Many people have asked me about Isaiah, and I understand why. His voice echoes through some of the most powerful and beautiful pages of Scripture. When we open his book, we feel as if we’re standing beside a prophet who sees both the brokenness of the world and the endless mercy of God. It’s a question that touches our desire to understand how God speaks to His people, and how He still speaks to us today.
Isaiah’s message begins with a call to return to the Lord. He looks at the sin and injustice of Israel and Judah — the corruption, the empty worship, the neglect of the poor — and he tells the people that God longs for their hearts, not their rituals. “Come now, let us reason together,” the Lord says through him, “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall become white as snow.” Isaiah reminds us that repentance isn’t punishment; it’s God drawing us back into His healing love.
At the same time, Isaiah is filled with hope. In moments of darkness, he speaks of a light that will shine on those who walk in the shadow of death. He speaks of a child who will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace. He tells us of a Savior who will suffer for our sake — the Servant who takes our wounds upon Himself so that we may be healed. The Church has always recognized these words as pointing to Jesus, the Messiah promised from ancient times.
Isaiah also teaches us what it means to live faithfully in a troubled world. He calls us to trust God more deeply than we trust our fears, our politics, or our own strength. He invites us to practice justice, defend the oppressed, and care for the vulnerable. His message is not only about the future but about how we walk today — with humility, courage, and hope.
Isaiah’s voice continues to guide us because he shows that God never abandons His people. Even in times of judgment, mercy is already on the way. Even in times of exile, the Lord is preparing a path home. And even in our own struggles, God is shaping a future filled with His peace.
May the words of Isaiah help us listen more closely to the quiet voice of God — a voice calling us to repentance, to trust, and to hope in the Savior who has come and who still walks beside us.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
