Chris and Jodie’s grief is immeasurable. Their one-year-old daughter died. The depth of their pain is beyond words. But Jenna’s parents find strength from ancient words. “He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3, King James Version). God, who also lost a child, spoke through the prophet Isaiah about Jesus. Peter Kreeft said, “Jesus is there, sitting beside us in the lowest place in our lives. Are we broken? He was broken. Are we despised? He was despised and rejected by men. Do we cry out that we can’t take it any more? He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” Chris and Jodie said, “We may not fully understand why God allows us to suffer, but we can take comfort in the fact that he enters into our suffering with us.”

Isaiah lived 700 years before Christ. He wrote and spoke God’s words for the people of Judah. Yet Isaiah speaks to our needs today. Here are five themes from Isaiah that hold promises for us.

Paul House wrote, “Isaiah’s primary focal point is God’s holiness.” God’s holiness means he is unique; he is beyond us; he is different from us. Isaiah reveals a God who can change the course of history (v. 41, New International Version). He shows us a God who can lift up all who look to him (40:29-31). Isaiah calls him the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah’s countrymen were not the only ones who needed the Holy One. How many of these failings do you see today: Rejecting God’s message (30:12), insincere worship (1:12-15), turning to booze and sex instead of to the Lord (56:12; 57:8), depending on wealth and humans instead of on God (2:7)? These sins ruined Israel, and they ruin people still. But God’s holiness means there is hope.

Because God is beyond us and different from us, he is able to help us. “Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you” (41:10). Where you need God’s care in your life, he is able to help you. God’s holiness means there is hope for you.

Isaiah spent a lot of time warning about God’s judgment. “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil; Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes; For they have rejected the law of the Lord Almighty; Therefore the Lord’s anger burns against his people; his hand is raised and he strikes them down” (5:20, 21, 24, 25). Isaiah’s countrymen didn’t want to hear his warning. But they needed it so they would turn away from their sins.

God detested their idolatry. He mocked people who made an idol out of one part of a tree and burned the rest for heat (44:14-20). God also warned those who trusted in idols that they would go disgraced into exile (45:16). God was going to judge them.

My friend Uriah is a living example of Isaiah’s message. For Uriah, God’s judgment came as a prison sentence. Uriah grew up in our church. He knew better than to make drugs and sex his idols, but Uriah did not listen to the Lord. Like Isaiah warned, judgment came. In the state penitentiary, Uriah confessed he was paying the price for his sins. But this was not the end.

Throughout Isaiah, God’s judgment is not the final story. Even though we turn away from him, God will never forget us (49:15, 16). God’s judgment is discipline to lead us to repentance; he longs to be gracious to us (30:12-18). The Lord lives with the contrite to heal them (57:15-19).

My friend Uriah turned back to the Lord. When he left prison, Uriah got into a Bible study. He went to work on his life. Uriah met a wonderful woman. They married; now they have two beautiful children. The Holy One of Israel has restored Uriah’s life.

Isaiah introduces us to the Servant of the Lord. This Servant brings justice, opens blind eyes, and frees captives (42:1, 7). He brings people back to God (49:5, 6). God’s servant sustains the weary (50:4). Matthew said this servant is Jesus (Matthew 8:17; see also Luke 4:18).

At Christmas time, we read Isaiah’s words, “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). Matthew explained that Immanuel means God with us (Matthew 1:23). He promises, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you” (Isaiah 43:2).

You may have felt this Servant at work. Maybe you have been weary, but you kept going. Maybe you have gone through deep-water experiences, yet you were not overwhelmed. This is because of Immanuel, God with you. Recount what he has done for you already and look forward to God’s help in the future.

For Tim and Linda, Isaiah’s words are assurance. The curvature of Tim’s spine ended his career. No surgeon will touch him. This leaves the couple dependent upon Linda’s salary. Early in January, Linda’s office closed, putting all of the employees out of work. The future looked bleak. Nevertheless Tim testified, “I know better than to doubt the Lord. He has come through for us so many times.” On the second Sunday in February, Linda announced that she had been hired; God had provided a job. The whole congregation broke out in applause.

Jerusalem’s future looked bleak when Assyria invaded. Sennacherib’s army overran all the fortified cities of Judah. They surrounded Jerusalem and sent a letter to King Hezekiah. “Hezekiah received the letter . . . . Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed . . . ‘Give ear, O Lord, . . . listen to all the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God. Now
. . . deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God’” (37:14-17, 20).

Edward Young wrote, “The name Isaiah means ‘The Lord is the source of salvation.’ Isaiah exercised his prophetic ministry at a time in which it was of utmost importance to realize that salvation could not be obtained by reliance upon man but only from God himself.” Hezekiah realized this, and Isaiah 37 records God’s dramatic deliverance of his people.

God is faithful. No matter how dark the situation looks, God’s promises can be trusted. Like Hezekiah, we must lay our needs before the Lord. When we do, he hears us, “because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you” (49:7). Trust the Lord with your needs.

On May 31, 1792, William Carey spoke to a group of ministers. “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God!” Carey challenged the church leaders to spread the gospel around the world. An older preacher said, “Young man, sit down. When God pleases to convert the heathen, he will do it without your aid or mine.”

Carey sat down, but he was not deterred. Before the conference was over, the conferees agreed to form a Mission Society. One year later, William Carey left for India as the first of hundreds of missionaries. The text for William Carey’s world changing message was Isaiah 54.

Isaiah presents the Lord as an international God. Isaiah prophesies for the Lord against Babylon, Assyria, the Philistines, Moab, Damascus, Cush, Egypt, Edom, Arabia, Jerusalem, and Tyre. In the final chapter, God declares, “I . . . am about to come and gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see My glory” (66:18).

God is Lord over all people everywhere. This is good news for us. No matter what your nationality, the Lord is interested in you. No matter what your native language, God can hear your prayers. No matter where you live or travel, he is Lord in every land.

William Carey’s missionary conclusions grew out of Isaiah. Paul quotes Isaiah to show that God’s grace extends to all people. “Isaiah says, ‘The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him’” (Romans 15:12, quoting Isaiah 11:10). We have a story to tell to the nations, a story that reaches back to Isaiah and forward to the end of time.

Venture into Isaiah and come out blessed. You will find hope, encouragement, strength, reassurance, and vision. Isaiah is not just for Old Testament scholars and an occasional Christmas play. Chris and Jodie found help in Isaiah; they found the comfort of Christ’s presence. You too can find words of life and anticipation. Let this ancient prophet speak to you. Give Isaiah a try. |L

 Isaiah is rich with themes, messages, and history. Here are some resources to help you tap into Isaiah’s wealth.

Paul House explains Isaiah’s themes. He also shows how this book fits into God’s work of saving humanity. House summarizes units of material in Isaiah and connects them to larger themes within the book, within the Old Testament, and within the whole Bible.

This classic commentary covers the breadth of Isaiah—from Hebrew verb forms to scholarly interpretations to devotional application. Young provides verse by verse explanations along with special notes on specific topics.

James Smith explains the meaning of 73 Old Testament prophecies about Jesus. Sixteen of these prophecies come from Isaiah. Smith places each prophecy in its context, provides a fresh translation of the prophecy, and gives a full explanation of how to understand the prophecy.

Motyer’s introduction provides concise, clear, and common sense answers to questions about the authorship of Isaiah. This small commentary is filled with insights into Isaiah’s context, language, and themes.