Book of Isaiah Overview

[00:00:00]Now, the book of Isaiah is often broken into two sections. Chapters 1 to 39 and then chapters 40 to 66. Chapters 1 to 39 focus on Isaiah's time and the threat of the Assyrian Empire.

[00:00:15]And chapters 40 to 66 focus on future events like exile and the return from exile. So, Isaiah was a prophet who lived in Judah, the southern kingdom, about 700 years before Jesus.

[00:00:30]And in the first section, chapters 1 to 39, we see that Judah is not in a good place. Chapter 1 verses 5 to 6 say this.

[00:00:41]Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel?

[00:00:46]The whole head is sick and the whole heart faint.

[00:00:50]From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but bruises and sores and raw wounds.

[00:01:00]They're not pressed out or bound up or softened with oil. The people are spiritually sick and they desperately need help. And in chapter 2 verses 11 to 12, it says, The haughty looks of man shall be brought low and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled. And the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.

[00:01:24]For the Lord of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up and it shall be brought low.

[00:01:35]Isaiah shows that the Lord alone will be exalted and people who try to exalt themselves will be humbled and brought low. And this applies to both the people of Israel and the Assyrians. The majority of the people of Israel did not trust in the Lord. They trusted in themselves, they worshipped fake gods, and their king, King Ahaz, was a very evil king. He rejected the Lord, accepted idol worship, and even burned his own sons. See 2 Chronicles chapter 28 verses 1 to 3.

[00:02:11]So, the people were far from God. And then on top of that, the Assyrian Empire became a real threat to both Israel, the northern kingdom, and Judah, the southern kingdom. The Assyrian Empire was very strong, and it conquered and defeated many nations around Judah.

[00:02:30]Isaiah describes the Assyrian threat as water reaching up to the neck. See Isaiah chapter 8 verse 8.

[00:02:38]This represents fear, and let's be honest, not a lot of hope.

[00:02:43]It got to a point where Israel, the northern kingdom, was already conquered by Assyria, and Judah was surrounded by the Assyrian Empire.