The Nature Of Faith In Isaiah Of Jerusalem -- By: G. C. I. Wong

Journal: Tyndale Bulletin
Volume: TYNBUL 47:1 (NA 1996)
Article: The Nature Of Faith In Isaiah Of Jerusalem
Author: G. C. I. Wong


The Nature Of Faith In
Isaiah Of Jerusalem1

G.C.I. Wong

This dissertation explores two questions related to the theme of faith and trust in Yahweh. First, what did Isaiah expect faith to entail? Was faith understood negatively in terms of a rejection of all human resources, be they alliances with foreign nations or one’s own defence preparations? Or was the faith he proclaimed a positive call for fortitude and courage in the face of battle? Second, did Isaiah’s faith consist of an unswerving belief in Jerusalem’s absolute and unconditional inviolability? Or did his faith envisage the possibility of Jerusalem’s destruction?

On the question whether faith implied human passivity, there is little evidence to think that, for Isaiah, faith was opposed to human resourcefulness or defensive preparations. Nor is it correct to say that he was opposed to all forms of human politics. Rather, faith primarily involved believing Yahweh’s words and observing his commands with respect to righteousness and justice. The key passages discussed in this regard are 7:1-17, 22:1-14, 28:14-18, 30:15-17 and 31:1-4. These passages have sometimes been used to imply that faith for Isaiah involved the ‘passionate elimination of all reliance on oneself’ (G. von Rad, Old Testament Theology [vol. 2; London, 1975] 160). Similarly, I reject the dichotomy between ‘a faith that means believing’ and ‘a faith that means doing’ (S.H. Blank, Prophetic Faith in Isaiah [London, 1958] 34ff). To trust in Yahweh, to depend on him, to return to him, to show repentance, to believe in him, and to practise truthfulness, righteousness and justice, are all closely related actions

in Isaiah. Consequently, a distinction between a faith that trusts and a faith that acts ethically is improbable in Isaiah. If a synthesis is required, it may be suggested that faith, for Isaiah, meant maintaining a proper and correct relationship with Yahweh. Naturally, such a proper relationship would involve trusting in the reliability of Yahweh’s words and promises (7:4-9), as well as seeking to obey his instructions on justice and righteousness (22:14; 30:12ff). Faith and trust in Yahweh is thus closely connected to the practice of justice and righteousness in society.

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