ISAIAH 1
GOD’S WARNING TOWARDS JUDAH
The prophet Isaiah shares a vision that occurred during the times of the following kings: Uzziah, Jothan, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Their stories are recorded in 2 Kings 14-20.
Isaiah confronts the nation of Judah regarding their disobedience and rebellion against God. The northern kingdom of Israel will be taken captive by the Assyrians and this prophecy is warning Judah that their kingdom awaits a similar fate. Isaiah compares Judah to Sodom and Gomorrah, cities that were destroyed because of their corruption, recorded in Genesis 19.
God is not pleased with Judah’s sacrifices, calling them vain and meaningless. God will not respond to the prayers of Judah because of their injustice and hypocrisy. Although Judah is going through the motions of religious rituals, their hearts are not postured towards God.
God warns the people of Judah that the faithful will be restored, but those who reject God will perish. God will redeem the people who genuinely repent and turn to righteousness, rebuilding them as a new faithful city.
Isaiah 1:7 - Your country lies desolate; your cities are burned with fire; in your very presence foreigners devour your land; it is desolate, as overthrown by foreigners.
ISAIAH 2
GOD ALONE WILL BE EXALTED
Isaiah speaks of a future time when God’s house will be regarded highly, towering above the city on a mountain. Although God’s people have rejected His authority in Judah, God will eventually humble the proud.
Isaiah speaks of the judgment that the nations will face due to their worship of false gods and their prideful arrogance. In God’s restoration of a new Jerusalem, God alone will be exalted.
ISAIAH 3
GOD’S JUDGMENT ON JUDAH + JERUSALEM
Isaiah tells of Jerusalem’s doom, explaining how God will remove all of their support and structure, from their bread and water to their leaders and talent. Isaiah prophesizes how the people of Judah will treat each other with brutality and defy God’s instruction.
Using the imagery of a vain woman, Isaiah tells how God will bring judgment to the people of Judah, humbling the prideful and opposing the wicked.
Isaiah 3:8 - For Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah has fallen, because their speech and their deeds are against the Lord, defying his glorious presence.
ISAIAH 4
THE REMNANT OF ISRAEL WILL BE A FRUITFUL BRANCH
Although Judah’s future looks bleak, there is hope for those who remain faithful, referred to as the remnant.
God will provide a branch, an image of regrowth and new life, to the remnant that brings cleansing renewal. In John 15:1-8, Jesus describes Himself as the vine, connecting His followers to the Father.
God reminds the Israelites how He provided for them in wilderness with a cloud by day and a fire by night (Exodus 13). God wants to protect those who remain faithful.
ISAIAH 5
WARNING AGAINST JUDAH’S VULNERABILITY
Isaiah offers a song or poem to the nation of Judah, warning them of their vulnerable state. Because of Judah’s disobedience, their protection will be removed, and they will be like an unkempt vineyard. Isaiah compares Israel to a vine that yielded only bitter grapes, instead of producing sweet, healthy grapes.
Isaiah rebukes those who are frivolous, wasteful, or greedy. Isaiah confronts the arrogant ways of Judah, calling out the people who love injustice and drunkenness. Isaiah warns that enemy nations will be able to easily attack Judah in their unprotected and unrighteous state.
ISAIAH 6
GOD SENDS ISAIAH ON HIS BEHALF
Isaiah recalls a vision of seeing God on His throne beside an angelic creature. Marveling in God’s majesty, Isaiah became aware of his own impurities, and he despised his unclean lips. The angelic creature took burning coals from God’s altar and touched them to the lips of Isaiah, taking away his guilt and atoning for his sins.
Isaiah hears the Lord asking whom He shall send on His behalf. Isaiah responded, saying “Here I am! Send me.” And God instructed Isaiah to bring a message to the Israelites, telling them that their hearts are hardened, and they will be unreceptive to God’s instruction. God told Isaiah that this would last until the cities are empty and everyone has left.
In Matthew 13, Jesus would reference Isaiah’s message to the Israelites in an explanation of His teaching in parables. Jesus says that the people will hear, but not understand, see, but not perceive, fulfilling the message of Isaiah 6:9-11.
The final verse of this chapter depicts a tree stump, symbolizing the Israelites' downfall, but states that it contains a future seed, a symbol of hope and new life.
ISAIAH 7
A CHILD WILL BE BORN TO A VIRGIN WOMAN
During the time that Ahaz was king of Judah, Aram (also called Syria) and Israel attacked Jerusalem. God reassured Ahaz through the prophet Isaiah, telling him not to fear these enemy nations. God also told Isaiah that Damascus (the capital of Aram/Syria) and the northern ten tribes of Israel will soon cease to exist, ending in ruins.
Isaiah also prophesies that a virgin woman will give birth to a son named Immanuel, meaning “God with us.” By the time the child is old enough to know right from wrong, the enemies of Judah will have perished. In this prophecy, Isaiah foreshadows the future hope of Jesus, including Mary’s miraculous virgin conception (Luke 1)!
ISAIAH 8
ASSYRIA TO INVADE JUDAH
Isaiah’s wife conceives and gives birth to a son. God tells Isaiah to name the baby “Maher-shalal-hash-baz,” which means “quick to the spoil, hurry to the plunder,” foretelling the upcoming Assyrian invasion.
God tells Isaiah that before the child is able to speak, Israel’s capital city of Samaria will be taken captive by Assyria. God instructs Isaiah to fear the Lord, not the Assyrians, and to consult Him alone, rather than fortune tellers or mediums.
In verse 16, Isaiah mentions that he has disciples who seal up his teachings and prophecies. These disciples were likely responsible for continuing Isaiah’s message after his eventual death.
ISAIAH 9
PROMISES OF A FUTURE KING
Isaiah tells of the coming of a future king, one who will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. God will use the tribe of Judah to bring the future savior, a descendant from the line of David. The promise of a future king brings hope to the nation of Israel who is in desperate need of peace, justice, and righteousness.
Alongside the good news of a Savior, there is bad news in realizing the need for a Savior. Israel has gone astray, and God will cut them off, only saving a small remnant of faithful people. Normally, God fervently protects the widows and the fatherless, but even the vulnerable have rejected God and turned away. God’s wrath is depicted like fire to those who have become faithless.
Isaiah 9:1-2 is specifically fulfilled by Jesus’s early ministry in Capernaum, a city near Galilee and the territories of Zebulun and Naphtali (Matthew 4:15-16).
Isaiah 9:6 - For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
ISAIAH 10
JUDGMENT ON ASSYRIA
Isaiah rebukes those who are oppressors and liars, warning them of the wrath that awaits them. Specifically, God warns Assyria of their impending doom. Although Assyria opposes God’s people, God is still able to use them for His purposes, aligning them with His plans as opposition to the rebellious nation. God will allow the Assyrians to wipe out the faithless in Israel.
However, after they have served God’s purpose the Assyrians will also be struck down and destroyed due to their pride and arrogance. Although they will defeat Israel, God has the final say.
God will protect the faithful remnant of Israel and remove Assyria as their oppressor, and foretell a time when they will eventually return to their land after the exile.
ISAIAH 11
FROM THE BRANCH OF DAVID, RESCUE IS COMING
Referring to Isaiah 6:13, Isaiah prophesies of the root of Jesse, the line of David, producing a “new branch” or future offspring. The Holy Spirit will bring Him wisdom, understanding, counsel, and might. This branch will have knowledge and delight in the fear of the Lord. Isaiah, describing Jesus, depicts this coming king as one who will bring peace, illustrating a lion lying gently with a lamb.
Not only will the future king come to bring peace, but to rescue the remnant. God compares the way He will save those who remain faithful to when He rescued the Israelites from Egypt in Exodus. God is on an endless pursuit, over and over again, to rescue those who love Him.
ISAIAH 13
JUDGMENT + WARNING TOWARDS BABYLON
Over the next few chapters, Isaiah offers a series of speeches or oracles warning other nations. This first oracle speaks to Babylon, one of the most powerful nations in the world at the time.
God will use Babylon’s power and rebellion for His purposes by letting them overthrow Judah. After the Babylonians have served God’s purposes, Babylon will be overthrown by the Medes. God has authority over everything, even those who oppose Him and His people!
ISAIAH 14
JUDGMENT + WARNING TOWARDS ASSYRIA
Because God is compassionate towards Israel, God promises to eventually restore Israel and Judah as rulers over their oppressors. God allows His nation to experience the consequences of sin while still giving them hope of restoration.
Isaiah rebukes Babylon’s pride, taunting their king and referencing their future of doom. Isaiah also speaks to the Assyrians, telling them that they will be shattered and God’s established plans will prevail. Finally, Isaiah speaks to the Philistines warning them of their coming destruction.
ISAIAH 16
THE FATE OF THE MOABITES
Isaiah’s oracle against Moab continues, predicting that in three years the Moabites will be devastated because of their pride and arrogance. Moab, once regarded for its riches and abundance, will soon be known for nothing.
God is mourned by the fate of the Moabites. Although God enacts justice over Moab, He is also compassionate and grieved by their pain.
ISAIAH 17
JUDGMENT + WARNING TOWARDS DAMASCUS
Isaiah speaks a warning over Damascus, telling of their unfortunate fate. Damascus will become a pile of dust and rubble, leaving only a small remnant behind.
Isaiah presents the compelling argument that one day mankind will stand before the God who created them, not their man-made altars or idols. Isaiah cautions that the day of God’s judgment is drawing near for the many nations who are unfaithful.
ISAIAH 18
JUDGMENT + WARNING TOWARDS CUSH
Isaiah continues with his oracles warning foreign pagan nations. Isaiah speaks to the people beyond the rivers of Cush, possibly near Ethiopia, who are described as tall and attractive. Isaiah warns that God will cut off their nation and they will be left behind for the birds and beasts to devour.
ISAIAH 19
JUDGMENT + WARNING TOWARDS EGYPT
Continuing his oracles of warning, Isaiah cautions the Egyptians that they will have civil unrest and fight amongst each other. God will hand over the Egyptians to a cruel new master that will rule over them. The water of the Nile, one of Egypt’s greatest assets, will be diminished and dried up. Even the small nation of Judah will become a terror to the Egyptians!
Although God has a purpose in the destruction of Egypt and Assyria, God still shows that He is compassionate and merciful towards them. God offers hope that there will be a day when the Egyptians and Assyrians worship God together with Israel. Even the greatest enemies of God’s people will eventually come to know God!
God blesses these three nations, calling Egypt His people, Assyria the work of His hands, and Israel His inheritance.