Today I begin my first ever study of the Book of Isaiah. To be sure, this is going to be an adventure. I've tried to read it before, and have read snippets here and there, but to be honest, it is so dark in places it has scared me. These words have me intrigued, and have led to the study:
"The theme of this book is expressed in the meaning of the name Isaiah, "the LORD saves" or "the LORD is Savior". The book of Isaiah contains more prophecies about the Messiah than any other book in the Old Testament. In fact, the plan of salvation is so comprehensively revealed in Isaiah's work that Augustine called it the fifth gospel, and others have referred to it as "the Bible in miniature." Some have attempted to discredit the authenticity of the prophecies of Isaiah by suggesting that Isaiah is not the author of them all. The historical view as to the authorship of this book, however, has consistently held that Isaiah composed the entire book.
Traditionally, Isaiah is thought to have been the son of a prince of Judah. He certainly did not feel uncomfortable in the presence of kings, and the richness of his vocabulary suggests that he was a man of culture and education."
Are you intrigued, too? I've never heard these things about the book or its writer. I want to study the "richness of his vocabulary" and read "the Bible in miniature".
Will you join me?
Chapter 1: "The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Kings Uzzian, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah.
vision: a revelation by means of a vision; divine communication, not so much the dream or vision itself, but the message it conveys.
son: builder of family name. It can express an adopted child, children in general, descendants
saw: to gaze at; to perceive, have visions, look, observe, prophesy
reigns: day, time, year, a generic span of time, a given point in time
Kings: an individual with power and authority
Judah on Trial
Listen heavens, and pay attention earth for the LORD has spoken:
I have raised children and brought them up, but they rebelled against me. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's feeding trough, but Israel does not know; my people do not understand.
Isaiah 1:1-3
Can you hear His pain? Maybe it is just the pain I am feeling that brings His pain out so clearly to me, but how sad He must've been when He said these words to Isaiah. Even an ox gives more respect to its owner than Israel had given to Him. All that He'd done so far for them and yet they always rebel. They always ended up going to some other idol instead of GOD.
WOW! How sad I must make Him sometimes.
I know that God takes that sadness for a long, long time before He acts on anything. He is an indulgent, loving Father, but when things have gone far enough and there is no repentance on our part, he finally says enough.
In Search of Christ,
Terrie
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