READ IT! - Introduction to Isaiah 11-17

Readings for this week

Monday: Isaiah 11
Tuesday: Isaiah 12
Wednesday: Isaiah 13
Thursday: Isaiah 14
Friday: Isaiah 15
Saturday: Isaiah 16
Sunday: Isaiah 17

Introduction to Isaiah 11-17

Chapter 11 

Isaiah described a “branch” who would come up from the line of Jesse, David’s father. He says, 

“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.” 

This Messiah (“anointed one”) would be empowered by the Spirit of the LORD to lead the nations. 

“He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.” 

He would bring peace to all people, and even the animals themselves would no longer destroy each other. 

“The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.
The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.” 

Chapter 12 

Chapter twelve contains songs of praise, saying, 

“I will praise you, Lord.
Although you were angry with me,
your anger has turned away
and you have comforted me.”

“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done,
and proclaim that his name is exalted.” 

Chapters 13-14 

The next section of the book covers the themes of universal judgment and universal salvation. First, Isaiah prophecies against Babylon. God will use the Medes to judge Babylon. Babylon’s destruction will be like that of Sodom and Gomorrah. God will also destroy Assyria with Babylon. Babylon’s ruler had made godlike claims, but God would humble him. 

“How you have fallen from heaven,
morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!
You said in your heart,
‘I will ascend to the heavens;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.
I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.’
But you are brought down to the realm of the dead,
to the depths of the pit.” 

Christians have sometimes reinterpreted this as a description of Satan’s fall from heaven. 

Isaiah then prophecies against the Philistines. The Philistines rejoiced when King Ahaz died, thinking they could now shake off Judah’s domination, but Isaiah assures them that God will still protect His people. Isaiah warned Hezekiah not to join the Philistines and Egyptians in their rebellion against Assyria. 

Chapters 15-16 

Isaiah then prophecies against Moab. “Ar of Moab is laid waste. In the streets they wear sackcloth. The waters of Dibon are full of blood. A throne will be established from the house of David. We have heard of the pride of Moab. Within three years Moab will be despised.” Both Assyrian kings Sargon II and Sennacherib claimed victories over Moab. 

Chapter 17 

Isaiah then prophecies against Damascus. God will level Damascus of the Arameans. God will also judge Israel who allied themselves with the Arameans.