In the eighth century B.C., a spiritual leader emerged among God’s people to dominate a troubled era.
The man was Isaiah, his name meaning “Yahweh saves.” His ministry lasted for about 60 years, spanning the reigns of four kings of Judah–Uzziah, Jothan, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (Isaiah 1:1)
The book of Isaiah in the Bible was written solely by this prophet. It is richer in vocabulary than any other Old Testament book. A glossary of the 66 chapters would list more than 2,000 individual words. His writing style and majestic expression make his book one of the literary masterpieces of all Hebrew literature.
It is interesting to note that there are 66 books in the Bible and 66 chapters found the book of Isaiah. The last chapter of Isaiah touches upon the new earth as does the last book of Bible–Revelation.
Isaiah’s understanding of the Messianic role of Israel in the first coming of Christ and the establishment of God’s kingdom earned him the title of Messianic and Gospel Prophet. It was Isaiah who foretold the coming of the Messiah or Redeemer of Israel and His mission.
The prophecy of Isaiah falls into two sections, the first of which (chapters 1 to 39) for the most part deals with the problems then facing God’s people. Foremost is the problem of sin and the deliverance from Israel’s political foes, Syria and Assyria. Isaiah urged that it was only through repentance, reformation, and faith in the Almighty that deliverance could be obtained.
The second section, chapters 40 to 66, deals with the deliverance from Babylon, the glorious destiny that awaits spiritual Israel, the coming of the Messiah, and the establishment of His eternal kingdom. This section can be arbitrarily divided into three major parts: future deliverance and restoration (chapters 40 to 53), the Jewish nation as a light to the world (54 to 62), and the establishment of the Messianic kingdom (63 to 66).
Despite the apparent differences in subject matter, a fundamental unity of thought pervades the book of Isaiah. The earlier chapters record the messages by the prophet during his youth; and the latter chapters reflect the insight, depth of thought, and majesty of expression characteristic of age.
Too often many so-called New Testament Christians place little or no value on the Old Testament. Because Isaiah deals with the historical facts of Judah and Israel, it is possible to overlook the texts relating to salvation. In order to understand the New Testament book of Revelation, it is important to study Isaiah carefully. The symbolism and the language of certain passages in Isaiah are very similar to those in Revelation. To grasp the significance of certain texts from Revelation, one needs to study the events, places, and names and apply them properly in their setting. How, then, could anyone discard the Old Testament when so much of it is drawn into the New Testament?
Note the following parallel phrases and symbols:
Isaiah 47:1 Revelation 18:19
“Sit in the dust.” “Cast dust on their heads.”
Isaiah 47:2 Revelation 18:21
“Take the millstones.” “Took up a stone like a great millstone.”
Isaiah 47:8 Revelation 18:7
“I am, and none else beside me; “I sit a queen, and am no widow,
I shall not sit as a widow, neither and shall see no sorrow.”
shall I know the loss of children.”
Isaiah 47:9 Revelation 18:8, 10, 17, 19
“In a moment in one day.”“In one day,” “in one hour.”
Isaiah 47: 9 Revelation 18:23
“The multitude of thy sorceries.” “By thy sorceries were all nations deceived.”
Isaiah 47:15 Revelation 18:23
“Thy merchants.” “Thy merchants were the great men of the earth.”
The book of Isaiah contains a host of references in regard to Christ and His first coming. These texts are fulfilled in the New Testament, which supports and confirms what the prophet wrote. The prophecies were fulfilled in every particular and lie behind us in the form of history. “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, … “ 2 Peter 1:19.
Let us look into the writings of Isaiah the prophet and find out what he foretold under inspiration about the life and character of the true Messiah. At the same time, let us also see how these prophecies met their fulfillment. The first prophecy we want to consider is found in Isaiah 7:14: “Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” This prophecy was fulfilled exactly, as repeated in Matthew 1:23: “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
As the prophet was shown the future hundreds of years, he predicted accurately that Jesus would be conceived by a virgin. How unthinkable, but true, that a baby boy would be born miraculously of the Holy Spirit! Even His name, Immanuel, was mentioned. Jesus was divine–God on earth among His people.
Isaiah 53 is one of the most outstanding chapters of inspiration in reference to the Messiah, for it clearly stated His mission at His first advent. The first verse reads: “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?” This verse is also found in John 12:38. John the Beloved showed the fulfillment of Isaiah’s writings in his accounts of Christ’s life.
Because of man’s sins, Christ suffered, was humiliated, and was exalted. Who would have believed this report? The Lord’s arm or power is manifested for the salvation of men. God gave His only Son for a ransom, a substitute and surety for lost mankind.
“For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.
“Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” Isaiah 53:2-4.
In the eyes of the world, He possessed no beauty or attraction that they should desire. Men looked for a Messiah who would display great power in freeing the Jewish nation from Roman servitude. The Jews wanted a temporal kingdom set up on the earth, exalting them above every other nation. Some men were attracted to Christ, not because of His supernatural glory but by the beauty of a righteous character. His glory was veiled; His greatness and majesty were hidden so He might draw near to sorrowful, tempted men.
“The King of glory stooped low to take humanity. Rude and forbidding were His earthly surroundings. His glory was veiled, that the majesty of His outward form might not become an object of attraction. He shunned all outward display. Riches, worldly honor, and human greatness can never save a soul from death; Jesus purposed that no attraction of an earthly nature should call men to His side. Only the beauty of heavenly truth must draw those who would follow Him. The character of the Messiah had long been foretold in prophecy, and He desired men to accept Him upon the testimony of the word of God.” — Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 43.
Throughout His life, Christ knew what it was to be hated, reviled, and rejected. Taking upon Himself humanity, Christ became sensitive to every pain, sorrow, anguish, and disappointment known to man (Hebrews 2:16, 17). Not only was He a man of sorrows, but He endured all the temptations by which man is beset (Hebrews 4:15).
Practically the whole Jewish nation rejected Christ as the Messiah. The ill treatment and malice of wicked men reached a climax in His trial and crucifixion. The disciple Matthew repeated the prophecy concerning Christ in Matthew 8:17: “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” This verse refers to Isaiah 53:4.
Reading on in Isaiah 53, we come to the following verse: “He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.” Satan was constantly tempting Christ to cause Him to waver, lose hope, and thus commit even one trivial sin. Not yielding to Satan’s crafty ingenuity, Christ reigned supreme over the powers of darkness. He sinned not in thought, word, or deed. Though in a world of sin, He walked without guile in His mouth and was holy, harmless, and undefiled. He was unjustly and wrongfully accused, yet He opened not His mouth to justify Himself. For the fulfillment of this prophecy, see Matthew 26:63; 27:12, 14. “But Jesus held His peace.” “And when He was accused of the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.” “And He answered him to never a word.” How victorious this behavior proved to be on our account! Jesus lived a perfect life for our redemption!
Isaiah 53:10 reads: “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; …” God was not overjoyed to see Jesus suffer the penalty of sin, but in view of the eternal welfare of every human being who will be redeemed it pleased the Lord, in the sense that Christ’s sacrifice was the divine will of God. Only in this way could the plan of salvation be carried out. The sufferings of Christ were an integral part of the eternal plan (see Acts 2:23; 3:18).
“He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied.” Isaiah 53:11. The sacrifice on Calvary was not in vain, for many would find peace and eternal joy. The end result would justify the death of one man–Jesus Christ.
When we study the 66 chapters of Isaiah, we find the whole plan of salvation revealed. Let us therefore not shy away from the Old Testament, particularly the book of Isaiah, just because it was written hundreds of years before Christ’s birth. There are many precious, inspired gems revealed for our learning, otherwise the Lord would not have entrusted us with this book. Christ said, “Search the Scriptures,” and at that time it meant the Old Testament that existed in scrolls. God’s will is for us.
One of the very first steps in seeking after salvation is to recognize one’s spiritual condition. “All we like sheep have gone astray” (Isaiah 53:6); and “Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more; the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness it; . . .” Isaiah 1:5, 6. “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all out righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” Isaiah 64:6. These verses portray a distasteful picture of man. Every one is considered a sinner, no matter what his education, heritage, color or nationality–all men are sinners and the “wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23.
Do you recognize your condition? How do you know that you are a sinner? It is only by looking into the perfect law of liberty that we see our failings. Isaiah 42:21 states that “He will magnify the law, and make it honorable.” “O that thou hadst hearkened to My commandments!” Isaiah 48:18.
And, of course, the Sabbath commandment found in Isaiah 58 almost everyone in this world is either unwittingly or willfully transgressing. These verses of Isaiah about the law are also mentioned in the New Testament.
Once we realize our condition, the Lord does not forsake us nor let us continue to struggle to overcome by ourselves. How simple and inspiring the following texts are: “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat: yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” Isaiah 55:1. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah1:18. Here is the remedy. The Lord does not just condemn us by the law but provides a solution so we may obtain salvation.
Isaiah speaks about every phase of salvation. He is in complete harmony with all the New Testament writers. We should not be ignorant concerning the messages of hope which his book presents to us. Salvation can be found in the Old as well as the New Testament. May God bless us as we search the Book of Isaiah.