THE MESSAGE OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH

During the month of August of this year, I decided to spend my personal devotion time studying the book of Isaiah, and I would like to share the results of this with you. This book finds itself near the middle of the Bible and has as many chapters as the Bible has in books, namely 66. Furthermore, Isaiah has two distinct parts of 39 chapters and 27 chapters. It so happens that the Old Testament has 39 chapters, and the New Testament has 27 chapters. The message of these 39 chapters summarizes the message of the OT and the 27 chapters summarize the message of the NT.

Much of the first 39 chapters of the book of Isaiah give an account of God’s relationship with his people Israel. He saves them, and in time they wander away from him. He allows neighbouring countries to enslave them again. Israel repents under duress and returns to God.

God accepts them and restores them to their former glory. This cycle is repeated again and again. The reader is left with the impression that God’s people will never be successful in maintaining the right relationship with God.

Finally, in chapters 40-66, Isaiah gives a permanent solution to this problem. In chapters 40-48, God gives comfort to his people.

Chapter 40 has these words, “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.

A voice of one calling; In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” These words refer to the ministry of John the Baptist as he announces the imminent work of Jesus. This comfort is possible because God gives his servant (whom the NT will identify as Jesus) as the one who will come and die and be resurrected again. This sacrifice will make possible the salvation of all mankind who desire it.

In the early chapters, Isaiah spends much time speaking of the desperation of God’s people. However, Isaiah ends on a great note. While we struggle in this life, we have a Saviour and a bright future.

Isaiah chapter 65 contains these words of a glorious future, “17 See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. The sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more. 21 They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. 24 Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, they will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the Lord.

This glorious future is also described in the later chapters of Revelation.

So, while the book of Isaiah begins with so little hope, it ends with the assurance that everything will end well. Isaiah chapters 1-39 represent our feeble efforts at self-righteousness. Chapters 40-66 is God’s solution by providing his righteousness in the person of his son Jesus.