The prophet Isaiah
The Prophet Isaiah lived 700 years before the birth of Christ, and was of royal lineage. Isaiah’s father Amos raised his son in the fear of God and in the law of the Lord. Having attained the age of maturity, the Prophet Isaiah entered into marriage with a prophetess (Isa ch 8 v 3) and had a son Jashub (Isa ch 8 v 18).
Isaiah was called to prophetic service during the reign of Uzziah, king of Judea, and he prophesied for 60 years during the reign of kings Joatham, Achaz [Ahaz], Hezekiah and Manasseh. The start of his service was marked by the following vision: he beheld the Lord God, sitting in the temple upon a high throne. Six-winged Seraphim encircled Him. With two wings they covered their faces, and with two wings they covered their feet, and with two wings they flew about crying out one to another, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts heaven and earth are filled with His glory!” The pillars of the temple shook from their shouts, and in the temple arose the smoke of incense.
The prophet cried out in terror, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.Then was sent him one of the Seraphim, having in hand a red-hot coal, which he took with tongs from the altar of the Lord. He touched it to the mouth of the Prophet Isaiah and said, “Lo, this has touched thy lips, And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. After this Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord, directed towards him, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Isaiah answered, “Here am I, send me” (Isa ch 6 v 1 - 7). And the Lord sent him to the Jews to encourage them to turn from the ways of sinfulness and idol worship, and to offer repentance.
To those that repent and turn to the true God, the Lord promised mercy and forgiveness, but He promised punishment and the judgment of God are appointed for the unrepentant. Then Isaiah asked the Lord, how long would the falling away of the Jewish nation from God continue. The Lord answered, “Until the cities be deserted, by reason of there being no people, and the land shall be made desolate. Just as when a tree be felled and from the stump come forth new shoots, so also from the destruction of the nation a holy remnant will remain, from which will emerge a new tribe.”
Isaiah left behind him a book of prophecy in which he denounces the Jews for their unfaithfulness to the God of their Fathers. He predicted the captivity of the Jews and their return from captivity during the time of Cyrus, the destruction and renewal of Jerusalem and of the Temple. Together with this he predicts the historical fate of the other nations bordering the Jews. But what is more important of all for us, the Prophet Isaiah with particular clearness and detail prophesies about the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ our Saviour. The prophet names the Messiah as God and Man, teacher of all the nations, founder of the Kingdom of peace and love.
The prophet foretells the birth of the Messiah from a Virgin, and with particular clearness he describes the Suffering of the Messiah for the sins of the world. He foresees His Resurrection and the universal spreading of His Church. By his clear foretelling of Jesus Christ, the Prophet Isaiah deserves to be called an Old Testament Evangelist. To him belong the words, Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 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. (Is 53:4-5. )
Isaiah had also a gift of working wonders. And so, when during the time of a siege of Jerusalem by enemies the people had become exhausted with thirst, he by his prayer drew out from beneath Mount Sion a spring of water, which was called Siloam, i.e. “sent from God.” It was to this spring afterwards that Jesus sent the man blind from birth to wash, and He restored his sight. By the prayer of Isaiah, the Lord prolonged the life of Hezekiah for 15 years.
The Prophet Isaiah died a martyr’s death. By order of the Jewish king Manasseh he was sawn in half by a wood-saw. The prophet was buried not far from the Pool of Siloam.
The relics of the Prophet Isaiah were afterwards transferred by the emperor Theodosius the Younger to Constantinople and installed in the church of St Laurence at Blachernae. At the present time part of the head of the Isaiah is preserved at Athos in the Hilandar monastery.
For further study of the times and the events which occurred during the life of the Isaiah, see 2 Kings (Chs 16, 17, 19, 20, 23, etc.), and ( also see 2 Chronicles chs 26-32).
News from the Church New dates
20th May…. Knit and natter is a time to finish old projects or learn new skills
if you just want to talk well that’s OK too
3rd June..…..Friendship Group, (this covers all ages and the lonely people)
ANSWERS TO 10th May QUESTIONS
1) Israel 2) In child birth 3) 180 yrs old 4) Because thy were jealous 5) He was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife 6) A butler and a baker 7) Because he could interpret dreams 8) 7 lean cattle ate 7 fat cattle and got no bigger 9) Asenath 10) Ephraim and Manasseh 11) To buy food 12) 147 yrs old
13) Genesis ch 49 14) Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well 15) That his bones be taken back to Canaan 16) About 400 yrs later
Bible Quiz this week’s Quiz is about Exodus
1 What does the word Exodus mean?
2 Who wrote the book of Exodus?
3 How many years later was Jesus born?
4 How many years had Israel been in Egypt?
5 Why did Pharaoh want to kill all the baby boys ?
6 Who was the nursemaid of Moses?
7 Who gave Moses his name?
8 What does the word Moses mean ?
9 Who were Moses father and mother?
10 Who were Moses brother and sister?
11 Why did Moses flee Egypt?
12 Who was the wife of Moses.?
13 What was the name of Moses son?
14 What other name was Ruel known as?
15 What was the occupation of Moses in Midian?
16 How did God first speak to Moses in Midian?
God Bless