Isaiah 40-43

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040-43&version=ESV

In today's reading we begin the last section of Isaiah, chapters 40 to 66. The tenor and tone of these chapters are different from Isaiah chapters 1-39.

Chapters 40 to 66 deal with the coming Messiah and have a much more prophetic inclination to them. While chapters 1 to 39 deal more with judgement on the nations, and historical accounts of Israel, there is some prophecy in them - particularly in chapters 7, 9 and 11.

I write this because many liberal scholars say that because the two sections of Isaiah are so different in their mind that they must be written by two authors. They call this second author of Isaiah 40-66 Deutero-Isaiah (which stands for Second Isaiah).

Another reason why scholars say chapters 40 to 66 were not written by Isaiah is because of the prophecies that have been fulfilled. Notably the prophecy of Cyrus in chapters 44 and 45 of Isaiah and probably one of, if not the greatest prophecy that was fulfilled by Jesus Christ in Isaiah 53. They deny the supernatural and acknowledging the fulfillment of these prophecies would really call into question their denial of the supernatural.

This is another attempt at trying to discredit the Bible, its authority and authenticity. No where in the Bible do the writers ever talk of there being two Isaiahs.

In fact, the Lord Jesus in the Gospel according to John has this to say,

^"Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

"Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"

Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,
"He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart,
lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn,
and I would heal them."

Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him."

(John 12:37-41)

In these verses from the book of John, Jesus quotes Isaiah twice. The first quotation is from Isaiah chapter 53 and the second quotation is from Isaiah chapter 6.

So, Jesus did not look at there being two authors of Isaiah. If He knew that there were two authors and He did not refer to the other author, then He would have been deceiving us and He would have sinned.

But He did not sin. Jesus held a very high view of Scripture. In John 17:17, Jesus says,

"Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth."

So, when you hear scholars or programs on the history channel that talk about the supposed contradictions, or different authors of the books, do some digging on your own. Research the issues, and look to conservative evangelical scholars and resources to supplement your study of the Scriptures. If you have any questions about certain issues, feel free to email me at rshellhamer@yahoo.com . I would be glad to help or assist you or point you to some good Christian resources to help you in your studies.

I wish I could write more about the opening of Isaiah chapter 40 - which John the Baptist quotes in Mark chapter 1. Or the great ending of chapter 40, talking about waiting on the Lord. Or about chapter 42, the first of the 4 chapters on the suffering servant in Isaiah (the others being in chapters 49, 50 and 52 to 53 - which refer to Jesus).

Or the great verse that tells everyone on earth what their purpose in life is. Isaiah 43:7,

"everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made."

Read these chapters. Enjoy them. The book of Isaiah only gets better and better.

But what I wanted to convey to y'all today is that the Word of the Lord can be trusted. It can be relied upon. It is truth.

As the Prophet Isaiah wrote:

^"The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever."

(Isaiah 40:8)

Soli Deo Gloria.

Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.