Title Introduction to the Book of Isaiah
Contents
<Introduction to the Book of Isaiah> Revelation seen by Isaiah
1. What kind of book is Isaiah?
As the author of “King of the Prophets,” Isaiah (meaning: “God saves”) is the largest and most influential book among the prophets. Jesus also meditated on it to the extent that he quoted the words of Isaiah when he began his work as the Messiah. Isaiah acted as a prophet and counselor to the kings of Judah for four generations: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (780-681 BC) He preached to the people of Judah and Jerusalem, mainly city dwellers. As it is said, the book of Isaiah is a 'revelation' given by God, and poetry, prose, historical records, and apocalypse are expressed in various and inspirational poems according to the theme, not in chronological order.
2. Background of the Age of Isaiah
It was a time of division into northern Israel and southern Judah, but both countries enjoyed political stability and economic prosperity. They forsook God in faith and became morally corrupt. It was a period when the neighboring powers, Assyria and Babylon, took over the hegemony of the Mediterranean world alternately.
3. Separation of subject and content
The book of Isaiah is a prophecy of God's judgment and salvation. The God of Isaiah is “the Holy One of Israel,” the God of righteous judgment who punishes iniquity with fire. At the same time, He is a God rich in mercy who does not give up hope to save His people even in the midst of judgment.
Chapters 1-39 are mainly messages of reproof and judgment, chapters 40-55 are messages of comfort and salvation through the Messiah, and chapters 56-66 are messages of the hope of the Messiah's kingdom.
4. To study Isaiah properly
First, there must be an earnest desire to know the God revealed in the book of Isaiah. Soaked in our self-centered practices of faith, our spiritual eyes are awakened, the Messiah who came as “the great and vast God,” “Lord, Jehovah of hosts,” “The Holy One of Israel,” and “Servant of Suffering,” the Anointed Holy Spirit. - I want you to experience the Triune God by faith and study while praying for true knowledge to be feared.
Second, I hope that the book of Isaiah will serve as an opportunity to dramatically change and expand our perspective as people of God. God's concern is not limited to me personally, my family, or my church. Through this study, I hope that we will become “global Christians” who share God’s heart for society, the nation, the international community, and the ecological environment. In particular, while keeping in mind the panorama of God’s work, such as the judgment to come upon God’s people and the redemption that will take place in the future, we look at the reality from God’s point of view and design the future. I want you to study with the wish to form a community of faith that is used.
Third, the book of Isaiah is the message of revival, restoring the glory of Zion by redeeming the devastated Judah and Jerusalem. We should not stop at accumulating Bible knowledge through the book of Isaiah, but use it as an opportunity for me and the faith community to grow spiritually.