To their own question, What nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them? the Gentiles would answer, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people (Deuteronomy 4:7, 6). In a mysterious way known only to God the prophets words were sometimes intended to meet their fulfillment in the then far-distant future. Isaiah prophesied in the reigns of the following kings. 2 Kings 20:1-11 At about that time (in reality, some ten years earlier), King Hezekiah of Judah had fallen ill, but the prophet Isaiah had healed the kings boils with a poultice of figs. However, 2 Kings 14:25 states that Jonah also pronounced a prophecy concerning the expansion of Israel that was fulfilled by Jeroboam II. Several of the prophets messages are dated exactly, and the last of these dated prophetic messages was received in the 27th year of Ezekiels captivity (chapter 29:17), 571/70. Following this line of interpretation, some have gone to the extreme of proposing a Christian migration to Palestine. Gods call to the nations would have been, Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth (Isaiah 45:22). Galatians 5:19-23), and because of this failure to bear the fruit expected of them, forfeited their role in the divine plan (see Romans 11:20). Isaiahs whole ministry from Uzziah to Manasseh must therefore have lasted more than half a century. of Any nation and kingdom that would not serve Israel was to perish chapter (60:12). Continuing faithfully under the following three kings, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (chapter 1:1), he seems to have been fiercely hated by Manasseh, Hezekiahs wicked son. This concept of the role of Israel is reiterated again and again throughout the Old Testament. When the probationary period of 490 years ended, the nation was still obdurate and impenitent, and as a result forfeited its privileged role as His representative on earth. They were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come (1 Corinthians 10:11). Most of them left chronological data by which the duration of their ministry can be determined, at least approximately. It is not known whether Malachi is the name of the author or simply the title of an otherwise anonymous author, since Malachi means my messenger. If it is the latter, his is the only anonymous work among the prophetic books of the Old Testament. How many times did Isaiah prophesy about Jesus? - Quora However, the chronological data given by Micah are against such an identification and show that a century or more lies between the two men. To the very last, Christ would have averted the doom of the Jewish nation if the people had received Him. Malachi 3:12), and their God the only true God (Isaiah 45:14). Isaiah prophesies the destruction of Judah. While not much is known of Isaiah apart from this book, some scholars believe that Hosea and Micah were his contemporaries. Purpose of Writing: The Prophet Isaiah was primarily called to prophesy to the Kingdom [60] According to that version Isaiah, fearing King Manasseh, hid himself in a cedar-tree, but his presence was betrayed by the fringes of his garment, and King Manasseh caused the tree to be sawn in half. Isaiah speaks a series of prophecies, calling out the sins of Gods people who were steeped in rebellion. Isaiah's prophecies on the future glory of Israel are as eloquent as they are inspiring: "Comfort ye, comfort ye My people, saith your Gd. Does Isaiah 7:14 Superior intellect. [49], While Isaiah, says the Midrash, was walking up and down in his study he heard God saying "Whom shall I send?" Many years later, in writing to the strangers, or Gentiles (1 Peter 1:1: see on Exodus 12:19, 43), as the elect of God (1 Peter 1:2), Peter refers to them as the chosen ones of God, a holy nation, a peculiar people (chapter 2:9), formerly not a people, but now the people of God (verse 10). Thus, Isaiah may have prophesied for as long as 64 years. How long did Isaiah prophesy? - Answers [36] The Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants also quote Isaiah more than any other prophet from the Old Testament. God entered into solemn covenant relationship with him (Genesis 15:18; 17:2-7), and his posterity, Israel, inherited the sacred trust of being Gods chosen representatives on earth (Hebrews 11:9) for the salvation of the entire human race. He played an important role during two momentous periods: (1) under Ahaz, during the war between Syria and Israel (chapters 7-11), and (2) under Hezekiah, during a siege of Jerusalem by Sennacherib chapters 36; 37). However, it is possible that some of his undated prophecies were given at a later time. Had Israel measured up to the noble ideal, all of the promises contingent upon obedience would long since have been fulfilled. Pride obscured their vision [see Luke 19:42]. The first, Uzziah, reigned from around 783 BC to 742 BC. "[19], Soon after this, Shalmaneser V determined to subdue the kingdom of Israel, taking over and destroying Samaria (722 BC). Enigmatic is his statement that this 5th year of captivity was also the thirtieth year. It is believed that the prophet refers either to his own age or to that year as the 30th year reckoned from the reform which took place during the 18th year of Josiah. It is impossible to date the devastating plague of locusts that the prophet so vividly describes and compares with the terrors of the coming day of judgment. Micah states that his ministry fell in the time of the kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (chapter 1:1). One royal visitor to Jerusalem exclaimed, The half was not told me! (1 Kings 10:1-9). God provided Israel with every facility for becoming the greatest nation on the earth. A less-well-defined school of interpretation bases its approach to the prophetic portions of the Old Testament on the theory that the prophet, while bearing messages to the people of his day, also took occasional excursions into the distant future, with the result that many of his forecasts did not apply to literal Israel at all, but were intended exclusively for Israel after the spirit, that is, for the church today. But because of apostasy it was the predictions of national honor and glory that could not be fulfilled. Furthermore, the fact that the people of Tyre and Sidon do not appear as hostile nations of Judah until the last decades of its history, while they are mentioned by Joel as Judahs enemies, seems also to point to a late date for the prophets ministry. [35], The Book of Mormon quotes Jesus Christ as stating that "great are the words of Isaiah", and that all things prophesied by Isaiah have been and will be fulfilled. [21] The king of Assyria threatened the king of Judah, and at length invaded the land. They eagerly sought the power of His kingdom, but were unwilling to be guided by its principles. The completeness and finality of this rejection is evident from chapter 8:19, 20: As the nations which the Lord destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the Lord your God. The rejection of Jesus by the leaders of Israel (cf. Unparalleled prosperity. This is because weve already read five chapters of prophecies and judgments, when Isaiah then begins to speak of his call and commission. The consecutive order of the book of Haggai would indicate that his whole recorded ministry lasted not longer than 31/2 months, beginning (chapter 1:1) on August 29, 520 B.C., and extending, in his last two recorded speeches (chapter 2:10, 20), to December 18, 520. It is thought, furthermore, that his ministry fell in the years when the high priest Jehoiada acted as regent for the child king Joash (2 Kings 11:17 to 12:2), which fact would explain why the king is not mentioned anywhere in the book, while at the same time the Temple service flourished. Threatened by the bleak predictions of the prophet, Menashe the king of Judah murdered Isaiah his own grandfather. We find in Isaiah one of the powerful verses in Scripture. However, he is again found playing a role on the night of Babylons fall, as interpreter of the mysterious handwriting on the wall (chapter 5). 2. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. This Upper Egyptian capital city, better known by its Greek name Thebes, was destroyed by King Ashurbanipal in 663 B.C., a date that provides the upper time limit of Nahums prophecy. The prophets thus provided a firm foundation for the faith of the apostolic church and made a direct and vital contribution to the Christian faith. His call came to him sometime in October/November, 520 B.C., in the same year as Haggais first appearance (chapter 1:1). Furthermore, the repeated mention of Judahs wickedness, described as enormous in his day (see chapters 1:4-6, 8, 9, 12; 3:1-3, 7), points to the time before Josiahs reform, which began in 623/22. WebDuring the evil reign of Ahaz, Isaiah had faced the sinful people and pleaded with them to return to Gd. Jeremiah 12:14-16). the kings reigns mentioned. (This rule does not apply to those portions of the book of Daniel that the prophet was bidden to shut up and seal, or to other passages whose application Inspiration may have limited exclusively to our own time.). God placed His people in Palestine, the crossroads of the ancient world, and provided them with every facility for becoming the greatest nation on the face of the earth. The gates of Jerusalem would be open continually to receive the wealth contributed to Israel for the conversion of still other nations and peoples (Isaiah 60:1-11, RSV; Psalms 72:10; Isaiah 45:14; Haggai 2:7, RSV). [59], A somewhat different version of this legend is given in the Jerusalem Talmud. Isaiah prophesies the destruction of Judah Isaiah Prophecies the Birth of Christ In an age when every wind of doctrine is blowing it is well to make certain that our understanding of Bible prophecy rests upon a positive Thus saith the Lord (see Deuteronomy 29:29; Isaiah 50:11; Jeremiah 2:13; Matthew 7:24-28; 1 Corinthians 2:4, 5, 12, 13; Eph. Date of Writing: The book of Isaiah was written between 739 and 681 B.C. In so doing we shall be secure against the fanciful explanations sometimes given certain Old Testament prophecies. Once again, the book of Isaiah is all about Jesus, more than any other book in the Old Testament. King Cyrus of Persia would one day make it possible for the Jews to return home from their exile in Babylon (see the book of Ezra ). Isaiah , also known as Isaias, was the 8th-century BC Israelite prophet after whom the Book of Isaiah is named. Upon His final departure from the sacred precincts of the Temple, Jesus said, Your house is left unto you desolate (Matthew 23:38). In the endeavor to account for this seeming enigma, Bible expositors have set forth various explanations: 1. Related articlesWhat Does Isaiah 66:13 Mean by As a Mother Comforts Her Child, So Will I Comfort You?Who Was Isaiah and Why Is He Important?What is the New Heavens and New Earth Mentioned in Isaiah and Revelation? Bianquis, C. E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel, W. P. Heinrichs. Isaiah predicted this great event, even mentioning Cyrus by name ( Isa. The glorious promises originally made to literal Israel are meeting their fulfillment today in the proclamation of the gospel to all men (Revelation 14:6, 7). The blessings of health. There is a similar prophecy in Malachi 3:1-5, that also is viewed as being a prophecy about a forerunner, a messenger , who would prepare the way for When Isaiah said "I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips",[51] he was rebuked by God for speaking in such terms of His people. He then uttered the tetragrammaton, a cedar-tree opened, and Isaiah disappeared within it. Their own characters were to be progressively ennobled and elevated, and to reflect more and more perfectly the attributes of the perfect character of God (Deuteronomy 4:9; 28:1, 13, 14; 30:9, 10). Spiritual Israel includes both Jews and Gentiles (verse 24). He should not be confused with Micaiah, the son of Imlah, a prophet of Israel in Ahabs time (9th century B.C.). The plan itself never changes because God never changes. Then came a pause in his activity of almost two years, at the end of which Zechariah received another divine message, on December 6, 518 (chapter 7:1), recorded in chapters 7 and 8. What is poor man and the rich man declamation about? It is ever the privilege of those who witness the fulfillment of prophecy to remember and believe (John 13:19; 14:29; John 16:4). Hosea 2:6-13). They rejected the Light of the world, and henceforth their lives were surrounded with darkness as the darkness of midnight. We should never forget that whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for the learning of future generations to the end of time, to inspire patience, comfort, and hope (Romans 15:4). [22] But after a brief interval, war broke out again. But you have to understand when the apologist states "prophecy" fulfilled it is very biased. We shall be protected against the grossly literal explanation of some expositors concerning the return of literal Israel to literal Palestine to rule the world for a thousand years prior to the close of human probation, and also against other equally unscriptural interpretations that propose to apply allegorically to the church all the details of the promises originally made to literal Israel. Nation after nation would come over (Isaiah 45:14), that is, be joined with and cleave to the house of Jacob (chapter 14:1). The Rabbi responds "No, I do not deny it."[47]. He will listen to the prophet speaking to Israel of old and endeavor to understand what his words meant to the people who originally heard them. Superior craftsmanship. [32] The Gospel of John says that Isaiah "saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him. Formal worship took the place of sincere religion (cf. A date, possibly about 630 B.C., but before the Chaldeans had become a power of some importance, would seem most appropriate for the period of Habakkuks prophetic activity. Was he talking about something in his day, or was he speaking of the birth of Jesus? The prophet Hosea was a citizen of the northern kingdom of Israel, whose ruler, Jeroboam II, is called by the prophet, our king (chapters 1:1; 7:5). The promises and threatenings of God are alike conditional. Thereafter, God let out his vineyard [see Isaiah 5:1-7] unto other husbandmen who would render him the fruits in their seasons (see on Matthew 21:41). Discover what application later inspired writers make of the prophecy, and on this basis determine its possible significance for Gods people in this time. Ninevehs destruction, which came in 612, is referred to as a future event, indicating that Zephaniahs work preceded this date. Nehemiah 13:10-12; Malachi 2:11-16; cf. Finally, it was demonstrated before the universe that, apart from God, humanity could not be uplifted, and that a new element of life and power must be imparted by Him who made the world. Relating to Isaiah's prophecy and the modern state [13][17] They had two sons, naming the elder Shear-jashub, meaning "A remnant shall return",[18] and the younger Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, meaning, "Quickly to spoils, plunder speedily. All rights reserved. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently; He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high (Isaiah 52:13). Psalms 68:31. What Does Isaiah 66:13 Mean by As a Mother Comforts Her Child, So Will I Comfort You?. Partial compliance on their part with the will of God made possible a partial fulfillment of the covenant promises on Gods part. Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. They have forsaken the LORD; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him. Numbers 14:26-34. Accordingly, Abraham became in a special sense the Friend of God (James 2:23) and the father of all them that believe (Romans 4:11). The time and manner of his death are not specified in either the Bible or other primary sources. The Jewish Encyclopedia. Isaiah 65:17. Hence, the year 603 can be considered as the beginning of Daniels ministry as a prophet. Unfortunately, Nehemiahs second term as governor cannot be dated, which fact makes it also somewhat difficult to date Malachi. Make time in your busy life to read the book of Isaiah; you will be blessed by it.
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