One thing I especially like about prophecy is that it gives us insight into God’s thoughts that other genre of Scripture don’t give. And since God doesn’t lie, but is the source of truth, what prophecy reveals is truth.
So when God asks in verse 5:4, “What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it?” (the vineyard being a metaphor for Israel and Judah), implying that He couldn’t have done any more for them, His assessment is true. Do you suppose His people appreciated the great care He had given them? Do we perceive and appreciate the great care God has given us? Or do we ignore His graces, or like King Ahaz later in today’s reading, treat them lightly?
Chapter 5 gives further details of the offenses of His Old Testament people. They enjoyed great entertainment, were all about their entertainments, but had “no regard for the deeds of the Lord.” They harnessed themselves to sin and wickedness, while professing an interest in what God was doing in their midst. Note further descriptions of these people who have aroused God’s anger to the point that He is planning their destruction by a mighty, efficient army. Do you see any similarities to God’s people today? Do you suppose God’s desire for His people today are any different than what they were for these people?
Chapter 6 is an important chapter. My Bible entitles it, “Isaiah’s Commission.” Its importance in part is its presentation of one of the few descriptions we have of what God looks like. So what did Isaiah say about what He looked like? He was “seated on a throne, high and exalted.” That’s it. The rest of the description talks about the train of His robe (which obviously is vast), the impressive creatures around Him, and smoke filling the temple. That’s it?! It’s not satisfying at all, is it? And yet, Isaiah’s description tells us a lot more than what he says. When we describe something, we relate it to something we know, and something our hearers know – that is the only way we have to comprehend something new to our experience, to compare and contrast it with something we know. Apparently there was nothing in Isaiah’s experience to compare with what he saw. Appreciate from that description that God is far beyond our comprehension.
Isaiah’s response to being in God’s presence was a dismaying understanding of his unworthiness. That is a likely description of what our response would be, what anyone’s response would be. The seraph offered a unique remedy for Isaiah’s sin that was obviously effective, and Isaiah’s response was then to act on God’s call to go. All of these are significant for us to consider.
Why would God send Isaiah to share His message with people with calloused hearts, dull ears and closed eyes, people incapable of perceiving or responding to the message? Truly, that is all of us, except for the grace of God. He sent Isaiah as a messenger to such people; He sent His beloved Son as a sacrifice to redeem such people for relationship with Him. That is a huge effort to reach those of mankind willing to seek God. Do you have a calloused heart and dull ears? God’s message is for seeking hearts.
Refer to II Kings 15:27-31 for a reminder of who the “son of Remaliah” referenced in chapter 7 was. Ephraim and Samaria are references to Israel: Ephraim because he was designated the functional first-born of Israel after Reuben’s disgraceful behavior, and Samaria because it was the capital city of Israel. Aram was a northern neighbor of Israel, a long-time powerful enemy of Israel and Judah. II Kings said that God sent them against Judah. Why would God do such a thing, and then send reassurances to Ahaz? Can you think of a reason? What does that interaction with man teach you about God’s interactions with men in general? With you in particular?