Watts (2005) points out, the book of Isaiah "works to redefine the terms Israel and Jacob for an age of dispersion and change," (p. 1). The message of faith within a changing world, a world in which political turmoil shapes the destiny of a nation, is one that remains relevant in the 21st century. Isaiah encapsulates the concept of diaspora, showing how a dispersed people can remain a nation via devotion to God. However, the book of Isaiah also lays the foundation of the Christian notion of faith that can bind a people to God and to one another. The theology of Isaiah is a historical, perennial theology that illuminates the importance of history for outlining the way forward through tumultuous times.A new edition of Isaiah for the children of the 21st century would be a natural extension of Books 1-3. God's plan is to be honored, trusted, revered, and acknowledged even through the intense suffering that characterizes human existence. The first three books of Isaiah present Jerusalem increasingly as a spiritual and symbolic center of worship, a pilgrimage hub, and the seat of God's actual power. In fact, the city of Jerusalem has historically evolved exactly as such. A fourth...

Diaspora and dispersion, exile and bondage: these challenges became etched into Jewish identity and helped eventually forge a new covenant with God that would be based on faith. A 21st century edition of Isaiah would continue with the theme of spiritual nationhood trumping a nationhood based on geo-political power, and a new Isaiah would anchor the power of God in Israel. The return of the Jewish people to Jerusalem in the 20th century would be described as a beginning of yet another new age, similar to the potent changes taking place in the historical epochs in which the original Isaiah books were penned.
Christians play a key role in the new world, particularly when viewed through the Isaiah texts. The role of Christians can be viewed as both symbolic and practical, with a theological and political impact. Theologically, Isaiah lays the groundwork for Christian consciousness and identity. The messiah…