Isaiah, Part 1: What You Need to Know Before You Read

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We're unpacking one of the most powerful books in the Bible—Isaiah, often called "the fifth gospel" for how clearly it points to Jesus Christ. This massive 66-chapter book is filled with tension between judgment and hope, contains some of the most quoted Old Testament passages, and features prophecies about Christ written centuries before his birth.

• Isaiah lived in 8th century BC during the reigns of Ahaz and Hezekiah, a time of spiritual decline
• The prophet likely came from a noble background with access to kings and familiarity with palace politics
• His calling vision in chapter 6 featured seraphim crying "Holy, holy, holy" before God's throne
• Isaiah contains 2,186 unique Hebrew words, the largest vocabulary of any biblical author
• The book is quoted over 65 times in the New Testament, more than any other prophet
• It contains clear prophecies about Christ including the virgin birth, his divine nature, and suffering
• Some of scripture's most beautiful invitations appear in Isaiah: "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow"
• Isaiah named King Cyrus 150 years before he was born

Sources: 

• Benware, P. N. (2004). Survey of the Old Testament (2nd ed.). Moody Publishers.
• Fee, G. D., & Stuart, D. (2002). How to read the Bible Book by Book: A Guided Tour. Zondervan.
• MacArthur, J. (Ed.). (2010). The MacArthur Study Bible (2nd ed.). Thomas Nelson.
• Ryken, P. G., & Ryken, L. (2007). ESV Literary Study Bible. Crossway.
• Willmington, H. L. (2009). What You Need to Know About the Book of Isaiah. Liberty University, Willmington School of the Bible. Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/will_know/52
• Zondervan Academic. (n.d.). Who was Isaiah? Retrieved from https://zondervanacademic.com

Related Episodes:

• Hosea: The Prophet of Relentless Love
• The Prophets: Messengers of God's Word in the Bible - Pt 2 (Re-airing)
• The Prophets: Messengers of God's Word in the Bible - Pt 1 (Re-Airing)

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Note: All scripture references are from the NIV translation unless otherwise indicated.

Episode Transcript

Jacqui (00:00):
Greetings listeners.
Today we're unpacking one ofthe most powerful and most
quoted books in the Bible thebook of Isaiah.
This book is filled withtension and beauty, judgment and
hope, poetry and prophecy, deepwarnings and soaring promises.

(00:22):
It's also one of the mostfrequently quoted Old Testament
books in the New Testament andthe book Jesus himself read from
when he announced his ministry.
Isaiah is often called thefifth gospel because of how
clearly it points to JesusChrist, and we'll see why.

(00:43):
But this book is so big 66chapters long so instead of
trying to cover it all in oneepisode, we're going to break it
up into parts.
Today we'll begin with thebackground who was Isaiah, what
was going on in his world andwhat was God's message?

(01:04):
Well, welcome everyone.
I'm your host, Jacqui Adewole,and this is the Bible Basics
Podcast, where weekly, we breakdown the Bible into
understandable, bite-sizedchunks.
Whether you're just beginningyour Bible journey or you're
returning to Isaiah for a deeperlook, you're in the right place

(01:27):
.
So let's set the scene Tounderstand God's message through
the prophet Isaiah.
We first need to understand hismoments in history.
Isaiah lived in the 8th centuryBC, a time marked by spiritual
decline, Ahaz and Hezekiah,covering at least 40 years.

(01:52):
During this time, Assyria wasrising as a dominant empire.

(02:17):
The northern kingdom of Israelwould fall to them in 722 BC,
and Judah, the southern kingdom,was not far behind, slowly
heading toward judgment at thehands of the nation of Babylon.
Hourly, the people were stillshowing up at the temple, but

(02:41):
spiritually they were drifting.
Their worship had become hollow, their leaders were corrupt,
justice was ignored, the poorwere neglected and idolatry was
everywhere.
And in the middle of this, Godcalled Isaiah.

(03:05):
Isaiah was more than a prophet.
He was likely a well-educatedman.
He seems to have come from afamily of some rank because he
had direct access to Judas Kings.
Some scholars believe he hadnoble blood or an official court
role.
He was certainly familiar withpalace politics and that shows

(03:29):
throughout his writings.
Isaiah was married to aprophetess and together they had
two sons with symbolic names.
Shir Jashub was the oldest,meaning a remnant shall return.
We see that in chapter 7, verse3 of Isaiah and Maher Shalah

(03:53):
Hashbaz.
The next child, meaning quickto the spoil.
That's found in chapter 8,verse 3.
Even Isaiah's name, which meansthe Lord is salvation, reflects
the heart of his message.
It shares a root with othernames like Joshua, hosea, elisha

(04:17):
and Jesus.
Isaiah is quoted directly in theNew Testament over 65 times,
far more than any other prophet.
He's mentioned by name over 20times.
His writing is brilliant.
His vocabulary is the mostexpansive of any biblical author

(04:39):
, Though his book is only thesixth or seventh longest in
terms of word count.
It includes 2,186 unique Hebrewwords, more than Psalms or even
Jeremiah, the longest book.
His imagery is vivid.

(05:00):
Through Isaiah, the Lord callsJudah and her kings by the names
of sinful cities, like rulersof Sodom, people of Gomorrah we
see that in chapter 1, verse 10,and compares the nation to a
vineyard which God cultivatedbut did not bear fruit.

(05:23):
We see that in chapter 5.
Now let's talk about hiscalling, and we see that in
chapter 6.
Isaiah's ministry began around740 BC, the year King Uzziah
died.
That's in chapter 6, verse 1.
That's when Isaiah saw a visionthat changed everything.

(05:46):
He saw God seated on his throne, high and exalted Angels
identified as seraphim, a namefound only here in scripture.
They called out to each other.
They called out to each other.

(06:09):
That's chapter 6, verse 3.
Isaiah was undone.
This vision of God's holinessvividly reminded the prophet of
his own unworthiness.
He confessed his sin and thesin of his people.
And God forgave him, purifiedhis lips and then asked Whom

(06:35):
shall I send and who will go forus?
And Isaiah replies here I am,send me.
That's chapter 6, verse 8.
But Isaiah's mission wouldn'tbe easy.
God told him the people wouldbe hardened.
They would hear but notunderstand.

(06:56):
That's chapter 6, verses 9 and10.
Still, isaiah had to speak.
So what makes the book of Isaiahspecial?
Well, to start with, the bookof Isaiah is massive 1,292

(07:22):
verses.
Because of its length and depthit's been called quote all in

(07:44):
one sweeping, spirit-inspiredbook.
When we piece together Isaiah'svisions and messages, we see
the fall of the human race tosin, the continuing rebellion
and injustice of people, god'srighteous judgment, but also his
mercy, the promise of a Saviorwho would bear our sin and,

(08:11):
finally, a vision of a newheaven and a new earth where sin
is gone and God's people aremade whole.
In addition, the book'sinfluence stretches far beyond
its time.
Isaiah appears at three keymoments in the New Testament.
First, in a synagogue whereJesus reads Isaiah 61 and says

(08:37):
Today this is fulfilled.
That's Luke 4, 16 through 21.
And then in the desert by anEthiopian eunuch who reads
Isaiah 53 and is led to faith.
That's Acts, chapter 8, verses27 to 35.

(08:59):
To 35.
And in a prison, when Paulquotes Isaiah, chapter 6, to
explain why some reject thegospel, we see that in Acts,
chapter 28, verses 24 to 27.
Before we move into some finalhighlights, we can't miss one of

(09:23):
the most beautiful features ofthis book God's bold and tender
invitations to salvation.
The book of Isaiah includessome of the clearest and most
heartfelt appeals from God tohis people.
Chapter 1, verse 18 says comenow and let us reason together.

(09:49):
Though your sins are likescarlet, they shall be white as
snow.
And then there's chapter 45,verse 22.
Look to me and be saved all theends of the earth, for I am God
and there is no other.

(10:10):
And then there's chapter 55,verse 1, which reads come, all
you who are thirsty, come, buywine and milk, without money and
without cost.
These are not just poetic lines, they are timeless appeals

(10:33):
spoken straight from the heartof God to a rebellious people
still loved by God.
Loved by God.
Okay, but we're not done yet.
The book of Isaiah also gives ussome of the Bible's most
prophetic previews.
It predicts both the virginbirth and Jesus's divine nature

(10:56):
fully God and fully man.
We see that in chapter 7, verseverse 14, and chapter 9, verse
6.
It describes Satan's fall inchapter 14, verses 12 through 15
, as does the book of Ezekiel.
We see that in Ezekiel 28, 12through 17.

(11:16):
It foretells the ministry ofJohn the Baptist in chapter 40,
verses 3 through 5, and it givesus a clear statement of the
Trinity God, the Father, Son andHoly Spirit, in chapter 48,
verse 16.
And it names King Cyrus, 150years before he was born.

(11:41):
We see that in chapter 44,verse 28, through chapter 45,
verse 1.
And Isaiah wasn't the only voicein his day.
He ministered during the sameperiod as Hosea and Micah, who
also warned God's people.

(12:03):
But the Lord's message throughIsaiah carries with it a weight
and power that's unmatched,especially in how he clearly
points to the coming Messiah.
Links to episodes on otherprophets are in the show notes.
So, in closing, the book ofIsaiah isn't just long, it's

(12:31):
deep.
It speaks of judgment, yes, butit also overflows with hope.
Isaiah shows us a holy God whois grieved by sin but gracious
to the sinner, a God who warnsand invites, a God who warns and

(12:51):
invites, a God who promised aSavior who came, died and rose
for us that we too, might hearhis call and come.
It's not just a story forancient Judah, it's a message
for every generation, includingours.

(13:23):
Do you feel far from God?
Do you long for a clean slate?
Do you wonder if God's mercy isstill calling?
The invitation to forgivenessand restoration through Jesus is
real and it's personal.
If you're curious about what itmeans to follow Jesus or you're

(13:45):
ready to respond to God'sinvitation today, I encourage
you to reach out.
You can email me at info atbible-basicsorg.
You can talk to a trustedChristian that you know, or you
can visit a Bible-believingchurch near you near you.

(14:16):
In our next episode we'll stepinto that promise even more
clearly as we explore the Easterstory.
Through the Old Testamentprophecies, we'll see how Isaiah
, Jonah and the Psalms allpointed centuries in advance to
the suffering, death andresurrection of Jesus.
So if you've ever wondered howEaster, also referred to as
Resurrection Sunday, fits intothe whole Bible, not just the

(14:40):
New Testament, you won't want tomiss it, and we'll follow up
the episode by getting back tothe book of Isaiah.
Until then, keep reading, keepseeking and keep growing in your
faith so that we spread God'sword further.
Please share, like, follow,comment and subscribe.