Book of Isaiah
Isaiah is called "The Book of Salvation." The name Isaiah means "the salvation of the Lord" or "the Lord is salvation." Isaiah is the first book containing the writings of the prophets of the Bible. And the author, Isaiah, who is called the Prince of Prophets, shines above all the other writers and prophets of Scripture. His mastery of the language, his rich and vast vocabulary, and his poetic skill have earned him the title, "Shakespeare of the Bible." He was educated, distinguished, and privileged, yet remained a deeply spiritual man. He was committed to obedience over the long haul of his 55-60 year ministry as a prophet of God. He was a true patriot who loved his country and his people. Strong tradition suggests that he died a martyrs death under the reign of King Manasseh by being placed within the hallow of a tree trunk and sawed in two.
Isaiah's calling as a prophet was primarily to the nation of Judah (the southern kingdom) and to Jerusalem, urging the people to repent from their sins and return to God. He also foretold the coming of the Messiah and the salvation of the Lord. Many of his prophesies predicted events that occurred in Isaiah's near future, yet at the same time they foretold the events of the distant future (such as the coming of the Messiah), and even some events still to come in the last days (such as the second coming of Christ).
In summary, the message of Isaiah is that salvation comes from God—not man. God alone is Savior, Ruler and King.
Click on title below to view chapter
This inspired writer is called by the Holy Ghost, the great prophet,
(Ecclesiasticus 48.25), from the greatness of his prophetic spirit, by
which he hath foretold so long before, and in so clear a manner, the
coming of Christ, the mysteries of our redemption, the calling of the
Gentiles, and the glorious establishment, and perpetual flourishing
of the Church of Christ.
The prophet complains of the sins of Juda and Jerusalem:
and exhorts them to a sincere conversion.
All nations shall flow to the Church of Christ. The Jews shall be
rejected for their sins. Idolatry shall be destroyed.
The confusion and other evils that shall come upon the Jews
for their sins. The pride of their women shall be punished.
After an extremity of evils that shall fall upon the Jews,
a remnant shall be comforted by Christ.
The reprobation of the Jews is foreshewn under the parable of a
vineyard. A woe is pronounced against sinners: the army God shall send against them.
A glorious vision, in which the prophet's lips are cleansed:
he foretelleth the obstinacy of the Jews.
The prophet assures King Achaz that the two kings who are his
enemies shall not take Jerusalem. A virgin shall conceive and bear a son.
The name of a child that is to be born: many evils shall come
upon the Jews for their sins.
What joy shall come after afflictions by the birth and kingdom of Christ;
which shall flourish for ever. Judgments upon Israel for their sins. (Chapter 9)
Woe to the makers of wicked laws. The Assyrians shall be a rod for
punishing Israel: but for their pride they shall be destroyed: and a
remnant of Israel saved. (Chapter 10)
Of the spiritual kingdom of Christ, to which all nations shall repair.
A canticle of thanksgiving for the benefits of Christ.
The desolation of Babylon. (Chapter 13)
The restoration of Israel after their captivity.
The parable or song insulting over the king of Babylon.
A prophecy against the Philistines. (Chapter 14)
A prophecy of the desolation of the Moabites. (Chapter 15)
The prophet prayeth for Christ's coming. The affliction of
the Moabites for their pride. (Chapter 16)
Judgments upon Damascus and Samaria.
The overthrow of the Assyrians.
A woe to the Ethiopians, who fed Israel with vain hopes,
their future conversion.
The punishment of Egypt: their call to the church.
The ignominious captivity of the Egyptians, and Ethiopians.
(Chapter 20)
The destruction of Babylon by the Medes and Persians:
a prophecy against the Edomites and the Arabians. (Chapter 21)
The prophet laments the devastation of Juda. He foretells the
deprivation of Sobna, and the substitution of Eliacim, a figure of Christ.
The destruction of Tyre. Is shall be repaired again after seventy years.
The judgments of God upon all the sinners of the world.
A remnant shall joyfully praise him.
A canticle of thanksgiving for God's judgments and benefits.
A canticle of thanks for the deliverance of God's people.
The punishment of the oppressors of God's people.
The Lord's favour to his church.
The punishment of the Israelites, for their pride, intemperance,
and contempt of religion. Christ the cornerstone.
God's heavy judgments upon Jerusalem, for their blind obstinacy:
with a prophecy of the conversion of the Gentiles.
The people are blamed for their confidence in Egypt, God's
mercies towards his church: the punishment of sinners.
The folly of trusting to Egypt, and forgetting God. He will fight
for his people against the Assyrians.
The blessings of the reign of Christ. The desolation of the Jews,
and prosperity of the Church of Christ.
God's revenge against the enemies of his church. The happiness
of the heavenly Jerusalem.
The general judgment of the wicked. (Chapter 34)
The joyful flourishing of Christ's kingdom: in his church
shall be a holy and secure way. (Chapter 35)
Sennacherib invades Juda: his blasphemies. (Chapter 36)
Ezechias, his mourning and prayer. God's promise of protection.
This Syrian army is destroyed. Sennacherib is slain. (Chapter 37)
Ezechias being advertised that he shall die, obtains by prayer a
prolongation of his life: in confirmation of which the sun goes back.
The canticle of Ezechias. (Chapter 38)
Ezechias shews all his treasures to the ambassadors of Babylon:
upon which Isaiah foretells the Babylonish captivity. (Chapter 39)
The case for and against unity.
The prophet comforts the people with the promise of the coming of
Christ to forgive their sins. God's almighty power and majesty.
The reign of the just one: the vanity of idols.
The office of Christ. The preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles.
The blindness and reprobation of the Jews.
God comforts his church, promising to protect her forever.:
He expostulates with the Jews for their ingratitude.
God's favour to his church. The folly of idolatry. The people shall
be delivered from captivity.
A prophecy of Cyrus, as a figure of Christ, the great deliverer of God's people.
The idols of Babylon shall be destroyed. Salvation is promised through Christ.
God's judgment upon Babylon.
He reproaches the Jews for the obstinacy: he will deliver them out of
their captivity, for his own name's sake.
Christ shall bring the Gentiles to salvation. God's love to his church
is perpetual. (Chapter49)
The synagogue shall be divorce for her iniquities, Christ for her sake
will endure ignominious afflictions. (Chapter50)
An exhortation to trust in Christ. He shall protect the children of his church.
Under the figure of the deliverance from the Babylonish captivity,
the church is invited to rejoice for her redemption from sin.
Christ's kingdom shall be exalted. (Chapter 52)
A prophecy of the passion of Christ. (Chapter 53)
The Gentiles, who were barren before, shall multiply in the
Church of Christ: from which God's mercy shall never depart.
God promises abundance of spiritual graces to the faithful,
that shall believe in Christ out of all nations, and sincerely serve him.
God invites all to keep his commandments: the Gentiles they keep
them shall be the people of God: the Jewish pastors are reproved.
(Chapter 56)
The infidelity of the Jews: their idolatry. Promises to humble
penitents. (Chapter 57)
God rejects the hypocritical fasts of the Jews: recommends works
of mercy, and sincere godliness.
The dreadful evil of sin is displayed, as the great obstacle to all good
from God: yet he will send a Redeemer, and make an everlasting
covenant with his church.
The light of true faith shall shine forth in the Church of Christ,
and shall be spread through all nations, and continue for all ages.
The office of Christ: the mission of the apostles;
the happiness of their converts.
The prophet will not cease from preaching Christ:
to whom all nations shall be converted: and whose
church shall continue for ever.
Christ's victory over his enemies: his mercies to his people:
their complaint. (Chapter 63)
The prophet prays for the release of his people; and for the
remission of their sins. (Chapter 64)
The Gentiles shall seek and find Christ, but the Jews will
persecute him, and be rejected, only a remnant shall be
reserved. The church shall multiply, and abound would graces. (Chapter 65)
More of the reprobation of the Jews, and of the call of the Gentiles.