Isaiah 1–6 Introduction: God Calls His People Back

GOD'S WILLINGNESS TO HELP HIS PEOPLE

INTRO TO ISAIAH 1-6

Introduction

Isaiah chapter 6 is crucial to understanding the historical background of the first six chapters of this book. Delitzsch believes Isaiah received his call to the prophetic office in Isaiah 6, with chapters 2–5 containing his early prophetic statements against Israel’s sin. Israel’s hope does not endure long, for they will suffer God’s judgment for their sin. Instead, they are to focus on the distant future when the remnant again gains God’s favor.

In chapter 1, after outlining the ways to secure and maintain peace with God (justification and sanctification), the author vividly describes a bleak future marked by an impending, threatening judgment. The second subsection (chapters 2–4) depicts God destroying Israel’s false glory and preceding it with God’s redemption. The third subsection (chapter 5) asserts Israel’s lostness and judgment. Chapter 6 confirms these statements of God by observing Isaiah’s consecration to the prophetic office.

Chapters 2–5 and chapter 6 clearly belong to the year of Uzziah’s death (740/739 BC) and Jotham’s reign (750–732 BC). Judah was very prosperous at that time. False glory, pride, and independence from God led to the prevalence of idols. King Uzziah’s presumptuous temple sin, along with the resulting leprosy, required Jotham to act on Uzziah’s behalf. Victories, buildings, and troops all demonstrated the Judean kingdom’s height.

Chapter 6’s placement confirms Isaiah’s authority to speak to the people, assuring them of the truth of his harsh message and of God’s welcoming message of hope. The message calls the people to soften their hearts and seek cleansing. The sharpness of these chapters calls for repentance, yet without true repentance, the present generation would face severe judgment.

Chapters 1–6 portray a wealthy, greedy, and materialistic society not unlike our own. Idolatry and pride follow wealth and success. The Israelites neglected their devotion to God while adopting other gods better suited to their lifestyles. Will we, like Isaiah, recognize our sins and repent, or face judgment?

Isaiah Chapter 1

Chapter 1 starts off by pointing out the ways to get right with God and stay that way (justification and sanctification), and then takes a drastic turn in describing the bleak future accompanied by the terrible coming judgment.

Chapter 1:7-9, if taken historically, must be written after the dangers of the war with Syria and Israel had been averted. However, they were very conscious of the nightmare and bloodshed they had just gone through. Chapter 1 records events after the events of chapters 2-5 and the connected chapters 7-12. Why is this placed first then? This is simply because it was the first to be committed to writing. Delitzsch thinks chapter 1 serves as an introduction, a preface, to the addresses and historical accounts in chapters 2-12, Chapters 2-5 are called the Book of Hardening, and chapters 7-12 are called the Book of Immanuel.

Chapters 2-5

Chapters 2–5 and chapter 6 clearly belong to the year of Uzziah’s death (740/739 BC) and Jotham’s reign (750–732 BC). Judah was very prosperous at that time.

Because of their false glory, pride, independence from God, they left God and the idols increased. King Uzziah acted presumptuously in the temple and therefore King Jotham had to help Uzziah because of his resulting leprosy.

Victories, buildings, and troops all demonstrate the height of the Judean kingdom. At the end of this period, however, in accordance with the prophecies, we have seen hostilities with Syria, with Damascus as its capital, and Israel, with Pekah as its capital, begin.

Chapter 6

Chapter 6 confirms Isaiah’s authority to the people. As he speaks, he assures them of the truth of the message. The purpose of these first harsh chapters was to soften their hearts so that they might seek cleansing. These messages, however, formed the place to build hope for the future nation of Israel and others as they sought God.

Application and Further Study

One can see the influence of God’s message in these chapters. Israel’s hope does not rest shortly for they will suffer God’s judgment. But in the distant future there is hope. At that point the remnant will again fall into God’s favor.

Chapters 1-6 are directed against a wealthy, greedy and materialistic society not very different than ours. Devotion to God was neglected. Other gods which better suited their lifestyle were adopted.

We are now living in a materialistic society. How are we facing the dangers of serving other gods? In what form do these gods take place?