Isaiah II

Fides et Ratio

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Look at a prophetic book, not looking at something the prophet sat down with a pen and start writing. Not doing this. Going off and preaching. They are someone else later, collecting their sayings and putting them all together in the book that we have.

Similarly, in the Gospels, God speaks His perfect and inspired Word through Jesus handed down through His apostles and finally written down by the apostles, years after the Resurrection.

With the prophets, we have this as well. Things are not in a story form, in the same order.

Be ready for some of them, they to seem to be out of order. Come to them with the context I know that they have. Basic background for each prophet and for what they are prophesying about And any background in Kings or Chronicles.

A simple Outline of Isaiah

In the book of Isaiah, chapter 1-5 begin with an accusation that Israel has broken the covenant, a preview of God’s judgment, parable of a failed vineyard. Chapter 6 is Isaiah’s call. Chapter 7-12 King Ahaz and Assyria. This is not chronological. Rather, it is Isaiah building the case that Israel is not serving the God, and covenant curses are a result.[1]

1. Date, authorship, & Hebrew Poetry (i.e. Psalms)

Isaiah son of Amoz prophesized (in Judah) (spoke the Word of God) in (Kingdom of) Judah during the reigns of four kings (Isa 1:1), beginning the year Uzziah died in 742 BC (Isa 6:1)

Prophesies before and after (The Northern Kingdom is defeated 721 BC and exile for her unfaithfulness) Assyria exiles the northern kingdom, Israel, for her faithfulness

Traditionally died a martyr, sawn in two (Heb 11:37)

God tells Isaiah a prophetic voice: Comfort My people, console them, remind them, this discipline where they paid for their sins and iniquity atoned for, this discipline of exile, was not the final word.

I have not left them, later in Isaiah God says I have not divorced you, My Bride. I have disciplined My people so that they turn again to Me and be faithful. I will restore you and redeem you.

40:3 A voice cries:^[b]
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
⁴ Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
⁵ And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

NT says this is filled by John the Baptist who is literally in the wilderness and crying out make straight a way for our God. Because God is returning, our Lord, Father creator of heavens and earth, coming back to His people for judgment and especially redemption.

Every valley shall be lifted up and every mountain made low.

Does this mean the literal prophecy some day we should look out or window in Colorado look at the mountain and see one go down and another flat area going down the valley or go back home, from Texas, and see a whole bunch of flat land rise up?

No, remember this is poetry. Valleys the low places lifted up, high places will come down,

The lowly, the people who have been kicked out of their homes, Israel humble and penitent

Great tall mountains towering over them, the overlords in the kingdom of Babylon will be brought low

Poetic images of mountains for people. Richness of imagery, Shakespearean.

[1] Tully 139

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