Prophet: Isaiah

The Davidic nation of Israel was long split into two nations: Israel in the North and and Judah in the South.  The two weathered wars against each other as well as with surrounding nations.

The Assyrians were a rising in power, as would be the Babylonians. God raised up the prophet Isaiah to tell the people a stern message that the North would fall soon and the South would do so later. But by His grace, God's message doesn’t end there. He also promises that He will also bring Israel back home.

He will also rule Israel as Immanuel: "God with us," and He will judge Israel’s enemies, and bring all the nations to Himself, also. A mysterious Servant will bear the sins of many, reconciling Israel and the world to the Lord.

Isaiah’s message in summary is that God’s judgment is coming, but so is His comfort.

 The Messianic Prophecies of Isaiah

Isaiah's story takes place before the fall of Jerusalem. While Jeremiah and Ezekiel prophesy about these events before and while they happen, Isaiah looks into the future to see Judah’s Babylonian captivity. Isaiah interacts with the kings of Judah, relating to some of the events in in Kings and Chronicles. The writer of Chronicles cites Isaiah as a source of information on kings Uzziah and Hezekiah, ( 2 Chronicles 26:22 , 2 Chronicles 32:32). Additionally, Isaiah describes the spiritual conflict surrounding Ahaz’ war against Israel and Aram (Isaiah 7, 2 Kings 16:5–9, 2 Chronicles 28).

Isaiah goes into great detail on Hezekiah’s reign. He foretells the downfall of Israel at Assyria’s hand, (detailed in 2 Kings 17). He goes on to predict that the Babylonians will carry the Jews away. Lastly and incredibly, Isaiah makes the prediction that Cyrus, the Persian emperor, will send the Jews back home. (Second Chronicles ends with this event, and the story continues in Ezra (2 Chronicles 36:23; Isaiah 44:28–45:7).

No other prophet is referenced in the New Testament as much as Isaiah, and his most famous prophecies concern Jesus. He predicts a coming King who will rule Israel and the nations in justice and peace. He also looks forward to a special Servant of God: one who will fulfill all Israel’s duties and bear its sins.