Christ in Isaiah

by F.B. Meyer

F. B. Meyer unveils the Savior in chapters 40 through 55 of Isaiah's prophecy. Meyer's vivid language extracts the meanings and applications behind these powerful prophetic words. Just as Phillip explained the meaning of Isaiah 53 to the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-35, Meyer reveals Jesus Christ in Isaiah and Christian experience to us in Isaiah’s prophecy. As with Meyer's other writings, Christ In Isaiah, written in his matchless prose, captures the meaning of Isaiah's prophecies unlike any other writer could.

Genres: Theology

182 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 12, 1941

About the author

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

Reviews

[Mina Syrian · Rating 2 out of 5]

المسيح في سفر اشعياء
الكتاب عبارة عن تأملات في النصف التاني من سفر اشعياء
تاني مرة اقراه ..عشان في المرة الاولي مركزتش قوي فحسيته اتكروت...بس للاسف نفس اللي طلعت بيه من المرة الاولي
الاسلوب تقليدي في الكتاب ...ممل في كتير من فصوله..كنت متوقع احسن من كدة بكتير ...خاصة الاصحاحات اللي بيتكلم فيها دية مليانة كتير


من الحاجات القليلة الحلوة في الكتاب تعليقه علي " اسوارك امامي دائما انت لي " :ان ربنا دايما كان شايف اورشليم في صورتها الحلوة الجملية اللي اسوارها مبنية و عظيمة ...حتي و هي مسبية و اسوارها مهدومة
هو بيعاملنا و بيبصلنا كدة برضة ....شايفنا في صورتنا الحلوة ..حتي و احنا متبهدلين و واقعين في الخطية

[Johnny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ornate in language, simple in content, and inspiring in its conclusions, the preaching of F. B. Meyer, late 19th to early 20th century pulpiteer, is worth exploring. Christ in Isaiah clearly spiritualizes prophecies from Israel’s experiences in the 8th century and beyond (BCE), but Meyer does not do so without recognizing the historical clues and cues to be found in these passages from the Hebrew Bible. I like to read Meyer every so often for my own devotional refreshment.

To demonstrate the ornate nature of the language, consider this description as Meyer builds on Isaiah 48:18’s similitude. “Their peace might have been as a river. Not as the brook, as it gushes rapturously forth, breaking musically on the stones, and flashing in the glee of its early life; not as a streamlet hardly filling its wide bed, and scarcely affording water enough for the fish to pass to its higher reaches; but like a river far down its course, sweeping along with majestic current, deep and placid, able to bear navies on its broad expanse, to collect and carry with it the refuse of towns upon its banks without contamination, and approaching the sea with the sympathy begotten of similarity in depth and volume and service to mankind.” (eBook, Location 1161)

Another line I particularly liked was: “The pain of those that fling themselves on the serried ranks of God’s order and law; like the Frech cuirassiers on the English squares on the field of Waterloo. The pain of those that suffer the pain they have themselves inflicted.” (eBook, Location 2274) There was also: “The Cross is the heavenly prism that enables us to distinguish the constituents of the Divine nature.” (eBook, Location 2420)

But in the midst of these, sometimes, prosaic expositions, there is much of encouragement to be found for the believer. Speaking of hardship, Meyer remarks, “How many of God’s people are at this moment in the furnace, which would not have been required if they had been willing and obedient! Not that the furnace always indicates unfaithfulness, but if we are unfaithful, we must expect the furnace.” (eBook, Locations 1193-1194)

At times, though, Meyer makes his point through absence rather than evidence, an argument from silence. For example, in commenting on the Messianic interpretation of Isaiah 53:10 and its description of the “Suffering Servant” being made into a “guilt offering,” Meyer builds on the idea that, “There is no mention made of the necessity of summoning priestly aid.” (eBook, Location 2220) From there, he can move quickly into the application that Jesus is the “Suffering Servant” and the comments found in the New Testament book of Hebrews. Nonetheless, methinks this is jumping too quickly away from the original meaning of the prophecy.

Still, I very much appreciated his approach on the idealism presented in the latter portion of Isaiah. In his concluding message Meyer wrote: “These glowing predictions were partially fulfilled in the restoration of Israel under Ezra and Nehemiah; and no doubt they would have been more fully realized if there had been more perfect faith in the Divine promises.” (eBook, Location 2954)

Those looking for indications of in-depth scholarship or a commentary would have little use for this volume. It is a volume of sermons and they are inspiring, despite the methodology used to construct them.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking for a biography of Isaiah to gain a better understanding of the writer of this great book of the Old Testament. Instead I found a concentration on chapters 40 - 55 (Isaiah has sixty-six chapters) and on the topic of the exodus of the children of Israel (the remnant) who would be returning from Babylon in 536 B.C., after having been taken captive in 580 B.C. Meanwhile, all of chapters 40 -55 of Isaiah are believed to be written in 712 B.C., 130 years before Judah was taken captive and 170 years before Cyrus the great would return then and their Temple vessels to their land.

I had recently studied the whole book of Isaiah, but still found a lot of meat in F.B. Meyer’s commentary of these sixteen chapters. As the title would suggest, the writing points mainly to the work of Christ, his Passion and His redemption of His people. As in the book of Isaiah, there is much hope for Jew and Gentile follower of Christ. One of my favorite chapters was Chapter 25, titled “The City Of God” and based on Isaiah 54:11,12.

[Craig Prather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This text wasn’t very engaging, The author basically only covers the servant song chapters. Was looking for a more engaging and relevant commentary, but this was written in the 1800s, so I’ll give Meyer a pass :) Nice to add to my home library

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love FB Meyer. While this book doesn't match Way into the Holiest, it is still a solid addition to the devotional commentary genre.

[Michael Vincent · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is in the preaching style of the 1920s when verbosity and style were emphasized. Certainly he has some good thoughts and this is thoroughly evangelical, but, for my taste, I wish he dealt more with the actual text and stayed more focused. His sermons on Isaiah 53 and 55 are the best of the bunch.