Book Of Isaiah Synopsis 1999
Category: Bible Studies
Most every subject in the Bible can be found in the book of Isaiah. Structurally they are similar: For just as the Bible has sixty-six books, the book of Isaiah has sixty-six chapters. It could also be said the book of Isaiah is an expansion of the second Psalm. The nations are gathered together against Christ. Yet, He is not deterred or intimidated for He is the Creator of all things. As certainly as the rebellion of the nations fails to make God anxious, He is not unsettled by the rebellion of His chosen people.
The first chapter of Isaiah begins with God's judgment upon His chosen nation -- a people who make a pretense of religion but have rebelled against their Creator. After the introduction in the first verse, the book begins with God's case against Judah. That God would bring a case against His people is fitting because the next three chapters declare that God will judge all nations and the pride of man will be humbled. The apostle Peter maintains that judgment begins with the house of God (1Pe 4:17). And if judgment begins with God's people, what will the outcome be for those nations and people who do not obey? Therefore, we see demonstrated that before God destroys the nations, He judges His chosen people.
Sidenote: Though God has promised destruction for His chosen people, they are never fully destroyed as are the other nations. Many nations were promised destruction by God and they are no more. If they exist in nomenclature, they are only a shell of what they used to be with people living in the land who do not share the heritage of the former nation. God's dealing with Israel and Judah is different, God always promised a remnant. Chapter eleven of Isaiah and chapter twelve of Zechariah make it clear that the restoration of Israel will consist of the true descendants and within the former location. "Has the Lord struck her down as He struck down those who struck her?" [27:7] The remnant will return as God promised.
Going back to chapter one: God presents His case against Judah. It is important to remember that God never violates His laws and His anger never oversteps His mercy (Hab 3:2). Yet His judgment will be just and sure. In His case against His chosen nation, God calls witnesses, brings three charges, states His case, and tenders an offer of reconciliation.
Chapters six through twelve demonstrate God's authority and His complete control of the ages-or history; past, present and future. This lays the foundation for His authority to judge the nations in the preceding chapters and the prophecies in the following chapters, thirteen through thirty. Who could be more qualified to foretell the course of nations than the One who has control of history, events, people and nations. Solomon wrote, "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases." [Pro 21:1] While Daniel affirms in chapter two, verse twenty-one that God controls times and seasons and He raises kings up and throws them down.
Chapters one through twelve are the essence of the book of Isaiah: God will judge the nations for their rebellion, beginning with His people. Chapters thirteen through sixty-six expand upon the declarations of the first twelve. Chapters thirteen through thirty are specific prophecies against the nations, affirming God's claim in chapters two through five that God will judge the nations and the pride of man will be humbled. Chapters thirty-one through forty demonstrate that man cannot overcome God's plan. Man cannot do it through alliances, conspiracies, nor through greatness and power -- though every generation would strive to rebuild the Tower of Babel. This proves God's claim to control nations and history in chapters six through twelve. And finally, God's plan for Israel and the future kingdom in chapters forty-one through sixty-six expand upon chapters eleven and twelve which describe Christ's future reign and God's kingdom.
Christ is the focus of history--every event revolves around Him. This is the primary message of the book and it is set forth clearly in chapters six through twelve. The whole purpose of history, which God has the authority to control, is to bring forth the Christ; first as a child and finally as King of Kings. The last two verses in chapter ten and the first verse in chapter eleven describe the single event that changed history: God felled the lofty kingdoms of man like a tree and a shoot emerged from the stump of Jesse. Man's kingdoms are powerful, great and glorious, but they are cut down like a tree. While the beginning of the kingdom of Almighty God is almost unnoticed -- a twig emerges from a stump; the birth of the One who is to rule the nations.
Daniel, in chapter two, describes the kingdoms of man as revealed by God to Nebuchadnezzar in a dream of a statue. The head was pure gold; the chest and arms were pure silver; belly and thighs of bronze; legs of iron and feet of iron and clay. A rock will strike this statue on the feet. Then the gold, silver, bronze, iron and clay will blow away while the rock will become a mountain that fills the earth. Many commentators have attached the various elements of the statue with specific kingdoms of man. We will not do that here, but it is interesting to note that there have been no new global kingdoms since the birth of Christ.
There is one more yet to come, the kingdom of the antichrist will emerge out of the iron and clay feet. It will be short-lived. The end of this kingdom will be the final destruction of mans' glory and Satan's dominion. Christ will establish His throne and kingdom forever. Just as Daniel describes the rock that struck the statue's feet, demolishing the statue and transforming into a huge mountain that covers the whole earth, chapter nine declares that Christ will end all tyranny and the kingdoms of man will collapse -- no more Tower of Babel. Chapters eleven and twelve affirm that Christ will reign in righteousness and God will be our salvation.
Finally, in chapter sixty-two, verses six and seven, we are to give no rest to our prayers. Much like Paul's instruction in 1Th 5:17 to pray without ceasing. But Isaiah goes much deeper. Through Isaiah, God commands us to give Him no rest in our prayers until He establishes Jerusalem. Think about this: we are to pray continually for Christ's millennial reign and we have this example within the Lord's Prayer: "Thy kingdom come." [Mat 6:10] If we are to give God no rest in this matter, wouldn't it suggest that the focus of our lives would be to work toward building His kingdom rather than our own? To proclaim His name more than working for our own comfort and glory?
"Make known among the nations what He has done, and proclaim that His name is exalted." [Isa 12:4]. Amen.
«« Back to Cominus Papers