more about Isaiah from Oswalt

"Isaiah is a book of contrasts. Again and again polar opposite are played off against each other, as is apparent from even cursory study of the first six chapters. Some of the contrasts are: divine glory versus human degradation; judgment versus redemption; height versus depth; God's wisdom versus the idols' stupidity; fecundity (yeah, I had to look that up) and abundance versus barrenness and desolation; arrogance versus humility. ...There is no reason to conclude that the author is merely enamored with a literary device. Rather, as is clear from ch. 6, his whole pattern of thought has been affected by the tremendous contrast between the greatness of God and the corruption of humanity. But caught up with this contrast is the amazing paradox that if humanity will lay aside its pretensions to deity, the true God will raise us to fellowship with himself. These two thoughts form the heart of the book's theology.

(Speaking of the theology of God in the book of Isaiah) ...But [God's] greatness is not merely in his power; it is also in his ability to stoop. Conquerors cannot bend down to the lowly; the God of eternity is mighty enough to do so. Isaiah seems to be saying that if humanity could ever glimpse the true picture of God's greatness and glory, our problem would be o its way to being solved. ...Above everything else the realization which struck the prophet in his call experience (ch. 6) was the realization of the terrifying "otherness" of God. ...Because of his faithfulness, because he alone is the Maker, and because he will do what is right, he may be trusted to redeem; and his willingness to redeem against all the odds will be the vindication of his holiness as well as the expression of it. Refusal to trust in him is in fact a denial of his holiness. Finally, it is God's purpose that his people should share his character. ...God is free to do anything, even something brand new, to serve his sovereign, faithful purposes.

(Speaking of the theology of humanity and the world in the book of Isaiah) ...The harder we try to make ourselves something, the more like nothing we become. Isaiah notes frequently that it is God who smashes these pretensions. And so it is. ...Though they tried to exclude the Holy One from their computations, he was too real to be so excluded. ...On the other hand, just as pretensions to significance must lead to insignificance for creation, so will the giving of true significance to God result in glory for humanity and the world. ...When God, the personal Creator, is exalted as Holy Lord, the purposeful Maker, then the universe is a place of value and significance. Likewise, human beings are important because God chooses to make them reflections of his glory and to share his holy character with them. Are the failures and atrocities of humanity signs of its fundamental worthlessness? No, they are the results of refusals to let God be Lord. If we will allow him his rightful place, then redemption, exaltation, and glory are ours.

(Speaking of the theology of sin in the book of Isaiah) ...God is the only Lord, and the only Holy One. He has made all things for his sovereign purposes; he is directing history to its final conclusion of universal health and peace. How incredible, then, that human being, the work of his hands, should stand up against him and say no! Yet we have done so, and all the evil in the world springs from that refusal to accept God's fundamental lordship. ...For Isaiah this rebellion is an expression of human pride. We refuse to accept our creatureliness; we refuse to admit that we are dependent. ...The fruit of alienation, unfaithfulness, and oppression is destruction - the rampant self seeks to destroy everything it cannot control.

(Speaking of the theology of judgment and redemption in the book of Isaiah) ...God is not content for judgment to be the last word. ...According to Isaiah, the basis of redemption lies precisely in the faithfulness of a God who is willing to let his anger go and is unwilling that his people should be estranged from him. ..Thus it is plain that the means of salvation can only be through God's activity. Humanity is helpless to redeem itself in God's sight or even to change its behavior. ...Who is this atoning One through whom redemption comes? It is the ideal king, the promised anointed one (Messiah). This picture of the one who suffers with his people, redeems his people, rules over his people, and suffers for his people gives a total view of the means whereby God expects to deliver his people from both the causes and the effects of sin. ...The conditions for redemption are everywhere the same in the book: a renunciation of one's own pride and a corresponding acknowledgment of God's sole rulership, an acceptance of God's provision for deliverance, and a willingness to function as God's servant. ..Redemption is not merely people's deliverance from the guilt of past sins, but also the sharing of his holy character. ...Sin produces degradation, but submission produces glory. ...God alone is truly glorious. ...But God does not want us to destroy ourselves; rather, he wishes to impart his glory to all who will abandon their trust in themselves, accept his free grace, and commit themselves to righteous living. It is the servants of the Holy who find true glory. To be redeemed, in Isaiah's view, is to have gladly accepted the role of servant."

And this is only a highlight of what I read. Ugh. So good.