Isaiah, a prophet of old who faced a "whole lot of problems" in reference to God's people keeping their hearts, their minds, and their lifestyles focused on Him.
The name Isaiah itself means: "God Saves!".
A little background before I look at the chapters in this book called: "Isaiah".
After King Uzziah's death of Judah in 740 B.C., Judah now was faced with a major crisis, particularly in the southern kingdom.
The Empire of Assyria, which had been rather "quiet" for over 50 years, was now stirring and on the move to conquer more lands. Assyria was focused on both Israel and Judah, in fact it had already taken Galilee and much of the territory east of the Jordan River.
While King Uzziah was alive, Judah was strong and its army as well. Uzziah had been a good and effective King, and had kept the Assyrians at bay. But, the Kings of Judah that followed Uzziah...they were not good...and that was the beginning of many heartfelt problems for the citizens of Judah.
Thus...enter Isaiah!
Isaiah comes to announce to Judah the importance of turning and trusting in the Lord, and to have lifestyles that were pleasing to Him.
In 734 B.C., Israel formed an alliance with Syria to stand against Assyria. King Ahaz, of Judah refused to join the alliance, which was a good thing because God had already warned through Isaiah not to trust in anyone or anything but Him.
So, both Syria and Israel attacked Judah!....trying to force King Ahaz to join them.
Ok, here is a bad move on the part of King Ahaz of Judah. He decides to seek help from somewhere else, instead of turning to the Lord and putting his trust in Him.
King Ahaz then decides to make an alliance with...Assyria! Not Good! These "guys" really wanted Judah anyway...but this is what King Ahaz decides to do.
As a result, Assyria did come and aid Judah, defeating both Israel and Syria, but there was a cost..a heavy cost to Judah for Assyria's help. After this all happened, Judah was then forced by Assyria to pay heavy taxes (depleting the economy of Judah) for their aid. Judah was almost a "slave state" to the Assyrians.
In 722 B.C., Assyria attacks Israel again....and sends most of the Israelites "packing"...right into exile...slaves to the Assyrians. I don't think Assyria asked for Judah's aid ( I say this in jest)..their alliance was "long gone", I don't think Assyria really cared what happened to Judah, in fact, if Judah even "opened their mouth"....they would end up like Israel.
Then, it happens! In 701 B.C., Assyria decides they need more slaves, and Judah is their prime target. Fortunately for Judah, King Hezekiah was at reign, and because of his heart and lifestyle more pleasing to the Lord, Judah was able to hold off the Assyrians from conquering them.
Then, around 605 to 586 B.C., Judah once more turned their hearts away from following after the ways of the Lord, choosing more "appeasing" lifestyles that pagans adhered to...and the results...again...not good!
There was a "new Sheriff in town", her name: Babylon! Babylon had defeated the once mighty Assyria and decided Judah was a target they needed to conquer. And they did! Judah was annihilated, and her people were now sent in exile to Babylon...as slaves. Yet, even in all this God would save a remnant of the people of Judah who would eventually return to their homeland.
And, 70 years later..it happened! The people of Judah had been through much suffering, had been exposed to a lot of pagan influence, and almost two generations of people had lived in Babylon...many not knowing the "Ways of their Homeland".
And, while Judah had been given to drifters and other tribes, pagan influences had been established....even in Judah. As Judah returned from exile, poor choices were made...part of it being from all the pagan influence they were and had been exposed to.
Meanwhile, Isaiah had proclaimed throughout his lifetime the importance of returning to and following the ways of the Lord...the true King of Judah. This "Lion of Judah" demanded their trust and total devotion.
Isaiah is a powerful book...of all the scriptures. Some have referred to it as the "mini-bible" of the entire Bible.
There are more references and overtones in the New Testament given to Isaiah than to any other book in the entire Bible.
Isaiah was true to God and faced many of the perils of pagan lifestyles, choosing to proclaim the lifestyle of following after the Lord instead!
The name Isaiah itself means: "God Saves!".
A little background before I look at the chapters in this book called: "Isaiah".
After King Uzziah's death of Judah in 740 B.C., Judah now was faced with a major crisis, particularly in the southern kingdom.
The Empire of Assyria, which had been rather "quiet" for over 50 years, was now stirring and on the move to conquer more lands. Assyria was focused on both Israel and Judah, in fact it had already taken Galilee and much of the territory east of the Jordan River.
While King Uzziah was alive, Judah was strong and its army as well. Uzziah had been a good and effective King, and had kept the Assyrians at bay. But, the Kings of Judah that followed Uzziah...they were not good...and that was the beginning of many heartfelt problems for the citizens of Judah.
Thus...enter Isaiah!
Isaiah comes to announce to Judah the importance of turning and trusting in the Lord, and to have lifestyles that were pleasing to Him.
In 734 B.C., Israel formed an alliance with Syria to stand against Assyria. King Ahaz, of Judah refused to join the alliance, which was a good thing because God had already warned through Isaiah not to trust in anyone or anything but Him.
So, both Syria and Israel attacked Judah!....trying to force King Ahaz to join them.
Ok, here is a bad move on the part of King Ahaz of Judah. He decides to seek help from somewhere else, instead of turning to the Lord and putting his trust in Him.
King Ahaz then decides to make an alliance with...Assyria! Not Good! These "guys" really wanted Judah anyway...but this is what King Ahaz decides to do.
As a result, Assyria did come and aid Judah, defeating both Israel and Syria, but there was a cost..a heavy cost to Judah for Assyria's help. After this all happened, Judah was then forced by Assyria to pay heavy taxes (depleting the economy of Judah) for their aid. Judah was almost a "slave state" to the Assyrians.
In 722 B.C., Assyria attacks Israel again....and sends most of the Israelites "packing"...right into exile...slaves to the Assyrians. I don't think Assyria asked for Judah's aid ( I say this in jest)..their alliance was "long gone", I don't think Assyria really cared what happened to Judah, in fact, if Judah even "opened their mouth"....they would end up like Israel.
Then, it happens! In 701 B.C., Assyria decides they need more slaves, and Judah is their prime target. Fortunately for Judah, King Hezekiah was at reign, and because of his heart and lifestyle more pleasing to the Lord, Judah was able to hold off the Assyrians from conquering them.
Then, around 605 to 586 B.C., Judah once more turned their hearts away from following after the ways of the Lord, choosing more "appeasing" lifestyles that pagans adhered to...and the results...again...not good!
There was a "new Sheriff in town", her name: Babylon! Babylon had defeated the once mighty Assyria and decided Judah was a target they needed to conquer. And they did! Judah was annihilated, and her people were now sent in exile to Babylon...as slaves. Yet, even in all this God would save a remnant of the people of Judah who would eventually return to their homeland.
And, 70 years later..it happened! The people of Judah had been through much suffering, had been exposed to a lot of pagan influence, and almost two generations of people had lived in Babylon...many not knowing the "Ways of their Homeland".
And, while Judah had been given to drifters and other tribes, pagan influences had been established....even in Judah. As Judah returned from exile, poor choices were made...part of it being from all the pagan influence they were and had been exposed to.
Meanwhile, Isaiah had proclaimed throughout his lifetime the importance of returning to and following the ways of the Lord...the true King of Judah. This "Lion of Judah" demanded their trust and total devotion.
Isaiah is a powerful book...of all the scriptures. Some have referred to it as the "mini-bible" of the entire Bible.
There are more references and overtones in the New Testament given to Isaiah than to any other book in the entire Bible.
Isaiah was true to God and faced many of the perils of pagan lifestyles, choosing to proclaim the lifestyle of following after the Lord instead!
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