Study Major Books of the Bible

Dear CoaH,

The book of Isaiah is one of the three OT books that are most quoted in the NT (the Pentateuch and the Psalms being the other two). There is a reason why Isaiah is quoted extensively in the NT. The sixty-six chapters have a clear progression on how the world will end. Starting with God's judgment over Israel, the neighboring nations, and the entire world, the book introduces the coming of the Messiah as God's provision for man's sin. The Suffering Servant (our Lord Jesus Christ) is God's solution to take our punishment.

The following verse is very familiar to us:

"But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed." (Isa. 53:5)

The rest of the book addresses the coming Kingdom and how it will be fulfilled.

So, the book of Isaiah is quite comprehensive on the salvation history of the Bible. It is important, then, for God's people to know this book by heart, along with other key books like the books of Romans and Revelation.

Have you studied the book of Isaiah in a systematic way before, starting with reading through the book, making an outline, and then noticing the key ideas in each section? If you have not done so, I challenge you to do it. Why don't you take a day or two during your vacation, and immerse yourself into the book of Isaiah? If the sheer length of Isaiah is intimidating, you may want to browse online and see how others made their outlines.

Once you have grasped the big picture of the book of Isaiah, you can also work your way back from the NT quotations to the passages in Isaiah. You will be surprised how often our Lord or the NT writers quoted Isaiah. Studying major books of the Bible is crucial for our spiritual growth. I pray that you will be in the habit of doing so.

May the Lord bless you as you get into His word.

Pastor Minho Song