“The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.”
Isaiah 1:1 ESV
Through the Bible: Isaiah 1-4
Isaiah has been called “the Bible in miniature” because of a fascinating quirk of its chapter divisions:
- Its 66 chapters correspond to the 66 books of the Bible.
- The Old Testament has 39 books. Much of the Old Testament deals with God’s judgment on Israel for sin. Similarly, the first 39 chapters deal primarily with God’s judgment and punishment for sin.
- The New Testament has 27 books. The gospels tell the story of Jesus; beginning with John the Baptist. And the last 27 chapters of Isaiah deal with the coming Messiah, and God’s restoration of all things.
Chapter 40 of Isaiah corresponds to the beginning of the New Testament. (Matthew is the 40th book of the Bible). However, Mark was the first gospel to be written. So notice how Mark, the first gospel writer, quotes Isaiah 40 when he describes John the Baptist.
“the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’”” Mark 1:3 ESV
“A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Isaiah 40:3 ESV
We know that chapter divisions weren’t introduced to the Hebrew Bible until 1448, so this has to be a coincidence. But it’s a really, really cool coincidence!
You can remember the overall theme of Isaiah with the phrase “Groans and Glory.” Chapters 1-39, groans. Chapters 40-66, glory.
Throughout Isaiah, there is a tension between toughness and tenderness. In Isaiah 1:10-14 God is furious with the people of Judah. He actually tells them it’s gotten to the point that even when they worship and pray, God is disgusted by it.
“Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations— I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.”
Isaiah 1:13-15 ESV
Judah’s “worship” had devolved into empty ritual. The festivals had basically just become an excuse to party. Even though they were fulfilling the requirement of the law, they weren’t honoring God. Therefore, God told them He would refuse to listen to them, no matter how many prayers they had prayed. That is tough.
But now, hear the tenderness. Verse 18 changes tone:
18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool.
The same God who had refused to listen to His children now bids them come to Him. Charles Spurgeon put it this way:
How condescending it is for the Most High to be willing for us to have a discussion with him! He seems to say to us, ‘Come, my friend, you and I are not agreed. Something in your mind keeps you from yielding to my love. i mean you no hurt. Come and keep nothing back from me. Come and tell me about the matter.’
How graciously the Lord stoops down to us in saying, ‘Come, let us discuss this.’
When we respond to God’s gracious invitation, He takes our scarlet sins and makes them white as snow. He doesn’t deny our guilt. He removes it.
All we have to do is respond to his invitation.
Come.
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