Read the Bible in a Year: Week 26, read: Isaiah 40-66
An excerpt from Read the Bible in a Year.
At Least Know This
Isaiah 40-66 was written at the end of the Babylonian Exile. He told the people that it was time to go home—and God would not only bring them home geographically, but also spiritually.
Author and Date
Isaiah 1-39 was written around 740 BCE. Chapters 40-66 were written about 200 years later, around 538 BCE, at the end of the Babylonian Exile. Sometimes, chapters 40-66 are called Second Isaiah. We know little personal information about the author.
Historical Situation
The people of Judah had spent almost 50 years living in Babylon. The Babylonian policy was to keep the leaders of captive nations living away from their land, to prevent revolts. But the Babylonian Empire had crumbled, and the Persian Empire had risen. The Persians took the city of Babylon, in a somewhat peaceful takeover. King Cyrus of Persia told the Jewish exiles that they could go home.
Isaiah comes on the scene to tell them that God will make an easy road back for them. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall made low. The uneven shall be made level, and the rough places a plain (40:4). But Isaiah told them that they were not just going home geographically. God was also renewing them spiritually. They were going back with a purpose, to be a light for the Gentiles (42:6)… to be my witnesses, with my servant whom I have chosen (43:10).
The people were to be God’s servants, to gather all people, including the Gentiles (non-Jews), back to unity with God (56:7-8).
Important Passages
Chapter 40:1-11. Isaiah announces that the people will be going home.
Isaiah 42:1-4. There are four passages in Isaiah 40-66 that we call “Servant Songs.” These are passages that describe how the people of Judah would be a servant of God, calling all people back to unity with God. The New Testament uses these servant songs to describe Jesus and his work.
Isaiah 42:5-7. Over and over, Isaiah makes it clear that the Gentiles are also recipients of God’s covenant. However, in later books, such as Ezra and Nehemiah, we see that they didn’t listen to Isaiah. In fact, they actively tried to keep Gentiles out. By the time Jesus comes on the scene, many of the religious leaders were vehemently anti-Gentile.
Isaiah 49:1-6. This is Servant Song #2.
Isaiah 50:4-11. This is Servant Song #3. This is an important precursor to Jesus’s passion.
Isaiah 52:13-53:12. This is Servant Song #4. This familiar passage was meant to describe the mission of the people returning from Babylon. But we know it better as a passage that the New Testament uses to describe Jesus’s ministry: Surely he has borne our sickness and carried our suffering… But he was pieced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities… and by his wounds we are healed. The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all (53:4-5).
Isaiah 58:3-11. Isaiah reminds the people that just doing religious practices, like fasting, isn’t enough. True fasting is to release the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke…
Isaiah 61 discusses the Messianic age. In the New Testament, Luke 4, Jesus quotes this passage to announce to people that the Messianic age is here—and Jesus is it!
Faith Insights
The book of Isaiah 40-66 is so full of beautiful and meaningful passages that it is difficult to choose one passage to highlight here. But certainly, Isaiah 40:27-31 is a passage to remember. Isaiah tells the people that they can go home, and no doubt he was met with disbelief and cynicism. So he replies, Haven’t you known? Haven’t you heard? …The Creator of the ends of the earth doesn’t faint. He isn’t weary… He gives power to the weak. He increases the strength of him who has no might… Those who wait for The Lord will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles…
When we are faced with challenges and obstacles, we often respond with disbelief or cynicism. It’s human nature. But God is not like us. He does not grow weary in loving us, nurturing us, or renewing our strength. God is always at our side as we walk in our journey—whether we are aware of his presence or not. He lifts us up on eagles’ wings, to do His work, and live in his presence.
This is an excerpt from Read the Bible in a Year: 52 Introductions for a Chronological Journey through the Bible. See the Table of Contents. Buy this book on Amazon Kindle for $7.99
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