The prophet Isaiah begins his service as a prophet sometime in the reign of Uzziah king of Judah (790-739 BC) (Chapter 1) probably on his death (739) (Chapter 6) and surely continue until the death of Sennacherib king of Assyria (681) (Chapter 37) during the reign of Hezekiah king of Judah. His service is therefore lasted at least 40 years.
Isaiah was married to a woman (8:3) They had two children. The first was called "A remnant will return" (7:3), whose name was a consolation for King Ahaz who feared the Syrian-Israeli coalition (2Re16: 5). The second was called "Hasten the looting, early in the booty "(8:3) in his name announced this Coalition's defeat by the king of Assyria. Isaiah and his family had for Jude an omen of future events with their names and their life (8:18, Isaiah 20:3 which is made to walk half naked to symbolize the power of Egypt and Ethiopia Part of Assyria). Isaiah then speaks of a third child, "God with us", Emmanuel (7:14). He is the son of Isaiah, but a son of Judah (8:8). He shall be born of a virgin and will bring light to Israel starting from Galilee (8:23), will rest on his shoulders and will be called domain names with ineffable as Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace (Chapter 9). He filled with the Spirit of God will judge Israel's injustice and rule all nations (capitolo11).
We have divided the book of Isaiah into three main blocks.
The first block from chapter 1 to 35 has the theme God's punishment of God and judging begins taking his people. Samaria is destined to fall into the hands of Assyria because of his sin by not repenting. Judah is first preserved by the attack of the alliance between Syria and Samaria, then the invasion of Assyria, but he can not resist deportation to Babylon. The Judgement of God a part from his people and then spread to all nations. The oracles of Isaiah speak of the immediate and final review of all the nations (chapters 13-24) and 24 is announced to understand the proceedings around the world. However, the punishment of God is repeatedly contrasted with the kingdom of glory and prosperity that he has reserved for those who want to make peace with him (Isaiah 27:5). We have focused on individual reviews of each nation, but we did some reflection on the symbolic importance to Babylon, spiritual but also political, which this nation has in the Scriptures, and then in human history.
The second block consists of chapters 36-39 and is a bridge between the first and the third block. This portion shows biography of King Hezekiah as we made some prophecies of Isaiah when he was still alive and describes the spiritual pride of Hezekiah which will precede the Babylonian captivity. Isaiah was no longer alive at the time of the deportation to Babylon, but described it in advance.
The third block (40-66), though written before the exile, seems to have been written to a people already deported to comfort him, and proclaim an imminent release in detail. Wonder to read the name of Cyrus (Chapters 44-45) 150 years before his coming, when he was still in the womb but in the thoughts of God where He predestined him to free his people from Babylonian captivity. Cyrus is described as an anointed a messiah. But Isaiah turns his vision over this great political liberation. God in the early chapters of this block is described in all its superiority before all the idols of the earth, as the one who can announce things before they germinate. And among these things is the arrival of a servant of God, that is not only a political deliverer for Israel, but the light for all nations (Chapter 42,49,50,52,53). We have had long focused on verses 52:13-53:12 for the importance of the message containing: for they announce in advance the theme of the gospel of salvation talking about the glory of the servant of his greatest humiliation of his voluntary choice to replace the sinner, his vicarious death, his victory over death through the resurrection. The suffering servant becomes available for this object of admiration by all nations and receive a people by God as a prize and a glory greater than that which belonged to him before he accepted the call of God to be the atonement for the sins of men. From Chapter 54 to 66, then the vision is coming to an ultimate restoration of Israel which will take place at the hands of the servant women divorced and abandoned after being passed down for trial on all Israel will be glorious nations. These chapters will be the subject of our next studies.
Applications:
• God hates sin but he is ready to sacrifice for those who
repents and wants to make peace with him.
• Suffering precedes glory.
This principle applies to Israel,
to Christ and the Christian's life.
