Notes on the Book
of Isaiah from.The
Concise
Bible Dictionary
Chapters overview
-"I.—XII. The sinful condition
of the people as still in possession of the land: various pleadings and
chastisements culminating in the Assyrian: the introduction of Immanuel:
ends with a song.
-XIII.—XXVII. Judgments
on Babylon and the nations where Israel was captive and outcast: ends in
deliverance from their outcast condition and worship at Jerusalem.
-XXVIII.—XXXV. Five woes
on unfaithful Israel: ends with deliverance from the Assyrian and the confederacy
of nations, and the joy of the kingdom.
-XXXVI.—XXXIX. Historical,
but typical: the way of blessing for Jerusalem and the house of David.
-XL.—XLVIII. Controversy
of God with Israel on account of idolatry. Cyrus (type of Christ) the deliverer.
-XLIX.—LVII.—Controversy
of God with Israel on account of the rejected suffering Messiah.
-LVIII.—LXVI. Final results:
the remnant delivered and blessed.
-"Chapters I.—IV. are introductory.
The 'sinful nation' was completely corrupt and had been sorely chastised;
there was no soundness from head to foot; though chastened, there was no
contrition, and God's judgments must still follow. There is also grace
in store for the latter days: Zion will be a centre of blessing, and a
remnant will be saved.
-Chapter V. Israel was God's
vineyard and the men of Judah His pleasant plant: the people were judged
in view of the care God had bestowed on them, no remnant is mentioned:
compare Matthew 21:33-41.
-Chapter VI. The people
were unfit for their Messiah, but will be judged in view of His coming
glory: a remnant is acknowledged.
-Chapter VII. Immanuel,
Son of David, is introduced as a sign for faith, when unbelief was seeking
a confederacy. The house of David after the flesh is judged: still there
is hope. See IMMANUEL which means 'the Creator is with us'.
-Chapters VIII.—IX. 7. The
Assyrians overrun the land, and the confederacy of nations is to be brought
to nought. A remnant, ‘my brethren,' is attached to Immanuel, who is a
stone of stumbling to the unbelieving nation, but a light amid the darkness
until He is received in power and glory.
-Chapters IX. 8—X. The national
history is resumed from the end of chapter five. Various judgments from
the Lord are detailed until the last judgment by means of the Assyrian,
who is used as a rod by God, and then is punished for his pride in the
last days.
-Chapter XI. Messiah, the
‘Branch,' and His reign the source of millennial blessing.
-Chapter XII. Israel's song
of triumph in that day: compare with Exodus 15:1-21.
-Chapters XIII.—XXIV. ‘Burdens'
are pronounced. They are judgments on Babylon and the nations, especially
on those who were in relationship with Israel. Moab, Damascus, "the land
shadowing with wings which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia," Egypt, "the
desert of the sea," Dumah, Arabia, "the valley of vision" -Jerusalem, Tyre,
"the Earth, or land made empty and waste and turned upside down;" and finally
the hosts on high and kings on the Earth punished.
-Chapters XXV., XXVI. A
song in which God's intervention is celebrated, even to the swallowing
up of death in victory.
-Chapter XXVII. The power
of Satan "leviathan, the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked
serpent" is destroyed and worship established in Jerusalem.
-Chapters XXVIII.—XXXV.
give details of all that will happen to the Jews in the last days. They
make a covenant with death and with hell, but their covenant will be disannulled.
Security is in the Stone laid in Zion, all else will perish.
-Chapter XXIX. Judgments
are pronounced against Jerusalem under the name of Ariel, ‘lion of God';
deliverance comes when at the last extremity, but a far worse judgment,
a spirit of blindness, rests on the people. In the day of deliverance the
remnant will come to understanding, the scorner being consumed.
-Chapters XXX., XXXI. They
seek counsel of and trust in Egypt instead of in God.
-Chapter XXXII. Christ will
reign in righteousness: desolation is followed by restoration.
-Chapter XXXIII. The attack
of a spoiler in the character of Gog: Ezekiel 38th chapter, but the Lord,
having filled Zion with judgment and righteousness, arises and the enemy
is destroyed, and Zion is in peace.
-Chapters XXXIV., XXXV.
Final judgment pronounced upon Idumaea and other nations; {Psalms 83rd
chapter} and the blessings that will succeed the judgment.
-Chapters XXXVI.—XXXIX.
treat of Hezekiah and Sennacherib. Waiting upon the Lord is enforced. The
deliverance wrought is figurative of the outward deliverance there will
be from the Assyrian for Jerusalem and the house of David in the last days.
Hezekiah's personal history is appended to this, as figurative of the nation's
sense of the judgment of God upon them, leading to repentance and recovery,
and inward or moral deliverance.
-Chapters XL.—XLIII. begin
another part of the book. The Messiah is but little introduced: it is rather
a question of God and idols. There is comfort for those who have an opened
ear. The Lord Emmanuel, Jehovah's servant and His elect, shall bring forth
judgment to the Gentiles.
-Chapter XLIV. Jehovah reasons
with Jacob and Jesurun: (Deuteronomy 32:15 33:26,27) Israel, embracing
the twelve tribes.
-Chapters XLV.—XLVII. Cyrus
is God's servant, and He would subdue nations before him. God would keep
open the two-leaved gates (of Babylon, which were left open in their festivity).
The idols of Babylon could not save her: she should be brought to shame
for her pride.
-Chapter XLVIII. God pleads
with Israel.
-Chapters XLIX.—LVII. introduce
Christ, and shew the people's guilt in respect to Him.
-Chapter L. 1-9. Israel
had been as divorced, but Messiah had come to them suitably, to instruct
them and take up their cause. Who would contend with Him?
-Chapter L. 10—LI. The character
of the remnant: they are owned as ‘my people' by the Lord God, and He will
comfort and redeem them.
-Chapter LII. 1-12. Zion
is called to awake and put on her strength, the feet of messengers with
glad tidings were beautiful.
-Chapters LII. 13—LIII.
These refer to the work of Christ in a fivefold way, including the atonement.
-Chapters LIV., LV. Jerusalem
is called upon to sing: through the sure mercies of David there are blessings
in store for her, and full free grace to every one that thirsts.
-Chapters LVI., LVII. Exhortations
follow in view of the restoration of Israel; and those, even of Israel,
are denounced that walk contrary to God's will.
-Chapters LVIII., LIX. Indignation
of the Spirit at the condition of Israel at the time the prophecy was uttered,
but goes on to the end, when the Redeemer shall come to Zion.
-Chapter LX. The glory of
Jerusalem in the times of blessing.
-Chapters LXI., LXII. Christ,
in the full grace of His person, is concerned in the blessing of Israel.
-Chapters LXIII., LXIV.
Christ returns from the judgments of chapter xxxiv, with garments stained
with the slaughter of His enemies; followed by the intercessions of the
Spirit of prophecy.
-Chapter LXV. Creator's
answer to those pleadings.
-Chapter LXVI. The book
of Isaiah ends with these solemn words:.Isaiah
66:24 "They shall go forth and look upon the carcases of the men that
have transgressed against me, for their worm shall not die, neither shall
their fire be quenched and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh."
"This prophecy embraces a
very large field. The condition of the people was sinful when the prophecy
was written, and though God had long patience with it, yet the condition
was such that judgment must be executed upon it unless there was true repentance.
Judgment did follow, but the consummation of evil was not reached until
their Messiah had come, and had been rejected; indeed Antichrist will yet
be received. Judgment followed the rejection of their Messiah, but the
great tribulation is yet to come.
"Quotations from Old Testament
Isaiah as recorded in the New Testament, nearly forty in number show that
his words applied to the times that then were; such as the condition
of the people; the unprofitableness of the rites and ceremonies and that
grace to the Gentiles had been foretold. The climax of Israel's sin and
of their judgment and of Creator's blessing are still future. Christ coming
in humiliation is revealed in the prophet as well as His glory; indeed,
all the ways of God in dealing with His people Israel, on to the end—though
some subjects are expanded elsewhere—are to be found in this comprehensive
prophecy. Clearly it could only have been written under the inspiration
of the Holy Spirit.".back
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