The Vision of the Prophet Isaiah

""Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!"" Isaiah's words are deeply loved by many who attend Sunday services. But how many can say that they have actually read this book? This commentary invites you to read Isaiah from the era when it reached its sixty-six-chapter form and came to be part of Israel's sacred writings. Three memories helped to give shape to the Isaiah scroll. The first memory is of the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 BCE. How could God have allowed that to happen? The opening section of the scroll addresses that question. The second memory involves the fall of Babylon after 562 BCE. People, nations, and even empires rise and fall. The second section of the scroll addresses war and the sorrows of war. The third memory is of Cyrus of Persia, who allowed the exiles to return home after 539 BCE. His actions are presupposed, not just in the joyful poetry of the latter chapters of the scroll, but also in the confidence in God's love that runs through the entire scroll. God is the Lord of all nations and of all creation. Isaiah is a theological interpretation of past history. It is a passionate call for people to live with integrity, compassion, and hope. ""Joe Everson's scholarship and experience as a teacher of Scripture are on display in his new study of the book of Isaiah. This 'synchronic' reading, as he describes it, provides reliable historical, theological, and literary perspectives on the full book of Isaiah. This commentary is a clear and accessible guide for Bible students and curious readers alike."" --Scott Tunseth, General Editor, Fortress Press ""The strengths of this work are obvious. This is a unified reading of the book of Isaiah that is not uncritical. Full attention is given to the historical context in the post-exilic era and how the message of the book interacts with that. The interpretive comment is succinct, to the point, and well presented. The integration of a translation and comment is appealing."" --Patrick D. Miller, Professor Emeritus, Princeton Theological Seminary, ""The in-depth commentary offers an understanding of the book to anyone who wishes to read and learn, and the commentary provides common ground for Jews and Christians to reflect together about the message of Isaiah."" --Belle Michael, California Lutheran University ""This commentary by A. Joseph Everson is concise and to the point. It is not overbearing or tedious; rather, it is insightful and well-focused. This work will assist readers to deeply explore and understand what is most important in the Isaiah scroll. From the post-exilic era, the Isaiah scroll comes into focus as a theological interpretation of past history."" --Jeremy Kays, Journey the Church, Camarillo, California A. Joseph Everson is professor emeritus of religion at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California. He has taught Hebrew and biblical studies for over forty years at Luther College in Iowa; at St. John's University in Minnesota; as a pastor in St. Paul from 1975-1990; and at California Lutheran University, where he was a member of the Religion Department from 1990-2012.