Making Sense of Isaiah

Some parts of the Bible are scarier than others. A book that has fascinated me but also intimidated me is the book of Isaiah. Whenever I’m reading through the whole Bible and I come to Isaiah, there have been many times that I kind of sighed and thought, “Okay, here we go. Time to listen to God make speech after speech about how disgusted He is with people. Time to be confused about exactly who He’s talking to and what’s happening. I knew Isaiah was important but for a long time the book as a whole didn’t make sense to me.

If you’ve ever sat down and tried to plow your way through Isaiah, you might have felt the same way. Let’s see if we can clear up a few things today.

Isaiah is huge. It takes about four hours to read it straight through—a lot longer if we want to actually understand what’s going on. It’s mostly prophetic poems with layered references to other Bible stories. It’s not in chronological order—it’s barely even organized by concepts, although there is a general flow of God’s plan for saving the world. There are 66 books in the Bible and there are 66 chapters in Isaiah. Some people have called Isaiah the “Bible in miniature”—and it kinda is. There are 39 chapters of warning people that judgment is coming and 27 chapters of comfort for those who will listen to God’s promise of salvation—kind of like the Old and New Testament. Isaiah shows us visions from Genesis to Revelation. Eden to the New Jerusalem, the New Heavens and the New Earth. 

It’s also been called the “Fifth Gospel” because it points more directly to Jesus than any other book in the Old Testament. It’s quoted more in the New Testament than any other book. When Jesus wanted the people in His hometown to know He was the Messiah, the promised anointed Savior, He read from Isaiah. 

Luther said the key to understanding Isaiah is to pay close attention to the first line. He said too many people seem to skim over it and then proceed to be confused for the next 66 chapters.

Here’s the first line:

“The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.” Isaiah 1:1

So, it’s a book of visions a man named Isaiah had about Judah and Jerusalem. His dad was Amoz (not Amos the prophet. No one knows anything about Amoz. It may as well have said “son of no one you’ve ever heard of.”) And he saw these visions during the reigns of four kings in the southern kingdom of Judah.

We don’t know much more about him. He was married to a woman called “The Prophetess.” Maybe because she was also a prophet or maybe because she was his wife. He had two, maybe three sons with weird names. He probably lived in Jerusalem. Most of the book is poetry but in a few sections we’re told about how He met with King Ahaz, King Hezekiah, visited the priests in the Temple at least once. Spent three years walking around naked to symbolize the defeat and stripping of Egypt because God told him to. Tradition says He was killed by Hezekiah’s wicked son King Manasseh—shoved him into a hollow log and sawed him in two. Being a prophet in Jerusalem is a dangerous vocation.

But here’s what Luther meant by what he said: before you can understand what Isaiah has to say, you’re going to have to know something about Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. So, we have to go back to 2nd Kings and 2nd Chronicles to learn their stories. 

By the way, that’s how all the books of the prophets work. We have to be familiar with what was happening in the historical books to really understand what God says through the various prophets.

The first king mentioned was Uzziah. He was mostly considered a good king but toward the end, he tried to enhance his status as supreme ruler of Judah by taking on the role of priest, too. He went into the Temple and dared to pray directly to God in the place where only priests were allowed. The Temple priests called him out on it and some kind of skin disease broke out on his face. He spent the last ten years of his reign in quarantine—his son, Jotham ran the government for him until he died.

The first five chapters of Isaiah are like a prelude or setting for his calling as a prophet—but they would have been written after what happens in chapter six.

Chapter six is where Isaiah’s story really starts. It says this:

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.”

It seems that he’s at the Temple in Jerusalem when all of a sudden he sees God in all His glory and splendor in the heavenly Temple. Isaiah remembers what happened to King Uzziah. He’s not a priest wither, he’s not supposed to be here—so he’s terrified. He doesn’t think this is going to end well for him.

Verse 2:

“Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.”

Isaiah definitely doesn’t think he should be here. The angels are declaring the holiness of God. God is holy. God is not like us. Being in the presence of His holiness is like darkness being in the presence of light. God is not part of the natural created world. He is absolutely super-natural. Holiness is the mysterious power that God has because He is other, special, set apart, awesome—words can’t get us there. God is Holy. And His holiness destroys anything or anyone unholy.

This is a problem and Isaiah is feeling it, verse 5:

“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” (I’m going to die.) Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

One of those terrifying six-winged angelic creatures flies over to the altar, picks up a smoldering, red-hot coal and puts it on his mouth. I’m sure Isaiah winced hard, I’m sure he expected his face to be melted like wax in fiery pain.

But that’s not what happened. God’s holiness did destroy the unholy but not like we would have thought—instead it made the unholy, holy. His guilt was taken away and his sin was atoned for. The angel told him he was cleansed from sin and forgiven. 

Then something even more astounding happens. He hears the actual voice of God. He’s talking to His seraphim, asking who they think would be the best messenger for the assignment He had coming up. 

Verse 8:

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” 

Remember that terrified guy who was “woeing” and cowering in the corner waiting for God to smite him? Something had changed. A total reversal of his sense of unworthiness and fear. He spoke up and responded to God boldly, “Here am I. Send me.” He’s pretty much the only prophet in the Bible who seems enthusiastic about his calling.

Most of the book of Isaiah is descriptions of the visions God gave him. The ministry of Isaiah is chapter after chapter of his poetic dreams. Some of it is foretelling the future and some of it is preaching the truth about what’s going on in his day. A lot of it is God speaking—if you want to know what God sounds like, read Isaiah. There is scolding law and wrath leveled at unrepentant sinners and anyone who fails to keep His commandments. But there is just as much comforting grace and mercy for people who listen and turn to Him. 

Isaiah is probably the most talented writer in the Bible. He has the largest vocabulary and his use of imagery is powerful and unforgettable. Yes, he’s writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit but God uses the natural abilities of the writers to do it.

It can be confusing reading through Isaiah, though, because it’s easy to lose track of who he’s speaking to and what He’s talking about.

Here are seven things to keep in mind that should help you make sense of Isaiah:

1. God Deals With Nations.
   The kingdom of Israel had split into a northern and southern kingdom. Isaiah is mostly preaching in Judah, the southern kingdom where Jerusalem and the Temple are located. But God is using all the surrounding nations against them—including the northern kingdom called Israel or Samaria. There are chapters of God speaking to a bunch of Judah’s surrounding nations—Assyria, Edom, Egypt, Babylon—it’s confusing because first God calls them to come attack Judah (which is also called Jerusalem and Zion) and then He says He’s going to destroy those wicked nations for attacking His people. God’s in control of all things, He is the Sovereign Lord over everything. He’s also holy and righteous. He uses the wicked to accomplish His plans but the wicked do not go unpunished. If this is terrifying and confusing to you, then you are starting to understand. God deals with nations—He did then and He does now. So, when reading Isaiah, pay attention to which nation he’s talking to.

2. It’s Poetry.
   The language is exaggerated, layered, nuanced. The reader is expected to know the rest of the Old Testament and a bunch of symbols. Rahab is Egypt. Trees are nations. Cedars are proud pagans. Olive trees and vineyards are Jerusalem. When the olive tree is nothing but the stump of Jesse—we’re supposed to understand he’s talking about King David’s father, Jesse, and when a new sprout comes out of the trunk, it’s talking about a new king in the line of David. A good study-Bible can help.

3. Law and Gospel.
   God is mad a lot. When He speaks hard words of judgment, He’s talking to unfaithful people in Isaiah’s time for sure but we can also hear all those things as words of warning for us, too. In other sections, God is also very loving. When God speaks tender words of comfort, those promises are always future-oriented but we can apply them to us if we are listening. The Law teaches us what we’re supposed to do and not do, it shows us our sin and God’s wrath, we need to hear it and apply it to ourselves. God hates when we are outwardly religious but inwardly apathetic—when we go through the motions of worship but neglect to love people, show compassion, help people who need help, protect the vulnerable. On the other hand, the Gospel teaches us what God has done for us, what He is still doing for us, that He is our Savior and has grace upon grace for us, we need to be reminded of the Gospel constantly because we all tend to revert to being troubled and feeling the shame of our sin and failure. The people who return from exile in Babylon are the ones Isaiah is talking to, but the fulfillment of those promises doesn’t happen until Jesus—and as we all know—even on this side of the cross we’re still waiting for the ultimate fulfillment when Jesus returns again in glory to usher in the New Heavens and New Earth. So when you read Isaiah, take both the conviction of the law and the comfort of the Gospel to heart.

4. Prophecy is Blurry.
   Sometimes Isaiah is talking about the return from Babylon and in the same vision he sees Jesus in the Gospels and in the same vision he sees Jesus in the second coming with the New Heavens and New Earth from the end of the book of Revelation. These are visions and dreams with layers of meaning—the content is all true but the exact timing of everything is fuzzy.

5. The Predictions Are Supposed To Be Impressive.
   Isaiah’s ministry was 700 years before Jesus walked on the earth. He predicted Babylon would destroy Jerusalem and take the people into exile 100 years before it happened. Isaiah was long dead by then. He predicted a ruler from the east named Cyrus would destroy Babylon and set the people free again—send them back to Jerusalem. This was before the nation of Persia even existed, let alone a ruler named Cyrus. One of Isaiah’s big ideas is that God alone knows the future, and he proves it by making such specific predictions. The Jewish historian Josephus has an account of Cyrus, who was a total pagan, reading Isaiah’s prophecy, finding his own name written in prophecies from 150 ago, and being so impressed with God’s power to tell the future that it made him want to fulfill what Isaiah said he would do. It’s like Inception.

6. Each Chapter Stands Alone.
   Isaiah is kind of like the Book of Psalms. Each chapter is its own deal.

7. The Servant is Jesus.
   There’s a very important character who is sometimes called the Suffering Servant, sometimes He’s called Israel. He’s The Ideal Israel. There’s at least four chapters dedicated to Him. He’s the promised One who will save the people. Where Israel had been unfaithful, He will be faithful. He is “Israel Reduced to One Man.” He suffers and dies for His people. He’s wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, by His stripes we are healed. He takes all of God’s wrath on Himself. He dies. He’s buried. He comes back from the dead—this guy sounds a lot like Jesus, doesn’t He. He not only saves the people of Israel but He is a light for the Gentiles! He will bring salvation to all the peoples of the earth. The Servant is Jesus.
   
   Keep those seven things in mind when you read Isaiah, I think it will help.

Remember when Isaiah was in the presence of God and the angels—when God called him to be His messenger? I didn’t finish the part of the story where God tells him what his mission was going to be. Back to Isaiah chapter six, verse 9: [God] said,

“Go and tell this people: “ ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” Then I said, “For how long, Lord?” And he answered: “Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left deserted and the fields ruined and ravaged, until the LORD has sent everyone far away and the land is utterly forsaken. And though a tenth remains in the land, it will again be laid waste. But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.”

Hey Isaiah?

Yes, Lord?

Go tell the people all about these visions I’m going to give you of judgment and salvation.

Okay, Lord. I’ll tell them.

Good. That’s good. By the way, they’re not going to listen to you. 

Oh. How long should I keep telling them, then?

Just keep telling them until they’re sick of hearing it and everything is completely destroyed.

Nice pep talk.

Jesus said the same thing about His ministry. The disciples asked why He always taught the people using parables and He quoted Isaiah,

“This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.” (Matthew 13:13, Mark 4:12)

Isaiah spoke in poems, Jesus taught in parables. I stand up here every week and talk as plainly as I possibly can but I still feel like my job is to be professionally and politely ignored. 

It had to be discouraging to Isaiah that his ministry wasn’t going to bring about revival in Judah and Israel. He preached the Word of God for more than 50 years. Ignored for more than 50 years. I think him and Noah probably hang out together in heaven and drink beer.

I think everyone who preaches God’s commandments and shares the message of grace in the promises of Jesus can relate to what Isaiah was talking about. 

We don’t close the Bible until we see how it points to Jesus—which is pretty easy with Isaiah.

He preached some of the best and clearest Gospel—some of the strongest declarations of God’s love and forgiveness in the whole Bible. Chapter 55 is an example of God speaking through Isaiah about some of the blessings He has planned for those who follow His will. God promises to be faithful in blessing His people—But there’s a catch—God’s people have to turn back to Him. The wicked must “forsake their way.” The sinner must “abandon their thoughts” and turn to the Lord. How is that ever going to happen? How are people who don’t like God and don’t want to follow Him going to change? 

The answer is the Word of God. When God speaks, things happen. His Word is like the burning coal. The Word of the Lord contains a power within it that can cause the conversion of a person’s heart. He created everything that exists by speaking it into existence. By the power of the Holy Spirit, God’s Word can change a person’s soul and create new spiritual life. 

In Isaiah 55:11, God makes this promise:

“My word that goes out from my mouth… will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire.” Isaiah 55:11

God’s Word is His primary means of grace. Faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ. The Word of the Gospel. Jesus is the Word of God made flesh. He delivers grace, the Gospel and everything that goes with it, to people through His Word. In spite of our sin—in spite of your sin and stubbornness, God will accomplish your salvation. He may certainly discipline you to get your attention, to get you to listen. You are forgiven! When you finally hear those words and believe them, “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace.” The end of the Babylonian exile happened because God promised it would—He caused it to come true. In the same way, God will one day end the pain and darkness of our world and our time—Christ will lead all who hear His Word to a time of resurrection and new life in a better world. Isaiah saw that world, too.

Do you hear what God is still asking the angels? “Who will take my Word to the people who need to hear it? “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” 

Anyone here had the living coal from the altar touch them and make them holy? 

I know you have. You’ve heard the Gospel. Your sins have been forgiven. Though they were scarlet they have become white as snow.

Is there anyone who will say, “Here am I. Send me!” 

When you tell people what God has shown you in Jesus, just like the message of Isaiah, it will do something. It will make an impact in one of two ways. Either it will harden their pride against God [Harden: 6:9–10; 28:13; 29:11–12] or it will become to the person with open ears and soft heart, the words of life and their salvation [Soften: 55:1–3; 57:15; 66:2]. Just like Isaiah, your job is just to tell people what you’ve seen—God does what He wants from there, it will not return to Him empty. AMEN