Isaiah

The book of Isaiah is a book that contains a conglomeration of topics.  The conglomeration of topics in this book is so diverse that many liberal scholars refuse to believe that there was just one author, but rather they state that there were three authors of the book of Isaiah and that all of them had the name Isaiah.  Isaiah contains various Messianic Prophecies throughout the text.  These prophecies all vary in style.  In certain portions, it appears that Isaiah is talking about a time of prosperity and peace to come on the world at a later date.  These prophetic statements in Isaiah are agreed upon by most scholars as referring to the state of the earth during the one thousand year reign of Christ in the millenium as is mentioned in the book of Revelation.  In this sense, tends to take a little bit of an eschatological stance.  This bit of eschatology(the study of last things) reflects on the promise of the future restoration of the nation of Israel.  Now we as Christians believe that the Bible is the fully inspired word of God and that it is infallible.  However, does infallibility apply to the order of which the texts is put into?  If so, then Isaiah would be a good book to point out for those liberal scholars who argue against infallibility.  However, there is no church doctrine that has issued a creed about the scriptures being written in perfect order and sequence.  That is much of the problem that one encounters in reading Isaiah.  You wonder what he is talking about.  In some portions, he speaks about the coming of a Messiah and write prophecies about that Messiah predicting his suffering and in the same context often predicting his reign over the world to establish peace for all.  Then there is often a sudden switch to topics occurring in Isaiah's time such as the state of different nations and judgments against these nations.  The phrase punishing rod frequently appears throughout the text of Isaiah.  God is making the point basically, that if you mess with him, then he will let you fall into the hands of men who will have no mercy on you.  Therefore, keep his commandments and you won't have to worry about whether or not mercy will be extended unto you because God will automatically give mercy to those who freely receive it.  Isaiah also writes different prophecies against various nations of the world.  Included frequently in these prophecies are Assyria and Babylon.  In Isaiah 14:12, the prophet refers to a morning star who has fallen from heaven.  This is where we get the name Lucifer for Satan as Lucifer means morning star.  Isaiah also prophesies against other neighboring nations such as Moab, the Philistines, Cush, Egypt, Arabia, Edom, Ephraim.  He also prophesies against cities like Tyre, Damascus, and Jerusalem.  In the last twenty-seven chapters of the book, Isaiah, speaks more along the line of the future restoration of the nation of Israel.  In the last chapter Isaiah refers to a nation that is born in  one day.  This prophecy is believed to be referring to the rebirth of the nation of Israel after 2500 years of nonexistence in the year 1948 when indeed they were born a nation again on one day.  Isaiah 40:31 refers to those who renew their strength will soar upon the wings of eagles.  Most conservative Bible scholars believe this passage is referring to the last days in which an eagle would help Israel become a nation again.  Thus, this would then be reference to the US whose symbol is an eagle and who helped the nation of Israel to be born.  Isaiah 40-66 is probably part of the reason that much confusion was caused among the Jewish Rabbis in thinking that Christ would come as a conquering king.  There are prophecies throughout the text referring to a conquering king who would restore Israel.  Then, the text switches and talks about a suffering servant.  In his prophecies against nations, Isaiah also focuses on the state of Judah and Israel.  He prophesied both the downfall of Israel to Assyria in 721 BC and the downfall of Judah to babylon in 586 BC.  We know due to the references of Isaiah's relations with King Hezekiah that Isaiah lived around 740 BC.  Significant theological factors in the book are the fact that when Isaiah is called by God to serve as his prophet, an angel touches his lips with burning coal.  This is symbolic of the fact that before one goes into service with the Lord, what comes from their tongue needs to be pruified and every careless word that is spoken need to be exhumed by the coal.  Isaiah 20:3 speaks of the prophet as walking around naked for three years as an illustration of the shame of Israel to that nation.  It is difficult to comprehend how Isaiah came together as a book when you had one prophet speaking to both the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel of which were constantly at heat with each other.  Due to the complex style of writing in the book, I do not think it is absolutely flawless to speak of it as being written by two different authors.  However, I do think three authors is really quite a stretch.  I prefer one author though until evidence proves otherwise.  Isaiah has a significant prophecy in chapter 45 in which he speaks of King Cyrus as being anointed to rebuild the temple.  The term anointed in reference to King Cyrus is something that liberal scholars blow out of proportion.  This is partly the fault of conservative preachers who give an erroneous depiction that only believers can speak anointed words and perform anointed actions.  We know that Cyrus never followed the Jewish religion although his own religion of Zoroastrianism was very similar to it.  However, we must keep in mind that God can use those people who are not Christians to perform a task for him.  I have learned this especially in the midst of a very liberal university at UNC-Charlotte as I constantly have professors in religious studies who clearly say they are not Christians.  Yet, I feel that their words were heard by me for a purpose and that God will use some of the good things I have learned from them.  One person especially that I have learned a lot from of whom is openly not a devout Christian is Dr. James Tabor, whom I consider one of the top religion scholars in the world and also one of the greatest theologians alive.  We as Christians must learn that we can learn from people outside the circle.  Though we do need to be careful about accepting everything we hear, we can learn efficiently through those with other worldviews if we simply just eat the meat and throw back the bone.