The Book of Isaiah

Isaiah Big Idea: Yahweh will destroy the pride and self-righteousness of humanity and glorify his name through the salvation of his Messiah.

The anger and wrath of God expressed in this book is generally against the pride and self-righteousness of humanity. "For Yahweh of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up- and it shall be brought low...." (Isaiah 2:12). The day of Yahweh is a day when he brings low all by which man lifts himself up. As it says about Jacob, "Their land is filled with silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures; their land is filled with horses, and there is no end to their chariots. Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their own finders have made." These things listed are things which Jacob (and all humanity as the author is careful to clarify) has looked to for security. They have turned from Yahweh and bowed down to these things. The day of Yahweh consists of this sort of idolatrous foundation being completely pulled out from beneath humanity. Yahweh is glorified when human beings display faith in him, for it speaks of the truth that he is the sovereign ruler, Father, and that he is forever powerful. Idolatry glorifies earthly things. So for the sake of his own name he does this (Is 48:11). Yet he also provides salvation through his anointed one, his Messiah, who offers quite explicit imputed righteousness (Is 53:4-6). This salvation is from Yahweh, and when humanity looks to this salvation Yahweh will be glorified. This way of salvation is the only way of salvation, and all other idols will fall through, but this one way of salvation will stand forever (Is 47:8-15).