21. ISAIAH/1
Isaiah preached for forty years in the southern kingdom, Judah, 740
years before the birth of Jesus. He preached a message of disaster which was
rejected by the leaders and people.
THE CALL OF ISAIAH. God called Isaiah to be his prophet. He was to
proclaim a message of disaster, to speak a message that would fall on deaf
ears, and a message which would reveal more clearly the disobedience of the
people. Despite the destruction which would befall the nation, Isaiah believed
that a small group would survive the disaster.
AGAINST FALSE WORSHIP. The unfaithful leaders were encouraged to listen
to God's word. God was not pleased with the sacrifices made by
the people in the temple. Those who disobeyed the basic laws of God
were unfit to engage in worship. The basic laws of God were to help those who
had been treated unjustly, to care for orphans, and to be kind to widows. God
was willing to forgive their sins. If the people were willing to obey God, they
would be blessed; but if they refused to obey, they would be punished.
FUTURE PEACE. The time will come when Jerusalem would become the
center of the world. All the nations would go there to receive God's
instructions on how to live according to God's laws. The people would live
in peace. "They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears
into pruning hooks. One nation will not raise their sword against another, nor
shall they train for war." All this would happen if the people obeyed
God's instructions.
God called Isaiah to be his prophet. He was to deliver a message of
disaster which the people would reject. However, God would bring peace if the
people obeyed his law.
