Perhaps the most frequently quoted prophecy in scripture is the book of Isaiah. We hear of one sent to “Prepare the way of the Lord” and of one who will announce, “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me…” The coming of a “wonderful counselor” is announced at Christmas. Through the church year, these beautiful and familiar words come to us through Isaiah.
In addition to this familiar treasure, Isaiah gave the people of Israel a way to look for a life with God in their presence for two particularly turbulent centuries. It continues to help both Jews and Christians do the same in the twenty five hundred years since it became a book.
Enter this beautiful, poetic writing to learn the ways of God in our lives and communities today.
Introduction
Section I: The Prophetic Messenger and His Message
Section II: God's Felling of Pride, Making Way for New Growth
Section III: Promise in the Context of Renewed Judgment
Section IV: The Fulfillment of the Divine Word: God’s Faithfulness to Israel
Section V: God's Coming Vindication and Deliverance
Section VI: The Agents of God’s Redemption
Section VII: God's Servant and God's Bride
Section VIII: The Arm of God Manifest in Suffering
Meet Our Professors
Dr. Stephen L. Cook, is the Catherine N. McBurney Professor of Old Testament Language and Literature at Virginia Theological Seminary where he has taught for twenty years. Prior to his work in Virginia, Dr. Cook taught at Union Theological Seminary of Columbia University. Dr. Cook received his undergraduate degree from Trinity College in Connecticut and his advanced degrees from Yale Divinity School. He is the author of six books including “Conversations with Scripture: 2 Isaiah” and “Reading Deuteronomy: A Literary and Theological Commentary”.
Dr. Robert R. Wilson is the Hoober Professor of Religious Studies and Professor of Old Testament at Yale Divinity School. Dr. Wilson has served on the faculty of Yale since 1970. He has published four books, including “Prophecy and Society in Ancient Israel”, as well as many, many articles. He has focused much work and attention on the Old Testament prophets and their messages.