At the beginning of Isaiah's prophecy, Israel and Judah were at the height of their reigns. Together, these two nations held almost as much territory as that held by Solomon. They were wealthy and prosperous. Syria was gone. Egypt was weak. Assyria was not a threat. And Babylon was nowhere to be seen.

At the end of Isaiah's life, Israel was no more and Judah was greatly reduced in size, being only a "gnat" in comparison to Assyria.

The message of the prophets was one of ruin and restoration. They made many references back to the law, warning of the impending judgment because Israel had departed from the law.

Isaiah was a contemporary of Amos and Hosea.

The big debate among scholars is "who wrote Isaiah." Many hold to a detero-Isaiah because of the strong division in content between Isaiah 1-39 and 40-66. Some even divide the book between more authors, holding that someone else wrote the second part. The best and only Biblical view is that the entire book was written by Isaiah (Isaiah 1:1; 2:1; 7:3; 13:1; 20:2; cp. Isaiah 40:3 w/ Matthew 3:3; Isaiah 42:1-4 w/ Matthew 12:17-21; Isaiah 53:4 w/ Matthew 8:17; Isaiah 65: w/ Romans 10:20). While undoubtedly there is a shift in focus at chapter 40, passages prior to chapter 40 parallel closely those after the chapter (See chapters 25-26, 32).

The phrase "Holy One of Israel" is found 21 times in Isaiah but only once in Jeremiah. "I am the LORD" is found 21 times.

Date:  740-687 B.C.

The Divisions

There is a short introduction:  1:1

I.  Messages Relating to Judgment  1-35

1. The opening call of God  1
1. To Judah  1:2-20
2. To Jerusalem  1:21-31
2. A word concerning Judah and Jerusalem  2-5
3. The Introduction to the Coming Messiah  6-12
1. The Vision of the LORD and the Holy Seed  6
2. The Great Sign—a Virgin  7
3. Immanuel, a Stone of Stumbling to Israel and Judah  8
4. The Light from Galilee, a Child  9:1-7
5. The Light, a Destroyer of the enemies  9:8-10:34
6. The Rod and Branch, the Root, and the Future Day  11
7. The Holy One  12
4. The Burdens Against the Nations  13-23
1. Against Babylon  13-14:27
2. Against Philistia  14:28-32
3. Against Moab  15-16
4. Against Damascus  17
5. Against Ethopia  18
6. Against Egypt  19-20
7. Against the Wilderness of the Sea  21:1-10
8. Against Dumah (Edom)  21:11-12
9. Against Arabia  21:13-17
10. Against the Valley of Vision  22
11. Agaisnt Tyre  23
5. The Woes and deliverance  24-35
1. The earth will be destroyed  24
2. But there is victory over death  25
3. For those who trust in the LORD  26
4. He delivers  27
5. Woe to the drunkards of Ephraim  28:1-15
6. There will be a precious cornerstone  28:16-29
7. Woe to Jerusalem  29-30:11
8. God is gracious  30:12-33
9. Woe to those who rely upon Egypt  31
10. There will be a king of righteousness  32
11. Woe to evil-doers  33:1-16
12. There is coming a beautiful king  34:17 to 35

II.  Historical Account of Hezekiah  36-39

1. Sennacherib's boast  36
2. God's Intervention  37
3. Hezekiah's Illness  38
4. Hezekiah's Sin  39

1. The Revelation of God  40-48
2. The Revelation of the Servant  49-53
3. The Call for Righteous Living  54-59
4. The Reign of Messiah  60-66

Key Passage:
Isaiah 40 See also 48:16 (the only complete reference to the Trinity in the Old Testament)

Key Lesson:  God Himself will bring salvation.

Do you know Him?