Isaiah served as a prophet from many years and during the reign of four kings: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. There are some who think Isaiah’s ministry lasted until he was killed by Hezekiah’s son, Manasseh, close to 700 B.C.; that would have made Isaiah’s ministry about 55 years long.
Isaiah has generally been divided into two sections: chapters 1-39 dealing with historical events revolving around the Assyrian invasions of Judah while chapters 40-66 deal with future events. The New King James Study Bible published by Thomas Nelson confines chapters 40-55 as dealing with the Jews in Babylonian captivity and chapters 55-66 dealing with the post-exile period. Scattered throughout Isaiah are prophetic references to the coming Messiah: i.e. Isaiah 7:14, 9:6, and chapter 53.
Isaiah 2 and Micah 4, two prophecies written about the same time sound quite similar, that
indicate a time when there will be peace on the earth. Is this a picture of some futuristic kingdom or could it be indicating a possibility of life on earth if God’s people would respond to God’s commands. When the Angels announced the birth of the Messiah to the shepherds, they sang “Glory to God in highest heaven and peace on earth to men”. Remember Jesus instructed His disciples to pray “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. Were these words just wishful thinking or were they messages to God’s people to strive for God’s kingdom on earth?
Key verses: “And now the Sovereign Lord and His Spirit have sent me with this message. This is what the Lord says – your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow. Oh, that you had listened to My commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling over you like waters in the sea’.” Isaiah 48:16-18 NLT.