We began a sermon series on the book of Isaiah on June 29, 2025. According to Isaiah 1:1, the book of Isaiah is the vision given to Isaiah during the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Most likely, it seems that Isaiah began ministry sometime near the end of Uzziah’s reign, perhaps around 739 BC or a bit earlier, and through about 701 BC or later (but ended before Manasseh began to reign). These are days of great international conflict, when the Assyrian Empire began to assert dominance over the Middle East, and great rumblings begin happening from the region of Babylon on the world stage.
However, the Book of Isaiah covers a lengthy time period, from the days of Isaiah’s lifetime, to the period of exile to Babylon (~605-539 BC) and the return from exile in Babylon (~539 – 400 BC). Isaiah was given prophecies and predictions by God which we can trust and believe were given before the events happened.
John Oswalt, in his introduction in the New International Commentary on the Old Testament on Isaiah, lists four theological themes that can be helpful in describing some of the major theology of Isaiah: God, Humanity and the World, Sin, and Redemption (page 32). Isaiah frequently refers to God as the “Holy One” of Israel, making use of the approximately 29 times, where this name for God is only used approximately 7 other times in other parts of the Bible (page 19). One helpful question Oswalt suggests that Isaiah is answering is the following: “How can a sinful, corrupt people become the servants of God?” (page 21). This drives us towards our practical application.
Where does Isaiah touch our hearts today? Primarily by showing us how God works his plans in the world, how he makes the people of God holy and useful through his messiah (promised throughout Isaiah), and as a window and mirror into our own souls. Join us as we journey through Isaiah!
Commentaries used for these sermons include:
Childs, Brevard S. Isaiah: A Commentary. Edited by William P. Brown, Carol A. Newsom, and Brent A. Strawn. OTL. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2001.
Oswalt, John N. Book of Isaiah Chapters 1-39. NICOT. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1986.
Oswalt, John N. Book of Isaiah Chapters 40-66. NICOT. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1998.
Watts, John D. W. Isaiah 1-33. Rev. Edition. WBC, vol. 24. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2005.
Watts, John D. W. Isaiah 34-66. Rev. Edition. WBC. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2005.
Other Resources utilized include but are not limited to:
Boda, Mark J. and J. Gordon McConville, eds. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Prophets. Downers Grove, IL. Intervarsity, 2012.
Botterweck, G. Johannes, Helmer Ringgren, and Heinz-Josef Fabry, eds. Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament. Translated by John T. Willis, Geoffrey W. Bromiley, David E. Green, and Douglas W. Stott. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1977-2012.
Freedman, David Noel, Gary A. Heiron, David F. Graf, John David Pleins, and Astrid B. Beck, eds. The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary. New York: Doubleday, 1992.
Jenni, Ernst, and Claus Westermann. Theological Lexicon of the Old Testament. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1997.
Schnittjer, Gary Edward. Old Testament Use of Old Testament: A Book-by-Book Guide. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2021.
von der Horst, Pieter W., Karel Vander Toorn, Bob Becking. Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999.
VanGemeren, Willem, ed. New International Dictionary of the Old Testament Theology and Exegesis. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1997.
Study Bibles (Generally Consulted):
Beeke, Joel R., Michael P.V. Barrett, Gerald M. Bilkes, Paul Smalley, eds. The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2014.
Dennis, Lane T., Wayne Grudem, eds. ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2008.
MacArthur, John. The MacArthur Study Bible NKJV. Nashville, TN: Word Publishing, 1997.
NET Bible, Full Notes Edition. Thomas Nelson, 1996, 2019.
Roth, John D., Mollee Moua, Sara Versluis, eds. Anabaptist Community Bible. Harrisonburg, VA: MennoMedia, 2025.
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