How does Isaiah combine rebuke of Israel with a hope for their future?
Isaiah confronts Israel’s iniquities and sins with needed rebuke, yet consistently turns back to the prospect of their glorious future. God’s mercy will not depart, and David’s house, kingdom, and throne will be established forever, ultimately fulfilled when the Messiah, the Eternal Son, reigns as King. Thus correction and hope stand together.
Les explains that Isaiah has to castigate and scold Israel and preach at them for their iniquities and sins, but then he always comes back with a prospect of their glorious future. Earlier, God says that even though He will bring other nations to punish them and put them under their control, His mercy shall not depart from him, going back to Solomon and the whole nation of Israel as He took it from Saul. God then looks down the corridors of time and says David’s house and the kingdom that really began with David shall be established forever, and David’s throne shall be established forever. David and Solomon died and were buried, but the forever aspect refers to the Messiah, the Eternal Son of God, coming to be King over this kingdom. Isaiah speaks much of Israel’s coming glory, so rebuke is followed by future hope.
The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.