READ IT! - Introduction to Isaiah 4-10

Readings for this week

Monday: Isaiah 4
Tuesday: Isaiah 5
Wednesday: Isaiah 6
Thursday: Isaiah 7
Friday: Isaiah 8
Saturday: Isaiah 9
Sunday: Isaiah 10

Introduction to Isaiah 4-10

Chapter 4 

Isaiah describes the “Branch of the LORD.” He says that a “branch” will arise from the line of David, and he will serve as God’s instrument to bring in God’s kingdom on earth. 

Chapter 5 

The next section contains the “Song of the Vineyard." God’s people are a vineyard. God took good care of his vineyard. But his vineyard produced sour grapes. The point is that despite God’s care, Judah insisted on following a destructive path. 

After this comes a pronouncement of woes and judgments. Isaiah says:

Woe to those who selfishly increase their estates at the expense of others!
God will make their estates worthless.
Woe to those who live only to get drunk!
They will be too drunk to understand the destruction surrounding them.
Woe to those who put God to the test!
They mistake God’s patience for lack of power to judge.
Woe to those who call good evil and evil good!
They do so only to justify themselves.
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes!
God will humble them.
Woe to those who take away the rights of the defenseless!
God will call another nation to consume them and carry them away. 

Chapter 6 

In chapter six we hear the story of Isaiah’s Commission. 

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the LORD, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.” 

“‘Woe to me!’ I cried. ‘I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.’” 

“Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar.” 

“With it he touched my mouth and said, ‘See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.’” 

“Then I heard the voice of the LORD saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’” 

“And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” 

Chapter 7 

These events take place during the Assyrian threat over the nation of Judah during the reign of King Ahaz, the father of Hezekiah. The kings of Israel and Aram wanted Judah to join them in battle against Assyria. Ahaz refused and the armies of Israel and Aram surrounded Jerusalem. 

Isaiah offered a sign to Ahaz that God would protect Jerusalem. Ahaz had already planned on siding with the Assyrians, so he refused the sign. Isaiah condemned his lack of faith and offered the sign anyway. 

He says, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.”

Immanuel means “God with us.” In the New Testament, Jesus was referred as “Immanuel” because he was “born of a virgin” and was also “God with us.” 

Ahaz chose to trust in Assyria instead of God. The Assyrians conquered and destroyed Aram and Israel. Isaiah warned the people about Assyria’s incredible power. The land would experience devastation, and fertile areas would become desolate. 

Chapters 8-10 

God used Isaiah and his children as signs. Isaiah had two sons. His second-born son was named “Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz,” which means “Quickly to the plunder!” He would serve as a sign to the people in that before the time would come when he was old enough to say “mommy or daddy” the Assyrians would have put an end to the threat of Israel and Aram by rushing quickly to plunder them. 

Isaiah’s first-born son was named Shear-Jashub, which means “a remnant shall return.” Later, Shear-Jashub was to be a sign to the people that even though Jerusalem would be destroyed in the future, God would bring a faithful remnant of his people back from exile to the land He had given them.

Before the time of this faithful remnant, Judah will certainly be judged. Isaiah condemned those who consulted mediums instead of consulting God. He claimed that the “insights” of the mediums only gave “lack of sight” to those who listened and they “dwelled in darkness.” However, Isaiah offers a ray of hope as well.

“The people walking in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
    a light has dawned.”

“For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this.”

In these chapters Isaiah speaks of the LORD’s anger against Israel. Israel “hardened herself” to God’s judgments. God used Assyria as an instrument of punishment against his people. The Assyrians never realized the role they played in God’s plan, and instead became proud and arrogant. God says, “Does the ax raise itself above the person who swings it, or the saw boast against the one who uses it?” And so God promised to judge Assyria as well. 

After this Isaiah tells us about the remnant of Israel. He says, 

“In that day the remnant of Israel,
the survivors of Jacob,
will no longer rely on him
who struck them down
but will truly rely on the Lord,
the Holy One of Israel.
A remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob
will return to the Mighty God.
Though your people be like the sand by the sea, Israel,
only a remnant will return.” 

“Shear-Jashub” = “A remnant shall return.”