Isaiah

The first part of this long book contains messages of judgment and warning similar to those of the other eighth-century prophets. Isaiah condemns hypocritical worship, complacency, and the failure to act with justice for the poor. The prophet also speaks resounding words of promise, announcing God’s coming messianic kingdom. The second part of the book brings words of comfort and hope to the exiles in Babylonian captivity in the sixth century B.C. This section introduces God’s suffering servant in passages that have become well known to believers in every generation. A third part of the book contains both warnings and promises for the community after its return to Jerusalem following the fall of Babylon in 538 B.C.