The Symphony of Isaiah, Part Two

This part of the symphony reflects the powerful rhythmic style typical of prophetic preaching. But an extended block of material which is predominately prose describes Sennacherib's invasion and its outcome, and finally resolves the Assyrian crisis and deals with Hezekiah's illness and his reception of envoys from Merodach Baladan. That, in turn, prophesies the Babylonian crisis, which casts its shadow over the rest. The structural pivot on which the whole book turns is preceded by three units which end with the redeemed singing God's praises in Zion, or on their way to it - the overall movement from Jerusalem to new Jerusalem and from fallen creation to new creation. This movement takes place again and again within and across the whole book. We are given frequent anticipations and pledges of life in the new creation all the way through the Book - we glimpse the end many times before we finally arrive and rest there.