Books 22 and 23 The Book Of Song Of Songs And The Book Of Isaiah
Who wrote the book of Song of Songs: Solomon When was it written: 10th century B.C.
Why was it written: This book (also called the Song of Solomon) is a love story. The book was written to give insight as to the Israelite customs and attitudes on male-female relationships.
The book of Song of Songs is one of two books of the Bible that makes no mention of God—the other being Esther. The book has no doctrinal message, but it is a book of value to Christians nonetheless.
The value to be found in the book of Song of Songs is that God created us to be sexual beings—sexual beings with a pure heart and minds. God clearly created the institute of marriage when he created the earth and mankind.
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He does, however, want us to enjoy our marital state and the joys that come from the romantic and sexual aspects of marriage. Song of Songs helps us free ourselves of a Puritan-like mindset; giving us ‘permission’ to delight in our sexual experiences as long as they are monogamous and within the bounds of marriage.
The Book of Isaiah
Who wrote the Book of Isaiah: Isaiah
When was it written: Most of the book was written around 700 B.C., but many things point to the last several chapters being written in the later part of Isaiah’s life—some thirty years after the first part of the book.
Why was it written: The overall message of the book can be summed up in the words judgment, salvation, restoration, and love.
Isaiah is the most ‘popular’ of the Old Testament prophets for a number of reasons including:
- His years of serving as God’s prophet spanned four Judean kings (Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah).
- A great many of his prophecies were about the coming of Jesus and their fulfillment is obviously present in the New Testament as well as in more current history.
Isaiah’s Prophecies Regarding Israel
In spite of the fact that Isaiah lived in Judah, many of his prophecies were about the kingdom of Israel and their fall to Assyria.
He did, however, also prophecy about Judah’s exile to Babylon as well as the fall of Babylon that would come years later. Isaiah’s heart for all God’s children (Israel and Judah) was sincere.
He had weathered the battles between the two nations that should have been one. He knew their separation from one another and from God caused God great sorrow and he (Isaiah) wanted very much for the people to listen to the messages God gave him to share with the people. But they would not.
The demise of the two nations of Israelites is tempered by his prophecies of God’s promise to restore them to the land he gave them through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
The restoration, however, is only for the kingdom of Judah because they found their way back to God, whereas Israel did not. Judah’s return and the rebuilding of The Temple had to have been a tremendous source of joy to Isaiah.
Isaiah’s Prophecies Regarding Judgement And Hope
While Isaiah’s warnings are definitely literal in nature, they can also be seen in a somewhat figurative, as well. The figurative nature of Isaiah’s prophecies refers to God’s kingdom here on earth—a kingdom that is spiritual in nature rather than physical.
Isaiah’s Prophecies About Jesus
Isaiah was spot-on in his prophecies regarding Jesus—his ancestry, birth, ministry, death, resurrection, and as we will one day see, his second coming.
While secular history undeniably backs up the events of Israel, Judah, Babylon, and Assyria, the fact that a man who lived hundreds of years prior to Jesus’ birth could tell us in such detail what was going to take place, well, that could only come from the Almighty God.
Let’s take a look at what Isaiah had to say about Jesus long before he was ever born:
Isaiah 7:14-Virgin birth of Jesus
Isaiah 9:6-7-He would be the son of God (he lists some of the names given to Jesus)
Isaiah 11:1-10-The Messiah would be a descendant of Jesse (King David)
Isaiah 50:6-Jesus would spit on and beaten
Isaiah 53:12-The Messiah would be ‘numbered with the transgressors’ (die with criminals)
Isaiah 5 3:9-Jesus would be buried in a rich man’s tomb
Isaiah 49:6-The message of salvation through Jesus would reach the far corners of the earth
Some feel the book of Isaiah is depressing and somewhat difficult to understand. In some ways, it is depressing—to think that we cause God that much sorrow should make us feel ashamed.
And while the language or terminology can be a bit old-fashioned, it isn’t impossible to understand.
It simply takes a heart and mind open to what God has to say. Besides, in reading the book of Isaiah, one cannot help but see the hope that comes from God’s love—a love that is shown so clearly through his gift of restoration and salvation through Jesus.