Our background photo today looks through a gate … far down the road, into the future. So also, the book of Isaiah is a prophetic book, which looks through the gate of “here and now” … far down the road into the future.
The prophet Isaiah delivered a bold message to the rebellious nations of his day. Warning!! If the nations do not repent and turn to God … judgement will come. Disobedience will result in consequences!!
And sure enough … passing through the gate and down the roadway of time … judgement indeed did come!
But Isaiah also delivered a message of comfort and hope. Messiah will come! Looking through the gate … down through the long passage of time … Messiah will come to take care of sin and make everything right again!
We open the book of Isaiah to see right away that Isaiah lived during the time of the divided kingdom. Isaiah prophesied during the reigns of kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. (Isaiah 1:1) To better understand the events occurring at the time see: 2 Kings 15:1-7; 2 Kings 15:32-38; 2 Kings chapters 16-20; 2 Chronicles 26:1-33:20.
It is interesting to note that while Isaiah’s primary message was for the nation of Judah, calling them back to repentance, Isaiah also delivered messages of warning to the surrounding nations:
– a prophecy against Babylon: Isaiah chapter 13
– a prophecy against Assyria: Isaiah 14:24-27
– a prophecy against the Philistines: Isaiah 14:28-32
– a prophecy against Moab: Isaiah chapters 15-16
– a prophecy against Damascus: Isaiah chapter 17
– a prophecy against Cush: Isaiah chapter 18; chapter 20
– a prophecy against Egypt: Isaiah chapters 19 – 20
– a prophecy against the Desert by the Sea: Isaiah 21:1-10
– a prophecy against Edom: Isaiah 21:11-12
– a prophecy against Arabia: Isaiah 21:13-17
– a prophecy against Tyre: Isaiah, chapter 23
God loves all people! God wants all people of the earth to repent and to turn to Him.
“Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God.” – Isaiah 59:1-2
“’Come now, let us reason together,’ says the LORD. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.’” – Isaiah 1:18
“The LORD longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice.” – Isaiah 30:18
“Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.” – Isaiah 45:22
Jesus Christ in Isaiah:
– Prophecy that Jesus would be born of a virgin
(Isaiah 7:14; it happened – Luke 1:26-35)
– Prophecy that Jesus would be Immanuel “God with us.”
(Isaiah 7:14; it happened – Matthew 1:21-23)
– Prophecy that Jesus would be God and Man
(Isaiah 9:6; it happened – John 10:30)
– Prophecy that Jesus would be preceded by a forerunner
(Isaiah 40:3-5; it happened – Luke 1:17; Luke 3:2-6)
– Prophecy that Jesus would have the Spirit of God upon Him
(Isaiah 11:1-2; Isaiah 42:1-4; it happened – Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 12:15-21)
– Prophecy that Jesus would proclaim the good news
(Isaiah 61:1-2; it happened – Luke 4:18-19; Matthew 11:2-4)
– Prophecy that Jesus would heal the blind, lame, deaf
(Isaiah 35:5-6; it happened – Luke 7:18-22)
– Prophecy that Jesus would be a light to the gentiles
(Isaiah 42:6-7; it happened – John 8:12)
– Prophecy that Jesus would be despised by the Jewish nation
(Isaiah 53:3; it happened – Matthew 27:23)
– Prophecy that Jesus would be whipped and beaten
(Isaiah 50:6; Isaiah 53:4-5; it happened – Matthew 8:17; Matthew 26:67, 27:26)
– Prophecy that Jesus would die as a guilt offering for sin
(Isaiah 53:7-11; it happened – John 18:11)
– Prophecy that Jesus would be resurrected and live forever
(Isaiah 53:10; it happened – Revelation 1:17-18)
– Prophecy that Jesus will return to claim His own
(Isaiah 62:11-12; it will happen – Revelation 22:12-13)
– Prophecy that Jesus will make all things right again
(Isaiah 25:6-8; Isaiah 51:11; it will happen – Revelation 21:4-5)
