Isaiah’s Significance, and the Fall of Darkness: We come to the close of the material that focuses on the crisis presented by the pressure of the northern allies (6:1–9:7). Isaiah speaks further about his ministry and its significance for Judah (8:11–22) and Yahweh offers a vision of light dawning the other side of the coming darkness (9:1–7).

8:11–15  After the twin passages 7:1–25 and 8:1–10 comes a passage twinning with 6:1–13. Isaiah again tells us of Yahweh’s word to him personally and here describes the traps set before him and the people. In 6:1–13 Yahweh overwhelmed him visually. Here Yahweh overwhelms him physically and verbally. Isaiah stands between deity and people, called to represent each to the other. Being identified with the people could mean being wrongly influenced by the…