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| Isaiah |
Most
experts agree to structure the first part of the book somewhat like this:
Chapter 1: Introduction to the book
Chapters 2-12: Oracles concerning Judah and Israel
Chapters 13-23: Oracles concerning foreign nations
Chapters 24-27: Divine victory over the nations (Isaiah’s
apocalypse)
Chapters 28-33: The conflict between Judah and Assyria
Chapters 34- 35: Announcement of salvation for Judah and doom for
her enemies
Chapters 36- 39: Historical accounts: Siege of Jerusalem; Isaiah
and Hezekiah
However, most scholars also agree that there is material in
First Isaiah that reflects and therefore belongs to a later time (chs. 13-23,
24-27, 34-35). It would be very challenging to try and synthesize the message
of Isaiah of Jerusalem in a few lines of a post, but here I provide at least
some ideas on his two main theological messages: the social situation in Judah
during his first years in ministry and the region’s political situation
beginning around 734 BCE.
Being contemporaries, Isaiah seems highly influenced by Amos in
his social indictment of Judah (cf. Am 1:3-5 and Isa 17:1-3; Am 1: 9-10 and Isa
23; Am 4:1-3 and Isa 5;11-12, etc). This makes sense comparing the similarities
both kingdoms shared in religious and social life at the time. Isaiah
criticizes the dominant class for their luxurious life, their greediness, their oppression of their injustice to the less advantaged and their pride on their prosperity. Like Amos, (Isaiah shares also
some of the prophetic formulaic expressions with him) Isaiah condemns that such
behavior could agree with a life devoted to YHWH. Then in Isaiah’s political opinion
we find the Davidic dynasty and the primacy of Jerusalem as the background of
his messages. God’s promise of keeping an heir of David on the throne of Judah demands
faith manifested in trusting YHWH, even in the middle of a siege. The Lord takes
care of his people. That is why making alliances with other rulers is a
betrayal to God’s providence.
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| Assyrian siege of Jerusalem |
For Isaiah of Jerusalem, conversion, reestablishment a good
relationship between YHWH and his people is key for the survival of Judah. His
people though were focused in living in pride and injustice, with no place for
God, or remembering him with an empty worship at most.
His experience of God made Isaiah become aware of his indignity,
his conscience of unworthiness, of living among a people in need of conversion (6:
1-8). YHWH should be the most important thing for his people. And even if his
people do not want to accept YHWH as the only ruler at the moment, they will accept him by force
when the ‘day of the Lord’ arrives and human pride is subdued before God’s
mercy.
[1] Isa
36-38 is almost identical to 2 Kings 18:13-20:19, another account of
Senacherib’s attack and threat to Jerusalem.
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