Word Biblical Themes: Isaiah

Description for WORD BIBLICAL THEMES: ISAIAH by John D W Watts:

Isaiah is well known for its Messianic prophecies, but another aspect of the prophet's writing is its revelation of God's inauguration of a new age for his people---an age in which servanthood, not rulership, is the sign of their election. The Vision of Isaiah, additionally , describes God as the Lord of History who calls and dismisses the nations, determines their destinies, divides the ages into old and new, and determines the eventual course of humankind.

In this analysis of the major themes in the Book Of Isaiah, John D W Watts divides them into two categories: revelation and servanthood. "one the one hand," he says, "Isaiah's presentation of the character and work of God is revelation at its best. On the other, it treats the them of serving God and those who do it as comprehensively as any part of the Scripture."

The prophet's treatment of knowing God uses the names that are applied to him most frequently. These names in turn fall into two categories: God in his governance of the world, the nations, and Canaan, and God as he is known and worshiped in his temple.

The service of God may also be divided into two basic forms that correspond to the understanding of God's work and presence. There are servants of God who relate to him in governing, and there are servants who are related in worship. Again the treatment in this book deals with them accordingly.