Scripture Reading: Isa. 9:6; 40:28-31; 42:1-4; 53:5; 55:6-13
Ⅰ
Isaiah's prophecy has a spiritual essence: The Christ processed for the divine purposes is the centrality and universality of the great wheel of the move of the Divine Trinity for the divine dispensing of Himself into His elect—cf. Ezek. 1:15; Col. 1:17b, 18b:
A
The book of Isaiah, which has sixty-six chapters, is a representative of the entire Bible, which has sixty-six books—cf. Isa. 1:1; 2:1; 13:1; 15:1.
B
The book of Isaiah may be considered as the "fifth gospel," the gospel of God's eternal economy with Christ as its centrality and universality, revealing the salvation of Jehovah through the incarnated, crucified, resurrected, ascended, and coming Christ—cf. 9:6; 53:1-12; 40:10.
C
Isaiah reveals the history of the universe—from God's original creation through Satan's rebellion and Christ's processes to accomplish God's judicial redemption and His organic salvation for the producing and building up of the Body of Christ, to usher in the kingdom of God unto the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and new earth—40:22a; 45:18; 14:12-14; 53:5; 12:2-3; 65:17.
Ⅱ
The book of Isaiah reveals the Triune God coming out of eternity into time and with His divinity into humanity to pass through the processes of incarnation, human living, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension for the accomplishment of God's economy to produce and build up the church as the Body of Christ and to usher in the kingdom age consummating in the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and new earth:
A
Isaiah reveals the forerunner of Christ, preparing the way for Christ—40:3-5.
B
Isaiah reveals the conception and birth of Christ as the embodiment of the Triune God— 7:14; 9:6-7.
C
Isaiah reveals the human living of Christ—40:9b; 53:2-3; 61:1-2a; 9:2; 49:6a; 42:1-4; 11:1-2.
D
Isaiah reveals the crucifixion of Christ—53:9b, 7, 12b, 9a, 6, 10a, 8, 5.
E
Isaiah reveals the resurrection of Christ—vv. 10b-11.
F
Isaiah reveals the ascension of Christ—52:13; 53:12.
G
Isaiah reveals the second coming of Christ—40:10; 64:1.
H
Isaiah reveals the coming kingdom of Christ—2:2-5; 11:6-9; 35:1-10; 30:26.
I
Isaiah reveals the eternal new creation of Christ—65:17.
Ⅲ
Isaiah reveals the wonderful person of Christ:
A
Christ is the incarnated Savior, the crucified Redeemer, the resurrected Life-giver, the ascended Victor, and the coming King—9:6; 53:5, 10b-12; 40:10.
B
Christ is the light of Jehovah—2:5; 9:1-2; 49:6b.
C
Christ is the Shoot of Jehovah and the Fruit of the earth—4:2.
D
Christ is the King, Jehovah of hosts—6:1-8.
E
Christ is God with us—7:14; 8:8, 10; 40:9b.
F
Christ is Wonderful—9:6.
G
Christ is our Counselor—v. 6.
H
Christ is the Mighty God and the Eternal Father—v. 6.
I
Christ is the Prince of Peace—v. 6.
J
Christ is the branch of Jesse, the father of David—11:1, 10.
K
Christ is the springs of salvation, the salvation of Jehovah—12:2-6.
L
Christ is the One who has the key of the house of David—22:22.
M
Christ is a peg, a nail, driven into a sure place—v. 23.
N
Christ is the foundation and cornerstone of God's building—28:16.
O
Christ is a refuge from the wind, a covering from the tempest, streams of water in a dry place, and the shadow of a massive rock in a wasted land—32:2.
P
Christ is the arm of Jehovah—53:1.
Q
Christ is our Husband—54:5-7.
R
Christ is a man of sorrows in His humanity to be our Redeemer—53:3.
S
Christ is the sure mercies shown to David—55:3.
T
Christ is a Witness, a Leader, and a Commander to the peoples—v. 4.
Ⅳ
Isaiah speaks of the enjoyment of Christ for God's building:
A
We need to see a revelation of our fallen condition and a revelation of Christ in glory— 1:18; 57:20-21; 64:6-8; 6:1-8.
B
We need to keep our hearts turned to the Lord to be saved from hypocrisy—29:13; 45:22.
C
We need to be infused with the Lord as our life power and multiplied strength—40:28-31; 12:3-4.
D
We need to seek Jehovah and return to Him and His Word as the rain and snow for the renewing of our mind with His thoughts and ways—55:6-13.
E
We need to have a contrite and humble spirit—57:15-16; 66:2.
F
We need to trust in the name of Jehovah and rely on God—50:10-11.
G
We need to enjoy the Lord as the depths of God by loving Him—64:3-4; 1 Cor. 2:9.
Ⅴ
Isaiah speaks of our service in Christ for God's building:
A
We need to be watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem, making the church a house of prayer—62:6-7; 56:7.
B
We need to be one with Christ as His disciples to speak and hear as instructed ones—50:4-5.
C
We need to be one with Christ to proclaim the jubilee of grace—61:1-2; 49:6.
D
We need to be one with Christ as nursing mothers to shepherd God's people —vv. 14-16; 66:12-13; 42:3.