Light Beforehand

The principle of such immense importance in prophecy is that because of the unfaithfulness of the mass, God rejects that which He has Himself established. He announces that He is going to replace what is ruined by something which is infinitely better. God in His goodness gives the light beforehand to brighten up the hearts of the faithful. The goodness of God treats them as friends and fills them with confidence.
If one recognizes the prophecy, one must recognize that God had judged and condemned that which exists. If God had not set aside man, there were no need of a new Adam. If the Ark of the Covenant had not been in the hands of the Philistines, there would have been no need of Samuel the prophet any more than of Isaiah if the house of David were not fallen. Therefore prophecy is called a charge or "burden.”
It will facilitate the understanding of Isaiah if one points out the divisions of the book: Chapters 1-4 are the introduction and blessing at the end. Chapter 1 speaks of the Jews, chapter 2 of the Gentiles. Chapter 5 is a prophetic discourse which compares thy state of the vineyard with that which God had done for Israel at the beginning, interrupted by chapter 6. Chapter 6 compares it with the glory of Christ. It is thus God judges His people. The prophet is installed in his work. Chapters 7 to 9:7 are a prophecy of Immanuel and of the remnant of Immanuel's land, and of the Assyrian when Immanuel is there. Chapters 9:8 to 12 resume prophecy about Israel. Chapters 13 to 27 look at the nations and the circumstances of Israel in the last days (chap. 18) among the nations. Chapters 28 to 35 are details about Israel, each prophecy closing with a blessing. Chapters 36 to 39 are a history of Hezekiah and the Assyrian as typical of the dead and risen Son of David, and the Assyrian of the last days, closing with a prediction of the Babylonish captivity. Chapters 40 to 66 are the restoration of Israel, witness against the idolatry of the nations, but idolatrous and rejected because of rejecting the Messiah. Israel is found at last among the rebellious when Jesus shall come back, the remnant being kept on the earth for the glory of Jehovah.
J.N. Darby