Isaiah – Visions of our Lord “Out of Zion shall go forth the law”

Background A long ministry spanning the reigns of four kings of Judah. Of royal blood according to Jewish tradition. Isaiah’s wife is called a “prophetess” (8:3) and his sons were given prophetic names (7:3; 8:3). Both he and they were for “signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts” (8:18). Most likely lived in Jerusalem (see 1:9, 7:3, 37:5; 2 Kings 20:4) – the Tyropoean Valley? Tradition says he was put to death during Manasseh’s persecution (note 2 Kings 21:16; Hebrews 11:37).

“Nation shall not lift up sword …” (Isaiah 2:4) “In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.” (Psalm 72:7)

The people forsaken for a time Reasons set out in Isaiah 2:6-9. The problem of idolatry – note 1 Cor. 10:7,11; Colossians 3:5 (covetousness); 1 Sam. 15:22,23 (stubbornness). The problem of wealth – see 1 Tim. 6:7-10,19; the example of Abraham (Gen. 12:2; 24:1,35) and David (1 Chron. 29:14).

A comment on Isaiah 2:6-9 “Here is the picture of a busy, active, energetic population, finding pleasure in the things that please natural men, and greatly interested in strangers who had no interest in God, and conforming great and small to the religion that was fashionable in the surrounding countries. That the population so exhibited should have been a nation that God brought out of Egypt and organised for Himself, made it specially criminal.” (R. Roberts, Ministry of the Prophets, page 63) 

The historical background: Uzziah and Jotham (2 Chronicles 26) Uzziah – “Yahweh is my strength”; Azariah – “Yahweh has helped” – note verse15. Uzziah reconquered the port of Eloth, at northern end of the present-day Gulf of Aqabah. He continued the religious reforms begun by his father (vs. 4,5). He had military success (vs. 6-8). He developed the economy of the country (v10). He had a large, well-organised and equipped standing army (vs. 11-14) and set about improving the defences of his capital city (vs.9,15).

Uzziah – “marvellously helped until …” (2 Chronicles 26:15,16) Usurped the authority of the High Priest. Josephus, recording Jewish tradition, claims that the earthquake of Uzziah’s reign took place at this time (the Bible speaks of the earthquake – Amos 1; Zechariah 14). Josephus says, “a rent was made in the Temple, and the bright rays of the sun shone through it, and fell upon the king’s face, insomuch that the leprosy seized upon him immediately” (Ant.ix,10,4).

References to the historical background in Isaiah Isa. 2:7; 3:16-23 – A wealthy nation. Isa. 2:8 – Idols (note 2 Kings 15:3,4). Isa. 2:16 – “Ships of Tarshish” – expanding trade. Isa. 2:7,15; 3:2,3 – Military preparations and trusting in human strength. Isa. 2:11,12,13,14,15,17; 3:16; 5:15,16 – Uzziah’s transgression when “his heart was lifted up” (2 Chron. 26:16): in pride he sought to exalt himself. Isa. 2:19-21 – The earthquake – typical of greater judgement to come. Note Hag. 2:6,7 and Heb. 12:26-28. Isa. 6:1 – The death of Uzziah.

The daughters of Zion – Isaiah 3 The “daughters of Zion” – a figure of the nation – note the references to the priestly robes. Verse 18 – God will take away the “bravery” of their tinkling ornaments. The same Heb. word is used in Exodus 28:2,40 of Aaron’s garments, “for glory and for beauty” (the word “beauty”). Verse 22 – “Changeable suits of apparel” – same expression used in Zech. 3:4 of the “change of raiment” given to the High Priest. Verse 23 – the word for “hoods” is used again in Zech. 3:5 (twice) of the “mitre” placed on the High Priest’s head.

The Branch – Isaiah 4:2 “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.” (Jer. 23:5; also Jer. 33:15) “I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH” (Zech. 3:8), and speaks about him laying the foundation of the temple. “Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place [see Isa. 53:2], and he shall build the temple of the LORD … he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” (Zech. 6:12,13)

“Beauty and glory” – Isaiah 4:2 The Branch will be “beautiful and glorious” (AVm. “Heb. beauty and glory”). This reminds us of the garments of the High Priest (see Exod. 28:1,2,40), which represented glory and beauty – qualities manifested to perfection in the “Branch of the LORD”, who was the antitype of the robed High Priest.