ISAIAH
Here you have the whole framework of
God's dealings with Judah, Israel coming in, by the bye, with the judgment of
surrounding nations, and especially of Babylon, looking at Israel as the
centre, bringing out the Assyrian as the great latter-day enemy, Immanuel as
the hope of Israel, and the securer of the land, although rejected when coming
as a testimony, being Himself Jehovah - a sanctuary - but a stone of stumbling
to the disobedient. We get, in addition, the details of the inroads of the Assyrian,
and his judgment in the last days; and, included in the development of all
this, we have the blessedness of Israel as re-established. This is the first
part - chapters 1-35.
In the historical chapters (36-39) we get
two great principles - resurrection, and deliverance from the Assyrians. It is
a risen Christ who effects deliverance, which makes it so important. The
captivity in Babylon is here intimated. This latter lays The ground for what
follows.
In the last part you have God's
controversy with Israel, first on the footing of idolatry, and, secondly,
because of the rejection of Christ. In this Israel is first looked at as a servant;
and in chapter 49 the place of servant is transferred to Christ,
and, He being rejected, the remnant in the last days take the place of servant.
All through this, though Israel be the object of favour, you get a definite
contrast between the wicked and the righteous, and hence the separation of the
remnant, and judgment of the wicked - the declaration that there can be no
peace to the wicked, whether Israel or others (end of chaps. 48, 57).
In the part that refers specially to the
rejection of Christ we get the revelation of the call of the Gentiles, the
judgment of the people, the coming of Jehovah, and the full blessing of the
remnant of Israel at Jerusalem.