Author’s Preface

IT HAS BEEN A SPECIAL PRIVILEGE to be able to write a second commentary on the book of Isaiah, one that focuses particularly on contemporary application. This task has proven more arduous than I originally anticipated, and the reader must judge how successful I have been. Nevertheless, it has been a profitable exercise for me and has left me with an even deeper appreciation for the prophet Isaiah and his towering accomplishment. He has written a book that is no less pointed and relevant in its application to the present than when it was first written 2,700 years ago. He has left his mark—and more importantly, God’s mark—on the world, and that mark will last until the end of time.

Having said that, I am conscious of how often I have only been able to scratch the surface of the depths contained in it. It is profoundly humbling to be able to get a glimpse of the wonders contained within the words of the prophet and then be able to express them only in part. But I have expressed them as well as I can, and I gratefully leave the result to God.

I want to express my thanks to the trustees of Wesley Biblical Seminary, who granted me a research leave during which the bulk of the writing was completed. I also want to thank Terry Muck and Andrew Dearman, who read the manuscript carefully and made valuable suggestions. The editors at Zondervan, Jack Kuhatschek and Verlyn Verbrugge, were also unfailingly helpful.

Then there were my prayer partners—Sam Biebers, Stuart Kellogg, Daniel Koehn, Keith Megehee, and James Wolheter—whose prayers carried me along through the project.

Finally, I want to acknowledge Karen, my wife and life partner, without whose unfailing love, encouragement, and care none of what I have done would have ever happened.