Isaiah

Isaiah

Historical Background and Purpose

The book of Isaiah begins with, "These are the visions that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.  He saw these visions during the years when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah" (Isaiah 1:1).  It is very clear that Isaiah son of Amoz is the author of this book.  Isaiah's ministry spanned six decades (740 - 680 BC).  According to the introduction to the book of Isaiah in the Sourceview Bible, "Isaiah lived in the southern kingdom of Judah.  During his lifetime, the northern kingdom of Israel fell to the Assyrians.  In 722 BC as the northern kingdom was swept from the map, he preached a message of repentance to Judah.  Because the people heeded Isaiah and turned to God, Judah was delivered from the Assyrians and was spared the fate of their nothern cousins."  According to our speaker, John Randerson, the book of Isaiah can be divided into the following three historical periods:  Chapters 1 - 39 cover the period during Isaiah's lifetime (740 - 700 BC); Chapters 40 - 55 cover the period of exile (605 - 539 BC); and Chapters 56 -66 covers the period after the exile (539 BC until the second coming of Jesus Christ).  According to Nelson's Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts (page 199), "The name Isaiah, from the Hebrew yeshaiah, means "Yahweh is Salvation," a term which aptly summarizes the contents of the book."  God and God alone is the One who saves.  We cannot save ourselves.  God is our Savior!

Character and Nature of God

God and God alone is the One who saves.  God is our Savior!  In this book, God demonstrates time and time again that He will punish people for their sins.  However, this book also demonstrates that God longs for His people to repent from their sins and turn back to Him.  God and God alone has the power to save people from their sins.  God desires people to look to Him and to Him alone to save them so that He can go ahead and save them.  God saving His people will allow his people to enjoy an intimate relationship with Him forever!

God's Redemptive Plan for Mankind

God is love.  God loves people and God desires to be in relationship with His people.  However, God is also holy and He hates sin.  God desires to be with His people; however, His people have sinned against Him.  God must separate them from Himself since He is holy and they are not.  God longs for His people to repent of their sins and turn back to Him.  God longs for His people to recognize that He and He alone can save them from their sins.  God longs for His people to recognize that their idols cannot save them from their sins but only He and He alone can save them.  God longs for His people to recognize that they cannot save themselves but only He and He alone can save them.  God longs to be with His people forever and God has provided a way for His people to be with Him forever.  Jesus is the Way! Jesus is our Savior!

Personal Application/Point of Passion

As I was reading and studying the book of Isaiah, I am reminded that God loves all people and He desires all people to be with Him forever.  I am also reminded that God and God alone is the One who saves.  Idols cannot save people. Other people cannot save people.  People cannot save themselves.  Only God and God alone can save people.  Not only does God and God alone have the power to save people, God has the desire to do so.  God desires to be with His people forever.  Recently, the Holy Spirit has been reminding me of my calling through the following verses:

"Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east and west. I will say to the north and south, 'Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the distant corners of the earth.  Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them'" (Isaiah 43:5-7).

My personal application as well as my point of passion for the book of Isaiah is to do what God has called me to do.  God has given me a "Father's Heart" and He has called me to draw His children - His sons and His daughters - back to Himself. 

Our Father loves all of His children and He longs to be with each and every one of them - forever!