The book of Isaiah contains some of the most terrifying warnings and the most comforting promises in all the Bible. In this study we will see the prophet Isaiah’s relationship with God, love for God’s people, and deep passion to see God obeyed and worshiped as He deserves. In order to understand this book, however, it is important to understand the times in which Isaiah lived.
Historical Background The people of Israel descended from God’s chosen servant Abram, whom God renamed Abraham. God promised to give Abraham land, make him into a great nation, and bless others through him. One of Abraham’s grandsons was Jacob, whose name God changed to Israel. Jacob’s family became a nation, also called Israel, made up of 12 tribes. During a famine, Jacob led the family into Egypt, where they eventually became slaves. Following 400 years of bondage, Moses led God’s people out of Egypt. After 40 years of wandering in the Sinai Desert, the Hebrews finally occupied the land God promised Abraham. They were led by judges for more than 300 years but then insisted on having a king, to be like the surrounding nations.
The Unified Kingdom. Saul was Israel’s first king—several centuries before Isaiah’s time. After Saul’s death, King David formed the 12 tribes into a nation and made Jerusalem its capital (around 1000 BC). Under David’s rule, the kingdom enjoyed its greatest expansion. David’s son Solomon constructed the first temple in Jerusalem according to a God-given pattern. He also built cities and roads, established military posts, and developed Jerusalem into a magnificent city.
The Divided Kingdom. During Solomon’s son Rehoboam’s reign, Israel divided into two kingdoms. The name Israel came to refer to just the 10 tribes of the northern nation. The southern kingdom, Judah, consisted of the two remaining tribes and continued to be ruled by kings in David’s lineage. King Jeroboam, of the northern kingdom, established his own religious centers by setting up a golden calf in Bethel and another in Dan. Both Israel and Judah slipped into the idolatrous practices of the surrounding nations. Alongside their idolatry, God’s people maintained an appearance of devotion to Him and continued to observe religious feasts and rituals. Yet a faithful remnant, who hated idolatry, always stayed true to God.
The Surrounding Nations About the same time God’s nation divided into Israel and Judah, Syria (Aram) was established. Under Hazael, Syria carried out a series of attacks against both Israel and Judah. Then Assyria succeeded Syria as the most powerful nation in the Fertile Crescent. Under Tiglath-pileser III (745–727 BC), the Assyrians conquered the Phoenician coast (part of present-day Lebanon). At that time, Syria’s capital, Damascus, fell to Assyria. In 722 BC, under Shalmaneser V (727–721 BC), Assyria conquered Samaria, and Israel’s people were relocated.
The Assyrian kings Sargon II (721–705 BC) and Sennacherib (705–681 BC) eventually threatened Judah too. Sennacherib destroyed Babylon in 689 BC. Under his son Esarhaddon’s rule, Assyria advanced through Israel and Judah into Egypt. The next Assyrian king, Ashurbanipal (668–627 BC), conquered land in Babylonia, Persia, Syria, and Egypt. But Assyrian power declined rapidly, and Nebuchadnezzar (605–561 BC) of Babylonia gained control of the Fertile Crescent. In 586 BC, the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and its temple and took Judah’s citizens into exile as Isaiah predicted.
The Time of Isaiah’s Ministry In this climate of shifting world powers, God called Isaiah to be His prophet. Isaiah’s ministry started during the reign of Assyria’s King Tiglath-pileser III and went through King Sennacherib’s. Isaiah also prophesied during the reigns of these kings of Judah: Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Isaiah probably began prophesying during the last part of King Uzziah’s rule and continued into the rule of King Hezekiah’s son Manasseh.
Think about these ancient events as God’s purposes being worked out in history. Kings plot and scheme, armies march and wage wars, leaders maneuver and manipulate—but God controls. The prideful Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom of Israel, but God had redemptive purposes in all they suffered. Our times seem as dangerous as those of Isaiah, but the Bible repeatedly describes God as sovereign. Understanding His control of global events and history gives us hope even when the world seems out of control.
Interpreting Old Testament Prophecy
Language and Context. Asking some basic questions helps us discover the historical context of a prophet’s message. To whom was God speaking? What were the nation’s circumstances and conditions? What customs and languages were common at the time and key to our understanding the prophet’s message? Isaiah presented truth in both literal language and symbolic imagery. Sometimes God wanted Isaiah to remind people of what they already knew, so he told forth the truth of God. Other times, Isaiah acted as a foreteller, with messages that contained predictive elements of both judgment and blessing. Often, a single predictive message would concern both the immediate future and the distant future.
Covenant. Isaiah spoke to the people as God’s chosen covenant people. A covenant is a “pact, an agreement, or a treaty bound by law.” God’s covenant began with Abraham and was confirmed under Moses with the entire nation of Israel. Prophets sent to Israel and Judah announced coming judgment but also stressed ultimate restoration, a unified kingdom, and the fulfillment of God’s promises to His covenant people.
Think about God’s faithfulness. He kept His promises to His people in the Old Testament, and He keeps His promises to us. The Bible can comfort and correct us—but only if we know what it says. Studying the Bible will give us a personal experience of Isaiah 55:10-11: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, … so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose.”
Conditional and Unconditional Prophecy. The prophets’ warnings were usually conditional, with consequences depending on the people’s response: “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword” (Isaiah 1:19-20). God also gave unconditional promises of restoration. He did not give any indication as to when they would be fulfilled. This study will not focus on trying to explain the details of the prophecies but will focus on the hope we all share: one day all these prophecies will be fulfilled, and God’s kingdom will come in fullness. Jesus will reign forever!
As we listen to what God says, we hear His heart, experience His passion, and see how deeply He wants His people to respond to Him with their whole hearts.
Personalize this lesson. Prophetic messages show us God’s heart, priorities, and character. God cautioned His people because of their idolatry, great personal sin, or national transgression. He assured people He was still sovereign, He still cared for them, and He would ultimately triumph. God rarely gave predictive messages for determining exactly when an event would take place. What is your interest in God’s prophetic messages as you start this study? What would you like to receive from Him through these upcoming months?
Review: God’s Voice to God’s People
- From the Commentary, what did you learn about how to study prophecy that will help you as you study the book of Isaiah?