The Book of Isaiah

Purpose of The Book of Isaiah:
Judah should gain hope from Isaiah’s ministry during the Assyrian crisis that Israel will be restored after the Babylonian captivity.

Major Characters of The Book of Isaiah:
Isaiah, Judah.

Summary of The Book of Isaiah:
The book of Isaiah describes God’s sovereign majesty and redemptive love for his people. The book of Isaiah looks forward to Israel’s judgment, to her redemption from exile through a second exodus, and, through her coming Servant King, to the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant that includes the nations in God’s salvation. The book ends with a picture of the final redemption of Israel and the nations in a new heaven and new earth, where God and his people meet in glory.

Author and Dates of The Book of Isaiah:
Isaiah the prophet’s ministry lived from about 740 to 687 B.C.

Outline of The Book of Isaiah:

1. Overview of Isaiah’s ministry (ch. 1 - 6).
• God has (with Assyria) and will (with Babylon) punish Judah, but there is hope for restoration
• Judah should expect judgment and eventual restoration as Isaiah predicted for Judah.
2. Isaiah’s response to Assyrian Crisis (ch. 7 - 39).
• Isaiah is saying “My prophecies about an Assyrian invasion came true. My threat of a Babylonian exile will also come true.”
• Judah should learn that Isaiah’s prophecies concerning Assyrian have come true and that the Babylonian threat is real.
3. Isaiah’s response to Babylonian crisis (ch. 40 - 66).
• Babylon will destroy Judah, but God’s people will be restored. There will be release from captivity.
• Judah should take heart that the Babylonian crisis will end with restoration.

Themes of The Book of Isaiah:
God’s holiness opposes all human hypocrisy and pride (1:10–17; 2:10–17; 10:33–34; 13:11; 16:6; 23:9; 28:1–4; 58:1–12; 66:1–4).
God’s wrath is to be feared (5:25; 9:12, 17, 19, 21; 10:4–6; 13:9, 13; 30:27; 34:2; 59:18; 63:1–6; 66:15–16, 24)
God’s judgment will ultimately end with a joyful triumph of his grace (1:9; 6:1–12:6; 35:1–10; 40:1–2; 49:13–16; 51:3; 54:7–8; 55:12–13)
God’s servant is the only hope for the world. He is the promised Davidic king (4:2; 7:14; 9:2–7; 11:1–10), the servant of the Lord (42:1–9; 49:1–13; 50:4–9; 52:13–53:12), the anointed preacher of the gospel (61:1–3), and the lone conqueror over all evil (63:1–6).
God's faithfulness ought to motivate God’s people toward faith and obedience (56:1–2; 62:1– 64:12).