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Isaiah, known as the prophet of the gospel, 

A message to keep us from Satan’s evil spell, 

Freely he gave, he did not sale, 

To heal the broken hearted, to free captives from the Devil’s cell. 

The Lord saves through His Word, 

His Word makes our minds pure, keep us from running mad, 

The Lord gladens, keeps us from feeling sad, 

Believe in Jesus, who paid a ransom with His blood.  

Lord, assure me of Your presence, 

Lord, the One who created, the One who sustains, 

Lord, teach me all the needed lessons, 

Lord, thank You for giving me good and perfect presents.  

Here I am, Lord send me, 

Here I am, Lord set me free, 

Here I am, Lord open my eyes to see, 

Here I am, Lord calm the stormy sea.   

Hebrews 11:32-35 (KJV) – “³²And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: ³³Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. ³⁴Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. ³⁵Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection.” 

Background of Isaiah 

Isaiah’s nickname is the Gospel Prophet because he is well known for predicting the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Isaiah in Hebrew is יְשַׁעְיָהוּ (Yeshayahu). Isaiah means “Yahweh is salvation” or “The Lord is salvation.” The meaning of his name closely aligns with his work of prophesying about Jesus Christ, the Savior. He is categorized among the major prophets in the Old Testament. His ministry spanned the reigns of four Judean kings: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (approximately 740-700 BC). Isaiah is often regarded as one of the greatest prophets due to his profound and far-reaching prophecies concerning the future of Israel, the coming of the Messiah, and the ultimate redemption of humanity.  

Historical Context 

Political Landscape: During Isaiah’s time, Judah faced significant political turmoil. The northern kingdom of Israel was on the brink of destruction by the Assyrian Empire, and Judah was under constant threat from powerful neighbors. 

Spiritual Climate: The people of Judah were struggling with idolatry, social injustice, and a superficial religiosity. Isaiah called for repentance and a return to genuine worship of Yahweh. 

Assyrian Threat: The looming threat of the Assyrian Empire, which eventually conquered the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 BC, influenced much of Isaiah’s prophecies. Isaiah warned Judah of impending judgment if they did not turn back to God, but also offered hope of restoration and redemption. 

Structure of the Book of Isaiah 

Chapters 1-39: Often referred to as “First Isaiah,” these chapters focus on warnings of judgment against Judah and other nations, calls for repentance, and prophecies about the coming Messiah. 

Chapters 40-55: Known as “Deutero-Isaiah,” these chapters shift to messages of comfort and hope for the future, emphasizing the return from Babylonian exile and the coming of God’s servant. 

Chapters 56-66: “Trito-Isaiah” contains prophecies about the future glory of Jerusalem, the inclusion of Gentiles in God’s plan, and the ultimate triumph of God’s kingdom. 

Isaiah, as a prophet, fits within the group mentioned in Hebrews 11:32 (“…and of the prophets”). He is one of those who, through faith, proclaimed God’s Word and foretold the coming salvation. Isaiah’s prophecies often called for faith amidst adversity.  

For instance, he foretold the coming of the Messiah (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7), which required faith to believe during a time of national turmoil. Hebrews 11:33-35 speaks of those who “through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises.” Isaiah’s prophecies often encouraged the people to maintain hope and faith in God’s promises, such as the eventual deliverance from Babylonian exile and the coming of the Messiah.  

The references to miraculous deliverance (e.g., “stopped the mouths of lions,” “quenched the violence of fire”) parallel the kinds of divine interventions Isaiah prophesied, like God’s protection over Jerusalem from Assyrian invasion (Isaiah 37). 

Isaiah’s ministry took place during a time of political and spiritual crisis in Judah. He prophesied judgment against sin but also offered profound hope for future redemption through the coming Messiah. Hebrews 11:32-35 connects to Isaiah by highlighting the faith of prophets like him who proclaimed God’s promises and trusted in His deliverance, despite facing immense challenges. Through faith, these prophets, including Isaiah, contributed to the unfolding of God’s redemptive plan, culminating in the coming of Christ. 

Isaiah Responded to God’s Open Call 

Isaiah 6:8 (KJV) – “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”  

Isaiah responded to God’s call to be a prophet with faith and readiness. During fellowship i.e. a Bible class session, I have often seen this among teenagers and adults, people are usually hesitant when an open call is made for someone to pray or to contribute to the discussion. 

When I teach children and pose the question, “Who wants to pray for us.” Almost all the kids lift up their hands, ready and eager to offer their supplications to God. Sometimes it is like a competition. The same happens when you ask a question. Often times, children do not care much whether they have the right answer or not. They will lift up their hands and give you whatever answer they have. They have no fear of appearing to be wrong. They are humble enough to make mistakes (even public ones) and be corrected publicly.  

Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven is for people who are like little children. The kingdom of heaven is for people who do not fear making mistakes in the line of service to God and are humble enough to get corrected. That is why it is easier to learn something (like a skill) as a child than as an adult even though as an adult you are more physically developed than you are as a child. It is easier to correct a bad habit in a child than it is to correct a bad habit in an adult.  

When called to pray, teenagers and adults are often self-conscious. Some do not want to look like they talk too much. Some are afraid that they are not fluent in the language being spoken. There are very many issues that saturate the minds of people above the age of thirteen. The same happens when such are called upon to answer questions in a Bible study session or to serve.  

Due to that, I adopted a new strategy. I realized that when I ask, “Who wants to pray?” No one raises their hands. I chose to twist the question and ask, “Who does not want to pray?” Obviously, no one will raise their hand. Therefore, I will pick one from among those who haven’t raised up their hands and tell them, “Thanks for volunteering, come pray for us.” This is because by not raising up their hand (to the call of who doesn’t want to pray), it means they want to pray.  

There are some prophets who God called directly to serve Him. For example, Samuel and Jeremiah. Isaiah’s call was not so direct. God made an open call and asked, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? (Isaiah 6:8)” Isaiah responded and said, “Here am I; send me (Isaiah 6:8).” I often tell the people I teach that it is a blessing when you respond like that to an open call. I tell them that it is a blessing when you agree to pray when a suggestion is made for anyone in the group to volunteer and pray. It is a blessing to volunteer to answer a question, even if your answer is wrong. It is a blessing to volunteer to serve God when an open call is made.  

It is a blessing when someone calls you directly to do something for God but it is more blessed when you respond to an invitation that is not directly made to you. This is because when you respond to an open invitation to serve God, it shows that you are more willing to do it than when someone directly tells you to do something.  

Let me make this clear. When someone sends you in church to do something righteous, you may go because you do not want to appear like a bad person and spoil relations since that person is elderly or they have a certain authority. You will do whatever they have told you to even though it is not in your heart to do it. However, when someone makes an open call and asks for someone to volunteer to do something and you volunteer, it shows that you are more willing than the one who has been sent. This is because no one has forced you or told you directly.  

I never understood how important it is for a student to participate until I became a teacher (in church). As a teacher, I would like to know if the students have understood what I have taught them. I would like to know if the students are concentrating in class (because some of them love day dreaming). So, I ask questions to engage them and to make them feel that they are part of the class. When teaching teenagers and adults, people will seldom raise their hands to answer even though they know the correct answer. So, when I see a few hands raised, it touches my heart in a special way.  

I missed an assessment test in University because I arrived late. I went to my lecturer, Dr. Ella Dashanaba King and asked if I could do it again. She refused and told me it is not possible to do a test that has already been done. But I can make up for it. I asked her how I could make up for it. She told me the best way to make up for it is by participating in class. Since she was not very familiar with me at that time, I asked her how she would know that I had participated. She responded, “I’ll know because not very many people do (participate).”  

The students who participate in class have a special place in the teacher’s heart and this may lead to the teachers favoring them.  Now, when the teacher favors them, other students may start feeling bad and envious. The students who feel envious do not realize that the ones being favored are not being favored for nothing, they are being favored because of their actions. Participating in class is a blessing because it makes the teacher know you better.  

Teachers may not know the names of everybody in class, but they know the names of the ones who participate. Participating in class can make a teacher have you in their prayers and it can make them to be more than willing to go extra miles to help you. Yes, the teacher will help the entire class by standing in front of the class and teaching everybody. However, he or she will go to great lengths to help those who participate or those who engage them more than they will for the rest of the class.  

God functions the same way. He blesses everyone (Matthew 5:45) but gives special favors to the few who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). When we see God favoring some people, we start feeling jealous. We need not feel jealous. Instead of feeling envious, we should obey and do the righteous actions that He has told us to do and go the extra mile and do even that righteous thing that no one has told us to do. Like Isaiah, we should say, “Here I am, send me.”  

Prophecy of the Messiah 

Isaiah 7:14 (KJV) – “Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” 

Prophet Isaiah is nicknamed the gospel Prophet because he is widely known for prophesying the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was with God even before the beginning. However, he was to be born of a human mother so that He can redeem us from the chains and the prisons of sin and to restore all that we lost as a result of sin. The mother to give birth to him was to be a virgin symbolizing that she needed to be undefiled. One reason is that God did not want any man to take the glory of using his seed to give birth to the Son of God.  

Therefore, Jesus was placed in His mother’s womb by the Holy Spirit. Isaiah prophesied this and he prophesied that the messiah to be born shall be called Immanuel. Immanuel means ‘God with us.’ Being God, Jesus also partook our human nature and faced trials, temptations and affliction like we do. He led by example by living a fully righteous life despite all the afflictions He faced. Isaiah got the opportunity to prophesy of this wondrous event, which is the second coming of Jesus.  

Isaiah 9:6 (KJV) – “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”  

Isaiah prophesied about the coming Messiah, emphasizing His divine nature. He said that the government will be on the shoulder of Jesus. He also added that Jesus will be called, Wonderful Counsellor, mighty God, everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.  

Jesus is a Wonderful Counselor. He is the best person to go to for advice. Jesus is the Word (John 1:1, John 1:14). Therefore, the best place to get advice is from the Word of God (the Bible). Jesus is a mighty God; He can do all things. Jesus is the everlasting Father; He cares for you and me. Jesus is the Prince of Peace; when you need peace in your soul, go to Him. In His ministry on earth, Jesus fulfilled all these. He still fulfills it now.  

Isaiah 11:1-2 (KJV) – “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;” 

Isaiah also prophesied that Jesus would come from the lineage of Jesse. He prophesied that the spirit of God shall rest upon Him. The phrase “the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him” from Isaiah 11:2 in the original Hebrew uses the word “נָחָה” (nāḥāh) for “rest.” This verb can be translated to mean “to rest,” “to settle down,” or “to remain.” In the context of Isaiah 11:2, “rest” implies a permanent, abiding presence of the Spirit of the Lord on the Messiah. This means that God’s Spirit would permanently abide in Jesus. Ask God to make the Holy Spirit permanently abide in you.  

When God’s Spirit abides in you, you will have wisdom and understanding because the Holy Spirit is a spirit of wisdom and understanding. When the Holy Spirit abides in you, you shall always have counsel even in matters that you are inexperienced in. King Solomon had counsel in matters he had inexperience in. For example, the story of two conflicting mothers who went to him, each claiming the child was theirs (1 Kings 3:16-28). Solomon had not experienced that situation before.  

When the Spirit of God abides in you, you will have might. The Bible calls upon us to do whatever our hand finds to do with our might (Ecclesiastes 9:10). How can we do what God has told us to do with our might? We can do that when we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us because He is the Spirit of might.  

In His Sermon, “How to Succeed without being a Genius,” Pastor Randy Skeete mentions Doing things with one’s might as one of the principles of success. The Holy Spirit enables you to do things with supernatural might which will lead you to success. When God’s spirit came upon Samson, he tore a lion like a young goat (Judges 14:6).  

When the Holy Spirit dwells in you, you shall do things that seem so difficult to men as if they are so easy. Moses died at the old age of one hundred and twenty years. Normally, someone who is one hundred and twenty years old is often very weak. The Bible says that Moses was still very strong at one hundred and twenty years. Why? Because the Spirit of God abode in him.  

The spirit of God is also a spirit of knowledge. Knowledge is the accumulation of truth. The Holy Spirit is meant to guide us into all truth (John 16:13). God wants you to gain knowledge in all areas of life. God wants you to get knowledge that is beyond what is important to you so that you can help others who might find that knowledge important to them.  

Jesus had that knowledge, which is why He was able to give advice to married people while on this earth even though He was not married. He was able to impart knowledge to people even in matters that seemed beyond His scope. This is because the Holy Spirit, which is a spirit of knowledge, rested upon Him. The Holy Spirit is the best teacher, we should let Him teach us.  

When the Holy Spirit rests on you, He will impart to you the spirit of the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all good things, for example, wisdom, knowledge and understanding (Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 9:10). The fear of God is to shun evil (Proverbs 8:13, Proverbs 16:6, Proverbs 3:7). Many people struggle to stay away from evil. We don’t need to struggle. Instead, we should invite the Holy Spirit to permanently abide in us so that He can instill in us the fear of the Lord and write the law on our hearts.  

Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would have the Holy Spirit rest in Him. The Spirit would enable him to have wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge and the fear of the Lord. O how great a blessing it is to have all these divine qualities resident inside you. So, invite the Holy Spirit to dwell in you and you will be a blessing to all those around you.  

Isaiah 53:3-5 (KJV) – “³ He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. ⁴ Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. ⁵ But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” 

Isaiah prophesied that Jesus was going to be despised and rejected by men. Despite the great work Christ would do, He would not be esteemed. People responded to the perfect love of Jesus with perfect hate. They despised all the good things that He did and we still despise it when we willfully and arrogantly engage in sin. Christ was treated as we deserve that we might be treated as He deserves (The Desire of Ages, Ellen G. White). However, we care less about that and keep on inflicting pain on Him when we sin. In Isaiah 53:3-5, Isaiah prophesied of the afflictions that Jesus would face.  

Some of the Israelites were waiting for a glorious king with royal robes to come as a messiah and to physically conquer the nation that were causing them pain and sorrows. Such people had not read and understood that Jesus, the Messiah, was going to face adversity. He would face worse problems than all human beings combined, past, present and future. Jesus faced more trouble than all because He was fully perfect while facing those troubles, while none of us are fully perfect.  

Isaiah 53:4 (KJV) – “Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.”  

Jesus bore our griefs and carried our sorrows. Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30 (KJ21) – “²⁸ Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” 

Isaiah 61:1 (KJV) – “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me; because the Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;” 

Jesus was sent by God to preach good tidings to the meek. The meek are the ones who are humble enough to hear, to learn and to apply what they have been taught. Jesus was sent to bind up the brokenhearted. Jesus was sent to comfort us of our sorrows. The best person to go to when you are feeling sad and blue is Jesus.  

As the rest of us may tell you, “I know how you feel,” we do not really know how you feel because we are not you. Some of us may feel like we understand you but we do not fully understand you. Jesus knows how you feel and He totally understands you. Jesus was sent to proclaim liberty to the captives. Satan has held very many people in the captivity of sin. Jesus came to set the captives free and He makes people free through His Word which is truth (John 8:32).  

The privilege of prophesying the coming of the Messiah was such a blessed privilege. Isaiah got that privilege by responding to God’s open call when he said, “Here I am, send me (Isaiah 6:8).” 

Assurance of God’s Presence 

Isaiah 41:10 (KJV) – “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.”  

Isaiah conveyed God’s promise of presence and protection to those who trust in Him. Through Isaiah and through His other servants, God tells us not to fear. What reason does God give of not fearing? He gives only one reason. The reason is, He is with us. When God is by your side, you shall overcome everything. God promises to strengthen us, to help us and to uphold us with the right hand of His righteousness.  

Comforting Israel 

Isaiah 40:1-2 (KJV) – “Comfort ye, comfort ye My people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned.”  

Isaiah brought words of comfort to the people of Israel, assuring them of God’s redemption. As a child of God, you should always have a word of comfort on your lips. Preach the truth but preach it in a comforting way. Be gentle with people. Do not be harsh on them to a point that you will make them fear the Gospel. The Word of God should be obeyed from a spirit of love, and not because of compulsion or fear. We are to instill this spirit of love through comforting people.  

When someone approaches you with a sin that they have committed, do not act like you are shocked. Do not insist on digging beyond what they are willing to tell you. After listening to them, start by giving words of comfort. Make them feel at ease around you and put an atmosphere around you that will make them to freely open up. You can share your past and present struggles with them as a way of giving them comfort. After you have comforted them, lead them to the truth.  

“Impatience Produces a Baleful Harvest—What harm is wrought in the family circle by the utterance of impatient words, for the impatient utterance of one leads another to retort in the same spirit and manner. Then come words of retaliation, words of self-justification, and it is by such words that a heavy, galling yoke is manufactured for your neck; for all these bitter words will come back in a baleful harvest to your soul.” — The Review and Herald, February 27, 1913., Ellen G. White.  

“Hard words beat upon the heart through the ear, awakening to life the worst passions of the soul and tempting men and women to break God’s commandments.… Words are as seeds which are planted.” — Mind Character and Personality, Volume 2, Page 518.2, Ellen G. White.  

“Among the members of many families there is practiced the habit of saying loose, careless things; and the habit of tantalizing, of speaking harsh words, becomes stronger and stronger as it is indulged, and thus many objectionable words are spoken that are after Satan’s order and not after the order of God…. Burning words of passion should never be spoken, for in the sight of God and holy angels they are as a species of swearing.” — The Adventist Home, Page 439, Ellen G. White.  

Invitation to Seek the Lord 

Isaiah 55:6 (KJV) – “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near.”  

Isaiah encouraged people to seek the Lord and turn to Him for forgiveness. When probation closes on someone, that person has no other chance to seek the Lord. When you die in sin, you have no other chance to seek God. When Jesus comes back and finds you still in sin, you have no chance to repent. Therefore, seek the Lord now, while He may be found. Call upon Him when He is near. In other words, make use of the available opportunities now before they are gone.  

Make good use of your pastors and teachers before they are gone. They are human beings. They may die or travel to some other place. Thus, going away with the blessings that they were given by God to impart to you. Preach the gospel to your neighbor (your neighbor means everyone) while they are still within your reach. Do your best to ensure that you get all the blessings that God has placed upon your way. Be a blessing to everyone that God has placed along your way. Seek the Lord while He may be found.  

Promise of Renewed Strength 

Isaiah 40:31 (KJV) – “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”  

Isaiah spoke about the renewal of strength for those who trust in the Lord. Matthew 11:28 (KJ21) – “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” God gives rest to all those who go to Him. True rest can only be found in God. As He gives you rest, He renews your strength. You will fly like an eagle.  

Eagles are used in this text because they are among the birds that fly the highest. The golden eagle has been recorded flying at altitudes of around 10,000 feet (3,000 meters). The bald eagle typically flies at lower altitudes, around 1,000 to 3,000 feet (300 to 900 meters), but can soar higher if needed. Eagles have powerful wings with a large surface area that allows them to generate lift efficiently. Their wings are designed for soaring, enabling them to ride thermal currents and glide long distances without much flapping. 

Eagles possess some of the best vision in the animal kingdom. Their keen eyesight allows them to spot prey and navigate from high altitudes. Eagles have lightweight, hollow bones that reduce their overall body weight without sacrificing strength. This adaptation makes it easier for them to stay aloft. Eagles have strong flight muscles, particularly in their chest and shoulders. These muscles provide the power needed for initial takeoff and sustained flight. 

Eagles are well adapted to fly at high altitudes. God who created the high flying eagles has ability to make you fly high in your life as well. When He renews your strength as you rest in Him, you will not just walk. You will not just fly. You will fly high like eagles. In other words, your flight will be among the highest, if not the highest. Like eagles, God will give you the adaptability to generate lift efficiently and to properly handle that high altitude.  

Some people are unable to handle success once they get it. Instead of handling success, success handles them. They do not have the adaptability to fly at high altitudes. So, it does not take long before they fall to the ground. Eagles glide long distances without much flapping. God will make you glide long distances without much difficult work.  

The sufficient grace of God will enable you to produce more and have great achievements in a short time. Work that you once viewed as too much will appear to be so little and easy because the Spirit of God is resident in you. Eagles are among the animals with the best vision in the animal kingdom. As He renews your strength, God will give you the best vision and you will be able to spot opportunities for blessings from a long distance. When you rest after working out your muscles in the gym, your muscles increase, and your strength increases. When God renews your strength, He increases it. Therefore, He promises that you shall walk and run and never get tired.  

Prediction of a New Heaven and Earth 

Isaiah 65:17 (KJV) – “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”  

Isaiah prophesied about a future where God would create a new heaven and a new earth. This will happen after the second coming of Jesus when God creates a new heaven and a new earth devoid of sin. Isaiah not only prophesied about the first coming of Jesus, but he also prophesied of events that will happen after the second coming of Jesus.  

Isaiah lived around seven hundred years before Jesus’ first coming. Therefore, in relation to the time he lived, we see that Jesus’ first coming was in the far future. He prophesied about events that will happen after Jesus’ second coming. Jesus died over 2,000 years ago and He has not yet come back. We are still awaiting His second coming. This shows that God had given Isaiah incredible foresight.  

When you stay close to God, He will give you incredible foresight. You will be able to accurately predict forthcoming events. People risk a lot even in business because they do not know how events will turn out. God is there to eliminate the risk. He wants you to know things concerning the future. As He eliminates the risks that you face, the path to success becomes uncluttered. Therefore, you will be able to know the right path to take in everything that you do.  

Other verses speaking of new heaven and new earth: 

Isaiah 66:22 (KJ21) – “For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before Me,” saith the Lord, “so shall your seed and your name remain.” 

2 Peter 3:13 (KJ21) – “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” 

Revelation 21:1 (KJ21) – “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away; and there was no more sea.” 

Call to Walk in the Light of the Lord 

Isaiah 2:5 (KJV) – “O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.”  

Isaiah urged people to walk in the light of the Lord and turn away from darkness. The light of the Lord is extremely bright. It has not been dimmed even a single bit. Therefore, we do injustice to God’s light when we try to dim it by preaching half-truths. We should preach the entire truth. Isaiah did that. He prophesied about the Messiah, invited people to seek God, comforted people and told them of God’s promises.  

Isaiah also preached about fasting. I have sometimes heard some preachers erroneously say that fasting is not that important. Fasting is very important and it should be done by every Christian. Fasting helps in weakening the flesh and strengthening the spirit. Majority of Christian preachers shy away from preaching about the Sabbath. The church is weak because majority of the Christian community do not keep it.  

People of the World (not God) shifted God’s Sabbath from Saturday (the seventh day) to Sunday (the first day). This made Christianity weak. It has caused many Sunday preachers to shy away from quoting the Bible in their sermons, specifically the section on the Ten Commandments. It has also made some of them utter blasphemies like the Ten Commandments were only relevant to the people of the Old Testament.  

The Sunday Sabbath has caused trouble in the church, similar to the church at Corinth. Some of the problems are: misunderstandings about spiritual gifts, particularly speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 12-14). Another thing that happened in the church of Corinth was Idolatry and Pagan Practices such as Eating Food Sacrificed to Idols (1 Corinthians 8).  

Failure to keep the true Sabbath day holy has caused many people to try to fill that gap by other means. It has caused some to try to fill that gap by speaking in tongues. It has also made some turn to pagan practices and idolatry, such as erecting idols in their churches and bowing down to them. Some churches bring certain physical things from the land of Israel and worship them, believing that God will answer their prayers because they have those things.  

Fasting 

This is where Isaiah talked about fasting: 

Isaiah 58:3-7 (KJ21) – “3 Why have we fasted, say they, and Thou seest not? Why have we afflicted our soul, and Thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labors. 4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness; ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. 5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen, a day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? 6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him, and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?” 

Isaiah taught that fasting should be done with understanding. Love to do things with understanding. This is because when you understand something that you believe in, you are well grounded in that belief. Ask God for understanding. When you do not understand a command that God is telling you to do, ask God to give you understanding on that command. Isaiah preached that fasting should not be done for debate or strife.  

Isaiah spoke about common elements of fasting that were being carried out by the Israelites, such as bowing their heads as a bulrush. In Isaiah 58:5, the “bulrush” is used to depict the external appearance of humility and penitence that people might display during a fast. Here, “bowing down his head as a bulrush” refers to the way a person might physically lower their head in a manner similar to how the stem of a bulrush bends. The imagery suggests a superficial or outward show of humility, without true sincerity or the right intentions behind the fasting. 

Therefore, what Isaiah meant was that fasting should go beyond the external appearance. He did not say bowing your head like a bulrush or wearing sackcloth and ashes is wrong. His emphasis was that humility should come deep down from the heart and not from the outward appearance. Outward appearances may deceive people but they cannot deceive God. Ask yourself, when you are fasting, are you fasting for people or for God?  

This is the type of fasting that Christ tells us to do: 

Matthew 6:16-18 (KJ21) – “¹⁶ Moreover when ye fast, be not as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance; for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. ¹⁷ But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head and wash thy face, ¹⁸ that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father who seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” 

The Sabbath 

These are the verses that Isaiah spoke concerning the Sabbath: 

Isaiah 56:2 (KJ21) – “Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it, that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.” 

Isaiah 56:6-7 (KJ21) – “⁶ Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants, every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of My covenant, ⁷ even them will I bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon Mine altar, for Mine house shall be called a house of prayer for all people.” 

Isaiah 58:13-14 (KJ21) – “¹³ If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable, and shalt honor Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words, ¹⁴ then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” 

Isaiah taught that we need to lay hold of the Sabbath and keep ourselves from polluting it (Isaiah 56:2). One who does that, God refers to that person as blessed. God promises to bring those who faithfully keep the Sabbath to His holy mountain and make them joyful in His house of prayer. Failure to keep one of God’s commandments while keeping all nine deprives us from the joy that God had ordained us to receive in keeping that one commandment.  

We will be more joyful when we do everything that God tells us to do compared to when we do some. Isaiah preached that the Sabbath day is not a day to do our own pleasure and to speak our own words (Isaiah 58:13). Sabbath time should be fully devoted to God. God should be the center of our attention. When we make God the center of our attention, He will make us to ride upon the high places of the earth.  

God will also feed us with the heritage of Jacob. What is the heritage of Jacob? In the context of Isaiah 58:14, “the heritage of Jacob” refers to the blessings and promises given to the descendants of Jacob (Israel) by God. It signifies the spiritual and physical blessings that come with being part of God’s covenant people. 

Here’s what “the heritage of Jacob” encompasses: 

Covenant Blessings: It includes the promises and blessings that God made to Jacob and his descendants, such as prosperity, security, and a fruitful land. These promises were initially given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and extended to their descendants. There are many people who are not able to access covenant blessings because of hard-heartedness and disobedience.  

Spiritual Riches: Beyond physical blessings, it also represents the spiritual inheritance of a close relationship with God, His guidance, and His favor. 

Land and Prosperity: Historically, it refers to the land of Canaan, which was promised to the descendants of Jacob (the Israelites) as their inheritance. Land was a symbol of wealth in those days. It is also a symbol of wealth now but it is not the only symbol of wealth. As of now it can refer to other lands (that are fertile and productive, not necessarily in Canaan) or other material blessings.  

Fulfillment of God’s Promises: This heritage is a symbol of God’s faithfulness to His promises and His provision for His people. People of God cannot lack because God is the constant source. He is the constant source of life and He is the constant source of all that is needed to sustain life.  

Isaiah preached the entire truth. Truth is a whole since God is truth and God is a whole being, He is one (Deuteronomy 6:4). The body of Christ is one whole. Therefore, represent God as He is. Failure to do so is misrepresenting Him.  

Promise of God’s Everlasting Love 

Isaiah 31:3 (KJV) – “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”  

Isaiah conveyed God’s enduring love and faithfulness toward His people. A human being can love you but the love of that person is not everlasting. For instance, someone who loves you so much can die. Therefore, as a result of their death, their love ends. The good things that they used to do for you will come to an end. However, God loves you with an everlasting love. The good things that God used to do for you, He will still do them for you, even more if you abide by Him and you allow Him to abide in you.  

Call to Repentance 

Isaiah 1:16 (KJV) – “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil.”  

Isaiah called for repentance, urging people to turn from their sinful ways. The sinful human nature delights to do evil. We find pleasure in thinking evil, speaking evil and doing evil more than we find pleasure in righteousness. The Bible says, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil. (Jeremiah 13:23, KJ21)”  

With our own power it is impossible, but with Christ all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).  

How can we become clean? 

Exodus 31:13 (KJ21) – “Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, ‘Verily, My Sabbaths ye shall keep; for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that ye may know that I am the Lord who doth sanctify you.” 

It is God who sanctifies us for we cannot sanctify ourselves.  

How does God sanctify us? 

1 Timothy 4:4-5 (KJ21) – “⁴ For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; ⁵ for it is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer.” 

God sanctifies us through His Word. It is through prayer that believers ask for God’s sanctifying touch on their daily lives. 

The Lord’s Promise to Zion 

Isaiah 62:1 (KJV) – “For Zion’s sake will I not hold My peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.”  

Isaiah prophesied about the restoration and glory of Zion. Pastor Randy Skeete says, “God is more desperate to get us into heaven than we are to get in.” We see Isaiah 62:1 portraying the persistence of God to make us righteous. He says that He will not rest until righteousness in us becomes extremely bright. In other words, God wants to make it so evident that we are righteous and that we are His people.  

The brightness that will shine forth from our character would be dazzling to look at. No man lights a candle and puts it under a bushel. Instead, he puts it on a candle stick so that it can give light to all that are in the house (Matthew 5:15). When your righteousness shines so bright, God will not allow you to be under the table. He will put you in a top position so that you can give light to the entire world. God also wants to make your salvation as a lamp that burns (Isaiah 62:1). When a fire is burning, those close to it feel the heat. Now this is determined by how big the fire is. God’s fire quenched the water on the altar that Elijah had erected for God (1 Kings 18:38).  

Water is meant to quench fire but God’s fire quenched water. God will make you quench those things that are meant to quench you. Burning is an effect of the heat that one is feeling. God will not rest until those around you feel the effect of your salvation. He will place you on high so that your light can shine bright to the entire world and will make the entire world feel the effect of your salvation.  

Assurance of God’s Guidance 

Isaiah 30:21 (KJV) – “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”  

Isaiah assured the people that God would guide and lead them. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). Jesus is the Word (John 1:1). Isaiah says that you shall hear a word behind you telling you which way to go. God’s Word is meant to show us the way. God’s Word is meant to guide us.  

We are not able to clearly hear God’s Word because we have surrounded ourselves with evil. Therefore, we are not able to get clear guidance on our lives. That is why we miss so many opportunities placed by God along our path and that is why we fumble so much in confusion. Take away evil and the Word of God will be clear to us. We will listen clearly to God’s direction and follow the way leading to success. The good news is, Christ is there to take away that evil so that His directions are clear.  

Proclamation of God’s Sovereignty 

Isaiah 45:5 (KJV) – “I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known Me.”  

Isaiah proclaimed the sovereignty of God over all creation. There may be many gods but there is no other God. That is why God commands us not to have other gods before Him. This is because other gods cannot help us because they are man-made. God can help us because He is the One who made us and no one else made Him.  

The root word אָזַר (azar) means “to gird,” “to bind,” “to strengthen,” or “to equip.” In the context of this verse, it emphasizes the action of God preparing, equipping, or strengthening someone for a purpose. 

The phrase “I girded thee” implies that God has equipped or strengthened the person (in this case, Cyrus, as indicated in the surrounding passages) for their role and mission, even though they did not know God or recognize His presence. It highlights God’s sovereignty and the idea that He can empower and prepare individuals for His purposes, regardless of their awareness or acknowledgment of Him. 

The question is, if God is gracious enough to do that for those who do not believe in Him, how much will He do for those who believe in Him?  

Like Isaiah, have faith in God and watch God do the greatest things that you have never imagined being done through you.  

GOD BLESS YOU! 

Prayer 

Dear God, thank You for the lessons that You have taught me through Your servant Isaiah. Forgive me for all the sins that I have committed. Help me to serve and worship You faithfully. Lord, thank you for sending Your son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. I ask you to save me from my sins and help me to inherit eternal life. Assure me of Your presence. Help me to comfort others. Renew my strength Lord. Help me to keep all Your commandments. Help me to turn away my foot from the Sabbath, from doing my pleasure in Your holy day. Above all, shower me with Your everlasting love. In Jesus name, Amen.  

Activity 

1. Write down the new lessons that you have learnt when reading about Isaiah that are applicable in your life.  

2. What sin do you want God to save you from? Intentionally pray about it daily.  

3. Isaiah responded to God’s open call. What are some of the open calls that you have been ignoring? Ask God to help you to be more aware of His open calls. 

4. Do you fast? How often do you fast? Be more intentional about fasting. You can create a fasting schedule.  

5. Prayerfully find out how you can comfort those who are afflicted. 

6. Ask God to guide you daily.  

7. Ask God to renew your strength daily.  

Author: Mark Alex   

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