(Isaiah 20:1 ff)

Isaiah walked naked and barefoot for three years upon the commands of the Lord. He was told to take off his sandals and the sackcloth he was wearing and he obeyed.

The event happened three years earlier before the Assyrian had attacked the Philistine city of Ashdod

However, Isaiah's walking naked was symbolical in reference to what was going to happen to Egypt and Ethiopia in the near future.   

The Lord made Isaiah to understand that the Assyrian king would lead away naked prisoners captured from Egypt and Ethiopia.

Besides, the Lord would bring shame on the Egyptians as they would walk naked and barefoot with their buttocks exposed.

The Lord said that those who had trusted in Ethiopia and boasted about Egypt and would have their hopes shattered.

Isaiah wanted King Hezekiah to put his trust in the Lord instead trusting in earthly power. Therefore, he had to remain calm.

Isaiah walked naked in protest of Hezekiah's political alliances with other nations including Assyria and Egypt.

Isaiah intended to show Hezekiah that the Lord had disapproved of his activities. He told the king that he was annoying Yahweh the way his father had done before.

The prophet intended to make Hezekiah to seek security and protection from Yahweh other than from earthly kings.

Isaiah intended to call upon Hezekiah to change his work plan and stay away from the Egyptians and the Sudanese who were about to be destroyed.

It was a call for the king to stay calm and stop fearing the earthly nations. He had hoped that the Lord would assist him through his difficult period.

The prophet intended to call on Hezekiah to consult the Lord before proceeding with his plan of making an alliance with Egypt.

Isaiah intended to demonstrate the Lord's power and abilities over the nations. He was going to use the Assyrians to destroy the Egyptians and Sudanese.

Isaiah wanted the king to realize that Yahweh was all knowing. He had seen and known his weaknesses and plans of entering in a political alliance with the Egyptians.

It was a warning to show that the Egyptians and the Sudanese would be defeated and therefore there was no need for Hezekiah to fear them.

It was intended to call upon the king to rely on the Lord instead of relying on his human effort, which he considered useless.

ISAIAH’S PROPHESIES TO THE EXILES IN BABYLONIA (Message Hope)

(Isaiah 40 - 55)

In 587 BC the Babylonians attacked Jerusalem and destroyed the city after a very hard siege. Consequently the people of Judah were taken into exile.

While in exile, the people of Judah had their spirit of living crushed and without hope for survival. Frustration characterized the people's way of life thus they came to think that there was no way that their suffering could come to an end.

At such a state of hopelessness and helplessness, Isaiah prophesied that the Lord would set his people free and take them back home to Jerusalem for them to begin a new life.

Isaiah declared that the Lord had commanded him to comfort and encourage the people of Jerusalem.

Isaiah revealed to the people of Judah that they had suffered long enough and now their sins were forgiven.

The prophet declared that the road would be cleared straight across the desert between Babylon and Judah. Isaiah told the people that this would be in preparation of the glorious event yet to be revealed.

Isaiah told the people of Judah that their punishment was only to make them realize their sinfulness in order for them to turn back to the Lord. It was not an act of hatred on the side of the Lord.

Isaiah asked the people of Judah to proclaim the good news that their God was coming. He urged them to announce this good news to the towns of Judah with courage.

Isaiah told the people of Judah that the Lord was coming to rule with power and take with him the people he had rescued.

Isaiah told Judah the Lord would take care of his flock like a shepherd. He would gather them together and carry them in his arms.

Isaiah proclaimed a time the people of Judah would repent of their sins for the Lord was now willing to forgive them.

Isaiah urged Jerusalem to rise and shine like the sun. This would be for the glory of the Lord, their God.

Isaiah declared that the foundation of Jerusalem would once again be rebuilt. The Lord would use precious stone for rebuilding the foundation.

Isaiah told the people of Judah that Lord would only punish the arrogant by breaking down their gates and they would be blown away like dust.

Isaiah said that the Lord would extend the boundaries of Judah on all sides. They would therefore get back their land that other nations had occupied.

Isaiah declared the Lord would make a lasting covenant with the people of Judah. In that covenant, he would give them the blessings he had promised their ancestor David.

Isaiah developed the idea of the messiah by telling the people that there would be a future king of Judah who would be their saviour.

 

Revision Questions

1.          Discuss the message that Isaiah gave to the exiled people of Judah.

2.          "Isaiah's message to the exiles in Babylonia was that of hope and consolation" Comment

3.          Examine the significance of Isaiah’s prophesies to the exiles.

4.          What is the significance of Isaiah’s message to the oppressed people in the world today?

THE SERVANT OF THE LORD

(Isaiah 42: 1 ff)

As part of his messages of hope to the people of Judah, Isaiah developed the theme of the servant of the Lord.

He gave a description of the character of this servant being introduced to the exiles in order to console.        

Isaiah revealed that the servant of the Lord had been strengthened by the Lord himself. Besides, this servant had been chosen by the Lord himself and he was pleased with him. Isaiah introduced the servant as having been filled with the spirit of the Lord.

The servant would bring lasting justice to every nation meaning that he would come as a universal servant.

Isaiah said that the servant would not shout or raise his voice or make loud speeches in the streets.

Isaiah pointed out that Lord's servant would break off a bent reed or even put out a flickering lamp.

Isaiah declared that the servant would not lose hope or courage in his work of bringing lasting justice.

According to Isaiah, distant lands were eagerly awaiting the teachings of the servant of the Lord.

God himself had called this servant and given him power to see that justice was done on earth.

Through this servant, the Lord would make a new covenant with all people of the world. According to Isaiah, the Lord would bring light all the nations of the world through his servant.

The servant of the Lord would open the eyes of the blind and set free those sitting in dark prisons.

Isaiah declared the Lord would only share his glory with his servant for He alone was his God and no other god.

Because of his servant, the things that the Lord had predicted had now come true and now he would be told of new things even before they begin to happen. This implied that he would have knowledge of the future.

Revision Questions

1.          Discuss the characteristics of the servant of the Lord according to Isaiah 42.

2.          How the above were prophesies fulfilled in the New Testament?

3.          How is the personality of Jesus Christ a reflection of the nature of the servant of the Lord?

·       Jesus had a divine birth as he was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit.

·       Jesus was chosen before his birth (John 1: 1 ff)

·       During his baptism, Jesus was filled with the spirit of God.

·       At his baptism, a voice in heaven confirmed Jesus as a son of God with whom he was pleased.

·       Jesus was born at a time when the messiah was being eagerly being awaited.

·       Jesus identified himself as a universal saviour. He encouraged fairness among his followers.

·       Jesus remained optimistic despite his persecution for his body was weak but the spirit was willing to fulfill the father's will.

·       Jesus healed the blind people

·       Jesus tried to keep his messiahship a secret. He even did not make loud speeches in the streets as Isaiah said.

·       He knew things before they could happen as he predicted about his betrayal, denial and death.

·       Jesus came in a humble way that nobody noticed that as he was born in a manger.

·       Through his death on the cross, God made a covenant to all people of the world.

 

THE SUFFERING SERVANT

(Isaiah 52:13 ff and 53:1 ff

In his teaching Isaiah developed the theme of a suffering servant. He described this in a poem giving out characteristics of a servant who suffered greatly for the wrongs of others.

Isaiah's message was a presentation of a dialogue between God and some speakers who were not identified but who seemed to represent the human kind and the people of Judah in particular.

The Lord declared his servant would succeed in his tasks and would be highly honoured. Many people were shocked to see the servant so disfigured that he hardly looked human. However, Isaiah declared that many nations would marvel at him and the kings would be speechless with amazement.

Through the servant, nations and kings would see and understand something they had never known before.

Isaiah said that it was the will of the Lord that his servant had to grow like a plant taking root in dry ground.

Isaiah declared that the servant had no dignity or beauty to make the people take notice of him.

Besides, there was nothing attractive about the servant to draw the people nearer to him. The people despised and rejected the servant of the Lord but he endured his suffering and pain.

The servant endured the suffering that could have been for others and the pain that others could have borne.

Isaiah declared the people thought the suffering of the servant of the Lord was a punishment sent by God.

However, the servant was wounded because of the sins of the people and beaten because of the evils that they did.

The people were healed by the punishment that the servant suffered for they were made whole by the blows he received.

All the people were like lost sheep that each was going on his own way but the Lord made the punishment to fall on the servant.

Isaiah said that the servant was treated harshly but he endured it with humility without saying any word.

According to Isaiah, the servant was like a lamb about to be slaughtered and a sheep about to be sheared but he never said a word. 

The Lord's servant was arrested, sentenced and led off to die but no one cared about his fate.

The prophet said that the servant of the Lord was put to death because of the sins of his people.

Besides, he was placed in a grave with the wicked and buried with the rich even though he had never committed a crime or ever told a lie.

The Lord declared that he had willed his servant's suffering and his death was a sacrifice to bring forgiveness.

For his suffering the servant would see his descendants and would live along life. Through him, the Lord's purpose would succeed.

After his suffering, the servant would again have joy as he would know that he did not suffer in vain.

Isaiah presented the servant as being devoted and one with whom the Lord was pleased but he would bear the punishment of many.

For his suffering, the Lord promised to give him a place of honour among the great and the powerful.

Isaiah declared that the servant of the Lord willingly gave his life and shared the fate of the evil men.

Besides, Isaiah the servant took the place of many sinners and prayed for them to be forgiven.

Revision Questions

1.          Explain Isaiah's teaching about the suffering servant.

2.          Describe the character of the messiah as portrayed by Isaiah in Chapter 53.

3.          According to Deutero-Isaiah, discuss the characteristics of the suffering servant of the Lord.

4.          Examine the ways in which the concept of the suffering servant in Isaiah differs from Deuteronomic understanding of suffering.

5.          Show how this theme was reflected in Jesus' life

6.          In what ways do Christians today suffer for the sake of the gospel?

THE FULFILLMENT OF ISAIAH'S TEACHING ON A SUFFERING SERVANT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

·                   Jesus was born in a kraal and he remained poor that there was nothing attractive about him.

·                   Jesus was despised by the people he was serving. They jeered and spat on him

·                   Jesus was also rejected by his followers including his own apostle Peter.

·                   His suffering was God's will.

·                   God knew that Jesus would succeed in his task

·                   He was arrested, sentenced and led off to die by the Jewish and authority.

·                   Jesus suffered quietly as he was being battered.

·                   He also endured his suffering with humility

·                   He was crucified together with two wicked men and buried like a rich man into the tomb.

·                   Jesus' body was very weak as he was being beaten but his spirit remained willing to fulfill his father's will.

·                   The Jews thought that Jesus suffering was a punishment from God.

·                   By dying on the cross, Jesus carried away the sins of evil people.

·                   By dying on the cross, he reconciled God with the sinful human beings.

·                   He resurrected and ascended into heaven and he is seated at the right hand of the father.

·                   He succeeded in bringing salvation to mankind thus his death, resurrection and ascension.

·                   Jesus endured the suffering that would have been for the sinful human beings.

·                   Through his death on the cross Jesus brought lasting justice among the believers.

·                   After a life of his suffering, Jesus was joyful that he had brought salvation to mankind.

ISAIAH'S TEACHING ON THE MESSIAH

(The Future King)

Isaiah prophesied that a future king would be chosen from the line of David and sent to the people by God himself.

Isaiah said that the king ruled over the whole kingdom of Israel. This signified the re-union of Judah and Israel.

The king would be righteous and through him there would be peace and stability in the whole world.

The king would rescue his people from their suffering and even carry the burden of others.

The king would be just or fair in his administration. Therefore, his leadership would be based on fair judgement.

The king would bring light to human kind and through him; those who walk in darkness would see light again,

The messiah would be filled with God's spirit. This would enable him to perform wonders.

Because of being appointed by God himself his leadership would be very strong.

The king would be responsible for all the rights of the people in the world. This signified his universal nature.

The prophet mentioned that the king would promote obedience and would encourage his people to have faith in God.

Through the king, the people of Israel would have fellowship with the Lord again. He would be their God and they would be his people.

Through the king the people of Israel would rejoice. Each and everyone would have great joy because of the new king.

At the time of his coming, the people of Israel would harvest their corn and divide the captured wealth. This signified future prosperity.

The messiah would encourage repentance among people. Therefore, through him people would be brought back to their God.

The future king would turn swords and spears into pruning knives and this would bring about lasting peace in the world.

The king would bring prosperity into the world thus making everybody would to enjoy the self.

His leadership would see wolves and calves feed together and wolves and sheep would live together as well.

The future king would be called "Immanuel" meaning that God would be with his people. The king would be a redeemer. He would come to liberate the people from their different kinds of suffering.

He would be the king over all nations of the world. For this matter, leadership would have no boundaries.     .

Isaiah prophesied that everybody would get to know about this king. Therefore, he would be famous throughout the world.

According to Isaiah, the dynasty of this king would last forever and never for it to come to an end.