2025 JULY
BOOK REPORT
ISAIAGH
Reported by: Andrew Sia
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From the Desk of the Publisher
For a change, instead of writing about business and fashion, this time I reported on a biblical study which I have been doing since the time for the Covid lockdown. And the question from the Book of Isaiah, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”, which in life we must have heard so many times this question.
Lately I have also found myself exhausted in find any books from my private library the books worth for doing book review. I tried to go on Amazon and bought several new titles, hoping that I would have picked up some new ideas and eventually share them with our readers. I was a little disappointed because of the writing styles that could have too new for me.
Anyway, this biblical study that I have been doing for the last six years have paid off as finally I decided to open myself and share this with you.
Commentary on the Book of Isaiah: An In-Depth Look at the Gospel of the Old Testament
Available from Amazon
Hardcover $25.11
Kindle $9.95
Introduction
Father Mitch Pacwa wrote this book. He mentioned that the book was meant to guide Catholics on the path of sanctity. Being a Protestant, I found the book to be very useful in this journey of studying the Bible, and it was almost at the end I found that he is a famous biblical scholar who has covered in many areas for his work. Father Pacwa is fluent in twelve languages, and author of over twenty books. I was using this book for my study of the Book of Isaiah which extended more than one year, and together with other spiritual books, I found that his book has been the most helpful in my understanding of the scripture.
Contents
It was since the COVID virus when I was grounded from going to the church, I began to read the Bible regularly. It was by chance I took up the role to read the scriptures systematically some time in May 2020, and I started to share among friends in the Chrisian fellowships on a more regular basis. We followed the timeline of studying one book at a time, and I began with the Book of Psalms right in the middle, then moved on with Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, then I moved onto Isaiah.
I used “deep reading” and tried to capture the background and the teaching behind, and for this purpose I have to buy books to help my study although I am considered as a born-Christian. I always call myself as the “Sunday-Christian” and during the week I was busy pursuing earthly matters. This time I have found that I have run out of any excuses but to study seriously our Lord’s teaching.
Very soon I found out that the Book of Isaiah is the second longest book in the Bible; knowing that Book of Psalms being the longest. Book of Isaiah is the second most cited Old Testament book in the New Testament, with the total of sixty-three citations. Whilst the Book of Psalms has sixty-seven citations.
I have most been taken away with the prophet’s call in Isaiah 6:8: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me.’”
Isaiah was given a hard assignment — perhaps the hardest message the people had heard in their history extended over thousands of years. He was called to announce judgment: invaders would come, Israel in the north and Judah in the south would fall, and those who survived the carnage would be led away into exile. Israel as they had known, would cease to exist.
Yet Isaiah’s voice did not end with judgment. Through him, God spoke of a future beyond ruin. From the house of David would come a Messiah, one who would establish a kingdom far greater than anything Israel could imagine — a reign not just of Israel restored, but of all nations gathered in justice, peace, and everlasting light.
We will read that in chapter 53, Isaiah would mention “the servant” and it was the first time about Jesus’ coming on Earth and he would suffer for our sin. In fact, the word “servant” appeared more than 40 times in the Book of Isaiah. We also know that He also meant Messiah.
I came across many things after my “deep reading” and have learned curious things concerning the Scripture that in the Book of Isaiah we have the miniature Bible:
- The Bible consists of sixty-six books, and the Book of Isaiah has sixty-six chapters.
- The Bible is divided into two testaments, Old and New, Isaiah is divided in two parts, the first part has to do largely with Israel’s past period and the promise of the Messiah’s coming, the second part has to deal with its future deliverance.
- The Old Testament has thirty-nine books, and the first half of Isaiah has thirty-nine chapters; the New Testament has twenty-seven books, and the second part of Isaiah has twenty-seven chapters.
This took me more than one year to complete, in fact it was on May 8, 2024, when we first started the reading, and it took us until October 15, 2025, to complete. It was a very long spiritual journey.
Isaiah took this very assignment from God – perhaps the hardest message the people of God had heard in their thousand-year history. It all begins with the prophet’s call in Isaiah 6:8: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me.’”
I began to wonder in life we have gone through many callings, in open instances and sometimes from an internal voice, both calling for our actions. How have we responded?
I hope that this book report will help you going forward your life rewardingly.