Introduction to Isaiah - 270

Judgment doesn’t get the last word—holiness does. We’re kicking off a new verse-by-verse journey through Isaiah by setting the scene: a prophet with court access who spoke truth to power during invasions, sieges, and national panic. We map the turbulent history around Uzziah, Ahaz, Hezekiah, and Manasseh; the fall of Israel; the Assyrian threat to Judah; and the Babylonian exile that shaped the book’s tone. Along the way, we unpack why Isaiah’s voice is both razor sharp and deeply tender, exposing idols and injustice while announcing comfort and a coming king.

You’ll hear how Isaiah writes—with parallel lines that sing and indict, metaphors that refuse to fade, and narrative scenes that land the prophecy in real events. We compare Isaiah’s style with Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Amos, Micah, Joel, and Zechariah to show the shared prophetic toolbox and Isaiah’s unique fluency. We also address the big question: single author or multiple hands? We lay out the three-part structure many propose, then make the case for unity using the Dead Sea Scrolls, literary coherence, and the theological arc that runs from judgment to consolation.

Most of all, we draw the line from ancient crises to modern hearts. Isaiah’s charges still sting: idols that look like self and status, leaders seduced by gifts, worship without justice, and wisdom that winks at evil. Yet the book keeps steering us back to hope—the Servant who suffers and heals, the nations drawn to light, and a God who names empires and keeps promises. If you’re hungry for Scripture that confronts and comforts in equal measure, this series aims to give clarity without losing wonder and application without losing awe.

Subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a quick review to help others find it. Got questions or insights as we study? Message us at connectingthegap.net or email [email protected]—and check out Marriage as a Mission on Amazon for practical tools to build a Christ-centered home.