Isaiah - Chapters 1-12

The Amazing Bible. Book Club

Isaiah prophesied during the reigns of King Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah kings of Judah. He was probably the longest serving prophet of Scripture. This is during the king that Assyria was becoming a world power, and the northern tribes of Israel and Judah were on the decline because of their sinfulness of not honoring the Lord and not treating people well. The Lord kept calling them back to Himself, but they would not, so judgment was coming from Assyria. Yet it would not be Assyria that destroys Jerusalem and Judah, but later on it will come from Babylon. In the midst of the judgment there is also hope in a remnant that will turn to the Lord. In chapter 6, Isaiah has his experience with the Lord sitting on his throne, and his focus changed. He saw the Lord in His glory, and realized his own sinfulness, but the Lord made a way of holiness through a burning coal, which also represented the burning destruction that would also come upon the nation. After chapter 6, the focus shifts more to Emmanuel, God with Us, who will come and bring salvation. That Emmanuel will come from the Branch of Jesse (King David's dad), and since we have the NT, we know that was fulfilled in Jesus. Another thing these chapters make clear is that not just the Jews, but people from every nation will come to Him. Chapter 12 is a song of Praise, that even though the Lord was angry for a moment, and brought judgment, He also brings comfort and salvation.