Isaiah tells Israel that the day will come when they will no longer fear God, but will love Him because He has become their Salvation. The footnotes in my Bible tell me that God's anger has caused his people to be dispersed, but at this time they will be regathered together through His grace. God saves us all.
We are also told to go out into the earth and proclaim good news; to praise God and tell the people about Him what He has done for us. It is the "inhabitant of Zion" that will proclaim this: those who have had to live in exile but are now returned. God's people have come home through His grace. I like to read this section as symbolic for God's people, those who choose to follow Him. We have been redeemed, returned from exile so to say, and we are now called to spread the Word.
Ch. 13 begins the description of the Lord's judgment on certain nations, beginning with Babylon. Babylon is also metaphorically representative of all nations. I think this chapter can be summed up quickly by acknowledging that the day of the Lord will not be one of those happy, sunny, care-free days, and what will remain will be fit only for unclean animals. How this fits into Messianic prophecy, I have not yet decided...suggestions?
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I don't see how chapter 12 has anything to do about gathering people together by grace, though I can see that it is possible to conceive of it as part of the Messianic prophecy . . . that is, I would think it were possible to see the wrath of God and the praise of God contemporaneously.
I like to think of it as a metaphor for us, too; especially as it reaffirms the bits in chapters 8-9 when Isaiah talked about the righteous man waiting for and hoping in God; "I will trust and not be afraid" (12:2).
Does the last bit need to fit into Messianic prophecy? I would actually like a bit more information on this: I see a lot of information about the details that Christ fulfills listed verse by verse, but is Messianic prophecy a holistic function of the Book of Isaiah? The introduction in my version says that many different eras have interpreted Isaiah for their own times with valid relevance.
Isn't it by God's grace that the enemies are finally vanquished? We know Israel sure wasn't able to win on its own, or even with an alliance with Egypt. Also it says, "with joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation" (12:3). I don't think there is ever any salvation without grace, even pre-Christianity. You're being given something that doesn't belong to you by rights, so that can only be by grace, can't it?
The part about proclaiming the news is tough. I tend not to talk much about my faith with people, intimidated by how many times folks have proclaimed the good news in an obnoxious or self-righteous manner. It says pretty clearly though, "Give thanks to the Lord, acclaim his name...make known his deeds...proclaim..." Nowhere does it say, "and do not annoy!"
As to messianic prophecy, I'm afraid I threw a curve ball when I said we would focus on it, but cover all of Isaiah. As it turns out, the specific references to the Messiah usually listed stops between chapters 11 and 22. You see how much I needed this bible study... Anyway, we can still look at generalities. I think every time the people of Israel relied on God as their savior is a sort of echo, (pre-echo?) a foretelling of the ultimate saving act to come. The part about the fountain of salvation particularly reminds me of when Jesus tells the woman at the well that he will provide her with living water, and she will never thirst again.
I don't think there is salvation without grace, either; I just don't see how grace is directly related to this text without putting it in the light of Messianic prophecy. The footnote seems premature, but not inappropriate.
"Proclaiming the news" is an interesting thing that I have been thinking about a lot lately. I usually end up in philosophical discussions over ethics in my classes, and then having to qualify my position. You'd think this would make people upset (that I base my perspective on an faith-based religion), but I've made more friends this way (who keep in touch, and keep asking questions/starting conversations) than I have with avowed Christians who are finished searching and have let themselves become content. The last few times, I don't even think I've annoyed the ones I end up telling. Nettled, interested, poked at their intellectual love handles, maybe, but people are looking and some of them want what we have badly enough to ask. I'm not saying I argue well for the faith (anybody who knows me knows to the contrary; my big mouth and lack of tact are no secret) but that when people really want the truth and they see that you have it or even a piece of it, they are not silent.
Some Christians just need to be encouraged, too--it was a simple gesture of my roommates that we prayed before each meal we took together and compared the biblical texts we were reading that day (J and I were on a different reading schedule). I consider that a praise to God. Just so is this bible study.
There's some more bits of Messianic prophecy than just 11-22! What about chapter 53? Isaiah seems to be more of a book of preparation--the trust in God even without understanding (what Jew would not be confused at the teachings of Christ! It is no easy thing), and the consistent urge for Israel to have a personal relationship with their God; these herald the coming of Christ, I think.
But yeah, maybe it is better that we stick to generalities. A lot of the material that Isaiah brings up is very intuitive and basic--earth, fire, water, parenthood, war (same thing?)--so it is probably appropriate. Symbolism and allegory are actually valid, here. Oddly. Enough.
To clarify the regathering:
The footnote for 12:1 in my (amazingly unhelpful) study Bible informs me that, regarding "angry," it is Gods anger which caused the people to be dispersed among the nations, and that it is His grace that leads to their regathering. This is an essential part of God's plan for His people, I think, and is expounded upon in 14:1-2.
What I don't understand, and what my study Bible does not inform me about, is why God is judging the nations.
[This may be inappropriate and is possibly too much of an over-generalization, but reading this reminds me of having a dog. You have a dog, you love it, feed it, etc. It pees on the floor, eats your socks, etc. So you lock it up by itself in hopes that it will learn to behave. The dog is very sad. You let it out. The dog loves you for saving it and leaps about panting and what not. You continue to feed the dog, love the dog, etc. It pees on the floor and eats your socks...
It seems to me that the Bible is full of this vicious cycle between God and His people. It is only God's love and His patience that keeps them alive at all.]
Hmm. I thought it was his people's unfaithfulness. That's usually what it is. Or perhaps I have read too much of the pentateuch. Gah, will have to g back to the beginning.
I think your analogy is correct in its irony, but the fact that we willingly turn away from God in spite of his incredible love to us is what doesn't fit into your story. But it does seem as if we have no rational soul, sometimes; the way we act doesn't always show.
I see why he is judging the nation of Israel; it's Babylon and Assyria and Ethiopia and what-not that gets me, and my Bible doesn't explain the historical or metaphorical meaning behind it all.
Quick explanation of my ambiguous words. I meant that the obvious messianic references stop between 11 and 22. They occur before and again after.
But back to judging. I'm not entirely sure why God is judging the nations either except that they were beating Israel up, and now he's intervening. But I'm not sure why they're warned by Isaiah. Were they also given a chance to turn back? Or is it just to comfort Israel? If so, why specify the details for each nation; why not just say, "I'm going to do such and such to all your enemies!" In short, I am confused.
Quele--Oh, dear. I misread your words; you weren't vague. I need to stop trying to post over my morning coffee and right before I go to sleep. I'm bad enough as it is.
Caddy--I give up. In the preface to my translation there is a lot of information about wars and politics of the time and I think that probably holds the answer but I don't understand it well enough to regurgitate it coherently.
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