Isaiah 1 - Introduction

Chapter s 1-5 Concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

The first five Chapter s of the prophecy are introductory to the whole. They are a message ‘concerning Judah and Jerusalem', and are God's word to them through Isaiah. They consist of three long sections in which the sinfulness of, and judgment on, Israel/Judah is defined, interwoven with two sections which depict the final glorious future which God purposes. They are presented in a general vein with no particular historical identifications for they are intended to be a general picture of the future. The specifics will appear later on. Their message, given in some detail, is that Israel have sinned against the very order of creation, and specifically against the covenant, and must therefore face severe judgments unless they repent, but that God will finally deliver a remnant who will inherit all His promises, including His promise to bless the world through them (Genesis 12:3), and that He will finally be openly exalted so that all nations will look to Him.

We may analyse them thus:

a God's verdict on Israel/Judah but offering a glimmer of hope (Isaiah 1:1).

b The future exaltation of the mountain of Yahweh's house (Isaiah 2:1).

c The awful situation of His people before Yahweh (Isaiah 2:6).

d The Day of Yahweh which is coming (Isaiah 2:10).

d The impact of That Day (Isaiah 3:1).

c The condition of the womenfolk of Zion will result in His judgment on them (Isaiah 3:16 to Isaiah 4:1).

b Zion's future glory (Isaiah 4:2).

a Woe upon Israel/Judah (Isaiah 5:1).

In ‘a' the emphasis is on the state of the whole nation including both Israel and Judah, and the same applies in the parallel. In ‘b' the emphasis is on Yahweh's final triumph, as it is in the parallel, with the former emphasising the exaltation of Yahweh and resulting blessing while the latter emphasises the blessing of His people. In ‘c' and parallel the emphasis is centred on Judah and Jerusalem and its condition. In ‘d' the stress is on the coming Day of Yahweh and in the parallel on its impact.

This must now be looked at in detail: