Please read Isaiah 1, 6-9, 36-39, and any two or three chapters of your choice from Isaiah 40-66.Suppose you are asked to help prepare an anthology of great quotations from the ancient world. There are going to be several Isaiah quotes, and you are asked for your suggestions.
Of all of Isaiah's many quotable lines, what *two* would you single out as the best for inclusion in the anthology? What would you say to the other compilers to persuade them that these are the quotes to include?
One of the most quotable lines definitely has to be 9:6-7. "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore." This prophecy of Jesus is incredibly famous, quoted in songs and sermons, especially during the Christmas season. It directly connects to the New Testament, and because Jesus is the subject of the prophecy, it remains as one of the most important prophecies written in the Old Testament.
ReplyDeleteI think Isaiah 40:28-31 is also a viable contestant for an anthology. I won't quote the entire passage, because it's a little longer, but these verses are also famously quoted in songs ("Everlasting God" comes to mind). I even have part of this passage inscribed on a ring. These verses paint a fantastic image of God in all His power and love for His people. That's probably why it's so well-known.
One line that is very quotable is Isiah 1:3 "The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master's crib; but Israel does not know, my people do not consider" I think this is a great line to use in an anthology because it grants insight to the state of Israel at this point and the goal of Isiah. Another line is Isiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." This is a good quote for the ancient world because it establishes the prophecy which is eventually realized Jesus.
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ReplyDeleteIsaiah 38:6 “Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will add fifteen years to your life; I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria and defend this city.”
This is one of the most quotable lines from the book of Isaiah because it exemplifies God great might and power that he can deliver Israel from the brutal Assyrians and not only that but give life as he does with Hezekiah in this passage. There really is no limits put to God and the book of Isiah shows that here.
Isaiah 53:12 “He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.”
I will venture to say that the entire chapter of Isaiah 53 is best alone for an anthology. The line I chose which is a portion of verse 12 is all one needs to read to learn about Jesus and His sacrifice for the world. That he bore sin, the sin of all and made it available for us to intercess with the father, when the times of redemption comes. There’s nothing more I can say.
Isaiah 9:6 "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." I would say that this is probably one of the most influential and important pieces to in all of the Old Testament. It is almost impossible not to include this among one of the most important verses in Isaiah if not the whole Old Testament. It's one of the verses Jesus says he has come to fulfill and serves as a bedrock piece of his ministry.
ReplyDeleteIsaiah 44:28 "who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose’; saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid." This is also one of the most influential pieces in the Old Testament. It tells of Cyrus the Great who will free the Jews from captivity and will let them rebuild the temple. This is an extremely important verse to the Jews. It predicts a great and rare champion of theirs.
Dylan Schimke
ReplyDeleteMy first quote is from chapter one, verse 6-9, "From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.
Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah."
This quote is vital to have because it shows how corrupt and evil Judah and Jerusalem have become, and it says how they should be treated like Sodom and Gomorrah. This is important because it shows that the people need to start changing their ways because they cannot continue with their wickedness.
The other quote I would use would be from chapter 40, verse 1-2, "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins."
I think this is important because it shows hope. It is saying to put your trust into God, and he will give you comfort, for He has punished Jerusalem. This is vital for remembrance on how far they have come from their original wickedness, and it should remind them to not go back to their harmful ways.
Andrew Brennan
ReplyDeleteIn Isaiah chapter 6 is a profound statement that comes for Isaiah himself. After he sees the Lord in his full glory this is his response to the Lord's question.
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Through Israel's disobedience he tells the Lord to send him to tell the people the truth. The boldness and confidence that Isaiah shows is commendable and really is a testament to who God really is in all his glory.
Isaiah 53:11
The Lord will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
After the judgement expressed towards Judah we see hope in the latter chapters of Isaiah. Not that the Lord will just keep them safe, but he will satisfy the needs of his feel in the toughest times.
Quote One: Isaiah 9:6: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
ReplyDelete- Talk about the foretelling of the century! I would strongly suggest this quote to be added to the anthology because it has had such an impact on an entire religion. It is a cornerstone of prophecy within the history of the Israelites and Christianity itself--easily one of the most impactful verses in the Bible.
Quote Two: Isaiah 40:30-31: "Even youth shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
- I think this verse is one of the most encouraging and hope-filled quotes that you will ever find in any form of writing. The idea of having wings like eagles in reference to the strength that God gives you is very uplifting and heartening. I would strongly encourage those writing the anthology to include this verse because it is very widely used both inside and outside Christianity--especially the part about mounting up with "wings like eagles." The overall motivation from this passage is very powerful and should be recognized.
-Lauren Bland
1st Quote comes from Isaiah 40:3-5: "A voice proclaims in the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! Every valley shall be lifted up, every mountain and hill made low; The rugged land shall be a plain, the rough country, a broad valley. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken."
ReplyDeleteThis quote is important as it is calling the people to prepare themselves and the earth for the coming of God. While it is literally telling the people that they have to "prepare" the land/earth for God, it is really telling them that they themselves must prepare their hearts for God. They must take away anything that will distract them from God or any roadblocks that may prevent God from reaching their hearts.
2nd Quote from Isaiah 42:10-12: "Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth: Let the sea and what fills it resound, the coastlands, and those who dwell in them. Let the wilderness and its cities cry out, the villages where Kedar dwells; Let the inhabitants of Sela exult, and shout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory to the Lord, and utter his praise in the coastlands."
This quote I think is important just because it is calling for praise from among the people. Even though life may be miserable and difficult at times, its important to still praise the Lord for all the good that there is too.
ReplyDelete40:29-31
6 A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” “All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”
Everything in the world may change and fade away, but the word of God, which is the source of truth and hope, remains unchanging. Beyond its theological message, it also carries an ethical and philosophical message. Through this verse, we can discuss the concept of absolute truth.
57:1-2
1 The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understand that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil.
2 Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death
This verse suggests that the death of the righteous may seem meaningless to the world, but in fact, God is protecting them from evil and leading them into peace. It offers deep comfort to those who strive to live justly. Though things may be difficult now, it brings hope that ultimately, God will lead them into peace.
Sophia Lee
The first quote I would put in occurs in Isaiah 9:12 -
ReplyDelete"The Syrians on the east and the Philistines on the west devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still."
I chose this one because it is one of the sections that appears to be more firmly based in solid history (or plausible history). The method in which it is delivered is poetic despite the horrifying contents of it.
The second quote I would choose occurs in Isaiah 40:19 -
"An idol! A craftsman casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and casts for it silver chains. He who is too impoverished for an offering chooses wood that will not rot; he seeks out a skillful craftsman to set up an idol that will not move."
I chose these ones because it is an aspect of everyday lives that is rarely touched on. While we hear all about kings and how they're surrounded by gold and figures made of gold, we rarely think of those who make it, or those who are too poor to afford gold idols and instead opt for a wooden piece.
We are getting a small glimpse into a smaller, 'less important' aspect of the lives these people may have lived.
Isiah 1:11-12
ReplyDeleteWhat do I care for the multitude of your sacrifices? Says the Lord. I have had enough of the burnt offering of rams and the fat of the fattened animals. I do not delight in the blood of Lambs or Goats. When you come to appear before me, who asked you about this? The trampling of my courts?
I picked this verse because it discusses the Lord's sacrifices. He gives them enough to live, and that is beautiful.
In Isaiah 38:5, 7, the Lord adds 15 years to Hezekiah's life and promises to deliver him to the city from Assyria.
I think Isiah is rather beautiful in its storytelling.
-Brady Metzinger
Two quotes I chose from Isaiah are:
ReplyDeleteIsaiah 26: 3-4
Those in steadfast mind you keep in peace - in peace because they trust you. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God you have an everlasting rock.
Isaiah 40: 8
The grass withers, the flowers fades; but the word of our God will stand forever.
These two verses outline the beauty in the permanence of the Lord, which is the permeance of the truth.