HOW ISAIAH DELIVERED
THE NEWS
R. Herbert
At a time when Jerusalem lay under the shadow of the brutal Assyrian Empire – which had already conquered the northern tribes of Israel – the prophet Isaiah was given the difficult task of taking bad news as well as good news to the people of Judah. The book of Isaiah not only records those messages, but also shows us an important aspect of how they were delivered.
The Sons of the Prophet
After an introduction recording Isaiah’s calling and commission, the seventh chapter of this book begins to show the actual messages delivered by Isaiah, and it is at this time that the prophet’s two sons are introduced. Isaiah’s firstborn son was called Shear-Yashub, meaning “A remnant shall return” (Isaiah 7:3). His second son, introduced a little later, was named Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, meaning, “Pillage quickly, plunder quickly” (Isaiah 8:3). In modern terms these two sons might be said to represent “good news and bad news.”
At the beginning of the prophet’s work, God instructed Isaiah to take his first son, Shear-Yashub (“good news”), with him to meet Judah’s ruler Ahab and to prophesy to the king regarding an impending invasion of Judah by two local Syrian kings (Isaiah 7:3). The prophet began: “Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart…” (Isaiah 7:4).
Isaiah doubtless introduced his son Shear-Yashub to the king and the meaning of his son’s name was one of hope, like the prophet’s initial message. Only after this encouragement did Isaiah then introduce the bad news that if Judah continued in its rebellious ways, God would bring the Assyrians upon them (Isaiah 7:17, 20). This “bad news” was to be symbolized in Isaiah’s second son: Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, whose name was tied directly to God’s coming judgment (Isaiah 8:7).
A Twofold Message
Both sons – representing “good news” and “bad news” – were part of Isaiah’s message, as we see in the words of the prophet himself: “Here am I, and the children the Lord has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the Lord Almighty …” (Isaiah 8:18, emphasis added here and in the scriptures below). But we should notice that God directed the order of the two son’s roles. Just as the good news of hope and eventual return from captivity was delivered first with “A remnant shall return,” the second, cautionary part of Isaiah’s message was symbolized by his second son “Pillage quickly, plunder quickly.”
This duality to the prophet’s message – the good news, then the bad – is seen throughout the book of Isaiah in the successive “good” oracles and “bad” oracles. Repeatedly, God establishes his fatherly role and love for his children before addressing their sins and problems (Isaiah 1:2, 4-17, etc.). Then, after enumerating some of Judah’s sins, an encouraging positive message is given again before more problems are stressed (Isaiah 1:18-19, 20-31, etc.). Time and again we are given the good news before the bad – even in individual verses: “Zion will be delivered with justice, her penitent ones with righteousness. But rebels and sinners will both be broken, and those who forsake the Lord will perish” (Isaiah 1:28).
Two Roles of the Messiah
This pattern of “encouragement first, then judgment” found throughout Isaiah’s messages for Judah is also clearly seen in his prophecies of the promised Messiah which contain the same duality. Read, for example, Isaiah chapters 9 and 11 which both show the news of messianic love preceding the news of messianic judgment.
These differing prophecies refer to the first and second coming of the Messiah, of course. The good news of the one who would help the poor and those in need at his first coming (Isaiah 11:4a; compare Matthew 11:5) is followed by the news regarding the unrepentant: “He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth” at his second coming (Isaiah 11:4b; compare Revelation 19:15).
We understand, of course, that Jesus did judge some situations at his first coming (Isaiah 11:3, John 8:15-16) and that his second coming will eventually lead to universal restoration (Isaiah 35:6, Revelation 22:2), but the stress on Christ’s two roles at his first and second advent, as seen in Isaiah’s prophecies, fits the same pattern we see in the symbolism of the prophet’s sons and his oracles to the nations: first encouragement, then judgment.
Good News before Bad
Isaiah, then, was sent “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God” (Isaiah 61:2). Perhaps we can apply this principle in our own lives. We can adjust the guidance and correction of our children so that the “bad news” we must sometimes give them is preceded by the good news of love and acceptance. We can also consider the principle in how we share the truth with others: Isaiah’s approach argues against any presentation of the gospel only in terms of “Repent, the end is near.” Certainly we can learn from the format of Isaiah’s messages. The prophecies of Isaiah remind us it is not just the news we deliver that is important – it is also how we deliver the news.
THE NEWS
R. Herbert
At a time when Jerusalem lay under the shadow of the brutal Assyrian Empire – which had already conquered the northern tribes of Israel – the prophet Isaiah was given the difficult task of taking bad news as well as good news to the people of Judah. The book of Isaiah not only records those messages, but also shows us an important aspect of how they were delivered.
The Sons of the Prophet
After an introduction recording Isaiah’s calling and commission, the seventh chapter of this book begins to show the actual messages delivered by Isaiah, and it is at this time that the prophet’s two sons are introduced. Isaiah’s firstborn son was called Shear-Yashub, meaning “A remnant shall return” (Isaiah 7:3). His second son, introduced a little later, was named Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, meaning, “Pillage quickly, plunder quickly” (Isaiah 8:3). In modern terms these two sons might be said to represent “good news and bad news.”
At the beginning of the prophet’s work, God instructed Isaiah to take his first son, Shear-Yashub (“good news”), with him to meet Judah’s ruler Ahab and to prophesy to the king regarding an impending invasion of Judah by two local Syrian kings (Isaiah 7:3). The prophet began: “Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart…” (Isaiah 7:4).
Isaiah doubtless introduced his son Shear-Yashub to the king and the meaning of his son’s name was one of hope, like the prophet’s initial message. Only after this encouragement did Isaiah then introduce the bad news that if Judah continued in its rebellious ways, God would bring the Assyrians upon them (Isaiah 7:17, 20). This “bad news” was to be symbolized in Isaiah’s second son: Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, whose name was tied directly to God’s coming judgment (Isaiah 8:7).
A Twofold Message
Both sons – representing “good news” and “bad news” – were part of Isaiah’s message, as we see in the words of the prophet himself: “Here am I, and the children the Lord has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the Lord Almighty …” (Isaiah 8:18, emphasis added here and in the scriptures below). But we should notice that God directed the order of the two son’s roles. Just as the good news of hope and eventual return from captivity was delivered first with “A remnant shall return,” the second, cautionary part of Isaiah’s message was symbolized by his second son “Pillage quickly, plunder quickly.”
This duality to the prophet’s message – the good news, then the bad – is seen throughout the book of Isaiah in the successive “good” oracles and “bad” oracles. Repeatedly, God establishes his fatherly role and love for his children before addressing their sins and problems (Isaiah 1:2, 4-17, etc.). Then, after enumerating some of Judah’s sins, an encouraging positive message is given again before more problems are stressed (Isaiah 1:18-19, 20-31, etc.). Time and again we are given the good news before the bad – even in individual verses: “Zion will be delivered with justice, her penitent ones with righteousness. But rebels and sinners will both be broken, and those who forsake the Lord will perish” (Isaiah 1:28).
Two Roles of the Messiah
This pattern of “encouragement first, then judgment” found throughout Isaiah’s messages for Judah is also clearly seen in his prophecies of the promised Messiah which contain the same duality. Read, for example, Isaiah chapters 9 and 11 which both show the news of messianic love preceding the news of messianic judgment.
These differing prophecies refer to the first and second coming of the Messiah, of course. The good news of the one who would help the poor and those in need at his first coming (Isaiah 11:4a; compare Matthew 11:5) is followed by the news regarding the unrepentant: “He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth” at his second coming (Isaiah 11:4b; compare Revelation 19:15).
We understand, of course, that Jesus did judge some situations at his first coming (Isaiah 11:3, John 8:15-16) and that his second coming will eventually lead to universal restoration (Isaiah 35:6, Revelation 22:2), but the stress on Christ’s two roles at his first and second advent, as seen in Isaiah’s prophecies, fits the same pattern we see in the symbolism of the prophet’s sons and his oracles to the nations: first encouragement, then judgment.
Good News before Bad
Isaiah, then, was sent “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God” (Isaiah 61:2). Perhaps we can apply this principle in our own lives. We can adjust the guidance and correction of our children so that the “bad news” we must sometimes give them is preceded by the good news of love and acceptance. We can also consider the principle in how we share the truth with others: Isaiah’s approach argues against any presentation of the gospel only in terms of “Repent, the end is near.” Certainly we can learn from the format of Isaiah’s messages. The prophecies of Isaiah remind us it is not just the news we deliver that is important – it is also how we deliver the news.