Isaiah 40
Isaiah 40:27-31 is the passage of scripture that this essay will attempt to explain. Isaiah was a prophet to the people of Israel during the eighth century B.C. Isaiah had seen in his life four kings take the throne of Judah and he experienced the fall of the Northern kingdom, known as Israel. During Isaiah’s life, the state of the Jewish people was not good. The Jewish people were consumed with idolatry and immortality.
Isaiah, in one of the most historic passages in scripture, gives us great insight into how to live our lives with purpose and endurance. Isaiah 40:27-31 states,
Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God”? 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (ESV)
Isaiah has already warned Israel of their coming judgement and knows that in their own works to save themselves they are growing tired. Matthew Henry in his commentary on this passage mentions, “it is bad to have evil thoughts rise in our minds, but worse to turn
Isaiah 58:6-14 is a very powerful passage. The first bible version that I read it in was the King James Version. That version didn't really make very much sense to me because of all the "thou's" and "thee's" and "thines". So then I looked it up again in the New Revised Standard Version. It was a lot clearer when I looked it up in that bible. There are a few similarities and differences from the different versions that I read. The two that stood out the most to me was the King James Version, and the New Revised Standard Version. The differences were like night and day. Probably because they were the first two that I read, and maybe because the King James Version, like I said earlier, has a lot of the "1800's language," like "thou"
The prophet Isaiah played an important role in the development and expression of Judaism as a dynamic, living religion through the impact of his works. The impact of Isaiah is evident in both the development and expression of Judaism both in his time and in modern society, as his teachings, for the Jewish people, prove to be relevant to the times. Considered among Jews as one of the greatest prophets, Isaiah has contributed to and affected the life of adherents in the Jewish faith through his political and religious influence, his prophetic messages concerning
Much of Isaiah’s messages to the Kings are in the form of political instruction. Isaiah first important message as a prophet comes during the time of King Ahaz. At this time Assyria has grown very strong. The North Kingdom is already vassal. Thus, the north and Aram are planning a rebellion. They threaten Ahaz by telling him to join the rebellion or they will invade the south kingdom. Isaiah’s message is to stay out of the conflict and trust God. Ahaz however, calls Assyria to aid him and uses treasures from the temple in order to bribe the Assyrians (Brubacher, Meta). In the end, Assyria crushes the rebellion saving the south but making them vassal in the process. The next king, Hezekiah inherits a vassal nation. He is most known for his rebellion against Assyria. Isaiah tells him to stay out of the revolt as the lord will take of the situation. Hezekiah believes he will have a chance since a new ruler recently took the throne and decides to join the rebellion. In theory, this mentally would have made sense. The time of a new king taking the throne is the best time to rebel. His disregard for the message
Introduction: We see a book that was often quoted by Jesus and the apostles. A book that was written nearly 700 years before Christ was born. In the Six Chapter of the book of Isaiah, Isaiah gives us a record of his sacred call to the office of Prophet. His calling comes in a time of crisis in the nation. He begins by telling us that it was the year when King Uzziah had died. A king that had reign for over 50 years. Is in that time when God appear to Isaiah, he says (Verse 1) He has a vision. I saw (didn’t hear or read) The Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up and His robe filled the temple. The image and the symbolic significance of what Isaiah sees upon here, is the outfit of The King like no other (status symbols).
Isaiah prophesized that people should obey and trust in the Lord. God trusted that Isaiah would inform people that He was with them and that His love endures forever. In Isaiah Chapter 65-66, god revealed himself to simmers. He said they would be judged both for good and evil. God just wanted the people to be obedient. “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.” God is admirable because He once again was giving people another chance. “As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me, declares the Lord, “so will your name and descendents endure.” Isaiah 66:22. God is to be admired in that in Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6. God prophesized though Isaiah about the birth of a boy who would be great. God through Isaiah offers future hope for the nation of Israel. Jesus would be the difference between light and darkness, life and death. Anyone who offers hope of a better future is a person who we would look up to and respect and that is God. God is always admirable in everything that I have known him to do. He protects us as we are his children. He is hard on us sometimes, but is always loving towards us. God is to be respected because he wanted his people to be obedient and live holy. He judged but he has never given up and always gives us chances to repent. We are his creation, though a work in progress. God has a plan for us and just tries
In Isaiah’s Immanuel, Dr. Edward Hindson truly dives into the book of Isaiah. Hindson helps us to grasp the importance and statute of Isaiah. He was not simply a prophet among prophets. He stands out as a citizen of Israel and a servant of God. Hindson does not hold back on his praises of Isaiah and agrees with W.R.Smith, that he is the second most important person throughout the whole story of Israel (2). Isaiah’s writings style still puts modern day scholars in awe. However, Isaiah’s Godly leadership is a principle throughout the book that far exceeds his other attributes. His wisdom, words, and visions from God guided the nation of Israel throughout the reign of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Hindon discusses the history of not only Isaiah
The leaders of Israel were struggling to maintain power due to its neighbors. The prophet Isaiah guided Hezekiah by preaching that he should place his trust in God and not Assyrian alliance. However, King Hezekiah was not consistent with his trust in God, which later resulted in the fall of reign. The book of Isaiah can be broken down into three sections. Chapters 1 to 39 represent the call of judgement for the city of Jerusalem. Chapters 40 to 55 represent the prophet Isaiah in exile, and chapters 56 to 66 represent the return from exile to a new Jerusalem. Each section highlights a part of Isaiah’s
I moved on to Joseph Blenkinsopp, who as usual, did not disappoint. Here I found the historical context of this section of Isaiah. Blenkinsopp referred back to Isaiah 58 to shed light on why the vision of theophany in Isaiah 60 had not been realized. Cyrus had release the Jews from Babylonian captivity, and those who wished to had returned to Jerusalem. But the “dominant frame of mind of the people being address (in Isaiah 58) is one of disorientation and disillusionment.” There is corruption in the government and judicial system, and among the religious leaders. The poor are neglected. Jerusalem suffers under “external pressures and internal dissention.” In chapter 60 the vision is unfulfilled; in chapter 58, God tells the
Living in a time of corruption, social oppression and Assyrian devastation, the Jewish prophet Isiah wrote about concepts and ideologies that have heavily influenced the lives of individual adherents and Jewish communities throughout time. Isaiah’s influence on the adherents of Judaism is momentous as the book of Isaiah, which contains his writings, is found in the Nevi’im – the book of Prophets which Jewish adherents and communities read, study and look to for guidance. Isaiah’s vision for morality and denunciation of hypocrisy allowed for a more holistic approach to life, rejecting immorality and moving towards earthly peace under divine justice. (insert on screen 2:4).
Isaiah’s terminology when describing God as “The Holy One of Israel”, not only shows reverence by admission of God’s holiness, but also emphasizes the point of the great offenses that the Israelite nation committed against God. As a holy God, he cannot allow sin in his presence, and therefore, must bring effect to the cause. With God’s ultimate goal of reconciliation, punishment is used to its effect while the Servant’s main role was making it available to the people.
In Isaiah 7: 10-16 of the Old Testament, God attempts to comfort his people. The people of Jerusalem have suffered greatly even more than necessary. Isaiah hears a voice telling him to prepare the way for the Lord. When Isaiah asks why the voice gives him
The fasting is one of the most important practices that help a Christian with his spiritual growth. The first purpose of fasting with prayer is to worship God correctly. In Isaiah 58:1-12 records a message of God which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet. The Lord tells Isaiah in the first few verses to proclaim loudly the sins of the nation. God wanted his people to know that He sees and judges their transgressions. Verse two talks about the outward righteousness of the people as they go to church, obey the Word of God, fast and appear to be eager to know more about God. However, the Lord sees the heart and He is not impressed with their religious acts. And this passage speaks to many Christians today. Is our worship a real obedience under God 's grace, or is it a self centered obedience to give God a favor? Fasting is the complete definition of humility before God of putting aside the desires of the flesh in order to see their weakness. We deprive ourselves from our pleasure to share it to others and for His glory. Thus Isaiah 58:6-8 further explains the purpose of fasting, "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as
The book of Isaiah provides a message to the nation of Israel and is one of the most powerful books of prophecy in the Bible. The prophet spoke of events to come that many have attempted to discern. Scholars, Rabbis and Christian Clergy differ in their interpretations of these passages in Isaiah 52 and 53.
Isaiah came during a pivotal time in history. The world was changing rapidly and life was on the edge of prosperity and ruin, as it is today. In this uncertain time Isaiah was called by God to deliver a message of warning, comfort, and deliverance. Christians view the prophecies of Isaiah as a projection of the coming of Jesus Christ. Isaiah spoke of divine judgment and the promises of God through the Prince of Peace. Isaiah’s message of the future King was very meticulous. He describes how Christ will come, Christ’s character and Christ’s purpose. In this paper I will dissect Isaiah’s prophecies in the Old Testament and reference them to the events of Christ in the New Testament.
Thus, the historical and political setting for Isaiah 40-66 could be spread across the rule of three dominant nations, Assyria, Babylon, and Persia. Boadt notes that while the theme of Deutero-Isaiah was Consolation, the overall theme of the book centered on God as the Holy One of Israel; foreign rule was God’s disciplinary tool, and God’s makes Zion the Divine dwelling place. (Boadt 1984, 417)