Lesson 9: Isaiah (Part 3)
Isaiah chapters 56 – 66 were written by a third member of Isaiah’s school to those who returned from the Babylonian Exile. The expectation was that once they’d come home, the nation would unite, the people would prosper, and their suffering would end.
When this hope was not fulfilled, the priests and government officials blamed interracial marriage. They commanded Jewish men to divorce their foreign wives who were supposedly corrupting the race. It sounds an awful lot like what we Americans hear to justify getting rid of immigrants.
Third Isaiah opposed this, claiming that the temple was meant to be a house of prayer for all people. Foreigners and even eunuchs were welcome.
Isaiah then lists what corrupts the community: “Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists.” We hear that today when people criticize Christians for worshiping together and immediately fight over the politics of the church or society.
Isaiah accuses people of engaging in sacred prostitution and child sacrifice. We do not regard these as religious practices, but there are all sorts of immoral sex relations and the sacrifice of children going on. Jeffrey Epstein is only one example of someone who made money from a widespread practice, and the government shut down certainly sacrifices children for political gain.
Isaiah’s list of wrongdoing also includes exploiting workers, failing to share your food with the hungry, not providing the poor wanderer with shelter, refusing to clothe the naked. And the one that shakes me most: “Whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.” We hear leading voices in our society advocate positions that foster every one of these.
Just when all seems lost, Third Isaiah promises God is kind and will not abandon his people or forget his promises.
He calls on the people to arise and shine. Rebuild the cities, plant gardens, live in peace. They are to observe the Sabbath, restore justice, righteousness, truth, and honesty. “Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.”
Third Isaiah also repeats the promise that God will send a righteous king to unite the people and teach God’s ways. I’ll take a look at that next week by examining how Christians regarded Jesus as that messiah.
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