Isaiah worked to reform social and political evils. He berated
soothsayers (fortune-tellers) and denounced wealthy, influential
people who ignored the responsibilities that come with wealth. He
exhorted the common people to obedience, and rebuked kings for
their sin.
Isaiah’s writings express his deep awareness of God’s majesty and
holiness. The prophet denounced not only Canaanite idolatry but
also his own people’s religious worship, when this was insincere
(Isaiah 1:10-17; Isaiah 29:13). He prophesied that the idolatrous
Judeans would soon be judged, declaring that only a righteous few
would survive (Isaiah 6:13).
Isaiah also foretold the coming of the Messiah, the “peaceful
prince,” and the ruler of God’s kingdom-Jesus Christ (Isaiah 11:1-
11; see also Isaiah 9:6-7). He depicted this Messiah as a suffering,
obedient servant (Isaiah 53:3-12). Isaiah’s images and metaphors
were grand and powerful; his imagination produced forceful,
brilliant figures of speech.
Isaiah prophesied during the last three decades of the northern
kingdom of Israel, but because he lived in Jerusalem, in Judah, he
rarely talked directly about Israel. When that kingdom fell, Judah
lay open to conquest by Assyria. Isaiah advised King Ahaz to avoid
getting entangled with foreign countries, and to depend on God to
protect his people. Ahaz ignored this advice.
It was Hezekiah, Ahaz’s pious son, who tried to remove Judah
from this dangerous situation. When the Assyrians under
Sennacherib approached Jerusalem, Isaiah inspired Hezekiah and
the Judeans to rely on the Lord for the city’s defense, and “the
angel of the Lord” destroyed Sennacherib’s army (Isaiah 37:36-
38), giving Hezekiah and the Judeans a short period of peace.
|
|
