Dec
19
7 Helps for understanding Isaiah
Filed Under Study Helps
1. Liken the words unto us- Isaiah is richer and fuller for application than any other book in the Old Testament.
2. Look 4 the Savior- There is more about Jesus and his critical mission in Isaiah If we look hard we will see him.
3. Read it as Poetry- Isaiah wrote it as such and we will get far more out of it if we read it that way. Think of the lines from Hamlet " To be, or not to be? That is the question?" When you read if you’re like 98% of us you read it like poetry. Even though it is written here in a prose layout. Do the same with Isaiah. SLOW down and soak in its beauty, then you’ll break through the hard crust and see the beauty that is the Book of Isaiah
4. Think Symbolically- As with most poetry it is full of symbols, metaphors, and similes. Be sure that you grasp the what He meant before moving on. IE "thought your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; thought they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Isaiah 1:18 notice both snow and wool are coverings. The word Atonement in Hebrew was Kafar meaning to Cover. Not only did Isaiah choose these 2 symbols because of their whiteness but also because they both cover, thus testifying of the Lord’s eternal covering of our sins, which truly are as scarlet, and crimson.
5. Embrace Confusion- Don’t be uncomfortable with not understanding, usually we get uncomfortable and quit not wanting to be dumb even to ourselves. Embrace the Confusing knowing that means you have a great chance to learn some new critical truth. I always get excited when I’m confused because you must have confusion before the great Ah ha! Enlightenments.
6. Know the History of the Time- you knew it was coming. Isaiah quotes stories or refers to them with often single word references, similar to the way we quote movies. Problem is most of us have no idea about what he is referring to. We need to start plugging away, at paying the price to learn the history. Follow the footnotes if your bible has them back to the original story for better context.
7. Ask Questions- I love to write questions to myself and then answer them. As I’m reading I jot them down and then ask about them in my prayers before I finish studying. I get more good feelings and insight this way than any other. Study with out questions and prayer is limited. Never give up. Isaiah is beautiful, it is Isaiah Jesus chose to quote when announcing his divine son-ship to his friends and relatives in Nazareth (Luke 4:16-22).
Keep the Faith!
