By Archie England, Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at NOBTS
Question: How did Isaiah perceive the future Messiah and the (messianic) age that he would inaugurate?
Archie England responds: Following the powerful portraits of “the servant of the Lord” (Isaiah 42-53), Isaiah drives forward his message of comfort and hope (Isaiah 40). Though the righteous are perishing (Isaiah 57), all they must do is “come, seek, call (upon the Lord), and live righteously” (Isaiah 55:1,6; 56:1f) because the mighty arm of God is bringing salvation (Isaiah 59:1,15-20). Even the nations will witness this light of God (Isaiah 60) and be blessed by the outpouring of His Spirit (Isaiah 61), which Jesus applied to himself, (Luke 4:18f).
What might be the name given to this One sent from God? Well, in Isaiah 2 He’s implicitly the day of reckoning; in Isaiah 4, the branch of the Lord; and in Isaiah 5, the well-beloved tending his vineyard.
In Isaiah 7, he’s revealed as the virgin-born child named Immanuel; in Isaiah 9, the young son who governs and rules from David’s throne, bearing four divine names: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. In Isaiah 11, he’s both “the shoot [or branch] of Jesse” anointed with the spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, and the fear of the Lord (11:2) and the banner raised as a signal for the people.
Beginning in Isaiah 40, He’s the comfort of God that “all flesh will see” . . . [when] “the glory of the Lord will be revealed.” For Isaiah, the coming Messiah clearly will be the one who delivers a righteous remnant yet destroys the unrighteous.
Such a deliverer merited the name, Mighty to Save (Isaiah 63:1-6). Yet one further insight Isaiah revealed: Even from Israel’s enemies, God will save and sanctify and include some as priests and Levites (Isaiah 66:18-21).
Isaiah perceived the Messiah and His coming age as one of salvation and condemnation. He will possess the power of heaven to transform the creature and creation.
Likewise, He will be anointed by the Spirit of God, to be the light of God (to chase away darkness), the hammer of God (to smash any who hardened their hearts), the hand/arm of God (to deliver the righteous), and the servant of God (to do God’s bidding as both the lamb and the lion).
What the prophet foresaw arrived when Jesus Christ was born. Isaiah prophesied of the age of Jesus and the cross, of the resurrection and the Gospel miracles, and of the church and God’s redeemed. Have you seen what Isaiah saw? Look now, and behold the savior – the One sent from God to seek and save.
Archie England Ph.D. is director of the Baptist College Partnership and is professor of Old Testament and Hebrew, occupying the J. Wash Watts Chair of Old Testament and Hebrew at NOBTS.