Prophet whose call vision was of the heavenly throne room, who
condemned injustice, and promised Immanuel |
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Isaiah said that "a shoot shall
come from the stump of Jesse"
(Isa 11:1)
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In 742 B.C. Isaiah was called to be a prophet. He had a vision
of the heavenly throne room where an angel purified his lips with a burning
coal. He lived in Judah in the vicinity of Jerusalem where he condemned
social injustice. He was married and had sons to whom he gave symbolic
names: Shear-jashub meant "a remnant shall return" and Maher-shalal-hash-baz
meant "the spoil speeds, the prey hastens." These names
anticipated that the Assyrians would conquer Syria and Israel but that
God would preserve at least a remnant of Judah. Isaiah lived during
the time when the Assyrians expanded their empire. The Syrians
and the northern kingdom tried to pressure the southern
kingdom of Judah to help them resist the Assyrians. As a sign of God's
faithfulness, Isaiah promised that a child would be born who would be
called "Immanuel," which means "God with us." Isaiah
told people not to fight because God would protect them. Isaiah's advice
was heeded by Hezekiah, who was king late in Isaiah's life. The Assyrians
did conquer the northern kingdom and besieged Jerusalem
but did not capture it. An outbreak of disease forced the Assyrians to
depart. Isaiah's life and message are recounted in the book of Isaiah.
Isa 6:1-13
- Isaiah's call
Isa 37:1-7
- Isaiah and Hezekiah
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