Religion & Spirituality
Having promised the return from Exile, Isaiah deals with the problem that will follow from the Restoration. Israel - even the righteous remnant - does not have the strength to overcome their enemies. The Restoration is not going to change the basic character of the Exiles.--Therefore Isaiah promises that a Messiah will come - an anointed one - through whom God will establish his kingdom. If Isaiah 1-37 is the Book of the King, and Isaiah 38-55 is the Book of the Servant, then Isaiah 56-66 is the Book of the Messiah, the anointed conqueror who will bring salvation to his people and vengeance to his enemies.--And the Sabbath functions as one of the central themes of this section. Isaiah 56 opens with a blessing upon Sabbath-keepers, and chapter 58 concludes with a call to delight in the Sabbath.--Chapter 61, at the center of the book, proclaims the Jubilee-the year of the Lord's favor - --the ultimate Sabbath year, according to Leviticus 25-.--And chapter 63 speaks again of the -year of redemption,- before the whole section concludes in chapter 66-18-24 with the glory of the eschatological Sabbath...