Preface to Isaiah 1-39

Sometimes we deprive ourselves of blessings from the Lord because of false perceptions.  Perhaps the blessing of Isaiah 1-39 is in that category.  The Bible I am currently reading from has this introduction to Isaiah:

Isaiah is like a miniature Bible.  The first thirty-nine chapters (like the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament) are filled with judgment upon immoral and idolatrous men. … But the final twenty-seven chapters (like the twenty-seven books of the New Testament) declare a message of hope. 

The 39/27 is cute.  And I know these are generalizations.  But they might lead someone to think that they should speed-read Isa. 1-39 and get to the good stuff.  Pardon me, but that is the way we think in these ear-tickling days when preachers often skip over the Bible’s hard truths to get to the happy truths.  Not to mention that there are some profound passages on idolatry and judgment in Isa. 40-66 and some amazing Messianic prophecies in Isa. 1-39.  

I am not making this up.  There are a lot of Christians who have never read the Old Testament but have read the New, or at least parts of it.  I have heard preachers ridicule others preachers who used precious pulpit time to teach and preach OT books such as Isaiah, Jeremiah or Ezekiel.  It is sad, because these are wonderfully rich Scripture and prophets of God who are saying what the church needs to hear today.  The problem that today’s preachers can’t overcome is that Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel were all failures in terms of gaining large followings.  They were not popular, and I guess we can’t have that, can we!

Our purpose is to encourage people to read the Bible.  Isaiah can be hard to understand.  And I suppose, in these days of soundbites, some might balk at reading passages that require work.  But of course, the truth is that the NT requires work and it’s the failure of today’s preachers to work in those passages that has led to the moralistic drivel that often comes from today’s pulpits.  So our hope is that this will help a little as you read Isa. 1-39 (as was our study a couple of years ago on Isa. 40-66).  Here’s a brief overview of what is coming.

·        Isa. 1-6: early messages and call of Isaiah (I saw the Lord, high and lifted up).

·        Isa. 7-12: the Immanuel prophecy (the virgin shall conceive … for unto us a Child is born)

·        Isa. 13-23: prophecies against the nations (Lucifer; a highway from Egypt to Assyria; Babylon is fallen, is fallen)

·        Isa. 24-27: the Little Apocalypse (You will keep him in perfect peace)

·        Isa. 28-35: the Book of Woes (Behold, I lay in Zion a stone; the stability of your times; the LORD is our Judge … Lawgiver … King)

·        Isa. 36-39: historical narrative (the historical context of Isa. 1-35 and 40-66)

May we read and head God’s word.  May His Holy Spirit turn the light on in our minds and hearts as we hear the entirety of His word to us!