Isaiah’s Song: Liturgical and Missiological Implications

Abstract

Isaiah is one of the most studied books of the Hebrew Bible; however, despite this attention, one area of research is curiously untouched. A careful reading reveals that Isaiah has much to say about ‘song’ or ‘singing’. This message is embedded in the use of three Hebrew root words: ranan, shir, and zamar, which are used over 30 times in both verbal and nominal forms. An examination of these three words unveils an intriguing pattern. They are prevalent in chapters 1-35 and concentrated in chapters 40-55. This pattern fits the generally recognised segments and provides structural clues for the book. However, the primary paradigm that emerges has more to do with the theology of the book. The prevalence of ‘song’ in chapters 1-35, despite this segment being the ‘doom and gloom’ portion of Isaiah, is highly instructive. The concentration of ‘song’ in chapters 40-55 is also expected because of the hope motif pervading these chapters. It is fair to conclude that ‘song’ (and ‘singing’) in Isaiah has two primary functions: (1) ‘Song’ is the most appropriate way of speaking to God (liturgical implication); and (2) ‘Song’ is the most appropriate way of speaking about God (missiological implication).