Though Jesus had performed many signs the people were not believing in him as their long-promised Messiah (Jn 12:37). [6] Though some want to read into the threefold Holy, Holy, Holy a Triune Godhead, we know the rest of the angelic worship is to the unitary monotheistic God, for they say, Holy, Holy Holy, is Yahweh of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory (Is.6: 3). Why did God reject Saul as king for making one small mistake? Belief and Unbelief 40 "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they cannot see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them." 41 Isaiah said these things because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about Him. A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. The NIV wants you to believe that around 750 BC Isaiah had a vision of Jesus in heaven as God in his pre-incarnation glory. It is the fulfillment of Isaiahs prophecy of Messiahs sufferings and following glory that John writes about as being fulfilled in his day. Here are five things you may not know about Isaiah in the Bible. There are several hundred posts here, on a wide range of biblical topics. View all posts by Christopher R Smith, Your email address will not be published. He heard the sound of voices, the doorposts and thresholds shook and the Temple was filled with smoke (v. 4). The Rev. Exodus 33:18-23 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. The context is sufferings and glory to follow for Christ. It is, in fact, Spurgeon said, a change of mind of a very deep and practical character, which makes the man love what once he hated, and hate what once he loved., Isaiah entreated Gods people to repent, saying, Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near, and he admonishes, let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. (Isaiah 55:6-9) Gods thoughts and ways are not our thoughts and ways. Seal of the Prophet Isaiah: sorting out fact from fantasy Isaiah also wrote in chapter 9 that the Messiah would be referred to as God and as being eternal. Isaiah is recognized as a witness to one of the most unstable periods in Jerusalems history, from both political and religious point of view. This would make Isaiahs vision one of Jesus personally pre-existing his own birth as a human being by 750 years. Isaiah was God's spokesman to Judah and Jerusalem at time when the nation was immersed in sin. gain access to 50+ premium resources to enhance your study of Scripture. Seraphim Angels in the Bible: 4 Things to Know. and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land. Thus it may truly be stated that the entire Bible from beginning to end, testifies to a unitary monotheistic faith as opposed to the oxymoron of a so-called monotheistic trinitarian belief. The Lord will swallow up death forever. As has been well said, a [proof] text without a context is just a pretext (for ones own private theory). But they refuse to believe Jesus messianic credentials. We can learn a great deal from the book of Isaiah. Mazars translation is complicated by the fact that the seal is partially damaged: the second part of the inscription that contains the word for prophet is missing its final letter and is thus incomplete. The people will not listen to Isaiah because of their hardness and unbelief. But for those first-audience listeners this is all too dark and cryptic. Lets prove this. Now, in support of the NIV, it must be said that many orthodox commentators connect John 12:41 with Isaiah 6:1. Who or what do you worship? Meanwhile, the Assyrian empire was growing in strength and size and threatening the entire region. Jesus teachings reveal the Father to us. It simply reads that Jesus knew he was going to God his Father in heaven but note again, between him and that glorious reward stood the horror of the cross. But after Jesus death, burial, resurrection and ascension into heaven to God the Fathers Right Hand, the disciples finally got it; As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful search and inquiry, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow (1 Peter 1:10-11). from Harvard in English and American Literature and Language, a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Gordon-Conwell, and a Ph.D. in the History of Christian Life and Thought, with a minor concentration in Bible, from Boston College, in the joint program with Andover Newton Theological School. Where can I get an authentic Bible without chapters and verses? Isaiah will never forget this vital truth throughout his career, as he continually calls the people to trust in their God rather than in the strategies they might devise or the alliances they might form. But even prophets are sinful. Remember, Jesus has already indicated that by his being lifted up in a death of ignominy, His Father will be glorified and will also reward him with a glorious salvation harvest (John 12: 27f). Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. Whats all this talk about dying? For less than $5/mo. Jotham would only reign another five or six years himself before dying and leaving the people in the untested hands of his twenty-year-old son Ahaz. So, if Jesus was returning to God, surely this proves Jesus had been in heaven before he came to earth? But how did Isaiah know that Jesus would be born as the true king of God's people? Johns comment is that His disciples did not understand at the first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things to him (v.16). Yes, they will see Jesus, but not as they anticipated. These are the things John says Isaiah sawwhen he prophesied Messiahs glory. 5And I said: Woe is me! Jesus never identified himself as the Father God, a concept even trinitarians do not accept. Thank you! Jesus Is Jehovah (YHWH) | Religious Studies Center As the Scriptures say, Isaiah has a remarkable vision in the temple that reveals that Israels true king, the Lord Almighty, the God who has called the people into a special relationship with himself, is established on his throne above the whole world. Then Prophet Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord say to him, Whom shall I send? [1] Isaiah 44:6 condenses this Jewish understanding when it says, "Thus saith the Lord [Jehovah] the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord [Jehovah] of Hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God." But the New Testament added a new dimension when it ascribed divinity to . (John 10:16), Photo Courtesy: Unsplash/ Guillaume Bolduc, While Isaiah ends his book with hope and comfort, we cant ignore his beginning pronouncements. Indeed, 1,325 times in the New Testament the God (ho Theos) refers to the Father alone. ' Jesus quotes Isaiah to highlight the disconnect between God and the people, but he also quotes Isaiah to remind people to the comfort God will bring through Him as the Lamb of God and the reigning King. His name in Hebrew (Yeshayahu) means "Yah [weh] is salvation.". John Morris says, the words of Isaiah 6:3 refer to the glory of Yahweh, and that John plainly means to say that Isaiah had the glory of Christ in mind in Isaiah chapter 6. The news of God's advent is announced, then, as a time when sorrows will be assuaged and divine forgiveness freely given. As you can see, the New International Version exchanges the personal pronoun his [autou] into the proper personal name Jesus. Candida Moss does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Indeed, in some circles, he is known as The Fifth Evangelist, a title that implicitly places him on a par with the writers of the New Testament gospels. And Who will go for us? Did Isaiah really predict the Virgin birth? - Religion News Service This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. Of Hebrew origin; Hesaias, an Israelite. This explained His reason for using parables to teach. The words of Isaiah 6:3 refer to the glory of Yahweh, but John puts no hard and fast distinction between the two. He was a prophet primarily to the Kingdom of Judah, which passed through repeated seasons of rebellion and revival. [6], In the Hebrew Bible (commonly called the Old Testament) there are roughly 6,800 occurrences of the Divine Name Yahweh (written in Hebrew with four consonants YHWH). 1 Peter 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. (H)For I am lost; (I)for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the (J)King, the Lord of hosts!, 6Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. Why was Moses not allowed to enter the Promised Land? The ESV New Inductive Study Bible, Milano Softone, Green, ESV Journaling Study Bible (TruTone Imitation Leather, Brown/Chestnut, Timeless Design), ESV Large-Print Study Bible--soft leather-look, forest/tan with trail design, ESV Church Bible (Value Pew Bible) Case of 24. ESV Text Edition: 2016. He was active in parish and student ministry for twenty-five years. We are told through tradition that he suffered a martyrs death during the reign of King Manasseh. As the herald of good news, Isaiah points us to the only hope for fallen man. You can also read or download the study guides in my Understanding the Books of the Bible series by using the Free Study Guides link at the top of this page. However, this position didnt stop his from being outspoken. I pray, but I have not been baptized; am I a Christian? Lets take in the breadth of John chapter 12 before zeroing in on verse 41. One of the sublimest descriptions of the manifested Deity found in all the Old Testament is here applied to Christ. Isaiah reproved Israel and let Gods people know in no uncertain terms that rebellion, pride, idolatry and sin will not, cannotgo unpunished. Oh, I read and even memorized a few verses, but I was afraid to tackle the book, thinking it would be too difficult. Indeed, if we say John is equating Jesus as Yahweh in John 12:41, then we are making a case not for Trinitarianism, but Modalism. Further notice that the blessing of atonement included the removal of guilt. He also appears to have been an important court official, worthy of carrying his own seal. Shutterstock.com Isaiah's name means "The Lord is salvation." He lived in Jerusalem and the prophecies God gave him were directed toward Israel, Judah and other nations. The seraph announces, Your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for. Isaiah has admitted his need for cleansing and forgiveness, and these are applied to the very place he used to symbolize that need. Yet, He would not speak against those who would hurt and kill Him. John quotes the prophet Zechariah (9:9) and the Psalmist (118:25f) when he recalls that these things were written of him. The book Is the first of the Major Prophets as well as the first of the Latter Prophets. 2: 9-11). Isaiah 53: The Suffering Servant - Aish.com Many of the prophecies in Isaiah begin with historical conditions and prophecies for his day and then move forward to a far greater fulfillment prior to the return of Jesus Christ. Did you get that? Rather, it is like God saying, "I will remember their sins no more" (Jeremiah 31:34). You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. Was Herod the Great considered to be a Jew? John 12:41 Isaiah said these things because he saw Jesus' glory and Isaiah - Covenant, Moral Conduct, Intervention in History, and Gloom Isaiah " saw " the LORD and His " glory " filling heaven and the whole earth. In the case of the Isaiah seal, the disputes about the way the text is translated might provide the basis for politically motivated disputes about its authenticity. The Prophet Isaiah went to the Temple to worship and there he had an experience with God. He was important enough to be called upon by King Hezekiah one of the Bibles few good kings for advice and seemed to have unencumbered access to the monarch (2 Kings 19:20; 20). And through his sufferings, Jesus knew His Father would also be glorified. In his vision, Isaiah viewed the heavenly seraphim: And one called to another and said, Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory! (Isaiah 6:3) In the presence of these celestial angels and realizing the holiness of the Lord, Isaiah cried out, Woe is me! (Isaiah 6:5) He was appalled by his own unholy state. Remember, Yahweh is a Personal Name. (Luke 10:18) He and the other angels were created before God made the earth, before Genesis 3, when Adam and Eve walked in the garden. The book-to-blog version of the book I co-authored with Dr. Stephen J. Godfrey on creationism, paleontology, and biblical interpretation. He was a beautiful angel and Gods anointed cherub, but when he coveted Gods position and led a coup against him, Satan didnt just fallGod cast him out. Context is always king, and any fair reading of John 12 proves the subject overwhelming concerns glory via suffering for Jesus. Here is what I say about that in my study guide to the book of Isaiah. The poem in Isaiah 11 describes this king as the "shoot from the stump of Jesse" (11:1). 'Here Am I Lord, Send Me' - Inspiring Bible Story and Meaning of Isaiah 6:8 They praised God by saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts! Isaiah's theology. Jesus is soon to be the sacrificial Passover Lamb of God (John 1: 29). God will make a new creationnew heavens and a new earthand we will rejoice forever in what He creates. When did Jesus become filled with the Holy Spirit? Cadbury Professor of Theology, University of Birmingham. Like Isaiah, we need to hear the words of the One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy. (Isaiah 57:15) God says, I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. The Holy God drew near to those who came to Him and humbly repented of sin. Various traditions, however, declare Isaiah died a martyr's death. For John did not write that Jesus was returning to God! Utter words. Too often the fetishisation of archaeological finds turns historical artefacts into ideological relics. A voice from heaven answers that God will be glorified through Jesus death. [fn value=1]See Book of Mormon Central, "Why was Alma Converted?" KnoWhy 144 (July 15, 2016). [12] Azhar Goraya, Mexico Introduction One of the arguments put forward by Christians in trying to prove the divinity of Jesus is that they claim he was called 'Son of God' - a title of divinity. (Isaiah 1:2; Isaiah 2:11-20; Isaiah 34:1-2; Isaiah 42:25), The Lord is a consuming fire. (Isaiah 33:14; Hebrews 12:29) In judgment for sin, His breath is like a stream of burning sulfur, the prophet says. Where is God in your life? That he may have compassion and abundantly pardon., The Lord God calls His people to repentance because He alone is God, and He alone can save us. Jesus, the 'Son of God' - The Historical Context Isaiah 65:17 is linked to the verse before it: "For the past troubles will be forgotten and hidden from My eyes." This does not suggest literal lack of memory, as if the omniscient God couldn't recall the past. Theologian Dr. Harry Ironside states, When the LORD Himself appears in glory, this blindness will pass away, not only from the eyes of Israel who are now unable to understand their own scriptures because of the veil that is upon their hearts, but from the eyes of the Gentiles as well., This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs with Israel, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. (Ephesians 3:6) The glorious truth is this: Gods sheepfold will be full and the Old and New Testament saints will follow one Shepherd. Does the Old Testament really talk about Satan. In October 2017, the American evangelical politician Michelle Bachman remarked that every archaeology (sic) find that has ever come forward has only proved the authenticity of the Bible. Isaiah has many prophecies in it that came true in the New Testament, prophecies that came true in history and prophecies that are still coming true today. Send me! The Prophet was given a message for the people which appears to be a little strange to us. Isaiah lived this name well, insisting that Judah's kings and people trust only in God, make no alliances with foreign nations, and refuse to fear anyone but God. First, the prophecy is directed to King Ahaz; the sign is specifically for him: "The Lord spake again unto Ahaz, saying, Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God" (Isaiah 7:10-11). Now this great king was being succeeded by his son Jotham, who had been his co-regent for the previous ten years. Take time to worship and you, too, will experience the Lord Almighty.. Modalism is the concept that Jesus is God the Father expressing Himself in a different mode or expression (it is proposed today by such groups as the Oneness Pentecostals). There is a good basis for thinking that he belonged to a distinguished priestly and perhaps noble family, judging from his education and culture and from his contacts with the court and nobility of the kingdom of Judah. The Bible states, There is no one righteous, not even one; and for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:10 & 23). But even in this sad situation we catch a glint of hope because the Lord said that there would remain the holy seed in the stump of the land. And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole . But what Isaiah did see and speak about is the prophetic vision of the rejection and subsequent glory that Messiah would achieve 750 years in the future. Why did Isaiah implore Israel to return to the Lord? The seraphs (a special kind of angel) proclaim that the Lord is "holy, holy, holy," and that the whole earth is full of his glory. "From King Ahaz's Sign to Christ Jesus" - Religious Studies Center He is regarded by most Christians as the Incarnation of God. Despite the immediate dangers that the nation of Judah faced, Isaiah was confident of the ultimate triumph of the Hebrew people. In other words, this small clay nugget preserves what might be called the signature of the biblical prophet. Isaiah received his call from God to be a prophet in the same year that King Uzziah died. Not until Jesus was glorified after his death, burial, resurrection and ascension into heaven, did the disciples see Jesus Messianic glory. Start your free trial today! (RNS) A new Catholic translation of the Bible tweaks an Old Testament text -- Isaiah 7:14 -- that many Christians consider a prophecy about. He has a B.A. Isaiah's Vision of the Lord - In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Jesus Reveals His Identity as the Lord God The Life Giver. In agreement with all the prophets, Isaiah makes a clear distinction between Yahweh and His Messiah. In fact, Isaiah is one of the most important books in the Old Testament. (2 Corinthians 5:21). Isaiah was married to a prophetess who bore him at least two sons ( Isaiah 7:3; 8:3 ). 2Above him stood the seraphim. Where is God in your life? These things are not matters of ontology, which is to say, the question of Gods Being is not under discussion. Message to Israel The historical allusions in the scattered chapters of Isaiah's work agree with the title verse, according to which he was a contemporary of the Judaean kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Although they've offered other contenders such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, or even the Jewish people. In her article, Mazar argues that the inscription on the seal should be translated as belonging to the prophet Isaiah. (6:8). If we would do these things, we, too, might see God. He was also a consultant to Tyndale House for the Immerse Bible, an edition of the New Living Translation (NLT) that similarly presents the Scriptures in their natural literary forms, without chapters and verses or section headings. Hezekiah was one of Judah's good kings and reigned for 29 years . Isaiah 6:1-5,9,10 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple, John 1:14,18 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. Isaiah 14:12-15is believed to be a symbolic description of the fall of Satan, the Day Star (or Morning Star in some versions) from his exalted place in heaven. Properly, to stare at, i.e. Will he ask the Father to spare him from such a cruel fate (v. 27)? In Isaiah's writings, God became holy, such as in Isaiah 6:3, which says, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" But the notion of God also became judgmental in the time of Isaiah, or that a "consuming fire" would come to punish rebellion, idolatry, and pride, among other sins (via Crosswalk ). During the reign of Ahaz, the people of Israel said they feared God, but simultaneously they practiced idolatry ( 2 Kings 17:33 ). Truly God is mysterious and awesome and in his presence we should show reverence. The Biblical word atonement literally means a covering. Notice that the live coal (fire purifies) was used to touch the part of his body that he expressly mentioned as unclean. Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 6:5). The second quote in John 12: 40 concerning Israels blindness and hardness is taken from Isaiah 6 during Isaiahs marvellous vision of Yahweh in heaven. We must connect the dots and see that in John chapter 12 the apostle is writing with the knowledge that Isaiah had foreseen Jesus the Messiahs sufferings on his way to subsequent glory. They wave their palm branches and cry out, Hosanna! Chapter 53 occurs in the midst of Isaiah's "Messages of Consolation," which tell of the . I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty (Is. Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1973, p605. You may want to look for further items of interest by using the resources below: the search bar; the lists of posts; and the list of categories. Jesse was king David's father, and it was David's family who was threatened by Assyria and would later be taken captive to Babylon, effectively cutting off hope for the future. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. Now, you may raise an interesting point here. After all, the words "saw" and "glory" are found in both John 12:41 and Isaiah 6:1-3. Send me. 9And he said, Go, and say to this people: (M)Keep on hearing,[c] but do not understand;keep on seeing,[d] but do not perceive.10(N)Make the heart of this people (O)dull,[e]and their ears heavy,and blind their eyes;(P)lest they see with their eyes,and hear with their ears,and understand with their hearts,and turn and be healed.11Then I said, (Q)How long, O Lord?And he said:Until (R)cities lie wastewithout inhabitant,and houses without people,and the land is a desolate waste,12and the Lord removes people far away,and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land.13(S)And though a tenth remain in it,it will be burned[f] again,like a terebinth or an oak,whose stump (T)remainswhen it is felled.(U)The holy seed[g] is its stump. Isaiah spoke these things because he saw his glory. Our preliminary finding then, is that John 12:41 does not teach that Isaiah saw Jesus as God in heaven 750 years before he became a human being! (Isaiah 42:6; Isaiah 55:4-5) Israel will be a lighta witnessto all the nations because of the Messiah.This is echoed in Luke 2:32. Iconostasis of Transfiguration church, Kizhi monastery, Karelia, Russia. His Understanding the Books of the Bible study guide series is keyed to this format. But for the moment, Jesus is enjoying a supper with his friends, including Lazarus whom he has just raised from the dead. The Jews claim Isaiah was from a royal family. Send me. Thus, the careful reader will note the whole context leading up to our proof text in verse 41 concerns how Jesus is not yet glorified, but that his glory will come via his rejection and suffering and public execution. Isaiah, the prophet. Who Was Isaiah, and What Does His Message Mean for Us? It will happen at the return of their rejected Messiah, Jesus, and it will result in great worldwide blessing. In Jesus' day, it was assumed by Jews that there was only one GodJehovah (YHWH). Kenneth Fellenbaum is the pastor of Wildermere Beach Congregational Church in Milford. Jesus retorts, Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it and was glad (John 8:56). yet many chief rulers believe, but do not confess him; therefore Jesus calls earnestly for confession of faith. God knows everything. Thus, throughout the entire book of Isaiah, the prophet never confuses the coming Messiah as Yahweh God. BibleGateway+ less than $5/mo. The book is also filled with warnings warnings of the Day of the Lord and warnings to Israel and Judah which are very relevant to us today. This is what Isaiah and all the prophets also saw, Messiahs future day of glory. The Gospel Project: God Reveals Himself to Isaiah You can read the guide online or download it at this link. When Isaiah asked how long he should continue his prophetic ministry, God instructed him to do so until deportations would leave only a remnant of Israelites in the land. We conclude therefore, that John does not say that in Isaiah 6 Isaiah literally saw Jesus as God in heaven. The prediction quoted in the previous verse is found in Isa. Still, no matter how bad things get, God promises that a "new David . The 2,700-year-old seal impression was unearthed in the Ophel, an ancient fortified area located at the base of the southern wall of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, where Mazar has been excavating for some years. And John says that Isaiah " saw his glory" when he "spoke of him ". In addition to writing some of the most eloquent, theologically significant, and historically influential poetry in the Hebrew Bible, Isaiah was an important man in his own day.