Preface and Introduction

Commentary on Selected Bible Books —————————————

Isaiah: Prophecies, Promises, Warnings w PREFACE w ————————————— This work is the outcome of the preparation of notes written on behalf of many of the Lord’s servants abroad during a course of several years. The many expressions of appreciation received have encouraged the writer to produce the volume. The notes have a twofold aim: firstly, to seek to unfold the Scriptures, secondly, to bring to bear upon the lives of believers the practical effects of the warnings, promises and prophecies of the book of Isaiah, since “all Scripture is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man of God (a description of every faithful believer) may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Introductory chapters on the life and times of Isaiah have been purposely omitted. The writer unhesitatingly maintains the view that there was only one human author, the prophet Isaiah, of the sixty-six chapters of the book. Evidences of this unity are noted from time to time in the course of the commentary, and in the appendix, which gives a number of instances in which the same characteristic phraseology is used in both parts of the book.

Bath.W.E.V. w INTRODUCTION w ————————————— The name Isaiah signifies “Jehovah’s salvation.” His call came in 756 b.c. in Uzziah’s reign. There were three periods of his ministry: (1) in the reigns of Uzziah and Jotham; (2) from the beginning of the reign of Ahaz to that of Hezekiah; (3) from Hezekiah to the fifteenth year of his reign. After this he lived till the beginning of the reign of Manasseh. Tradition says that he was then sawn asunder (cp. Hebrews 11:37). As with Amos in Israel so with Isaiah in Judah, they were called to declare that the time of God’s longsuffering was coming to an end. His prophecies consist of two parts, (I) Chapters 1–39, (II) Chapters 40–66; but these are closely connected with (I). The book may also be divided into three parts, (I) Prophetic, of Israel and Gentile nations, especially Assyria (chapters 1–35); (II) Historic, relating to the reign of Hezekiah (chapters 36–39); (III) Messianic, especially regarding the deliverance of a remnant in Israel (chapters 40–66). Part I has four main sections: (a) prophecies concerning Judah and Israel (chapters 1–12), (b) prophecies against Gentile nations (chapters 13–23), (c) concerning Divine judgments and deliverances and concerning woes (chapters 24–33), (d) the future of Gentile nations and Israel (chapters 34, 35). Part II has two main sections: (a) concerning the Assyrian Invasion and Hezekiah’s distress and deliverance (chapters 36, 37), (b) concerning the Chaldeans and Hezekiah’s sickness and sin (chapters 38, 39). Part III has three main sections: (a) concerning Israel and the Gentiles and Divine deliverance (chapters 40–48), (b) concerning Jehovah’s Servant, His sufferings and glory (chapters 49–57), (c) concerning the godly and ungodly in Israel and the contrasted issues of their ways and doings (chapters 58–66). The book has been the subject of much expenditure of Higher Critical and Modernistic energy in recent times. One of the underlying principles in this kind of teaching is the denial of the predictive element in the book. The various suppositions of the exponents of these theories have tended only to confirm the faith of those who maintain the view of the unity of the whole book as being the work of the one human author writing what is given him by inspiration of God. Deny the predictive element and the only conclusion resulting is the disunity of the book and the composition of certain parts by different writers; a conclusion derogatory to the Person of the Holy Spirit as being the Divine Author through whom the book is “God-breathed.” w CHA