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| ISAIAH |
| Explanatory Footnotes |
| 1:23 Much Religion, Little Justice Isaiah 1 paints a striking picture of conditions in Judah. Descriptions of luxury indicate the nation was prospering economically. There was no shortage of offerings, prayers, and religious celebrations (verses 1-17). But Isaiah condemned Judah for not putting religion into practice by defending weak people, such as widows and the fatherless. The country's prosperity had come at the poor's expense. 3:6 Total Anarchy Isaiah forsees a time of judgment on Judah, when total anarchy will prevail. Leaders will be chosen at random, and the nation's supply of young men will be decimated by war (verse 25). The vivid passage on the haughty women of Zion (3:16-4:1) shows why this book is admired for its writing style. 5:4 What More Could God Have Done? The "Song of the Vineyard" beautifully summarizes God's message to Judah. Although he had done everything possible to care for the nation, his "vineyard" - the house of Israel - had produced only wild grapes.What else could he do but allow it to grow wild and uncultivated? Jesus used a related analogy in some of his parables (Matthew 20:1-16; 21:33-46; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 13:6-9; 20:9-19). 6:2 A Message from God Isaiah experienced a dramatic call from God to become a prophet. The message was personally delivered by seraphs, a term that appears only here and means "something burning and dazzling." Evidently seraphs were angels who acted as spokesmen for God. 7:14 A Famous Sign Like so many prophecies, this one probably had two meanings: one for Isaiah's time and another much later. Isaiah urged King Ahaz to seek a sign from God about Judah's safety from its neighbors. Ahaz, notorously stubborn and ungodly, refused. |