What statement does Isaiah chapters 40-55 make about monotheism?

Answer 1

Isaiah chapters 40-55 record the words of a sixth century prophet living in exile in Babylon, called Deutero-Isaiah or Second (II) Isaiah. The Babylonian Exile was a period during which the reforms of King Josiah were still being absorbed, and monotheism appears to have still been a novelty not entirely accepted by all Jews. During the Babylonian Exile, no doubt with the encouragement of the Persians, considerable effort was being made to eliminate polytheism and make monotheism a matter of popular acceptance.

Nevertheless, Deutero-Isaiah sometimes falls short of an absolute declaration of monotheism, calling his God the God of Israel (for example 41:17, "I the God of Israel will not forsake them."), rather than affirming him as the one and only god. There are frequent references to Israel as the servant of God, echoing the "servant songs" elsewhere.

At times, monotheism becomes henotheism before reaffirming the notion of monotheism, such as in 44:6, "Thus saith the Lord, the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts, I am the first and I am the last, and beside me there is no god." Here, the 'hosts' of heaven are the other, lesser gods and God is first among them, but also the last. Finally, there is no other god to equal him or, alternatively and usually preferred, there is just no other god.

At other times, Deutero-Isaiah declares that his God created the world, as in chapter 42. If God was not the only god, he was at least the creator God and must take absolute precedence. And the worship of idols is condemned.