Isaiah Introduction

Isaiah was the greatest of Hebrew Prophets. His name literally meant, "Jehovah is Salvation." He was born about 770 BC and died about 687 BC. His father's name was Amoz and tradition says that he was a brother to King Uzziah of Judah. His family was well to do and respected in Jerusalem and they enjoyed intimate relations with the royal families and high officials in Judah.

Isaiah married a woman whom he called a "Prophetess" and they had two sons with prophetic names. The first one was named She-ar-jash-ub, which meant, "the remnant shall return", speaking of the return of the Israelites from Babylon some 200 years later. The second son was named Ma-her-shal-al-hash-bax which meant, "he shall hasten to the pray", prophesying the destruction of Israel by the Assyrians.

Isaiah lived and prophesied during the reign of 4 kings of Judah. Uzziah, 782-742 BC, Jotham, 742-735 BC, Ahaz, 735-715 BC and Hezekiah, 715-687 BC. He was an outstanding figure of his day. He was a friend and councilor to kings. He was an adviser to high government officials. He was a statesman and formulator of national policies. He was a teacher. But mostly he was a Prophet, the voice of God, striving to get religious ethics put back into government and society.

As a young man he was influenced by Amos and Hosea who were trying to achieve the same things in the northern kingdom of Israel. Nothing is known of his death, which probably occurred around 687 BC.

The Book of Isaiah covers three different historical periods in the life of Israel.

1. First Isaiah, Chapters 1 thru 39, covers the 8th. Century BC. The reign of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah.
2. Second Isaiah, Chapters 40 thru 55, covers the 6th. Century BC. The exile in Babylon.
3. Third Isaiah, Chapters 56 thru 66, covers the 5th. Century BC. The return of a remnant under Nehemiah back to Jerusalem.

An outline of the life of Christ may be charted from the references in Isaiah:

Event in the Life of Christ	Reference in Isaiah	Reference in the Gospels
His birth	Isa. 7:14	Matt. 1:23
His Nazareth citizenship	Isa. 11:1	Matt. 2:23
His nazareth labors	Isa. 9:1	Matt. 4:12-16
John the Baptist	Isa. 40:3	Matt. 3:3 and Luke 3:3-6
His program	Isa. 61:1	Luke 4:17-21
His entry into Jerusalem	Isa. 62:11	Matt. 21:4
His death	Isa. 53:7	Acts 8:32-45

A Study of the Book of Isaiah

Subject	Chapter
The Sins of	1
The New Testament Church Prophesied	2
Prophesies Concerning Future Judgments	3
Promised Mercy	4
Described Transgressions	5
Isaiah's Renewed Commission	6
A Message of Judgment and mercy	7
Great Destruction is Prophesied	8
A Word to the Righteous	9
Local Abuse of Power	10
The Prophesy of the Christ	11
A Song of Phrase	12
Prophesies Concerning Babylon	13
Continued Prophesies Concerning Babylon	14
Prophesies Concerning Moab	15
Continued Prophesies Concerning Moab	16
Prophesies Concerning Syria	17
Prophesies Concerning an Unknown Country	18
Prophesies Concerning Egypt	19
Prophesies Concerning Egypt and Ethiopia	20
Prophesies Upon Other Countries	21
Prophesies Concerning Jerusalem	22
Prophesies Concerning Tyre	23
World Judgments for Sin	24
Thankful Phrases	25
A Song of Joy	26
God's Deliverance	27
Condemnation of the Ephraimites	28
Woe to Jerusalem	29
Continued Prophesies About Jerusalem	30
Woe to Assyria	31
A Prophesy About King Hezekiah	32
A Song of Phrase	33
Woe to the Enemies of God's Church	34
Mercy Follows Judgment	35
History Recounted	36
Assyria's Failure	37
Hezekiah's Sickness	38
Hezekiah's Mistake	39
The Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness	40
The Gospel Message	41
The First Servant Song	42
Cyrus, God's Anointed	43
Assurance of Great Blessings	44
God's Blessing Upon Cyrus	45
Opposition to Idol Worship	46
The Destruction of Babylon	47
The Need of Repentance by Israel	48
The Second Servant Song	49
The Third Servant Song	50
Encouragement to the Faithful	51
The Fourth Servant Song	52
Deliverance of the Jews	53
The Work of the Redeemer	54
The Sure Mercies of David	55
Charges Given to Israel	56
Observations About Israel	57
Continued Observations	58
Sin Versus Grace	59
God's Covenant	60
Spiritual Rebuilding	61
The Prophet's Duties	62
Salvation Described	63
Instructions in Prayer	64
A Look Forward	65
A Look Forward Continued	66

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