Isaiah is the first of what are called the major prophets, distinguished by the length of their work, not the quality. Literary critics love Isaiah for its poetry, its vocabulary (largest in the Old Testament), and its uplifting vision of a better future.Christians sometimes call it the “Fifth Gospel” because it’s referenced often by New testament writers.

There is an ongoing controversy over whether the book was written by one or more authors, but at least we can say Isaiah is associated with the period from 740-700 B.C. when Assyria was on the move across the lands of the Middle East. His warnings to Judah of impending disaster occupy the first half (chapter 1-39) while words of comfort take up the balance of the book.

One interesting note is that the prophets were often called to act out some aspect of God’s message. In Isaiah’s case he dressed as a slave for three years as a symbol of the fate of Egypt as it attempted to stand up to Assyria. He also gave his son a long name that tied in to the Assyrian invasion. You will see this real-life drama in the lives of other prophets who used this tool to visually demonstrate God’s messages to his people.