It is my goal to highlight a single Text (Paragraph) in each chapter of Isaiah, and to do so sequentially. Yes, all 66 of them, the longest (in its number of chapters) of all the Biblical Prophets.

I did that (at least attempted that) yesterday in the Lesson, focusing on Isaiah chapter 1, verses 18-20. I feel that Pericope summarizes the basic Message of the Old Testament Prophetic Literature.

But I didn’t mention a number of things that are significant.

For example … Isaiah’s very first verse calls his whole Work (the Isaiah “Corpus” some call it) a “vision.” (Read it. “The VISION of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.”) The word derives from a verb meaning “to see, to behold, to look.” But twice the King James translators let it mean “to prophesy.” And once it is expressed “to provide,” literally meaning “to see ahead, to see in advance!” That’s prophecy!

I also noticed that Obadiah begins his Prophecy the same way, with the word “vision.” Here: “The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom.” 

I am saying this: such Biblically godly men of Prophecy did not only “hear” the Word of God, in some realistic way they “saw” the Word of God as well. He was that REAL to them! 

Wow!

Now one or two Old Testament Prophets begin their Works with the word “burden,” not “vision!” These Messages are that HEAVY, I suspect.

Actually Nahum does this. But then he immediately employs our noun “vision” too. (Nahum was allowed of God to preach the Message Jonah so longed to proclaim, about the destruction of Nineveh!) “The BURDEN of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.” Nahum 1:1

Habakkuk does this as well. “The BURDEN which Habakkuk the prophet did see.” Habakkuk 1:2

What a study (a whole book) could be written about these men and their specific messages, their varying personalities too.

Wow!

Isaiah 1 also … lists the Kings under whose administrations (reigns) Isaiah preached. A long ministry, indeed! Let me show you their names, four of them … “The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of UZZIAH, JOTHAM, AHAZ, and HEZEKIAH, kings of Judah.” A dynasty in fact, springing from one single family of leaders. (All are Davidic!) Folks, Isaiah knows these men, personally! He is a Court Preacher!

Ever heard of a Christian “backsliding?” The root idea comes from Isaiah 1:4. “Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away BACKWARD.” Yes, gone away BACKWARD! God’s view of our recalcitrance.