Discovering Isaiah: Introduction to the Prophet and His Times

The world in which Isaiah prophesied was vibrant, perilous, and charged with tension. Isaiah’s ministry began during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah—kings of Judah in the 8th century BCE. At that time, the nascent kingdoms of Israel and Judah coexisted in a fragile relationship, each struggling for its own security amidst looming foreign threats, most notably the Assyrian Empire. While the northern kingdom of Israel often compromised, seeking alliances and emulating foreign customs, Judah experienced its own waves of reform, apostasy, and political intrigue. This was not a mere backdrop for Isaiah’s words, but a very real context in which decisions would determine the fate of nations.