…Isaiah

His name means: “The Lord Has Saved”

His work: An eighth-century BC prophet, Isaiah’s message was primarily directed toward Judah and Jerusalem, warning God’s people of coming judgment on their sins.

His character: He was a learned man of principle and integrity and of deep humility.

His sorrow: Isaiah was grieved that God’s people were unwilling to repent.

His triumph: Isaiah had a vision of God that profoundly shaped his long prophetic ministry.

Key Scriptures: Isaiah 6

A Look at the Man

The people noticed the difference in Isaiah. Rumor had spread that he had seen a vision in the temple that day. No one knew exactly what-or whom-he had seen, but whatever had happened, Isaiah was a changed man.

What Isaiah had experienced in the temple was one of history’s most profound commissioning ceremonies, and because of its power, Isaiah’s course was changed like a flood tearing down a riverbank.

Isaiah had grown up on the right side of the tracks. His family was from the royal tribe of Judah. His pedigree and command of the language marked his stature and his message. After the vision in the temple, for almost sixty years his assignment included ministry in the courts of the kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. So naturally Isaiah might have been tempted to place himself above the people to whom he preached. But because of the temple visitation, the preacher never forgot that he too was counted among the sinners. Just because he had been gifted and called to deliver God’s message didn’t excuse him from the need for repentance.

Isaiah had witnessed something very few mortals have seen before his time or since. He was allowed the privilege of seeing a glimpse of God’s glory. The experience tore away any shroud of pride that may have covered him, replacing it with a sense of wonder and humility. It was as though the living God was saying to the prophet, “Don’t forget who you’re talking about, Isaiah. Never forget whom you serve.”

And there was the searing heat of the burning ember. Why couldn’t God have just told me of my forgiveness? Why the coal? Why this pain? Isaiah must have wondered over the succeeding weeks as the scabs on his lips slowly healed. But God had a purpose in this, too. He wanted Isaiah to remember the pain of repentance, the agony of confession. And he touched the part of Isaiah’s body that he was using to represent the Holy One of Israel: his mouth. No doubt it was several weeks, perhaps months, before Isaiah could speak without physical pain. God’s mission had been perfectly accomplished.

And now Isaiah’s message of the people’s sinfulness included the promise of redemption in the coming of the Savior: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given├ö├ç┬¬. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

The sparkle in Isaiah’s eyes didn’t come from a strident preacher who delighted in shouting condemnation, but in the words of deliverance through the Son of God who would come to save the people from their sins-including the sins of the woeful prophet.

Reflect On:Isaiah 25:1ÔÇô5

Praise God: For his sovereignty and power, for his mercy and his grace.

Offer Thanks: For calling us to repentance and for providing a Savior.

Confess: Our casual attitude about being in his holy presence in worship and our cavalier attitude about our own sin.

Ask God: To give you a glimpse of his glory-an understanding of what Isaiah must have experienced that day in the temple. Tell him that you're willing to be sent, to be his ambassador, his mouthpiece.

…“What should we learn from the life of Isaiah?”……Isaiah, whose name means "Yahweh is salvation," is best known for writing the book that bears his name in the Old Testament. His writings are especially significant for the prophecies he made about the coming Messiah, hundreds of years before Jesus was born (Isaiah 7:149:1-7, 11:2-453:4-7, 9, 12). Matthew quotes Isaiah when describing John the Baptist's ministry (Matthew 3:3Isaiah 40:3), and when Jesus moved to Galilee to start His ministry, Isaiah's prophecy was fulfilled (Matthew 4:13-16Isaiah 9:1-2). Jesus quotes Isaiah's prophecy when speaking in parables (Isaiah 6:9Matthew 13:14-15), and the apostle Paul also makes reference to the same prophecy when he is in Rome (Acts 28:26-27). When Jesus reads from Isaiah (Isaiah 61:1-2) in the synagogue at Nazareth, He amazes many of the Jews by claiming the prophecy is fulfilled in Him (Luke 4:16-21). It is also interesting to note that the Gospels quote more from Isaiah's writings than from any other of the Old Testament prophets. ……Little is written about Isaiah the man. We know that he was the son of Amoz and that he married and had sons of his own (Isaiah 1:17:38:3). Though Isaiah's recognition as a great prophet is indicated in the books of the Kings and Chronicles, it is also probable that he was a priest, as his calling from God took place in the temple (Isaiah 6:4), an area reserved only for priests. The anointing he receives at his calling is similar to that of the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:9Isaiah 6:7). ……Along with his contemporary, the prophet Micah, Isaiah served the southern kingdom of Judah under the reigns of four kings. At the time of Isaiah's ministry, Judah was a sinful and unjust nation. Nevertheless, Isaiah believed that Judah was God's chosen nation and they would be vindicated by God. With support from Micah and the godly King Hezekiah, their enemies were held at bay and a revival swept through the nation of Judah (2 Kings 19:32-362 Chronicles 32:20-23). Many commentators describe Isaiah as Judah's evangelist because he worked tirelessly to turn the people back to God. ……There were many highs and lows in Isaiah's life. His faithfulness to God was rewarded with some amazing miracles. In answer to Isaiah's prayer, God moved the sun back ten steps as a sign to King Hezekiah that God would add a further 15 years to Hezekiah's life (2 Kings 20:8-112 Chronicles 32:24). Yet Isaiah spent three years stripped naked and barefoot, in obedience to God, as a "sign and wonder" against the Egyptians (Isaiah 20:2-4). His contemporary, Micah, did likewise (Micah 1:8), though it doesn't say for how long.……It is in examining a man's heart that we can learn what kind of a man he is, and Jesus said it is from the overflow of a man's heart that he speaks (Matthew 12:34). It is from Isaiah's writings that we learn of his unswerving faithfulness and his complete humility before God. He also had great respect from King Hezekiah's court and his peers, which was evident in times of crisis. Some of the world's greatest art works, music and poetry have come from men who walked closely with God, and we can count Isaiah among them. His grasp of the Hebrew language has been likened to that of Shakespeare's English, as we read in Isaiah some of the most beautiful writings in the Bible. Though the book of Isaiah was written over 2,500 years ago, it is well worth reading through the entire book, because in it we see much wisdom that still applies to our Christian lives today.……It appears that Isaiah was a very private man. When we meet some of today's renowned speakers face to face, we may be disappointed to find they appear somewhat aloof. However, as with Isaiah, we can learn that their ministry is all about pointing people to God, not to themselves. And despite his reticence, Isaiah's prominence is in the effect his ministry had on the people. In these last days, we need to make every word we speak count for the kingdom. And from Isaiah's lifestyle we learn that, when God accomplishes a part of His plan through us, we must ensure that all the glory goes to Him. ……In addition, it appears Isaiah's ministry was characterized by closeness with other godly men, like Micah and King Hezekiah. Going it alone can often leave us vulnerable, but when we are united by God's Holy Spirit to other members of the body of Christ through fellowship and prayer, our ministry is more effective by virtue of the protection others provide.