Isaiah could be the most important, but least studied, book in the Bible for Christians.
Isaiah is the source of nearly a quarter of the Old Testament quotations and allusions in the New Testament, more than any other book (although The Psalms might argue its case!)
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul, and Jesus quoted from Isaiah’s prophecies more than all the other prophets put together.
More than half of the chapters of Isaiah are represented in NT writings.
What’s more, fully 90% of the New Testament’s 260 chapters quote from Isaiah’s writings.
It’s that important!
The reason why so much attention is paid in the New Testament to Isaiah becomes clear pretty quickly:
because in Isaiah you have a vision of the person & work of the Messiah, who we know to be Jesus.
In Isaiah you have the prediction of Messiah’s birth, in the much-quoted-at-Christmas chapters 7&9:
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isa 7:14)
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…” (Isa 9:6)
Then you have the prediction of Messiah’s suffering and death, in the much-quoted-at-Easter chapters 52&53:
“But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed” (Isa 53:5)
And of course you also have the many pictures of Messiah’s return, and resulting Kingdom of God on earth, like Isa 25&65:
“On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples
a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine…
He will swallow up death forever;
and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces” (Isa 25:6-8)
“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth…” (Isa 65:17)
It’s no wonder the New Testament relies so much on Isaiah!
As we get to know this majestic prophecy, we will be getting to know Jesus the Messiah better, and ultimately learning to trust God.
Urgent warnings, breathless encouragements.
A vision of a Sovereign Holy God, and a Suffering Saving Messiah.
Total trust in God, rugged faith amidst crisis.
This is the Message of Isaiah.
additional resources
For a free online commentary, see Ray Ortlund’s commentary on The Gospel Coalition’s website.
SERIES TEACHINGS
Part 1: Introducing Isaiah
The series begins with an introduction to Isaiah as a person and as a book, this is swiftly followed by Isaiah's dramatic revelation of the extent of the brokeness of the world as he reveals what the Lord has said and adds his own commentary.
Part 2: Empty Worship
Isaiah gets into the heart of chapter 1 with a series of scathing rebukes to the Israelites over their rituals, practices and religiousity that has grown rampant within those times. Richard delves further in to understand how this applies to our worship and seeking a pure heart and true worship that is sweet to the Lord.
Part 3: Societal Ruin, Sovereign Redemption
Zwai launches deeper into Isaiah as we question how the Lord would react to the state of our nation and our world in the midst of crime, injustice and oppression. Zwai goes on to further analyse the damage sin does to us and how we are decayed by sin and doomed by our stubborness, but we find hope in the restoration offered through salvation.
Part 4: Walking in the Light of the Lord
Richard covers the entirety of chapter 2 in his sermon as he looks at the call to walk in the light of the Lord and the impact that doing so will have on the world, a world that will lay weapons aside for farming implements in a global peace looking to the heights of the throne of God.