Reading for April 20th

Read Isaiah 6.1-13. In 6.1-13: The prophet's call and commission. In verses 1-8: The year in which King Uzziah died is not precisely known, but his death occurred sometime btween 742 and 736 BCE. The king (also called Azariah, 2 Kings 15.1-7) had been stricken with serve illness (2 Kings 15.50), which meant that his son Jotham served for a time aas co-regent with him before succeeding to the throne (2 kings 15.7). This co-regency period must be included in the sixteen years ascribed to Jotham's reign (2 Kings 15.33). It was in this time that a major conflict arose between an alliance of Syria-Israel (Ephraim) and Judah (2 Kings 15.37). The central issue was resistance against Assyrian expansion in the region. (see 2 Kings 15.17-20). Judah's neighbors intended to remove Ahaz from his throne and to replace him with anotherwise unknown figure called Tabeel (7.6). Isaiah's call therefore came at a time when Assyrian interference was beginnng to cause severe political upheaveal in the region. In verses 9-10: The sharp irony of the commission given to Isaiah implies awareness of the popular hostility to his message and the people's refusal to accept it (see 8.11-15). In verse 11: One of Isaiah's central warnings is that the entire land of Israel will be ruined because of the rejection of God's message. The continuing relevance of these porphecies led to their preservation in this book. In verses 12-13: The cruel Assyrian policy of exiling whole popualtions (see 36.17) is reflected in this warning. The further threat that, even after severe devastation, the land will be burned again reflects later awareness of depredations by both Assyrains and Babylonian's armies. Comments or Questions..