The Book of Isaiah (2020 Edition) (eBook)

ISAIAH

THE VISION

1Here is the visiona that Isaiah,b the son of Amoz, received by divine revelation concerning what was going to happen to Judah and Jerusalem during the times of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.c

A Nation in Rebellion

2Listen, O heavens! Hear,d O earth!

For the Lord Yahweh has spoken:e

“I tenderly nurtured children and made them great,f

but they have rebelledg against me!

3Even a dumb ox instinctively knows its owner

and the stubborn mule knows the hand that feeds it,h

but Israel does not know mei

nor do my people understand.”j

Isaiah’s Indictment

4Oh,k how this nation keeps sinning!

See them dragging the heavy burden of their guilt!

They are corrupt children, descendants of evildoers.

They have turned their backs on the Lord God

and despised the Holy One of Israel!l

They have cut themselves off from the help of God!m

5Why would you seek to be injured further?

Why would you stubbornly continue in your rebellion?n

Your whole head is sick,o

and your heart and your will are weak and faint.

6You are corrupt from the bottom of your feet

to the top of your head. There is no integrityp—

nothing but bruises, putrefying sores, and raw open wounds!

They have not been drained or bandaged or soothed with oil.q

7Your country is devastated

and your cities burned to the ground;r

foreigners plunder your crops before your eyes—

with nothing but devastation and destruction in their wake!s

8And the daughter of Ziont is left as helpless as

a deserted shack in a vineyard or

a flimsy shelter in a field of cucumbers—

in every way like a city besieged!u

Judah under King Sennacherib. See Isa. 36–

9If the Lord of Angel Armiesv had not left us survivors,

our fate would have been the same as Sodom and Gomorrah!w

Justice, Not Hypocritical Worship

10Hear the word of Yahweh:x

“You leaders of Sodom, heed the correctiony of our

God!

People of Gomorrah, you’d better listen to his rebuke.”

11And Yahweh keeps saying:

“Why such countless sacrifices—what use are they to me?

I’ve had my fill of your burnt offerings of rams and your fattened animals.z

I find no delight in the blood of bulls, lambs, or goats!

12When you come before my face,

who asked you to come trampling on my courtyards?

13Stop bringing your meaningless offerings.aa

Your burning incense stinks!

Your sin-stained celebrations,ab

your new moon festivals, Sabbaths,

your various pious meetings—I can’t stand them!

14With all my soulac I hate

your new moon festivals and your feasts;ad

they are nothing but a burden

that I’m sick and tired of carrying.

15When you stretch out your hands to pray,

I will hide my eyes from you.ae

Repeat your prayers all you want, but I will not listen,

for your hands are stained with innocent blood.

16Wash yourselves and make yourselves clean.

Remove your evil actions from my sight

and stop sinning!af

17Learn what it means to do what is good

by seeking righteousness and justice!

Rescue the oppressed.ag Uphold the rights of the fatherless

and defend the widow’s cause.ah

18Come now and let’s deliberate over the next steps to take together.”ai

Yahweh promises you over and over:aj

“Though your sins stain you like scarlet,ak

I will whiten them like bright, new-fallen snow!

Even though they are deep red like crimson,al

they will be made white like wool!am

19If you have a willing heart to let me help you,

and if you will obey me, you will feast on the blessings

of an abundant harvest.an

20But if you are stubborn and refuse to obey,

the sword will eat you instead.”ao

The mouth of Yahweh has spoken.

The Collapse of Society

21Look how the once faithful city

has become as unfaithful as a prostitute!

She who was once the “Center of Justice,”

where righteousness made its home,

is now the dwelling place of murderers!ap

22She was once like sterling silver, now only mixture;

once so pure, now diluted like watered-down wine.aq

23Your rulers are rebellious and companions of crooks.

They are self-centered racketeers

who love a bribe and who chase after payoffs.

They don’t defend the fatherless

or consider the rights of a helpless widow.

24Therefore, here is what the Sovereign One,

the Lord God of Angel Armies, the Mighty One of Israel, decrees:

“Ah,ar I will get relief from my adversaries

and avenge myself on my foes!as

25I will put my fiery hand upon you

and purify you with fire into something clean.”at

God Promises Deliverers

26“I will restore deliverers as in former times

and your wise counselors as at the beginning.au

Only then will you be called the Righteous City

and the Faithful City!”av

27Yes, Zion will be redeemed with justice

and her repentant converts with righteousness.aw

28There will be a shattering of rebels and sinners together,

and those who forsake the Lord will be consumed.

29You will reap shame from the idols you once delighted in

and you will be humiliated by your cultic sacred groves,ax

where you chose to worship.

30You will be like an oak tree with faded, fallen leaves

and like a withered, waterless garden.

31The “powerful elite” will become like kindling

and their evil deeds like sparks—both will burn together

and no one will be able to put out the fire.

a1:1 Or “prophecy.” This refers to the entire book as a divine revelation from God. The Hebrew word chazown means “to see spiritually,” “to have a revelation or dream,” or “to receive an oracle.” This word was commonly used to describe how the prophets received divine communication.

b1:1 It is believed that Isaiah was an aristocrat, a member of the royal family, and the nephew of King Uzziah. His father, Amoz, was the brother of King Amaziah.

c1:1 Even the names mentioned in v. 1 have something to teach us. Isaiah means “Yahweh is salvation [victory].” Amoz means “to be made strong or courageous.” Judah means “praise.” Jerusalem means “the teaching of peace (wholeness).” Isaiah prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah (“the power of Yahweh” or “mighty is Yahweh”), Jotham (“the one Yahweh makes perfect” or “Yahweh is upright”), Ahaz (“possessor” or “to lay hold of”), and Hezekiah (“strengthened by Yahweh” or “the one Yahweh makes firm”). Here is what the meanings in the names of v. 1 teach us: We can see that prophetic vision from a courageous prophet imparts the power of Yahweh, which releases those whom Yahweh makes perfect to maturity. They will be possessors and those who lay hold of heaven’s promises until they are strengthened by Yahweh and made firm in all their ways! All of this will take place in the land of praise and in the teaching of peace.

d1:2 The Hebrew is literally “ear me.”

e1:2 God summoned into his courtroom his two witnesses (see Deut. 19:15), the heavens and the earth, concerning God’s seven-count indictment against Israel for breaking covenant with him. See Deut. 4:26; 30:19; 31:28; 32:1; Ps. 50:4; Jer. 2:12.

f1:2 Or “raised them up high [exalted].” The words translated as “nurtured” and “made them great” are two Hebrew synonyms that could be translated “exalt,” “advance,” “set on high,” “mature,” “increase,” “magnify,” “promote,” “raise up,” or “cause to grow.” This is what Father God will do for his children. In the book of Isaiah, God’s love toward Israel is displayed in a threefold way: He is Father (see Isa. 1:2–3; 63:16; 64:8), a nursing Mother...