Isaiah is a book of promises, and thereby because of that, it is one of the most inspiring hope-filled books in all of scripture. May I illustrate?

“Sanctify the Lord of hosts [himself]; let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary…” (Isaiah 8:13-14).

You know, these days who doesn’t need a sanctuary? – a safe place.

“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” (Isaiah 9:2)

Today our world is still in the shadow of death. And ever more and still Jesus is a great light shining in this world.

“Cry out and shout, thou inhabitants of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.” (Isaiah 12:6).

If only we realized – He indeed is still in our midst; He is so close.

Isaiah said this of Jesus, “…I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his Father’s house.” (Isaiah 22:23).

Jesus is a ‘nail in a sure place.’ We can trust Him. He is sure and certain, and all our worthy hopes and dreams can hang on Him and will be fulfilled.

“He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces…“ (Isaiah 25:8)

Death sooner or later stings us all and makes us weep. But in the Lord Jesus Christ our loved ones will be returned, and our tears will be turned to joy.

“Hearken unto me, O House of Jacob…which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: and even to your old age, I am he; and even to [your] hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.” (Isaiah 46:3-4)

From the cradle to the grave, you belong to the Lord. He will carry you; He will deliver you. You do not walk alone!

“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee” (Isaiah 43:1-2)

You know, in the hardest of times, stay with the Lord, and He will not let those trials, those rivers and fires, overwhelm you.

And again, the Lord said, “…I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction” (Isaiah 48:10).

Well, that ‘thee’ is you. It is in those times when the heat is turned up that the Lord watches most closely, and you stand to please Him the most.

“…thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.” (Isaiah 49:23)

All of your life you have foregone worldly pleasures for the Lord’s sake. Is it worth it? Oh, yes! It’s worth it! Wait and see.

“For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer” (Isaiah 54:7-8)

Oh, thank God for this promise. I have known few joys in my life to compare with the joy of forgiveness.

“…he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain.” (Isaiah 57:13).

You know, you may be poor and struggling right now, but if you keep the faith, someday you will inherit the earth and all that the Lord has! That promise is sure!

Now, in the scriptures the Lord gives forth His promises, especially in Isaiah. As we read those promises, the Spirit bears witness that they also apply to us as well as the ancients, and when that happens we are filled with hope, faith, and the strength to carry on. That, my friend, is one of the ways we liken Isaiah to ourselves.