Faithful on Fridays Blog

Part Four

As I highlight the first part of Isaiah’s book of prophecies it all leads up to the second part which some theologians call Second Isaiah. In chapters 28-31 we find that judgment is coming not only to the nations that came against Israel, but also to Israel herself. Yes, it’s coming, the northern Kingdom of Israel will go into captivity by Assyria during Isaiah’s lifetime and the southern Kingdom to Babylon (160 years later), however, God will remain on His throne as King and a remnant will return (28:5-6).

Isaiah is the most quoted prophet in the New Testament because his prophecies always directed people to upper story: Messiah. 

Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken. Isaiah 28:16

Luke quoted this in Acts. 4:11-12, Paul in Eph. 2:20 and Rom. 9:33, and Peter in 1 Peter 2:6. That’s a lot of repetition of one verse, why? Because it points us to Jesus Christ, even in the Old Testament. Jesus quoted Is. 29:13 when he rebuked the Pharisees (Mark 7:6-7) about their hard hearts and God the Father speaks to His rebellious children in chapters 30-31 about their stubbornness. Keep those Bibles open and follow along in order to see the ‘big picture’.

It’s not all doom and gloom for in chapter 32 Isaiah encourages them to watch for the King of Righteousness who’s coming to rule in justice, the Holy Spirit will be poured out, and yet he reminds the destroyer, Satan (ch. 33) that the LORD, their King, is coming to save them (vs. 22). It seems that with every temporary punishment grace wins out. They don’t deserve it, that’s true grace, and yet God’s promises are true.

You see Jesus clearly in chapter 35 when you reflect on Matt. 11:2-6, ‘the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.’

Isaiah changes his writing from prophecies to the story of King Hezekiah in chapters 36-39 since he was the ‘prophet of the day’ during that time. This king shows us the value of listening to God’s voice alone (36:1-37:14), laying our needs before Him (37:15-20), and being ready for a miracle in your life (38:4-8). Hezekiah’s imperfect faith closes out this first section of Isaiah (ch. 39) as we anticipate the second half and a new way of writing not simply prophecy, judgment, and history, but exhortation and hope for the future. It’s not about the nation of Israel as much as it’s about the first and second comings of Messiah, Jesus Christ. Salvation will be opened to all nations, Jew or Gentile (not a Jew), anyone who will repent and believe in Him.