Work of the Prophets (Isaiah & Jeremiah)

The books of Isaiah and Jeremiah in the Old Testament contain messages that put the recipients in a position where a critical choice needed to be made. Both Isaiah and Jeremiah were called to serve in a manner that required complete confidence and faith in God. These prophets were witnessing the people of Israel and Judah indulging in the worship of other deities and constructing false idols in direct disobedience to God. Historically, the circumstances of sin and disobedience have been used to further God’s plans for future events, and this is no exception. Isaiah and Jeremiah are the messengers that provide warning of God’s wrath against the sins of the nations, foretell of God’s plans of restoration and deliverance, and provide future generations with encouragement for their own walk with God.

Under the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, the collective sins of Judah reached a point to where it would no longer be tolerated by God (Isa. 1:1, New American Standard Translation). Jeremiah and Isaiah both witnessed the sad state of God’s people. Their sins are described in their speech and doings (Isa. 3:8), robbing those in poverty (Isa. 3:15), and shameless sexual immorality compared to Sodom and Gomorrah (Isa. 3:9). The northern kingdom of Israel was also pursuing a path of spiritual and moral absence. The people of Israel turned their backs on God and ignored the correction and discipline that was present. Their evil leadership and prideful countenance were what angered God the most (Arnold & Beyer, 2015, p.359). The message of Isaiah poetically encapsulated and revealed God’s approaching justice as a result of the nation’s iniquity and lack of repentance. The Bible describes the coming woes for these people. The houses of the wicked will become desolate, and their fields and vineyards will produce little to no yield (Isa. 5:8-10). The drunkards and their honorable men will enter in to exile and famine for their lack of knowledge (Isa. 5:11-13). Those that called good evil, and evil good, are exalted and wise in their own eyes, and who justify evil for bribes will rot from their roots and perish like dust in the wind (Isa. 5:20-24). Isaiah warned the people about these catastrophes to come, including the Babylonians defeating Jerusalem, and leading them into exile (Arnold & Beyer, 2015, p.365).

Jeremiah’s prophecy mirrors a similar message, witnessing the spiritual and moral decline as pagan idolatry and worship of Baal took over the nations (Sherwood, 2019). The people worship the sun, moon, and stars (Jer. 8:2). They were liars and slanderers (Jer. 9:4-6), and oppressed orphans and widows (Jer. 7:5-6). Ultimately, both the house of Israel and Judah have broken the covenant God had made with their fathers (Jer. 11:10). The impact of their sins would be severe. Just like Isaiah, God directs Jeremiah to forewarn the people of the coming consequences. Jeremiah tells of Jerusalem’s approaching destruction by invaders from the north (Jer. 6:22-23). The people will also suffer famine, starvation, and drought (Jer. 14:12, 15:2). In addition to all these things, God withdraws his blessings from them (Jer. 16:5-10). All that was foretold, was fulfilled, and demonstrated the holy anger and wrath of God. Jeremiah recorded the fall of Judah into the arms of Babylon (Jer. 39).

Despite the destructive sequence of these prophecies coming to fruition, God does have a plan of restoration and deliverance for his people. God did not allow Israel or Judah to be completely destroyed. God provides Isaiah a message that comforts the people in exile (Isa. 40) and results in the deliverance of his people from the Babylonians (Isa. 48:14). However, in the book of Isaiah, chapters 52-53 receives the most speculation on its meaning. There are many different conclusions that are drawn from these chapters. Isaiah describes an exalted servant that is rejected, suffers sorrow and grief, receives punishment on behalf of God’s people and dies for them (Arnold & Beyer, 2015, p.375). Scholars suggest many different interpretations, resulting in the servant being Isaiah, Israel, or the coming messiah, Jesus Christ.

There are also future events that are predicted in Jeremiah that are very similar to Isaiah. Jeremiah records multiple promises from God. As the nation of Jerusalem are experiencing the brokenness of exile, God has a plan to gather the kingdoms of Judah and Israel back together again to be reunited as one (Jer. 3:18, 23:7-8). God promises to raise a descendant of David’s lineage to be his servant and to guide his people (Jer. 23:5-6, 33:14-17). He will restore his covenant with his people and forgive their sins (Jer. 31-34). The law of the Lord will be written on their hearts (Jer. 31:33). These promises that God instructed Jeremiah to record, collectively form the New Covenant (Bullard, 2019).

The prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah provide incredible details that recognize the great distance that God will go to redeem his people. Although Israel and Judah have consistently failed keeping God’s commandments, he had a plan that involved the ultimate form of reconciliation. These prophets were elected by God to play critical roles in delivering and recording the messages for Christians today to learn from. Modern Christians are able to relate to Israel and Judah, in the sense that flesh will fail, and salvation cannot be earned. The secular world that Christians are experimenting and living in is similar to the falling away of the nations of Israel and Judah to pagan practices. Christians need to recognize that sin cannot be hidden from God. God searches the hearts of everyone and will judge them accordingly. Understanding the prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah are paramount to discovering how much God wants a relationship with us. If Christians can truly appreciate the reasoning behind effort that God put in to restoring his people, they are able to catch a glimpse of his deep love and compassion. The fact that God writes his law on the hearts of man, should be encouragement in itself to discover what else he has in store for his people. The messengers Isaiah and Jeremiah provide Christians today insight into God’s righteous indignation towards the sins of all nations, foreshadow  God’s plan of ultimate redemption, and provide Christian’s today with purpose and meaning in their own walk with God.
             


References:
Zodhiates, S. (1993). Hebrew – Greek Key Word Study Bible, New American Standard Bible. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers

Arnold, B. T., & Beyer, B. E. (2015). Encountering the Old Testament: A Christian survey (3rd ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

Sherwood, J. C. (2019). Jeremiah. Salem Press Biographical Encyclopedia.

Bullard, E. (2019). New Covenant. Salem Press Encyclopedia.