Written in the Eighth Century B.C., the Book of Isaiah is one of the Bible’s major books of prophesy and it is best known as a heralding of Jesus Christ and what his purposes would be.
Ministers Taylor Robles and Eddy Elliott say the book is also remarkable for its account of God’s appearance to Isaiah and the prophet’s acceptance of his mission.
“A verse that stands out for me is 6:5,” said Robles, minister of Sherwood Church of Christ.
“Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty!
“God has been lovingly and patiently waiting for his people to prioritize their lives and follow him again because they have decided to put God on the back burner and be idolators and live for themselves,” Robles said. “God is doing the best he can for his prophets to bring them back.”
Noting that God eventually sent the Israelites into captivity in Babylon for not repenting, the minister said, “After 70 years he brings them back and they never fall into idolatry again, so it absolutely works.”
Robles said Isaiah 53 “is the most significant prophesy of the Old Testament because it is a vivid picture of the life of Jesus and his death. “It’s interesting how in Acts 8:26-40 the Ethiopian eunuch is reading Isaiah 53:7-8,” he said. “The eunuch says, ‘I know somebody special is here, but I don’t know what they are talking about.’
“So Phillip explains it to him and baptizes him.”
Robles’ favorite verses are Isaiah 55:8-9, which say, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
“It shows us how insufficient we are compared to God and how much less powerful we are,” Robles said. “It also shows that he knows exactly what is going on at all times. He is sovereign.
“Verses 10 and 11 say his word does not return to him empty. Every single time, it accomplishes what he desires and achieves the purposes for which he sends it.”
The Rev. Elliott, pastor of the Solid Rock Fellowship Out West, is inspired by Isaiah 6:8: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’
“Modern day Christians think only good things come from God, but he has firm expectations,” Elliott said. “We were designed to honor and glorify his name, but mankind has chosen not to do that from the beginning with the first man and woman.
“So the story of Isaiah is our own story as well. Israel and Judah sinned against God. He warned them, but they didn’t pay any attention.”
Elliott said Isaiah began his work in total humility, responding that he was “a broken man of unclean thoughts and lips.
“Then God sent an angel with a burning coal to touch Isaiah’s mouth to redeem him of his sins and purify him,” he said. “God used him just like he uses you and me.”
Elliott said Isaiah brought the message that God would send the Messiah and create a new Heaven and earth. “He said Christ would come down with the intent to be led like a lamb to slaughter and would die on the Cross,” he said.
“Just like you and me, it was a fight that he had to fight himself. We each have our own journey and only Christ can give us our true identity.
“Only he can confirm us as men and women to show we have what it takes so we are forgiven, we have our new names and we can be of some good here on earth to our loved ones and to the kingdom of God and those within our realm of influence.”
