even Isaiah compares them to the people of Gomorrah.
Then the Lord says how he is full of the sacrificial alder and how he does not care for the blood offered. To God, those sacrifices are offensive. Therefore, when they spread their hands to God, God declares that he will not see them. He no longer hears their prayers because their hands are full of blood. The Lord called the people of Israel to be cleansed, to remove their evil deeds, and to stop doing evil. Only then can they come and they will be tried. If sins are like scarlet they will become white as snow, and if they are red they will become like wool.
And if they don’t want to, then the sword will eat them because that’s what the Lord said. The Lord further warns that he will turn his sword instead of Israel’s opponents on Israel itself. Zion will gather judgment and justice to those who return. And the renegades and sinners will perish because they forsake the Lord.
Chapter 2
Summary: From Zion comes salvation and peace to all nations, but Israel that worships idols will be judged first.
Chapter 3
Summary: Judgment for the sin of the people and women’s vanity.
The Lord of hosts will take all the help and support of Judah and Jerusalem. Every ungodly man will be harmed. The Lord will allow the children to be masters and the princes to be young men. The Lord still speaks through Isaiah about the daughters of Zion who do not behave immorally but, in fact, speaks about the people of God who have strayed.
Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war. And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground. Isaiah 3:25-26, KJV
Chapter 4
Summary: Messianic salvation
In the fourth chapter, the prophet Isaiah is the most powerful Lamb of God and the Messianic salvation. The Lord will then wash away all impurity with the Spirit who judges. The announcement of the perfect Sacrifice of Christ, the Lamb of God, with whose blood we wash away every sin.
And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach. In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:
When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain. Isaiah 4:1-6, KJV
Chapter 5
Summary: The story of the barren vineyard of the Lord. The threat of God’s judgment, especially enemy incursion.
Isaiah starts with the story of a vineyard on his fertile hill that has been cleared of stones and planted with a noble vine. The vineyard has a tower in the middle and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. In this story, the vineyard symbolizes the people of God. God worked in the vineyard and expected the grapes to bear fruit. However, instead of grapes, it bears wild grapes. The Lord will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down.
Also, command the clouds that they rain no rain upon them. For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry. The Lord says troublesome to those who get up early and go for a violent drink and stay in the dark and be drunk. Woe to those who think they are wise because they have no reason.
Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. Therefore is the anger of the Lord kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcasses were torn amid the streets. For all this, his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. The final verses in chapter five symbolize hell and the fires of hell.
Chapter 6
Summary: Isaiah’s vision is the Glory of the Lord and the calling to prophesy
He saw the Lord sitting on a throne high and high, with a church in his lap. Seraphim stood above Him, each with six wings, and with two wings, he covered his face, and with two, he covered his legs, and with two he flew. And they said to one another, “Holy is the Holy One, the Lord God! Holy is the Holy One, the Lord of hosts, the earth is full of His glory.” At that moment, Isaiah became afraid that he was standing before God unclean and living in an unclean people.
But one of the seraphim flew up to him holding in his hand a live coal which he had taken from the altar with tongs. Then they touched Isaiah’s mouth and cleaned them. And the Lord asked, who shall He send to prophesy to people? Isaiah appeared, send me, Lord.
And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate,
And the Lord have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land. But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof. Isaiah 6:9-13, KJV