We have just completed what is considered “First Isaiah”, that is the collection of narrative and prophecy contained in chapters 1-39. We will enter into “Second Isaiah” in the coming weeks, but I believe it would do each of us some good to get a refresher on what it is that we spoke of in the past months covering this first major section. Through this refresher, we will be reminded how we go to the position that we currently find ourselves in; with Isaiah prophesying on behalf of God for a defeated nation of Israel in exile.

We began Isaiah with God speaking through Isaiah calling out the sins of Israel. Israel was supposed to be the continuation of Abraham, his line bringing the glory of the Lord to all nations being a testimony of his goodness. Instead we find Israel stuck in immorality and idolatry led by less than reputable kings. Although they are condemned for destruction, God offers promises of hope and grace both for those who humble themselves, but also for those who go through refining judgement. God makes sure to include Messianic seeds of hope that draw our eyes beyond not only the salvation of Israel, but a coming church and fulfillment of Christ Savior of the world. 

Isaiah continues prophesying of grace and judgement over many nations surrounding Israel, including Israel itself. But, once again, this grouping of prophecy ends with the promise that death is swallowed up forever and that peace will reign over a fruitful world. After a last round of condemnation, God poses the question to Hezekiah and Jerusalem: in whom do you trust? We see that Hezekiah humbles himself to the Lord and they are saved from Assyria. Yet his pride, and the pride of Israel, is still going to cause Israel’s downfall. 

And it does. Babylon, whom Hezekiah shows the entire riches of Israel, will come and defeat and exile all of Israel. 100 years after the passing of Hezekiah, Judah will fall in 586 B.C. 

Let’s look at 2 Chronicles 36 which describes the fall of Judah into the hands of Babylon. 

• Vv. 1-4 Jehoahaz is chosen by Judah to replace the last good king, his father Josiah. Judah is then taken over by Pharaoh Neco, deposing Jehoahaz.

• Vv. 5-8 This king of Egypt decides to install Jehoiakim  as ruler of Judah. Jehoiakim is evil and idolatrous. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, destroy Neco and then defeats Judah, taking both riches, people, and the king back to Babylon.

• Vv. 9-10 Jehoiachin takes over and is evil, soon to be taken over by Babylon and stole away to Babylon with riches and people. 

• Vv. 11-14 Zedekiah comes to power and he is the last hope for Judah. But we continue to see the pattern of evil pervade over these kings and it proves to be the final straw. Babylon comes in once and for all, overturning Judah and exiling the remaining people. 

This is an incredible end to a story arc that we see starting from Abraham to the fall of the chosen nation of God. Abraham and his descendants were exceedingly blessed to be the people of God. In that covenant relationship to God, the return on investment to the Lord was that they were to be a faithful people that bring glory to the Lord by sharing his Name with all the world. Instead, Israel proves itself incapable of fulfilling the weight of the Law and prove to our own human nature the need for a personal Savior. The story easily could end there, but there is a great hope that is included in the final verses of 2 Chronicles 36.

• Vv. 22-23 King Cyrus of Persia comes and defeats the Babylonians. In downing so, he sets the people of Jerusalem free that they may go back to the Promised Land and serve their God. 

God does not forget the promise to his people. At the end of Jeremiah, we are also able to see that the line of David does not end. It leaves us with a cliffhanger, but it does grant us hope that the story may continue. 

But before Cyrus, Isaiah is writing on behalf of those who will suffer in exile in Babylon. These writings are collected in Isaiah 40-55. These writings will be full of hope, glory, revelation, power, and redemption. 

I pray that as we enter these chapters, we look forward to that hope, that we are not abandoned, but rather God has something much greater than we could imagine in store for those who believe.