PROPHET ISAIAH
Isaiah prophesied during the reigns of Jotham (742-735
B.C.), Ahaz (735-715 B.C.) and Hezekiah (715-687 B.C.). Being a born of
Jerusalem, Isaiah's prophetic ministry was centred in the city. However, he
went on to prophesy about the neighbouring nations.
Isaiah was married and he was a father of two sons who
had symbolic names in respect to the future and events in and around Judah
(Isaiah 7:3 and 8:3).
The first son was named Shear Jashub which meant that
"The remnant shall return" and the second son was called
Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz meaning that "Quick-Loot-Fast Plunder"
The Lord appeared to
Isaiah at a time of an international crisis in the Middle East. Judah, the
southern kingdom was in real danger and was now threatened by a powerful
neighbour, Assyria under the leadership of King Tiglath Pileser III.
Accordingly, this king had planned to conquer the Middle East. This would see
Israel destroyed as a state and Judah put under Assyrian domination.
Consequently, Israel and Syria formed an alliance against
Assyria. This state of affairs left Judah isolated and in an awkward position.
To further strengthen their alliance, Israel and Syria began their attempt to
force Judah to join with them to counteract the Assyrian forces.
Threatened by this new development, Judah instead joined
on the side of Assyria to the disappointment of Israel and Syria. Judah was now
under King Ahaz following the death of his father Jotham who left the kingdom
without settling its political dilemma. It was at such a state of dilemma that
God appeared to Isaiah.
In his vision, Isaiah saw things differently. He saw that
the real threat in the life of Judah was not simply the might of Assyria but
the nation's own sins, disobedience to God and their lack of trust in him.
In response, Isaiah urged the people of Judah and their
leaders to return to a life of righteousness and justice. He went on to warn
them about their failure to listen to God. They were doomed and soon to face
destruction
In the years of his prophesies many of the people of
Judah were taken into exile in Babylon because of their continued rebellion
against God. While in exile, the people of Judah had their spirit of living
crushed and without hope for survival.
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.
As Judah was brought back home to Jerusalem, Isaiah
continued with his prophetic work. Judah still needed God's re-assurance that
he would fulfill the promises he had made while they were in exile.
THE CALL OF ISAIAH
(Isaiah
6: 1 ff)
Isaiah received his call to be God's spokesman in form of
a vision while he was in the temple.
The vision of the Lord appeared to Isaiah in the same
year that King Uzziah of Judah died.
In this vision, Isaiah saw the Lord seated in his throne
high and exalted. This pointed towards the Lord being the almighty.
Besides, Isaiah saw the Lord's robe had filled the whole
temple. This was something he could not understand thus signifying the
transcendent nature of God.
Round the Lord were some flaming creatures standing, each
with six wings. This showed the presence and the uniqueness of God.
Isaiah saw that each of the flaming creatures had covered
its face with two wings, its body with two wings and used the remaining two
wings for flying. This signified God's protection over the people of Judah.
Isaiah heard the creatures calling out to each other
saying with the words of "Holy, holy, holy! The Lord Almighty is holy! His
glory fills the world". This signified the holiness of God.
The sound of the voices of the flaming creatures made the
foundations of the temple shake. This signified the omnipotence of God.
Isaiah saw that the temple itself was filled with smoke
signifying the presence of the Lord
Isaiah felt that there was no hope for him. He was doomed
because every word from his lips was sinful. Above all, he lived among people
with every word being sinful. This showed sinfulness of the people of Judah.
Isaiah confessed that he had seen the king, the Lord
Almighty with his own eyes. This proved the majesty of God.
One of the flaming creatures flew down to Isaiah carrying
a burning coal he had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. This
meant that God was approaching the prophet with his message.
The flaming creature touched Isaiah's lips with the
burning coal. This meant that God had anointed Isaiah and given him the words
to speak as his prophet.
The flaming creature told Isaiah that his guilt was now
gone and his sins forgiven. This proved the forgiving nature of God.
Isaiah heard the Lord wondering whom he would send as his
messenger. This showed the sinfulness of the people of Judah.
Isaiah responded to say that he would go as the Lord
wanted. This proved that Isaiah had accepted God's call and was now ready for
the new task.
The Lord had told Isaiah to go to his people and give
them his message. This proved that Isaiah had now become a prophet of God.
However, the Lord warned Isaiah that his people would never
understand however much they could listen. This showed the rebelliousness of
the people of Judah.
The Lord told Isaiah to make the minds of his people
dull, their ears deaf and their eyes blind. In that way, they would not see,
hear or understand. This meant that God was now determined punish his own
people.
Isaiah said that the Lord would do such a thing to his
people so that they could turn to him for healing.
However, Isaiah wondered how long the Lord would keep his
people in such a state. This showed that Isaiah was concerned about the
wellbeing of the people of Judah.
The Lord revealed to Isaiah that his people would remain
state of dullness, blindness and being deaf until their cities were ruined and
empty, their houses uninhabited and their land desolate. This showed that God
was going to destroy the people of Judah.
The lord told Isaiah that he would send his people far
away and make their whole land desolate. This meant that the people of Judah
would be taken into exile.
The Lord would equally destroy even one person remaining
out of ten. The one person remaining signified the remnants and a beginning of
a new life for God's people.
Revision
Questions
1.
What happened to Isaiah in the year
King Uzziah died?
2.
Examine the nature of God according to
the experience Isaiah had that year.
3.
comment on Isaiah I s call to be a
prophet in chapter 6
4.
What lessons can Christians today
learn from Isaiah I scali?
5.
Discuss the call of Isaiah to his
prophetic mission
6.
Analyze Isaiah's response to his call
7.
Analyze the importance of Isaiah I s
vision to Israel as outlined in chapter 6