The book of Isaiah is the first of the major prophets of the Old Testament (major, because of the quantity of information they make known from God). Isaiah prophesied during the reign of four different kings of Judah (Uzziah to Hezekiah, approx. 113 years, however, only prophesying for forty years that connect these reigns). Isaiah lived during a physically prosperous time in Judah (this prosperous environment came by the able leadership of king Uzziah), however, along with such prosperity came greed, corruption, and spiritual laxity towards their true benefactor; God!

Fact #1. The events of the book are not always in chronological order. This sometimes presents difficulties in the reading. To assist in your reading, before you start, read II Kings 15 – 20 . This will assist you in understanding the events depicted by Isaiah, even if they are not in order.

Fact #2. This book has a special emphasis that separates it from most of the other prophets; salvation! This book emphasizes more than any other the coming of the Messiah. Just as all the prophets deal in duality (an immediate need and a future revelation by God), Isaiah stresses the need to turn to God now and the faith to look for the coming of the Messiah and the salvation He would bring to all (Jew, Gentile, past, present, and future). This is accentuated by the abundant quotes from New Testament teachers and writers.

In addition, in light of the failures of the majority of kings that reigned in Judah , the prophet would stress the coming of a King who would reign in righteousness and becomes a major theme of Isaiah ( chap. 7-12 ). From the root of Jessie, the sign of the virgin birth, and the glorious new kingdom, all giving the vision of a radically different kingdom than these envisioned in the flawed rule of the day.

Fact #3. Even though the prophet made known the hand of God in the affairs of the day (judgment upon judgment on those who would turn their backs on him, Israelite and heathen alike), Isaiah envisioned a remnant of faithful, purified saints through whom God would bring forth His righteous King (Immanuel – God with us).

Outline:

Isaiah is the prophet of redemption. God's greatness, His holiness, hatred of sin and idolatry, the reward of obedience are all recurring themes. Save and salvation are among the most used words in the book. The importance of the book to the Christian lies in the vast quotes taken from it and used within the pages of the New Testament (both in the fulfillment of the great kingdom of the Servant of God and the warnings not to shut our hearts or ears to the words of life).

Isaiah's prophecy of final purification has all nations flowing to Zion to take part in the process (cleansing and healing). This process of coming to the Messiah's Zion will bring the faithful to a new heaven and earth, a new created order. No longer will there be impurity in Zion . Cleansing will never again be necessary within its borders. The Holy One of Israel will have removed all that is wicked from its midst's.

This is the Zion we have come to in Christ our Lord!

Hebrews 12:22-24 “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.”

Good Reading !