Lesson 7: Isaiah (Part 1)
The Book of Isaiah records perspectives of a prophetic school over three different periods: the 8th century BC, when the Assyrian Empire invaded, about 200 years later, when Israelite leadership lived in exile under the Babylonian Empire, and at least 50 years later, after the Persian Empire allowed them to return home.
People in all three asked, “If we worship the true God, why are we suffering?” The suffering was related to the hardships associated with warfare, including having your homes destroyed, your food stolen, and your life controlled. Isaiah’s answers helped them maintain their faith.
The first 39 chapters respond to the Assyrian attack. After conquering the northern kingdom of Israel, the powerful empire besieged Judah. The founder of the school gained fame by advising King Hezekiah not to give in. That worked when the Assyrians returned home without taking down Jerusalem.
At first, it’s a little challenging to get beyond Isaiah‘s beautiful words to see how his ideas have helped people in other times. He talks about God being intimately involved in current events. However, when you examine it more closely, you see that he does not picture him as a king punishing his subjects because he’s furious that his commands aren’t obeyed. He will describe him as a father disciplining his children.
However, he mainly blames the people for bringing suffering to themselves. They do not know how to live. They call evil good and good evil. They follow and listen to bad leaders.
In line with this, God promises to send a righteous leader who will know what is good for his people. Through this “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” he will show and teach them what is good and evil. It will be as if God himself wiped away their tears as they learn caring for others brings the good life to all.
I think Isaiah‘s ideas have endured because he does not resort to absurd supernatural explanations. There is no talk about a spiritual battle waged by God with some make-believe demonic power. Instead, the focus is on God rescuing us from what we do to ourselves.
That enables Isaiah to offer us a realistic take of Jesus being the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Too often the church has interpreted this to mean worshiping Jesus is the only way into heaven after death. Isaiah, like the rest of the prophets, claims following God is more about by living morally than worship.
Isaiah also helps us see the present administration is causing suffering by calling evil good and good evil. As I was reading Isaiah, I noticed Donald Trump stated, “There’s no reason to be good except to prove to God you’re good so you go to that next step.” He was justifying using violence to get things done in this world. Caring for others might help you escape suffering in the next life, but it doesn’t work in this one. Isaiah would say believing this and acting upon it is exactly why we’re suffering.
The second section of the book written to Israelites living in captivity offers a different picture of hope. I’ll take a look at that next week.
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