Based on CH.1-39...(IS) read more there [1].
The '1st' Isaiah is born c.765BC. In the very first verse of the book that bears his name we're told he fulfills the role of Prophet across the reigns of four kings of Judah (the southern part of the old united kingdom of David & Solomon) [2] from 740 BC. We don't know when he dies, but tradition has it that he dies, or is martyred, during the reign of the apostate king Manasseh (687-642BC). Followed his call to & acceptance of the role of Prophet (6:1-8) Ist IS is given a powerful warning from God for the people (6:9-13 cf. MK4:10+). IS himself must live with this warning as must those who follow in his footsteps. Most of '1st IS' is written in great poetry, raising again the possibility that much of his message may have been spread by wandering bards who become disciples, the Internet of those days! This early part of the book is known as the 'Book of Immanuel', meaning 'God with us'. Its importance lies in its bringing the issue of a coming Anointed One / Messiah into the Hebrews' understanding of the God-Human relationship, as does its emphasis on the personal moral responses required of us with attendant consequences for failure.
Before we reach this point, however, in (5:1-7 cf. MK 12:1-11) we're told a yarn about God & our response to Him later retold by Jesus. It's about a vineyard (God's) & its unscrupulous tenants (the people). This story reverberates down the years! In 7:14 (cf. MT1:23) IS delivers what is known as the 'Immanuel' prophecy. There remains much speculation as to the original 'young woman' [3] of this prophecy; one suggestion even being IS' own wife. Early Christians, though, come to see it as referring uniquely to Mary & her son Jesus. Naturally, this resonates down the years, too. Another such prophecy occurs [9:1-7 cf.MT4:15-16] highlighting the ongoing tussle between light & darkness (later taken up by John the Evangelist) & God's direct intervention in world affairs, as Christians see it, becoming immanent in the Person of Jesus the Christ. We find another prophecy of God coming among us in [11: 1-9]. Prophecies of such immense consequence as these leave us to ponder connections between events in IS' day, later momentous events, & whether they ever stop coming! IS speaks to his present-day situations, political, social, & religious as true Prophets always do, & doesn't hand-ball issues like these into some future 'coming' & judgment [13:10+ cf. MK 13:24+]. We find another example of the same issue in [19:2 cf. MT 24:7]. This pushing off into the future of prophecy that's meant to bite now can be a distraction, or worse, escapism, from YHWH God's constant plea through IS & other Prophets that God's time is always Now! God is with us now! (Still!)
(There are passages - the second part of 11, & 12-13, for instance - that are clearly editorial inserts from a different period; evidence that parts of 1st IS have been collated as part of later editorial processes.).
Jesus draws on 14:12-15 [cf. MT11:20+] to warn those opposing Him they're really opposing YHWH God. A test of genuine prophecy will always be whether it discerns the need for humility & our need to practise it as against being too big for one's sandals (see Phil 2:1-11)! Jesus may also have been influenced by 22:12+ [cf. the parable in LK 12:16+] & 26:20+ [cf. MT 6:5+] as well as directly quoting 29:13 [cf. MK 7:6-7] & 29:18 [cf.MT11:5] to make it clear the great recognized Prophet of 700 yrs earlier & He, the great unrecognized Prophet of his day, are not only in the same succession within God's plan, but 'in sync' as God's message-bearers. 35 is reflected in [MT11:4-5] & this whole section sings aloud with an optimism to be shown later by DT IS (see Epp.52 & 54), Jesus, & later still His church when we live out the healthy, God-Immanent faith '1st IS' resonates with. However, '1st IS' ends on a sour note in 39 wherein King Hezekiah unwisely reveals the nation's treasures to ambassadors from Babylon! [cf. 2K20:12-19] IS rebukes the king, but the damage is done. After Hezekiah's time the Hebrews will become captive to the Babylonians, many of them being taken captive & led into exile. But that's another story...54...A SECOND ISAIAH
Before we reach this point, however, in (5:1-7 cf. MK 12:1-11) we're told a yarn about God & our response to Him later retold by Jesus. It's about a vineyard (God's) & its unscrupulous tenants (the people). This story reverberates down the years! In 7:14 (cf. MT1:23) IS delivers what is known as the 'Immanuel' prophecy. There remains much speculation as to the original 'young woman' [3] of this prophecy; one suggestion even being IS' own wife. Early Christians, though, come to see it as referring uniquely to Mary & her son Jesus. Naturally, this resonates down the years, too. Another such prophecy occurs [9:1-7 cf.MT4:15-16] highlighting the ongoing tussle between light & darkness (later taken up by John the Evangelist) & God's direct intervention in world affairs, as Christians see it, becoming immanent in the Person of Jesus the Christ. We find another prophecy of God coming among us in [11: 1-9]. Prophecies of such immense consequence as these leave us to ponder connections between events in IS' day, later momentous events, & whether they ever stop coming! IS speaks to his present-day situations, political, social, & religious as true Prophets always do, & doesn't hand-ball issues like these into some future 'coming' & judgment [13:10+ cf. MK 13:24+]. We find another example of the same issue in [19:2 cf. MT 24:7]. This pushing off into the future of prophecy that's meant to bite now can be a distraction, or worse, escapism, from YHWH God's constant plea through IS & other Prophets that God's time is always Now! God is with us now! (Still!)
(There are passages - the second part of 11, & 12-13, for instance - that are clearly editorial inserts from a different period; evidence that parts of 1st IS have been collated as part of later editorial processes.).
Jesus draws on 14:12-15 [cf. MT11:20+] to warn those opposing Him they're really opposing YHWH God. A test of genuine prophecy will always be whether it discerns the need for humility & our need to practise it as against being too big for one's sandals (see Phil 2:1-11)! Jesus may also have been influenced by 22:12+ [cf. the parable in LK 12:16+] & 26:20+ [cf. MT 6:5+] as well as directly quoting 29:13 [cf. MK 7:6-7] & 29:18 [cf.MT11:5] to make it clear the great recognized Prophet of 700 yrs earlier & He, the great unrecognized Prophet of his day, are not only in the same succession within God's plan, but 'in sync' as God's message-bearers. 35 is reflected in [MT11:4-5] & this whole section sings aloud with an optimism to be shown later by DT IS (see Epp.52 & 54), Jesus, & later still His church when we live out the healthy, God-Immanent faith '1st IS' resonates with. However, '1st IS' ends on a sour note in 39 wherein King Hezekiah unwisely reveals the nation's treasures to ambassadors from Babylon! [cf. 2K20:12-19] IS rebukes the king, but the damage is done. After Hezekiah's time the Hebrews will become captive to the Babylonians, many of them being taken captive & led into exile. But that's another story...54...A SECOND ISAIAH
NOTES: [1] This episode is based mainly on references to '1st' IS appearing in the Gospels. In Ep.52, you will find a brief summary of the several views relating to the make-up of the Book of Isaiah. [2] The northern part of that kingdom - Israel / Samaria - will be destroyed by invading Assyrians in 721BC on IS' 'watch'. [3] The original Hebrew speaks only of a 'young girl or woman'. The word 'virgin' creeps in through the old Greek translation.
Q: Can an observer witness God immanent in us?
Q: Can an observer witness God immanent in us?
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