In order to understand the poem, you need to understand the poet. Understanding the circumstances that brings about the text will help you understand the intended message. Isaiah is perhaps the most familiar prophet of the Old Testament, and also the least understood. Many people use the Book of Isaiah as an example of what is difficult about the bible. I have found that the greatest stumbling block to understanding Isaiah is a lack of familiarity with the man himself. Once you get a handle on his circumstances such the geography and customs of Isaiah and the people he is talking to, the passages open up. (more…)
