Book of Isaiah 

The books of the prophets often contain prophecies with double meanings….an immediate meaning for their time, and also the same one with another meaning for a future time. Don’t feel that this book is too hard or irrelevant….take it in small doses and look up all the references as you go  and you will find many choice truths for today.

Isaiah One….(verses 1-31)

1.      Verses  1-14       

a.   Which four kings reigned through Isaiah’s life?      (verse 1)

Uzziah, Jotham,  Ahaz and Hezekiah.

b.  What sort of men were they before God?       (2 Chronicles 26:3-5, 16, 20-21; 27: 1-2; 28:1-2; 29:1-3; 31:20-21)

Uzziah started off well in following the Lord, but then he became proud and arrogant and tried to take over the priestly duty of offering incense. God struck him with leprosy and he had to live the rest of his life in isolation.

Jotham did what was right before the Lord.

Ahaz followed the evil ways of the kings of Israel and practiced idolatry and human sacrifices.

Hezekiah followed the Lord with all his heart (with ups and downs during his lifetime).

c.   What was the state of the people’s hearts before God?     (2 Chronicles 27:2)

They didn’t follow the Lord in their hearts….they were still corrupt and rebelled against the Lord, refusing to know Him.                               

d.   How did God see the people’s state?   (verses 5-6)

As being sick and full of putrid sores which would not heal.

e.  What brings about a state of spiritual sickness?     (1 Corinthians 11:28-30; James 5:15-16)

Sin and disobedience, and neglect of God’s Word.

f.   Is it possible to be in this state of sickness and not realise it?       (Revelation 3:17)

Yes, we can think that because we are doing very well in material things, that we don’t need anything else.

g.   What is the cure for this sickness?  (1 Corinthians 11:28-31;  1 John 1:9)

We must examine ourselves and see what’s wrong, then confess our sins to God …we don’t have to ask for forgiveness although it is natural to want to do so. God has promised He WILL forgive us when we confess to Him, and we accept that by faith.

h.  What does James 5:16 tell us to do when we are in this state?        (James 5:16)

We are to tell another godly person and ask them to pray for us. Telling another person humbles us and knowing they know about us will help us to be accountable to them. Until we become humble, we cannot be healed spiritually.

i.   How did God feel about  the people’s religious celebrations?   Why?  (verses 11-15)

He couldn’t stand them, they were abhorrent to Him because He could read their hearts and knew they were only outward rites that meant nothing to them.

j.  How did Christ view the priests and Pharisees of His day?     (Matthew 23:27-28)

He could see their hearts and knew they were only doing their rituals for outward show.

k.   What happened to their prayers?       ( verse 15; Psalm 66:18)

God didn’t hear them, and they got no higher than the ceiling.

l.   What lesson is there in all this for us today?     (verse  16-17; 1 Samuel 15:22-23a)

It means that we must be sincere and honest in all that we do for the Lord, we must not have any grudge or unforgiven thing against anyone else or God will not hear us. We are not to be hypocrites, saying one thing and doing another.

2.     Verses  16-31                            

1. a.      What is God’s desire for people?      ( verses 17-18; Micah 6:8; Zechariah 8:16-17)

That they be clean and honest, cleaning up their acts and putting away evil ways and habits.

1. b.     What does verse 18 tell  us?    (2 Peter 3:9)

That God wants people to come to Him and talk things over,  and to be made clean like white snow. \Whatever is bothering you, tell Him about it; if you have trouble believing Him, tell Him (He knows anyway!)

c.  What does God think of those who oppress others and who refuse to listen to Him? (verse 20)

He will judge them in the end, and send them to the burning fires where their memories will never stop

d.   What colour does God see sin as? What colour does confession of sin bring?   (verse 18)

Sin is as a scarlet red, and forgiveness is snow white.

e.   What does verse 21 show us?

A city that used to stand for everything true and right, now gone to the dogs, being full of wickedness and murderers.

f.  What does verse 22 tell us? What is the application?

That which was once pure is now dirty….the silver is rubbishy and tarnished while the wind is diluted with water. The people are not what they used to be, they had become dishonest, sinful and full of pretence.

g.   What sort of  attitude does verse 23 show?

Rebellious, wicked and cruel, being bribed and neglecting to help the helpless.

h.   What is God’s plan here?      (verses 24-27)

The redemption of Zion (God’s people), the enemies will be destroyed, the people purged and justice restored.

i.  What does James 5:16 tell us to do when we are in this state?

We are to tell another godly person and ask them to pray for us. Telling another person humbles us and knowing they know about us will help us to be accountable to them. Until we become humble, we cannot be healed spiritually.

j.   What must happen before restoration can take place?      (verse 28)

Destruction and judgement will come on all evil and rebellious people. Those who forsake God and His ways will be dealt with

k.  What  is the picture here of those who refuse God’s salvation?   (verses 31-32)

They are like the autumn leaves that fall and are burned up; there is no strength left and none to rescue.

l.   How is God’s plan being put into effect today?      (Hebrews 9:28)

Through the sacrifice of Christ to take away sins when man comes in repentance before God.

m.   Will we Christians in whatever country we live in today,  have a part in the Zion mentioned in verse 27?  How will this be?     (Hebrews  12:22-24)

Yes, we will all be part of this city because we are already citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem through the sacrifice that Christ made for us.

 Isaiah Two….(verses 1-22)

One commonly held view is that verses 1-5 refer to a millennium when there will miraculously be peace on earth with Jerusalem at the apex, but the following references below are worth considering. These show another aspect of God’s plan and purpose for His people……..

1.    Verses  1-22   

1. a.      What did Judah symbolise?    (Genesis 49:10; Matthew 1:1-2)  

Judah was the Israeli  tribe that the Lord Jesus was born into, the tribe of the kings who followed the Lord.

b.       What did Jerusalem symbolise?    (Galations 4:24-26,  28, 31;    Psalm 122:3-5 )   .

Jerusalem was the place of the House of God, the Temple which was the centre of worship to God; Jerusalem was also the site of the crucifixion where the price of sin was paid in the death and resurrection of the Son of God, and man’s salvation was made possible

c.   What  sort of state prevails in these verses?     (verses 2-5)

A time of universal peace and of the knowledge of God, of true and righteous judgement with all people walking in the light of the Lord.

d.  When will this come to pass?     (Revelation 21:2-3, 24-26)

At the end of time…..the last days.

e.   What does the “Lord’s House” consist of?     (Hebrews 12:22-24a)   .

God’s collective people, not a building made by human hands.

f.   Why did God turn against His earthly people at this time?   (verses 6-9)

Because they had forsaken Him and embraced the heathen gods and idols of the people round about them.

g.  What else did they have plenty of?   (verse 7)

Money and wealth

h.   What were the people bowing down to and humbling themselves before?  (verse 8)

They were worshipping idols which they had made themselves, the work of their own hands.

i.   What causes “lofty looks” and haughtiness?   (verses 11-12)

Pride in self,  possessions and abilities.

j.   What will happen to all of this when God finally speaks?   (verses 10-21; Revelation 6:15-17) 

Everything will come tumbling down and man will become a craven creature full of trembling fear, trying to hide in the rocks and caves.

k.  What good will man’s idols and possessions do him then?   (verse 20)

No good whatsoever, he will throw them all away and run to the rocks to try to hide from God.

l.   What or Who will be exalted at that time?     (verse 21b; Philippians 2:9-11)

God alone will be exalted……God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

m.   Who will God see is exalted and what will every single person have to do?  (Philippians 2: 9-11)

God the Father will see that every knee will bow to the One they despised on earth, and that every tongue will give Him His full title of LORD JESUS CHRIST, and every tongue that blasphemed His name on earth will now see and acknowledge Who He is!

n.   What is the “Rock” that we can enter into now today?     (Psalm 61:1-3; 62:6-8)

We can flee to the Lord who is our Rock of Refuge and be safe for eternity.

o.  What does verse 18 tell us and what is the challenge can we learn from it for today?

(Matthew 22:37-40; 2 Corinthians 6:2b)

God is going to destroy all idols and other things that take His place once and for all, so we should put away these things NOW, and serve Him with all our heart, soul and mind.

Isaiah Three….(verses 1-26)

1.      Verses  1-12                             

a.   Who takes over when discipline goes out the door?   (verses  1-5)

Children’s rights turn them into little sadists who then grow into adult sadists, and they then oppress each other, and anyone else in a disadvantaged situation.

b.  What do we see happening today in our schools without discipline?

Children please themselves about how they speak to the teachers, and even whether they pay attention or not.

c.   How did the people in our passage feel about taking a responsible role in the community?     (verses 1-3)

They didn’t want to, and they backed down as they had nothing to offer.

d.   How do adults reflect in their behaviour about how they were brought up?  (Proverbs 22:6) 

If a child is trained properly, they are more likely to grow into responsible adults….if they are let go with no discipline, that is how they will grow up. They will grow up to please themselves…. “I, me, mine!”       

e.   What was the attitude of the people here?                        (verses 6- 9)

They wouldn’t take responsibility for anything; they had thrown God out of their lives and community and had no shame in the evil things they were doing, being openly homosexual.

f.  What will the end be of such people? (verse 11)

The Lord will bring them to destruction; they will reap what they have sown.

g.   Are people still the same today?       (Romans 1:28-32)

Man’s heart has not changed….when God is thrown out, they go from bad to worse.

h.   What is the cause of all this?      (Romans  1: 21-24)

When people turn away from God, He gives them up to more and more evil, and this is what we are seeing happening in the world today.

i.  What do we then find happening in verse 12?

The children oppress them and women rule over them!

j.   Is this God’s order? If not, what is, and why?     (1 Corinthians 11:3;  1 Timothy verses)

It is not God’s order. God made the man to be the ruler….He made Adam first and Eve to be his helper, not his ruler. The man is to be the head of the woman, just as God is the head of the man.

k.  Whose fault is it when God’s order breaks down?     (Genesis 3:6-19)

Men have abdicated their God-given role to be the head of the home….partly because of the militant stand the feminists have taken and partly because they are basically lazy. It is the man’s fault because he is too weak to assert his God-given authority; it is also the woman’s fault when she starts taking over, and it is both their fault when they won’t correct and discipline their children, backing each other up in their dealings with them. This is where Adam fell down on the job by following Eve’s lead…..women rule with their heart and not with their head, and this is not God’s order. Satan knew what he was doing when he tempted Eve, she fell and man with her, and God’s order was broken down. 

2.   Verses  13-26

a.   What were the rulers doing here?      (verses 14-15)

They had finished off the vineyards (their livelihood) and were now stealing from the poor, they were taking advantage of those more disadvantaged than themselves.

b.  What were the women of that time like?      (verses 16-23)

They were haughty, proud and fashion plates.

c.   What would their end be in old age?     (verses 17, 24-25)

They would suffer from sexually transmitted diseases and end up crabby, sour old women with nothing left; no beauty, no youth, no health, and war widows.

d.   Can you think of some examples of people like this?

Women who were once film stars, living only for themselves.

e.  What are we told about the sort of woman that God is looking  for?    (Proverbs 31:30b; 1 Peter 3:1-4)

She is one who fears the Lord and tries to please Him, who has a meek and quiet spirit,  who fits in with her husband’s plans; one who doesn’t rule the roost or wear the pants!

 Isaiah Four….(verses 1-6)

1.       Verses  1-6                  

a.   What does verse 1 seem to indicate?

That there are more women than men in the community, with  very few men left.

b.  How is the “Branch”  of the Lord described in verse 2?   

As being beautiful and glorious.

c.   Who is this “Branch”? How do we know this?     (Isaiah 11:1;  Revelation 22:16)

Jesus Christ is known as coming from the root of Jesse….He is the “Branch”.

d.    What sort of people will be living in Zion at that time?     (verse 3)

They will be a  holy people whose names are written  down.

e.   Where has God written the names of His people?      (Revelation 21:27c)

They are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

f.   What was the state of the people in Zion?   (verse 4; 1 Corinthians 6:11)

They were a cleansed and holy people.

g.  How is sin described in verse 4?    Who was to be cleansed from it?

Sin is described as being filth! God’s people were a cleansed people.

h.   What cleansed them?      (verse 4)

The spirit of judgement and burning.

i.   How can we relate this to ourselves?      (1 John 1:9; Revelation 1:5)

We have been cleansed from the filth of sin by the Lord Jesus passing through the burning fires of God’s judgement on sin and upon confession of our sin.

j.  What does the cloud and fire remind us of?       (Exodus 40:34 –38)

God’s presence with the people of Israel was shown by cloud and fire over the tabernacle in the wilderness and signified His presence and protection with them.

k.   How (or what)  is the believer’s comfort and confidence described?     (verse 6)

As a place of shade in the daytime, a place of shelter in the storms of life, and a place of safety at all times. This is how our position in Christ is described and we can hang onto this with every confidence no matter what our outward circumstances may be.

Isaiah Five….(verses 1-30)

1.       Verses  1-17                            

a.   What is the story of this parable briefly?     (verses 1-6)

This the story of a vineyard that was planted and tended with great care and it only bore wild useless grapes. The vineyard owner decided that He would pull it down as it was good for nothing! 

b.  What is the parable a picture of?    (verse 7)

God as the husbandman and His dealing with the nations of Israel and Judah…..He had given them His laws and this land and they had disobeyed Him and followed idolatrous ways instead.

c.   Had the nation been warned of disaster if they disobeyed God?     (Deuteronomy 28:1-2, 15, 20)

Many times, right from when they were first about to go into the land.

d.    What must we be careful of today as far as God is concerned?      (Hebrews 2:1-3)

We must not let the things of God slip or disobey His Word as we cannot escape God’s judgement in a day to come if we do. We must NOT neglect God’s salvation, either in accepting it or in the working of it out in our lives.

e.   How can the parable of the vine apply to us today?      (John 15:1-6 )

Jesus Christ is the true vine and we are the branches…..He looks for fruit from us and prunes us with that in mind. If we abide in Him, we will bear fruit and if we don’t abide in Him, we are cut off and thrown away.

f.   What was the state of the vineyards?  And the land?     (verses 9-10)

Houses were abandoned and the vineyards were producing very little.

g.  What were the people doing  to bring this state of affairs about?    (verses 11-12)

Spending all their time partying….drinking and playing music which caused them to neglect the things of God. As a result they were taken into captivity.

h.   What had happened to the population?   (verses 13-14)

God had judged them and allowed them to be taken into captivity where there was no satisfaction of any sort.

2.   Verses  18-30                                            

a.   What was the general attitude of the people?      (verses 18-23)

They chased sin and sinful ways; they wouldn’t accept God’s ways; they threw out the good and embraced the evil….they thought they knew it all, and downed anyone that was doing good while they exalted the evil doers.

b.  How do we see this happening today?    (Romans  1:28-32)  

The authorities are passing homosexual laws, throwing out discipline in the schools and homes, making the penalties for wrong doing far too light and turning a blind eye to the white collar crime and evil morals among those in high places that is going on in the country.

c.   What is one reason (besides leaving God out of their lives) for the damnation of the wicked?     (verse 20; 2 Thessalonians 2:12)

The fact that they not only committed all these evil things, but they revelled in doing them! Not only that but they took pleasure and exalted those who did them as well!

d.   How does God feel about all this wickedness?    (verse 25; Psalm 7:11)

He is angry with it and will  judge and destroy those who are doing it.

e.  In spite of God’s anger, what is He doing on the other hand?   (verse 25b; Romans 10:21)

He is still stretching out His hand to the human race in mercy to any who will turn to Him and leave their wicked ways.

f.   Does any of this still apply today?   (Revelation 22:17)

God is still calling mankind to come to Him and accepting those who do  so.

 Isaiah Six….(verses 1-3)

1.   Verses  1-7                 

1. a.      Where does Uzziah fit into the list of kings that Isaiah lived through? What sort of king was he?          (2 Chronicles 26:3-5)

He was the first king….he had a long reign of 52 years. He was a good king who did right except that he didn’t see that the high places where idolatrous worship had once been held,  were removed.  He contracted leprosy and left his son Jotham as prince regent.

b.  Why did Uzziah get leprosy?    (2 Chronicles 26:16-21)

He became proud and thought he should do the priest’s job, which was disobeying one of God’s rules.

c.   What did Isaiah see and what did it seem to be?     (verse 1)

He saw God sitting on His throne…..it stretched from high above, with the bottom parts filling the temple at Jerusalem.

d.    What surrounded the throne of God? What were they?     (verses 1b-2)

There were seraphims around it (no number given)……they were angels of some sort.

e.   How was their appearance described?    (verse 2)

They were described as each  having six wings they covered their faces with two wings, covered their feet with another two and flew with the third pair

f.  What were they saying continually?    (verse 3)

“Holy, holy, holy,  Lord God of Hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.”

g.   What do the Revelation verses tell us?     (Revelation 4:8-11)

The same thing, with living creatures proclaiming God’s holiness which stimulates worship giving glory and honour to God..

h.    What do we earth bound humans not realise enough?    (Hebrews 12:28-29; 1 Peter 1:15-16)

The holiness of God….we don’t realise that God IS holy and cannot stand sin in any shape or form.

i.   What should our attitude be when we think about God and approach Him in prayer?    (verses 5-7; 1 John 1:9)

We should remember our own unholiness and confess our sin as we come to Him. Then be filled with awe and reverence at the realisation of His holiness….we should do our best to live holy lives before Him.    

2.   Verses  4-13 

a.   How did the temple of God react physically to the presence of God?    (verse 4

The building shook and was filled with smoke.

b.  What happened when God came down to the top of Mt. Sinai?       (Exodus 19:18-19; 24:17)

There appeared fire, smoke and earthquakes.

c.   What was Isaiah’s reaction?   (verse 5)

He felt filthy and unable to say the right things, nothing seemed good enough, and he thought he was doomed.

d.    How did Job feel when he heard God’s voice speaking to him?      (Job 42:6)

He hated himself and felt he was only fit for the ash heap.

e.   What did John do when he was faced with the glory of Christ?   (Revelation 1:17)

He fell down on the ground as though he were  dead and was speechless.

f.  How should we act when in God’s presence, whether in church gatherings or at home in our quiet times.?                     (Psalm 89:7; Hebrews 12:28-29)

With reverence, godly fear and awe.

g.   When we realise that God is always with us (which He is), how should we be living?

We should live the very best way we can…..holy, godly lives with all self discipline, kindness and patience.

h.   How was Isaiah’s sin taken away and his mouth cleansed?     (verses 6-7)

One of the angels touched his lips with a live coal from the fire and told him that his sin was forgiven, and that he could now speak God’s Words.

i.  How did David feel about it when he had been caught out in his sin?   (Psalm 51:10-13)      

He confessed his sin and asked for a new spirit inside him before he could talk to others about God.

j.   What did God do for Jeremiah before he went out to preach?     (Jeremiah 1:9 )

God touched his lips and gave him His words to speak.

k.   How do we get to this stage?        (1 John 1:7, 9)

By turning to God and repenting of our sin, and confessing this to God,  THEN we can go out and tell God’s message to others.

l.  What was Isaiah’s next step after his lips were made clean?   (verse 8)      

He was both willing and able to go, and told God that he  would.

m.   What was the message that Isaiah was to tell the people of his day?   (verses 9-10 )

That because they wouldn’t listen to God’s message with their heart, they wouldn’t be able to understand what they were listening to, or make sense of it, and then because of this they wouldn’t be able to be saved.

n.  What makes people not listen to God’s message?    (Revelation 3: 15-17)

They have too much of this world’s goods and become complacent, feeling no need of God or what He has to offer. Their eyes are blind to their need.

o.   What do we need to be wary of? What do we need to do to not be like this?      (Colossians 3:1-2, 16-17;  Revelation 3:18-20)

We need to be wary of becoming too complacent… of being lukewarm and just drifting along. We MUST read God’s Word continually and soak ourselves in it, repent of our slackness and open the door of our lives to communion with God. Then keep our minds on the things of God, and having our affections on things above; to sing songs to the Lord and do everything for Him.

 Isaiah Seven….(verses 1-25)

1.   Verse  1              

a.   Jotham is only mentioned briefly in the book of Isaiah….give a short run-down of his life……          (2 Kings 15:32-34; 2 Chronicles 27:6-9)

He was 25 when his father died and he became king. He had been prince regent running the kingdom before his father died due to him having leprosy. His mother was the priest’s daughter, and Jotham followed the Lord’s ways. He had victory over the nation of Ammon and they paid him  taxes. Jotham was regarded as a mighty king because he followed the Lord…..his reign was relatively short (16 years), and he died at the age of 41.

b.  What was the state of the people during his reign?      (2 Kings 15: 35a)  

Their hearts weren’t in the temple ceremonies; they still sacrificed in the high places that had been built originally for heathen worship, and they were corrupt in all their says and thoughts.

c.   What did God do for Jeremiah before he went out to preach?     (Jeremiah 1:9 )

God touched his lips and gave him His words to speak.

d.   How do we get to this stage?      (Psalm 51: 10-13)

By turning to God and repenting of our sin, and confessing this to God,  THEN we can go out and tell God’s message to others.

e.  What was Isaiah’s next step after his lips were made clean?   (verse 8)      

He was both willing and able to go, and told God that he  would.

2.   Verses  2-25                                               

a.   Who was Isaiah speaking to now?     (verse 3)

Ahaz, the son of Jotham, grandson of Uzziah.

b.  What was the problem for Judah at this time?    (verses 4-6; 2 Chronicles 28:1-8)

Syria and Ephraim had combined and were going against Judah.

c.   Why had God allowed this to happen?   (2 Chronicles 28:2-4)

Because Ahaz wasn’t following the Lord….he was an evil king.

d.   What was the state of the people at that time,  helped along by the king?     

Ahaz was following the ways of the evil kings of Israel in making idols of Baal, and making human sacrifices of their children. They took on the idols of the people who had the victory over them, and then shut up the temple of God.     (2 Kings 16:2-4)

e.  What was God’s message to Ahaz at this time?    (verses 4-8)

Don’t be afraid of your enemies even though they are plotting against you. They won’t make it, and they won’t win.

f.   What does verse 9 say would happen to Ahaz if he wouldn’t believe God?

His kingdom would collapse and not be established.

g.   What did God tell Ahaz to ask for?   (verses  10-11)

He told him to ask for a sign so that God could prove Himself to Ahaz.

h.  What was Ahaz’s reply?         (verse 12)

I won’t bother, I won’t test God!

i.   What sign did God give him regardless? What did it mean?    (verses 14-16)

The sign of a bride conceiving a son; while the son was still  very young, Ahaz’s  land would be forsaken

j.   What was the wider concept of this sign?      (Matthew 1:20-23; Luke 1:30-35)

It was the promise of Jesus Christ being born to Mary.

l.   What is the picture in these verses?     (verses 23-25)

It is a picture of a land that is deserted; where people are just subsistence farmers with just an animal or two and no vineyards.

m.  How can this picture relate to Christians  today?    (Hebrews 5:12-14)

It is a picture of Christians who are just drifting along and not enjoying the full blessings that God has for us in Christ Jesus….either because we are too busy or too lazy, or else too tied up with other activities.  Christians MUST put Christ first in their lives and activities.

 Isaiah Eight….(verses 1-22 )

1.   Verses  1-16                                               

a.   What sort of woman was Isaiah’s wife?     (verse 3)

She was a prophetess

b.   What was the significance of the birth of this child?      (verses 4, 18)

He was to be a fulfilment of prophecy….by the time he could talk, both Syria and Damascus would be defeated.                       

c.    Shiloah  represents an ancient place of worshipping God. What are we told here  about it?          (verse 6; 1 Samuel 3:21)

The people were refusing the figurative gentle waters of this place and were attempting to placate the heathen enemies.

d.  What was God going to bring on them for their refusal of Him?      (verse 7)  

He was going to show them how unsafe the strong waters of the enemy were going to be, and how they would be completely over-run by them.

e. What was the contrast between the still waters of God’s peace and this new invasion that would come?    (verse 8)

The water of the enemy would be a rushing violent torrent that would overflow its banks into the land of Israel.

 f.   What did God warn Isaiah  against doing?    (verses 11-12)

He warned him against going along with the fears of the people…..he was not to be afraid of the political situation.

g.  What WAS Isaiah to fear?    (verse 13)

He was to fear the Lord and to trust in Him, and not to fear the earthly enemy…..God was to be his sanctuary and refuge.

h.   Why was God described as a “stone of  stumbling”  and a “rock of offence”?   (verses 14-15; Romans 9:31-33)

Because the people didn’t really want to believe in Him or follow Him.

i.   What would happen to the people when they stumbled over Him?      (verse 15)

They would end up being destroyed.

j.  What is the wider meaning of verse 14-15?   (1 Peter 2:5-8) 

It refers to the Lord Jesus Christ being the chief corner stone of the church and how those who don’t  (or won’t) believe in Him, stumble over Him. They cannot see the spiritual truths in Him and will ultimately be lost because of this.

2.   Verses  17-22    

a.   Where is God spoken of as living?  What does that mean to us now?   (verse 18; Hebrews 12:22-23)

He is spoken of as living in Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God, and the church of Jesus Christ.

b.  What were the people resorting to at that time?    (verse 19)

They were going to the spirit mediums and fortune tellers, witches and wizards.

c.   Where would this lead them to?    (verse 21; Leviticus 19:31)

They would end up in spiritual as well as physical  desolation and darkness, and end up cursing God…..there would be no light anywhere for them.

d.   What had God said to His people about witches, wizards and mediums?   (Deuteronomy 18:9-12)  

He had told his people to have nothing to do with them, but to destroy them. They were (and still are) a detestation to Him and He abhors them.

e.  Does this still hold good today?  What is the end of people who dabble in this sort of thing?   (Revelation 21:8)

Yes, it does…they will suffer the judgment of God and be thrown into the lake of fire..

f.   What can we learn from this chapter for today?    (verses 21-22)

To continue trusting in God, to look to Him for our Refuge, and to not even consider, think about or look at things or people who practice or dabble in witchery, black magic or fortune telling of any sort….there is no spiritual satisfaction in this sort of thing, only darkness.

g.   What apparently harmless things are in women’s magazines today that we should avoid?

Horoscopes, what the stars say etc…..don’t give them a second look!

 Isaiah Nine….(verses 1-21)

Read this chapter in a modern translation……..

1.   Verses    1-7                   

 a.    What is the picture in verses 1-2?

That of people who were once stumbling in darkness, now able to see in great detail and brilliant colour…..what a contrast!

b.  How can this relate to us today?         (2 Corinthians 4:6)

We were once in spiritual darkness but coming to know Christ has given us a glorious light and wonderful knowledge of His glory that is totally unknown and unappreciated by non-Christians.

c.   What has knowing Christ and His word given us?   (John 15:11)

It has given us a great joy, the joy that Christ gives which remains with us in spite of every circumstance.

d.   What yoke of bondage were we once under and what has broken it?      (Galatians 5:1)

We were under the yoke of sin and a set of rules that might or might not get us to heaven. We found we were not able to keep them and had  to just hope that it might work. But now we know Christ, He has broken this bondage and we are free!!!

e.  What is the picture in verse 5 of?

War with confusion of noise, mucky with blood and destruction by fire.

f.   Who has gone through the battle of sin for us, and what did it involve for Him? (Hebrews  12::2-3)

The Lord Jesus endured the death of the cross, the shame and indignities that people heaped on Him and the lies that they told as well as the separation from His Father.

g.   What is God’s great promise here?     (verses 6-7)

A special child would be born of the line of David who would rule justly with peace in His kingdom.

h.  What did God promise David?    (1 Kings 2:4; Jeremiah 33:15-18)

That there would always be a king reigning from his throne over his descendants, who would be God’s people.

i.   Did the prophets always understand what they were moved to write ? Who else would have like to have known these things?        (1 Peter 1:10-12)

No, a lot of truths were hidden from them. They were also hidden from the angels at that time.

j.   How do we see these promises fulfilled?      (Romans 1:1-4)

They were fulfilled in Jesus Christ who was described as being descended from David through his earthly mother. He has established His kingdom in the hearts of people whom He will rule over forever in peace, love and perfect justice.

k.  How is it possible that we can understand these truths now?   (Ephesians 3:4-6)

The Holy Spirit reveals these things to those of God’s people who search them out.

2.   Verses  8-21            

The prophecy now switches back to the immediate time of Israel…..     

a.  What had basically caused the people’s downfall ?     (verses 8-10; Deuteronomy 6:13-15)

Pride and confidence in themselves…..independence from God.

b.  What had caused these heathen nations to over-run Israel?    (verse 11-13)

God had allowed them to do this to punish His people for their sin and idolatry.

c.   What was God angry about? Why did He still hold His hand out to Israel?    (Psalm 7:11-12; Ezekiel 33:11)

God cannot stand sin and disobedience; He is angry with the worship of idols and allegiance to other things. Yet He is very longsuffering and has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but is continually pleading with them to come to Him.

d.   What would happen to people who continually refuse God ?    (verses  13-15)

They would all be destroyed, from the top to the tail.

e.  What about the “innocent” women and children ?    (verse 17)

They were all hypocrites at heart, saying one thing and doing another….no-one was “innocent”

f.  Who was involved in idol worship in Jeremiah 7:18?

ALL the people…..whole families including the men, women and even down to  the children gathering sticks for the idol worship.

g.   Whose fault was this state of affairs?      (2 Chronicles  28:1-4)

It was everyone’s….from the king, to the religious leaders, to the people themselves.

h.   What does wickedness eventually lead to?     (Romans 6:23a)  

To death and destruction.

i.  What hope does mankind have then  in this state of affairs?   (Acts 16:30-31;  Romans 6:23b)

God offers mankind the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord

j.   What do you think that verse 20 suggests?

Nothing satisfies the human soul without God…..people try this and that and it lasts for a short while but soon wears off…..it eventually eats them up.

k. In spite of all this, what is God doing?   What about today?     (verse 21b; Matthew 11:28-30; Revelation 22:17)

He was still calling for them to turn back to Him, and the message is still the same for today

 Isaiah Ten….(verses 1-34 )

1.   Verses  1-19                        

a.   Who are being oppressed in verse 2 ?

The widows and fatherless.

b.  What are God’s instructions concerning them in the Old Testament?    (Leviticus  19:9-10)

The people of Israel were not to afflict them or take advantage of them; they were to leave the gleanings of the fields and vineyards for the poor and fatherless.

c.   What was the punishment for those who disregarded this?        (Exodus 22:22-24)

God would see to it that the oppressors’ wives would be left widows and their children fatherless.

d.   What are the instructions in the New Testament for widows?  (1 Timothy 5:3-5, 8, 16)

Those who had them in their families were to look after them, and those who had no relatives to turn to were to be looked after by the church members.

e.   In these days of social welfare and government financing, in what ways can we look after our widows?     

By making sure their cars and houses are seen to so they will not be ripped off by unscrupulous wheelers and dealers. Also by helping with big jobs in the garden and around the house etc.

f.   Who was God going to use to punish His people ?    (verses 5-6)

The heathen nation of Assyria

g.  Did this mean that the heathen nations were better or more favoured than Israel was ?    (verse 12)

No, because their turn to be punished was coming.

h.  Besides their idolatry, what else contributed to the downfall of these heathen nations?      (verse 13)

Their pride in their warfare and their achievments.

i.   What was the King of Assyria saying in this passage?     (verses 14-15)

I have got all these victories myself.

j.   What does God do when people throw Him out in pride and rebellion?   (Psalm 2: 2-5)     

He laughs at their puniness and big words…..He has the last say!!

3.   Verses  20-34                 Romans 8:18;    2 Corinthians 4:16-18                       

a.   What remained of Israel ?       (verses 20-22)

Only a few who trusted in God.

b.  What was the promise that God gave them ?    (verses 24-25)

To not  be afraid of the heathen nations in spite of persecution….this time wouldn’t last long..

c.  What did Christ promise His disciples?   (John 16:33)

That even though they might suffer persecution, to remember that He had been through it and overcome it.

d.   What did Paul have to say about trials and persecution?     (Romans 8:18)

He looked past the present difficulties to the eternal glory of being with Christ….He counted them as nothing.

e.   What were the enemies of Israel likened to in verses 33-34?

As a forest of trees.

f.   What is one lesson we can learn from this chapter?    (verses 24-25; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

To not be afraid when the bad times come, but to trust in the Lord to bring us through.

 Isaiah Eleven….(verses 1-16)

1.   Verses  1-5             

a.   Who or what, is this stem of Jesse, the BRANCH ?  (verse 1; Revelation 22:16)

The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

b.  How many ways is the Holy Spirit described here?       (verses 2-3)

Seven ways….the Spirit of the Lord, Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, might, knowledge and as giving the fear of the Lord.

c.   When did the Spirit of God descend on Jesus in a bodily form and what did He land like?      (Matthew 3:16)

It happened at His baptism….He came down as a dove does, circling around and landing on Jesus as He came up out of the water.

d.   How does Jesus Christ describe himself in Revelation 3:1?

As having the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.

e.   How can we reconcile this description with verse 2 in this chapter?     

It is the seven-fold Spirit…..one Spirit with seven different facets.

f.   How is it possible that Jesus Christ in the Old Testament was able to make a right judgement ?       (verse 3; chapter 1:1; 2:24-25)

Because He is and always has been God, and knows ALL things including the heart of people.

g.  What is the “rod” of His mouth ?    (verse 4; Hebrews 4:12; Revelation 1:16)

The word of God which is sharper than any two edged sword.

h.  What is the final standard that will judge people in a day to come?     (chapter 12:48)

The word that Christ spoke while on earth…..this is His written word which we have today in the Scriptures.

i.   What are the two characteristics of Christ mentioned  here?       (verse 5)

Righteousness and faithfulness.

2.   Verses  6-16                                

a.   What is the picture here in these verses ?

Perfect peace among creation.     (verses 6-9)

b.  When was the first creature killed? Why was it killed?    (Genesis 3:21; Revelation 5:6b)

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and sinned, God killed an animal to make coats of skins to cover their nakedness. This was the first picture of the great sacrifice Christ would one day make to cover mankind’s sins and bring them back into fellowship with God.

c.  What bondage is creation still under?      (Romans 8:19-22)

The bondage of sin and death.

d.   When will sin and death be put away for ever?      (2 Peter 3:13)

When the new heavens and new earth are set up by God.

e.   What will the new heaven and new earth be full of?      (verse 9; 2 Peter 3:13b)

The knowledge of the Lord and total righteousness….nothing dishonest or dirty will be there!

f.   What is the hope that the Gentiles now have ?      (verse 10; Galatians 3:26-29; Ephesians 2:11-16)

Those who come to know Christ are part of God’s  Israel, God’s chosen people, of whom Abraham is the father.

g.  Where are God’s people being gathered from?    (Luke 2:30-32)

They are coming from all over the world, from every nation, the four corners of the earth.

h.   What is noticeable in verse 13 about the  people of God?

There is a unity and peace among them!

i.   What is the picture of in these last two verses?    (verses 15-16)

Easy transport, a clear way throughout the land fro, Egypt to the Promised Land.

j.  What can we liken this to, remembering that Egypt is a type of the world?   (chapter  14:6)

There is a clear and easy way to God now through the Lord Jesus Christ…..He is the ONLY way.

k.  What is our responsibility then, in the light of this?     (Hebrews 10:19-22)

Jesus Christ has made the way to God open and clear, and it is up to us to take this highway, and to come close to God.

 Isaiah Twelve….(verses 1-6 )

1.   Verses  1-6                                  

a.   What is greater than God’s anger ?       (verse 1)

God’s mercy and love.

b.  How is it that God brought salvation to mankind?   (chapter 3:16)

It was because of His love that He gave His sinless Son to die for the sins of the world.

c.  What does trust in God bring to a person?     (verses 2-3)

Salvation,  freedom from fear, strength and comfort, a song and joy.

d.   What keeps people away from this trust in God ?    (2 Corinthians 4:4)

Satan has blinded their minds so they can’t see the light.

e.   What has God given to those who trust in Him ?   (verses 4-5,  Psalm 40:3)

A new song so that we can now praise Him.

f.  How should Christians view God?    (1 Timothy 1:17; 6:15-16)

As the Great and Holy One….the eternal King, immortal and invisible, the only Wise God who lives in eternal brilliant light which no man can approach near to while in the body.

g.  What are we to give God as his due?     (Psalm 29:1-2)

Honour and glory that is due to his Name, and praise and worship  for ever and ever.

 Isaiah Thirteen….(verses 1-22)

1.   Verses  1-22                                               

a.   What was Babylon physically like at this time ?      (verse 19a; Daniel 4:30)

It was the greatest and most beautiful city of its  time.

b.  How did God see it?    (Jeremiah 50:29, 31)

As proud against Him, and as such, due for punishment.

c.   What is the picture of Babylon’s punishment likened to?      (verse 8)

As inevitable as a woman’s labour pains when she is ready to give birth.

d.   We see that the world system is likened to Babylon….when this is coming to an end, what can we expect to see ?      (verse 10; Matthew 24:29; Revelation 17:4-6)

Great changes in the sky, darkness when there should be light, and stars falling from their places; great earthquakes and killing storms with tremendous destruction.

e.  What is another way this can take place figuratively,  that we see happening right before our eyes?   (Matthew 24:4-8)

A greater darkness than ever falling over mankind who refuse God; great men being overthrown and falling from high positions; nations falling apart even without a shot being fired; those who should be leaders and upholding what is right failing to do so.

f.  What happens after all this comes to pass?       (verse 11; Revelation  19:20-21)

God’s judgement falls on this world….evil is punished, and pride and haughtiness are laid low.

g.   What sort of person is more precious to God than fine gold? (verse 12; 1 Peter 3:4)

The godly  man who suffers for his faith; those who love God and seek to please Him; those with a meek and quiet spirit.

h. How will people feel when they realise that God’s wrath is about to fall on the earth ?         (verses 13-16; Revelation 6:15-17)

They will be terrified but still unrepentant.

i.  What was the ultimate end of the city of Babylon?  Where is Babylon today?  (verses 19-22)

Total destruction, never to be rebuilt of inhabited again.  (The Babylon of that time is still buried under feet deep of desert sand)

j.  What will be the ultimate end of the world system?   (Revelation  18:21-23; 20:11-15)

Total destruction for eternity….mankind will be judged and God’s people are avenged and vindicated to reign with Him in glory for ever.

k.   Challenge….                               

a.   How does the idea of all these things happening affect ME right now ?   (2 Peter 3:11-12, 17-18)

It ought to make me take stock of myself and see where I am at in my spiritual life and standing before a Holy God…..am I living and acting in a holy manner above reproach? Am I looking forwards to the new heaven and new earth which is filled with  only righteousness?

l.  Can I ask God  to search my heart to know it and  show me where I am wrong in what I am doing (or thinking) ?         (Psalm  139: 23-24; 1 John 1:9)

Yes, this is something we should be doing continually

 Isaiah Fourteen….(verses 1-32)

1.   Verses  1-24                                

a.   Thinking of these verses in their spiritual context, what do we see God’s people doing ?   Who are these “strangers” that are joined to Israel?   (verses 1-3; Ephesians 2:11-13, 19-22; Revelation 21:3-4)

They are in their heavenly land where there is eternal rest and peace, away from the bondage of the oppressor (sin)  for ever

b.  What should our attitude be, here and now?    (Hebrews 11:13-16)

We should remember that we have a heavenly home that we are journeying to and that we are only passing through these years on earth.

c.   What is going to happen to the world system (Babylon) in the end ?   (verses 4-5; Revelation 18:2, 8)

God will judge it and destroy it for ever.

d.  What will happen when evil is done away with?   (verses 7-8)

There will be rest and peace and there will be nothing to cut down or to destroy.

e.  Who is the instigator  of all evil  and leader of the world system? What is he doing?   (verse 12; 1 Peter 5:8)

Lucifer (Satan) who is walking around like a lion waiting to pounce and kill.

f.   What was the cause of all Satan’s evil?     (verses 13-14)

Pride,  arrogance and rebellion against God….he wanted God’s position

g.   What was his appearance like before creation of the world ? What did he excel at? (verse 11a;  Ezekiel 28:11-19)

He was the most beautiful creature and he excelled at music….he prompts people to go in for pomp and pageantry that exalts the senses and pride.

h.  How can Satan fool us today?   (2 Corinthians 11:13-14)

By introducing things that seem attractive and side tracking us in musical ideas and lovely buildings……he can appear as an angel of light.

i.  What must we beware of in our church gatherings?            (2 Corinthians 11:15)

Satan’s  religious teachers  with great charisma who can side track God’s people who are not on guard into wrong ideas.  

j.   How can we prevent ourselves being sucked up into these things?  (Romans 12: 2-3; 1 John 2:14-17)

By becoming strong in the Word of God and measuring all teaching against it; by being on guard against the pride of life and the format of the world, being conformed to doing things the way the world does.

k.  What will be the attitude of the people duped by Satan in a time to come?   (verses 15-16)

Is this creature the one who fooled us?

l.  What was Satan’s name here, and how was he described in verse 12?  

His name was Lucifer and he was described as the son of the morning (daystar)

m.  How did our Lord describe the devil?    (John 8:44)

As being full of lust, a murderer, and a liar with not a vestige of truth in him as well as being the father of lies.

n.  What does verse 24 tell us?  

That God’s plan will proceed as He has planned and ordained.

2.   Verses  24-32  

a.   What is the promise to Israel in verses 25-27?

That the yoke of Assyria would be removed….God had promised it and no-one could alter that.

b.  How do we see verses 26-27 in operation today?   

We see world leaders thinking they have the answers to the world’s problems, but what God has planned will come to pass regardless of man’s ideas.

c.  Which king had died, and what sort of king had he been? Who took over and what was he like?            (verse 28; 2 Kings 16:2-4, 20; 18:2-3)

Ahaz had died…..he was a wicked king and Hezekiah his son now reigned. He followed the Lord.

d.   What do you think could have been meant by verse 29 with regard to Ahaz’s death?

Ahaz had died but that didn’t mean all their troubles were over….another snake would rise up. This happened in Hezekiah’s son Manasseh.

e.   What glimmer of hope is there in the last verse?    (verse 32)

God founded a city for Himself, the city of Zion, and those who were poor and humble could trust in it.

f.  What is our hope now?    (Hebrews 12:22-24)

We can come to God’s city, Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem through Jesus Christ, the Mediator of the new covenant.

 Chapters 15-18 speak against Moab, Damascus, and a land beyond Ethiopia…they are hard chapters to get any lessons from so we will leave them for the purpose of this study.

Isaiah Nineteen….(verses 1-25)

Taking Egypt as a type of the world…………..

1.   Verses  1-10  

a.   What filled the land of Egypt?      (verse 1)

Idols and idolatry.

b.  What is an idol?   What sort of idols do people worship today?   (Matthew 22:37-38)

An idol is anything that takes God’s place in our lives, so an idol is anything that takes up all our time and thoughts; we have idols of sport, pleasure, possessions, culture and  education.

c.  What do we see happening in verse 2?

Fighting and civil wars, and broken families.

d.   What are the people turning to as a result? (verse 3)

Witches and wizards.

e.   What do we see people and ethnic groups turning to today?

Psychics, mediums and going back to the ancient superstitions of their ancestors, also turning to psychiatrists and counsellors; in more primitive cultures the people are bound by their fear of the evil spirits.                                                    

f.   Who is the ruler (cruel lord) of this world?  (verse 4;  Ephesians 6:12)

Satan, the prince of the power of the air.

g.  What is Satan’s prime objective?    (Mark 9:22; 1 Peter 5:8)

He is the adversary of everything that is good….his primary task is to kill and destroy.

h.  How is this king described in verse 4?

As being fierce and cruel.

i.   What sort of picture do we see of the land here?       (verses 5-9)

It was a land that was dry and parched, with no water, no fish and nothing of profit.

j.   What do we see in the world in general today, even in western society?

A break down in everything that is good….in families, education, the health systems, judicial system. Laws are being passed that are in active opposition to God’s rules and order for mankind. Even in the church there is split after split. Crime is rife and no one is safe on the streets after dark anywhere.

2.   Verses  11-25                                                            

a.   What have the rulers of the world become and why is it?         (Romans 1:21-23)

They have become fools because they have left God out, and are not thankful to Him in any way.

b.  Where do man’s ways end up?    (Proverbs 14:12)

In death and destruction.

c.  What does Paul call this in Romans 6:23?

The wages of sin.

d.   How do these verses describe Egypt?    (verses 11-17)

As a place that has no wisdom left, a place of perverseness, where the leaders are weak fools.                                      

e.   In the middle of all this turmoil,  who were the people able to turn to? (verses 19-20)

They were able to cry to God and He would deliver them.

f.  Who is this Saviour that God provides?    (Galatians 3:26-28)

His Son, Jesus Christ.

g.  What picture do we see in this passage?   (verses 18-25)

 A picture of a land turning to the Lord, with a clear highway out of it, combining with the other nations around to be a blessing  to all nations…..they all seem to be equal in the sight of the Lord and all are His people.

h.   How do we see this being worked out in the world today?      (Galations 3:28)

People of all nations are free to come to the Lord….the Gospel is for all who will listen and respond. For all those who have come to Christ, there is no racial barrier as all are one in Him.

i.   What is the only way to God?    (John 14:6)

The only  way to God is by Jesus Christ…..He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Isaiah Twenty….(verses 1-6)

1.   Verses  1-6                                 Romans 15:3;   

a.   What did God ask Isaiah to do in this chapter?     (verses 2-3)

To take his clothes off and go naked for three years for a sign to the people.

b.  Did Isaiah allow his personal feelings to come before God’s command?   What lesson is there in this for us?     (chapter 8:18)

 Isaiah didn’t please himself, he aimed at pleasing God  by obeying Him regardless. He felt that he and his family were as signs to the people around him. We should be like this too.

c.  How did the people probably regard him?

As being a nut, and a queer person.

d.   How did Paul feel at times in the course of his preaching tours? ( 1 Corinthians 4:9-10)

As being a spectacle before men and angels.

e.   What does God expect of His people, and who is their supreme example?  (Luke 9:23-24; Romans 15:3)

God expects His people to take up their cross daily for Him…even Jesus Christ did not please Himself!

f.   So where does this leave us?  (Matthew 19:21-22)

We miss out on the blessings if we don’t.

 Isaiah Twenty-two….(verses 20-25)

Read this chapter from verses 20-25………

1.      Verses  20-25              

a.   What is the key verse of this passage? What is it all about?     (verse 22)

We read about the key of the house of David that opens and shuts irrevocably.

b.  Who is  this referring to here?      (verse 20)

Eliakim, son of Hilkaiah the priest.

c.  What is the wider prophecy referring to?  Who is shown to have the “key of David” here?  (Revelation 3: 7)

Jesus Christ has the ultimate keys of David….what He opens and shuts can never be changed.

d.   Who did He pass these keys on to?    (Matthew 16: 19; 28:19-20)

The keys to the Kingdom of heaven have been passed on to His people and they have the responsibility to see that others hear the Gospel and understand what they hear. If they accept it, they come into that kingdom for ever, and if they refuse it or neglect it, then their decision will stand in eternity.

 Isaiah Twenty-four…(verses 1-23).

1.     Verses 1-23   

a.  What do we see about the land of Israel here?   (verses 1-4)

It is completely emptied out, both of people and of commerce….it is empty and useless.

b.  What was the reason for this curse on the land? (verses 5-6)

Sin was the cause for the curse.

c.  What do we see in these next few verses about the state of the land?   (verses 7-12)

There was no joy or gladness left, everything was broken down and desolate.

d. How did the few people left feel as they contemplated the situation?     (verses 16-17)

They felt as though they had nothing left, they were lean and afraid.

e.  What was the state of land in general?     (verses 18-23a)

There was nowhere for people to be comfortable; there were constant earthquakes with the sun and moon behaving oddly.

f.   What did all these things herald? What came in after all this?  (verse 23b; Revelation 21:1-3)

The Lord was bringing in all things new and will reign in the heavenly Jerusalem which will come down from heaven.

 Isaiah Twenty-five….(verses 1-12)

1.      Verses  20-25    

a.   What special verses can you find in this chapter and what can you get from them?

Verse 1  We can praise and exalt the name of God and His Person….He has done wonderful things!

Verse 4            God is a strength to the poor and needy, a refuge in times of trouble and our protection.

Verse 8    The believer has this hope because of what the Lord Jesus did for him.

 Isaiah Twenty-six….(verses 1-21)

1.   Verses  1-4                   

a.    What are the gates that are spoken of here?       (verses 1-2)

The way into God’s kingdom.

b.  Describe the gates……    ( Matthew 7:14; John 14:6)

The gate and the way are one, the same thing, our Lord Jesus Christ. The gate is narrow and must be searched for, and leads to salvation and rejoicing. Only those who are looking for the truth will find it. Once inside, we have salvation and can praise the Lord.

c.  What point is there in a gate? What is the implication in verse 2? (Psalm 118:19-21)

A gate is the way leading into a property or path. In this case, it is the entry into the ways of truth and righteousness which is God’s Kingdom.

d.   What is one characteristic of those who trust the Lord?      (verse 3)

They have perfect peace when their minds are stayed on God.

e.  What is the condition of having this “perfect peace”?      (Philippians 4:6-7) 

Having the mind fixed firmly on God, telling him all about it and not worrying about anything outside of Him.

f.  Where can we find this great peace? And what are the results of it to us?     (Psalm  119:165)

We find it in God’s Word, and nothing will upset or offend us if we have this peace.

g.   How can we have our mind “stayed on God” ?  (Romans  12: 1-2)

We start off by making up our minds to seek God and His ways; we cannot have God’s peace by being double minded or wavering in our ideas. We must see to it that our mind is renewed and transformed.

h.  How does our mind become transformed?   (Ephesians 4:23-24)

By refusing to be conformed to the world’s standards in word, thought or deed. It all depends  what we feed our minds on in our reading, watching and listening.

i.   In practical terms, how do we DO the above?      (Colossians 3: 8-10, 12-17)

We have to read God’s word every day and talk to Him! This is not just  a one time occurrence, it is a constant, daily process…..we have to consciously put away things that are bad, and cultivate that which is good in our live, minds and thinking. We are to fill our minds with spiritual songs and this is so easy in this day and age’s technology.

j.   What does verse 4 tell us about God?

He is the Lord God  Jehovah, and is everlasting strength; we are to trust in Him implicitly.

2.   Verses  5-21                                   

a.   Who does God bring down low?    (verse 5)

Those who are proud and haughty and lifted up in their minds.

b.  What way does God want His people to go?       (verse 8, Psalm 37:4)

To go in the just and honest ways; to follow His judgements and to delight in Him having our desires fastened on Him.

c.  When can our soul commune best unhindered with God?   (Psalm 42:8; 63:5-6)

During the night hours when there are no outside distractions.

d.   What do verses 10 and 11 tell us about the wicked?    

That they deliberately shut their minds off to God; they refuse to learn about God or to see His Majesty.             

e.   What other “lords” can people be in bondage to?     (verse 13; Ephesians 2:1-3)

The God of this world, the prince of the power of the air, the evil desires of the flesh and mind.

f.  What do these “lords” lead us to?      (verse 14; Romans 6:23)

Death and destruction.

g.  What does chastening do for a person?   (verse 16;  Hebrews 12:11)

It makes us take stock and turn to the Lord again.

h.  What is the point of chastening if we don’t learn anything from it?   (verse 18 )

There is no more point in it  than a false labour that brings forth nothing but wind!

 Isaiah Twenty-eight….(verses 1- 29)

a.   What is the picture in these verses? Who is being spoken to?    (verses 1-4)

Those who spend their time drinking and being drunk….everything is going to ruin in their place.

b.  What is the contrast here?       (verses 5-6)

The Lord is full of glory, beauty and right judgment in contrast to man’s filth and stupor.

c.  What are the hallmarks of those who are continually drunk?   (verses 7-8)

They have no sense and are controlled by the drink; they are filthy and full of vomit, feeling continually sick when they sober up…..they cannot teach anyone right things.

d.   What do we see in this passage?   (verses 9-13) 

That young people must be taught the right principles from babyhood, little by little, to keep them from falling into wrong ways.

e.   What happens eventually to those who hide behind lies and falsehoods?    (verses 14-15; Romans 6:23a)

They become scornful of all that is right and will end up in spiritual death for ever.

f.  What makes the difference for the human soul?  Today?     (verse 16; 1 Peter 2:5-8)

The Lord Jesus Himself makes the difference….He is the chief Corner Stone of God’s building, His Church, His people, and He is the One who people have always  stumbled over and still do today.

g.  What does the Lord do for those who come to Him?   (verses 17-18; Romans 6:23b)

He will judge all that is wrong in their lives, and they will be righteous, no more telling lies, their covenant with death (eternal) is disannulled.

h.   What ( and how) does God teach His people?   (verses 23-29; Galatians 6:7-8; Hebrews 12:5-11) 

What ever a person sows is what they will reap…God teaches His people through chastisement which is not as severe as His punishment….it does not last for ever and is for the betterment of the person going through it.

 Isaiah Twenty-nine….(verses 1-24)

The Bible tells us that hell is a place of torment which was prepared for the devil and his angels…..let’s look at some of this chapter and put it into that context…….

1.   Verses  1-17                    

1. a.      What do we see in verses 2-3?

Sorrow, sadness, siege and war.

b.  What happens in times of siege?    (verses 1-2)

No freedom, shortness of commodities, going without and worst of all,  fear.

c.  Is there clear speech and communication in verse 4?

No, nothing sounds right.

d.   How do people seem to each other in verse 5 ?

Strangers, terrible ones, passing by in the night….no friendship, no fellowship and no agreement on anything.

e.  Discuss verse 6….imagine that for eternity, with no let up! Compare it with Luke 16:23-24, 28 and Isaiah 57: 20-21…..

It seems to be a place of no peace, no rest, continual noise and movement, continual filth and a place of great torment.

f.   What is the picture in verse 7?

That of fighting and distress, with noises of battle continually.

g.   What is the picture in verse 8?

A dream of the worst sort….total despair, with no satisfaction, always hungry and thirsty, thinking you’ve to it, to find it isn’t there after all.

h.   What sort of movements are seen in verse 9?

Staggering with nothing steady or firm.

i.  What can be seen and understood in verses 10-12?   

Nothing is clear, nothing is understood.

j.  What had these people been like when they were on earth?  (verse 13, Matthew 15:8)

They may have honoured God with their words, but their hearts were far from Him. They had even done good and great things, but ignored God’s people and ill treated the poor and disadvantaged. They changed His word to suit themselves.

k.   What was their attitude in verses 15-16 ?

They were thinking that God didn’t know and couldn’t see, even if “He DID exist! They brush it off with thoughts of evolution and coming from an ape, rather than from the hand of God.

l.  Are the people in hell  fully conscious? How do we know this?   (Luke 16: 23-25)

Yes, Jesus said that the rich man could see Lazarus in comfort and he remembered his brothers back on earth and wanted them warned against going to be with him in this torment that he was completely aware of.

2.   Verses  18-24                              

a.   What had  the people been blind and deaf to once, that they could now see?  (verse 18; Matthew 13:16; 2 Corinthians 4:4)

The ways of the Lord….they had been deaf and blind to them because they had deliberately shut their minds to God’s ways.

b.  What made the difference for them?    (2 Corinthians 4:6)

The Lord Jesus had come and died for mankind’s sins….the gospel has been preached and the light of it has now shone into man’s heart and mind, giving a listening ear and a seeing eye.

c.  What do the meek enjoy?    (verse 19; chapter 61:1)

The meek (humble) will listen to the Gospel and come to know God and the joy that He gives.

d.   What terrible one is brought to nothing ? (verse 20; Revelation 21:8)

Satan’s power is broken and those who follow him are done away with….there is nothing left to trap God’s people.

e.  What is the attitude of God’s people now?     (verse 22)

They know they have been redeemed! They won’t be ashamed nor weak, they will reverence God and His name as they should and they will understand and learn His ways.

f.   What does the glorious light of the gospel do for people?     (2 Corinthians 4:6)

It changes them to be like Him by the power of the Holy Spirit of God….attitudes change, ambitions change, hearts and minds change, even appearances change as we become more like Him.

3.   Application….

a.   What have you learned from this chapter?

That we do not have to fear the evil one, but we DO have to fear going to the place of eternal separation from God.

b.  What does our Lord tell us to rejoice in?       (Luke 10:17, 20)

We are to rejoice, not in what we can do through Him, but that our names are written in heaven.

 Isaiah Thirty….(verses 1-33)

This chapter has a double application….there is the immediate picture of the king and people of Judah fleeing to Egypt from the king of Babylon as we read in Jeremiah 42:13-19; 44:12-14. The first part of the chapter is also an overall picture of man’s rebellion and backsliding into sin..

 1.   Verses  1-17                

a.   What sort of people are mentioned here?    (verses 1-3)

They were a rebellious people who wanted nothing to do with God at all …they didn’t ask His advice and went deeper and deeper into sin, and they were relying on Egypt for their strength and protection.

b.  What is Egypt a picture of?  What do you think the viper and the lion were symbolic of?    (Galatians 4:22-23; 1 Peter 5:8)   

Egypt typifies the world system and its bondage of sin,  while the viper and lion are pictures of Satan.

c.  How do the two animals operate?

The viper slithers along quietly and subtly and is the hidden danger,  while the lion roars and makes a his presence felt with a big noise as an obvious danger….Satan operates in both these ways.

d.  What are peoples’ deeds recorded in and when will they be revealed?    (Revelation 20:12)

People’s actions are written in God’s books, which will be opened on the day of Judgement.

e.  What are people’s attitudes to God in verses 9-11?

They are totally rebellious, unbelieving, and only want to hear nice things (lies which suit them, being PC) and they don’t follow God’s ways, wiping Him altogether out of their thinking.

2.   Verses  18-26         

This second part of this chapter shows God’s patience, mercy and grace. It ends with the glories of heaven and the destruction of the wicked.  Psalm 103:8       

a.   What do we see God doing here?    (verse 18)

We see Him waiting in long-suffering, patience and mercy for people to turn to Him.

b.  What is “Zion” that is referred to in verse 19?  How can we live in Zion?  (Hebrews 12:22-23)

All those who believe now have their citizenship in the heavenly Jerusalem ….we are in the world but not part of it any more.

c.  How does God sometimes have to  get us to listen to His voice?     (Hebrews 12:6, 11)

By chastening us….sending us the “bread of adversity”  or troubles, and hard times.

d.  What does this make us do?    (verse 21)

It makes us listen to His voice and this shows us the way to go.

e.  What do we have to get rid of in our lives before we can experience all God’s blessings?       (verse 22)

We have to get rid of everything that takes the place of God in our lives…..things like self and pride. 

f.  What do we see in verse 25?

An abundance of water everywhere….even on the hill tops!

g.   What has the Lord promised to those who come to Him for the water of life?    (John 4:14)

Rivers of living water in their lives….continual satisfaction and growth.

h.  When is the light of the sun and moon brightened?    (verse 26)

When all sin and evil is done away with.

i.  What did Paul see at his conversion?       (Acts 26:13)

A light brighter than the midday sun….the glory of heaven.

j.  What is the source of this light?          (Revelation 21:23)

God Himself is the Light….there is no darkness in Him at all, neither shadows to be seen.

3.   Verses  27- 33                             

a.   What is the picture in verses 27-28?   

The picture of God’s anger and judgment on people who sin.

b.  What do we see in verse 29?

God’s people have a song and gladness in their hearts.

c.  How does God sometimes have to  get us to listen to His voice?   Do we see this happening in the world today?   (verse 30)

God shows His power by the natural disasters that are coming in ever increasing numbers in the world today….it is a form of His voice to people that they should take notice of.

d.  How is God’s voice described?      (verse 30a)

As being glorious, even in His anger at sin.

1. e.      What is the last verse talking about? 

 (Tophet  was a place of human sacrifice to idols (2 Kings 23:10) , a place that God couldn’t stand  the sight of)

It is a picture of hell….deep and large with much fire and flames.

f.  How is this place described ?     (Luke 16:23-24; Revelation 20:14-15)

It is described as a place of torment and the Lake of Fire.

 

Isaiah Thirty-one….(verses 1-9)

1.   Verses  1-9                   

a.  What did God think of those who went off to Egypt, and why?    (verses 1 & 3)

He proclaimed woes upon them because they were relying on man to help them, and not God.

b.  What are the contrasts in verse 3?

God’s might is much greater than men’s….when God acts EVERYONE collapses, both helper and those helped!

c.  Who will fight for Mt. Zion (God’s people) in the end?   (verses 4-5)

God will vindicate His people and avenge them on all those who have persecuted them.

d.  What is God likened to in verse 5 when  He defends  His people?

A flock of birds flying. .

e.  What picture does Psalm 91:4 use in showing God’s protection?

As a mother hen sheltering her chickens under her feathers.

f.  What three things does God do for His people in verse 5?

He defends, delivers and preserves.     

g.  What snared the people, and what did they have to do then?   (verse 7)

Idols were a sin and a snare  to them, and they had to throw them away before God could work for them.

h.   What happened when the idols were done away with?    (verse 8

The enemy would flee away.

i.  How can we make Satan flee from us?    (James 4:7)

By standing firm and resisting him.

j.  What is this “ensign” that the enemy is afraid of?     (Matthew 3:11-13)

The Lord Jesus Himself, the root of Jesse.

k.  Why is  Satan afraid of the “ensign”?     (Matthew 1:21)

Because Jesus came into the world to save His people from their sin.

l.  What three things does God do for His people in verse 5?

He defends, delivers and preserves.

m.  What is the picture in the last phrase of verse 9?   (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)

It is a picture of  God cleaning out the rubbish and refining His people. If God’s people have to endure fire for a while, how much worse for those who aren’t His, to have to endure the fires of hell for eternity!

 Isaiah Thirty-two….(verses 1-20)

1.   Verses  1-14                                                              

a.  Who is the King who will reign in righteousness?      (verse 1; Psalm 45:1-6)

The Lord Jesus Christ as part of the Godhead..

b.  Who is the Great Rock Who gives shelter and protection?    (verse 2; Psalm 62:6-8)

God is our Refuge.

c.  What do  those who trust in this rock of Refuge become in turn to others?         (Psalm 22:19-2, 31)

They are able to pass the message on and to bring others to the same knowledge.

d.  What are verses 3 & 4 a picture of?

A person who can see and understand the Gospel,  and pass it on to others.

e.  What is the contrast in verse 5?

Those who don’t belong to the Lord are lifted up as being important, and those who are grumpy or miserly are lifted up as being broadminded.                                             

f.  What is this passage a picture of?           (verses 6-8)

A life spent without God… one of barrenness, famine.

g.  Who do the verses 9-11 lay the blame for this state of affairs at the feet of?  Why?     (verses 9-11)

The women folk of the day…..it seems that they were careless about managing when things were tough, all they did was to moan about how things used to be better.

h.  What happens in a person’s life when God’s Word is neglected?       (verses 12-14)

Their attitudes become barren, and they are often bitter and twisted.

i.  What are we told about in the New Testament about this sort of life?    (Colossians 3: 5-10)

How we should put away all the negative things in our lives and turn to the Lord patterning ourselves on Him.

2.   Verses  15-20

a.  What do you notice about this passage?      (verses 15-20)

It is a positive passage showing what happens when people live God’s way in righteousness and goodness.

b.   What makes the difference so  people can change?      (Ephesians 4:30-32; 5:1-4)

When God’s Holy Spirit  comes into a person’s life, it makes all the difference.

c.  What was the occasion when this first happened in the New Testament?     (Acts 2: 1-4) 

After Jesus had returned to heaven at the time of Pentecost.

d.  What is the first sign of a difference in a person’s life?    (verse 15b)

The wilderness becomes a fruitful field….a person’s whole attitude and life will  change and become positive instead of negative.

e.  What was our condition before we turned to the Lord Jesus?    (Ephesians 2:12)

We were without Christ and far away from God and His things, and without hope of eternal life.

f.  What is the believer’s position in Christ ? (Ephesians 2:13)

He is near to God and part of His household; fellow-citizens with the saints.

g.   What is the picture in  verses 17-20?

One of peace and quietness with prosperity and fruitfulness.

 Isaiah Thirty-three….(verses 1-24)

1.   Verses  1-24                                                                             

a.  What do we see about the Lord in this passage?         (verses 1-14)

i. That He is gracious and our salvation

ii. That He is exalted, and lives on High.

iii. His home (Zion) is full of righteousness and right judgement.

iv.  He gives wisdom and knowledge….to fear him is to have treasures

v.  God will be exalted and lifted up on high.

b.  What is the picture of in verses 7-9?

One of no peace, no travelling around and everything desolate in the land.

c.  What is the question asked in verse 14?

Who can live with the devouring fire? Or everlasting burnings?

d.  What do you think the answer is to these questions?       (Hebrews 12:28-29)

Those who belong to the Lord and walk in His ways don’t have to fear the fire or the burning.

                  Psalm 91: 1-2, 9               Isaiah 58:2

e.  What is the picture in this passage?        (verses 15-16)

It’s about those who are honest and righteous, who see and do no evil; those whose minds are fixed on God and heaven.

f.  What is mentioned in verse 15 concerning how a Christian should live?     (Ephesians 4:22-32) 

He should be righteous in all his ways; always speak the truth; keep away from all forms of bribery and refuse to listen or to look at evil things.

g.  What is the refuge of the believer and what should he feed himself on?     (Psalm 91: 1-2, 9)

God Himself is our Rock of Refuge and the giver of all the food that our souls need.

h.  What is the vision of God’s people?    .(verse 17) 

They see the beauty of the King of Heaven.

i.  What is one aspect of God that we seldom think about?    (verse 17;  Psalm 29:1-2)

We seldom think of the beauty of God; not just the beauty of His character, but also the physical beauty that surrounds Him.

j.  What things can you think of that reflect the beauty of His thoughts, creativity and Person?    (Genesis 1:31) 

The variety and intricateness of the flowers that He has made; the trees and plants, the mighty hills, the delicate snowflakes…..everything that He has made.

k.  How does one get this vision?    (Isaiah 58:2)

By seeking God daily in reading His Word and  delighting ourselves in praying to Him.

l.  What are some of the characteristics of the heavenly Jerusalem ?   (verses 20-21; Hebrews 12:14, 22-23) 

It is peaceful, permanence that will never change, a place where God is in all His glory with His saints and angels.

m.   What is the picture of God in verse 21?      

As being glorious in a spacious place with no rush or bustle, restful and peaceful.

n.  How is He portrayed in verse 22?    

As the righteous judge and lawgiver Who is our King.

o.  What is the state of the people in that place?    (verses 23-24)

They are released from earth’s trappings, they are well and happy and a forgiven people.

Isaiah Thirty-four….(verses 1-17)

1.   Verses  1-8      Nahum 1:2-6;            2 Peter 3:7-14;     Revelation 20: 11-15;  21:18     

a.  These verses give a picture of God’s judgement at the end of time. Verse 4 gives a graphic description of  what will happen. Put it all in your own words…….

The stars will disintegrate into nothing….the universe will just be like a giant tablecloth picked up with crumbs and all, and thrown away. There will be nothing left.

b.  What does Nahum  tell us about this time?   (verse 8; Nahum 1:2-6)

It tells how God is a jealous God for His own glory and how He is going to take revenge on all His enemies that He has taken so much from since the beginning of time. He has enormous patience, but it is going to come to an end and there will be no turning back once it gets to that point. The mountains will quake, the hills melt and the earth will be burned up at His presence. No-one will be able to stand before Him in that day.

c.  What does Peter add to this description?      (2 Peter 3:7-12) 

There will be a tremendous noise and the universe will explode and melt with terrific heat….the earth will burn up and everything in it.

d.  Will this time be the end of the human race?       (2 Peter 3:13) 

Yes and no. Yes, it’s the end of life on earth as we know it; no, it’s not the end of human beings before God.

e.  What does Revelation tell us will happen when earth and heaven (the universe) have gone?     (Revelation 20:11-13) 

It tells us that ALL the dead from the beginning of time,  will stand before God and be judged according to what is written in the books of God.

f.  In the light of this knowledge, how does Peter tell us we should  be living?  (2 Peter 3:14) 

We should be thinking ahead and make sure we are right with God,  asking Him for forgiveness of sins and living a good clean life that is pleasing to Him here on earth.

g.  What are we told  about having our names written in a certain book,  to escape the second and final death? Which book is it?     (Revelation 20:12, 15) 

Our names must be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life

h.  God has many books written….what are we told about another one of His books?   ( Malachi 3:16)

He has a book of Remembrance where all that is spoken of concerning Himself is written down and the people named.

i.  What confidence can we have that we are safe in that time?   ( Nahum 1: 7)

We know that God is good and that He knows all those who trust in Him.

j.   Which sort of people head the list of the lost  in Revelation 21:8?

Those who are fearful and the those who refuse to believe in Jesus Christ.

k.   The rest of  chapter 34 is a picture of total desolation with no human habitation or usefulness in the land. Going back to verse 1…..who is the call there  to?

To all   people everywhere to stop and consider where they are heading!

 Isaiah Thirty-five….(verses 1-10)

This chapter is a picture of a soul born anew! New life in Christ!!

1.   Verses  1-2                                  

a.  What are the contrasts in verses 1-2?      

The desert and barren place now a beautiful garden area; a dead place now full of vibrancy, song and gladness.

b.  What attributes of God are seen here?        (verse 2c) 

His glory and His excellence.

c.  What does Paul tell us along these same lines?        (Ephesians 2:4-7) 

That God who is rich in mercy and great love, has made us alive in Christ and now we are sitting in the heavenlies with Him positionally. God did all this while we were still sinners, we didn’t have to wait to be good enough because we could never have got there.

2.   Verses  3-10

a.  What is the first thing to be  changed in a person in these verses?   ( verse 3; Psalm 40: 1-3)

The weak limbs are to be strengthened…..God will do this when we first cry to Him.

b.  How can we liken this to a person who is starting to think about Christian things?  (verses 5-7; John 14: 26; Romans 12:2)

A person must make up their minds to search these things out and to renew their minds to seek the things of God, and then the Holy Spirit  will open their eyes to see and understand things they have never seen before.

c.  What is the next step in this progression?    (Psalm 40: 1-3)

God meets us more than halfway…when we make the first step, then God gives us the understanding…we see and hear things that we never thought of before. He puts our feet on the solid Rock and gives us a new song to sing.

d.  What else does God do for those who turn to Him?   ( verse 7; John 4:14)

God gives  new life and vitality to those who were bound in sin, He fills our life with the water of life….what was once dry and parched is now satisfied and full of new growth.

e.  What is the new way that believers now walk?   ( verse 8; John 14:6 )

It is the way of holiness in Jesus Christ, a clear path even for those who don’t know much or who once walked foolishly.

f.  What are they kept safe from? What is this a picture of?   (verse 9a; 1 Peter 5:8)

Believers are kept safe from wild animals…Satan is called a  ravenous and roaring lion.

g.  Who walks this safe and holy way?    (verse 9b) 

Those who have been redeemed by the Lord.

h.  What is verse 10 a picture of?  

The Lord’s people ransomed and redeemed, singing everlasting praises in the heavenly home of Zion, a place of perfection and rest.

i.  How do the Revelation verses tie in with this picture?       (Revelation 7:15-17) 

They say the same things about the heavenly place that God’s people will be in.

 Isaiah Thirty-six….(verses 1-22)

1.   Verses  1-22         

a.  Briefly outline the story  of this chapter…….

The king of Assyria was making an assault on Judah and sent his general to Jerusalem with his army. The spokesman, secretary and press recorder were the to see what he had to say. His message was that the great king of Assyria was coming to invade the land and for Hezekiah to not rely on Egypt or his God to defend him. None of the gods of the other lands had preserved anyone and no-one was going to stop him now. This was the message that was given to Hezekiah, king of Judah.

 Isaiah Thirty-seven….(verses 1-38

1.   Verses  1-38                 

a.  What was Hezekiah’s immediate reaction?   (verses 1-2) 

He sent for Isaiah to come to the house of the Lord where he was.

b.  Have you ever been in a situation where everything seemed hopeless and you were reduced to panic stations?  What did you do?

Everyone reacts differently in these situations…..tell how you felt……

c.  What sort of faith did Hezekiah  display in verse 4?

It was very weak but at least it was in the right direction.

d.  How did Hezekiah refer to the Lord to Isaiah?      (verse 4a) 

As “Your God”

e.  What was Hezekiah’s attitude to God over-all?            (2 Kings 18:1-7) 

He followed the Lord with a right heart in all his ways.

f.  What was Rabshakeh’s next move after his return home?       (verses 9-13) 

He sent a letter in the same vein to Hezekiah …   “don’t think your God is going to save you!”

g.  How did Hezekiah cope with this?     (verse 14)

He took the letter into the temple and spread it before the Lord and prayed.

h.  What was the gist of Hezekiah’s prayer?   ( verses 15-20 )

He extolled the Lord in the beginning, then laid the situation before Him, and then asked to Lord to save them.

i.  What did verses 33-35 contain for Hezekiah ?  

A promise from the Lord that Sennacherib wouldn’t be able to touch Jerusalem.

j.     How did God defend Jerusalem ?    (verse 36) 

The angel of the Lord killed 185,000 men that night with some unspecified method.

k.  For whose sake did God spare Jerusalem ?  (verse 35)

For His own sake and also for David’s sake.

l.  What was Sennacherib’s end?       (verses 37-38) 

While he was worshipping his god which he had extolled, his two sons assassinated him….his god either couldn’t or wouldn’t defend him in his time of need!

m.  What does this teach us?             (Psalm 136: 1-2, 26) 

It shows that we have to have our trust in the right God, the God of heaven as He is the only One with power to keep us safe.

 Isaiah Thirty-eight….(verses 1-22)

1. 1.      Verses  1-22               

Read  2 Kings 20:1-11, 21  and we’ll compare it with this chapter…….                     

a.  How does verse 1 set the scene for this story?

Hezekiah was dying and Isaiah was sent to him by God to tell him to put things in order as he wouldn’t recover.

b.  What did Hezekiah do when he heard this?                (verses 2-3) 

He wept a lot and reminded God of how he had followed Him to the best of his ability.

c.  How quickly did God answer Hezekiah’s dilemma? What was it?   (verses 4-5)

Straight away, Isaiah came back with God’s message that he would recover, and God would answer by giving him an another fifteen years.

d.  How soon would he be better?    (2 Kings 20:5)

He would be able to go to the temple in three days time.

e.  What did they use to cure the putrid  boil?    (2 Kings 20:7)

A poultice of figs.

f.  What strange and unusual thing happened as a sign to Hezekiah that God was going to do this?    (verse 8; 2 Kings 20:8-11) 

God made the shadow go backwards on the sundial, thus lengthening the day.

g.  When scientists were calculating some sort of time to do with the sun, they found that there was a discrepancy between their calculations and what it actually was. The time that it was out, was exactly the length of time in Hezekiah’s day, and another occasion that happened in the time of Joshua. What was that?    (Joshua 10:12-14)

When Joshua was destroying the enemies in obedience to God’s command, he ran out of daylight, and spoke to the sun and moon to stand still while the job was finished.  This happened, and it is the only time in history that such a thing occurred.

h.  What did Hezekiah’s extra fifteen years produce?   (chapter 39:2; 2 Kings 21:1-2, 5)

The birth of his son Manasseh who turned out to be an evil king, following every wicked heathen practice of the surrounding people. Another foolish thing that Hezekiah did was to show off his possessions to the enemy  envoy when they came to wish him well. It was something that the covetous Babylonians never forgot, and years later they sacked the temple to get these treasures.

i.  What do verses 9-20 tell us ?        

They are part of a song or complaint that Hezekiah had when he was sick, and he had it written down.              Micah 7:19;      Psalm 103: 12;   Hebrews 10:17

j.  What great truth did Hezekiah proclaim here?       (verse 17b)

He said the God had taken his sins and put them behind His back.

k.  What other descriptions do we have of what God has done with confessed and forgiven sins ?  

Micah 7:19          He has thrown them into the depths of the sea.

Psalm 103:12      He  has put them from Him as far as the east is from the west.

Hebrews 10:17    He has completely forgotten them

 Isaiah Thirty-nine….(verses 1-8)

1.   Verses 1-8            

a.  What was Hezekiah’s attitude after he recovered from his illness?   (verses 1-2)

He became proud and vain in his possessions and treasures.

b.  What sort of things did Hezekiah build and collect after his illness?    (2 Chronicles 32:27-31)

He collected all manner of beautiful things and built ornate buildings and cities to house them, as well as  increasing his farming and agriculture projects..

c.  What did he do while he was in this frame of mind?        (verse 2)

He showed off to the foreign princes who came to wish him well.

d.  What does the end of verse 2 tell us?

That there was nothing that he had,  that he didn’t show these men.

e.  What was the basis of Hezekiah’s action here?       (2 Chronicles 32:25-26)

He took great pride in all his possessions and became too proud for his own good….it ultimately brought God’s judgment on him and his people. His people followed his lead and became proud too.

e.  What did God think of this?       (verses 5-7)

He sent Isaiah to him, telling him what his foolish behaviour would bring in the future.

f.  How did Hezekiah react when he heard this?   (2 Chronicles 32:26)

He and his people humbled themselves before the Lord

g  What was God’s promise then?     (2 Kings 20:17-19)

That it wouldn’t happen in his day, but it would happen in his grandson’s time.

h.  Why did God allow Hezekiah to be so foolish ?       (2 Chronicles 32: 31))

Hezekiah didn’t ask God what to do in this matter, he just went ahead and showed off…..God was testing him to see how he would behave in this matter.           

i.  Why does God test His people?  (Genesis 22:1; Deuteronomy 8:2, 16; Judges 3:1, 4)

To make them rely on Him, and as examples to others (both seen and unseen) to show their faith in God, and to prove to themselves whether they can (or can’t) pass the test.

j.  Does God need to test them (and us!) to know the result for Himself?  

No, because He knows the end from the beginning…..He is never surprised at the result.

k.     Why are testings necessary for us ?    (Hebrews 12:10-11)

To show us that we are truly God’s children and that He is teaching us things we would never know otherwise. It drive us to our knees in prayer before God, and keeps us humble, helping us know God’s ways better.  

l.     What did David say about being  tested?      (Psalm  119: 67, 71-72)   

That before he suffered these things, he went off the rails, but now he had been through it all he had learned more of God’s ways and appreciated God’s words more than all the money in the world.

2.      Summing up…..                        

a.  What lessons  must we take out of all this?      (Philippians  2:3-5, 15)

To accept all testing as a platform for learning more of the Lord and becoming more like Him. To not allow pride to take over, and to NEVER show off!! To remember that others are watching our reactions, and we are to be a good example to God’s grace always, and to glorify Him.

b.  Who is watching us as we live our lives on earth?   (1 Corinthians 4:9)

The men of the world; angels (both good and bad); other Christians; God Himself.

c.     What does Hebrews 12: 11 tell us about the end result of being tested?   

Though we don’t enjoy it while we are going through it, yet afterwards it teaches us many lessons about God’s faithfulness and help which we might not know otherwise.

d.  What are we told in 1 Peter 3:4 about God’s thoughts to our right attitude during these testing times?

That He prizes highly and considers it of high value.

Isaiah Forty….(verses 1-31)

The whole tone of Isaiah’s writings now changes, with a different message altogether…..let’s look at it:

1.        Verses  1-?              

a.   What message does God bring to the people here?        (verses 1-2)

One of comfort and hope….Israel has confessed her sin and been pardoned.

b.  What hope does this bring to us today?      (Psalm 51:3-4, 17; 1 John 1:9)

We can confess our sin to the Lord and be given a second chance with our sins forgiven.

c.   When was this prophecy fulfilled and by whom?   (Matthew 3:1-3)

This was fulfilled by John the Baptist when he began his ministry preaching about repentance from sin and the Coming One who would take away sin from individuals as they looked to Him.

d.  What is the contrast in this passage?       (verses 5-8)

The contrast of the Lord’s eternal glory and man’s transience… here today and gone tomorrow!

1. e.      What great truth is brought out here?         (verse 8)

That God’s Word stands for ever! It is eternal and has no end.

f.   Which Jerusalem is being referred to here?       (verse 9;  Hebrews 12:22-23; Revelation 21:10)

Zion  is the name of the city of God’s dwelling place, and while the earthly city of Jerusalem was the city where David reigned from and was known as Zion, yet in the wider sense it is referring to God’s heavenly city, the heavenly Jerusalem which is going to descend out of heaven in the time of the new earth.

g.  What are the two pictures of God here?      (verses 10-11)

God is shown as the strong ruler who will judge all those who have ever lived one way or another, and yet on the other hand He is shown as dealing gently with His people.

h.   What else does this passage show God as being?       (verses 12-14; Hebrews 1:2b-3a)

That He is the great Creator…..that it was in fact, the Lord Jesus  who was the primary Person of the Godhead Who did the Creating.

i.  In the light of this fact, what are the nations of the world to God?     (verses 15-17)

They are only like  a drop of water or a speck of dust…..they as nothing (or worthless) compared to God Himself.

j.  What is the comparison in this next passage?      (verses 18-20)

It shows how little understanding people have, to think that they can make a likeness of God out of a piece of wood! The great God of Heaven who made them, impersonated by something they have made themselves!

2.   Verses  21-31

a.   We have been told how people right up until the time of Columbus always believed that the earth was flat…..what do we see here that refutes that theory if people had only believed God’s Word?   (verses 21-22a)

That right from the time the earth was founded, it has always been a round object.

b.  What is repeated here about the greatness of man?         (verses 22b-24)

That man is nothing compared to the greatness of God, he is merely like a grasshopper in comparison!

c.   What can be said is equal to God’s greatness?        (verses 25-26)

Not even the universe, which after all was created by God Himself….even today, man has not managed to see all the stars or the furtherest side of what God has made!

d.   What does God know about every single star?    (verse 26)

He has named each one and not one of them fails in His purpose for it!

e.  Stop and think carefully about this next verse….what comment can you make about it and what should our reaction be?      (verse 28; 1 Timothy 1:17; Revelation 4:10-11)

Mankind can never get to the end of God’s knowledge and creation…..there is always more to find out….we may feel tired at the comprehension of such things, but God is never weary.

f.   What does God give to His people?      (verses 29-31)

Those who wait on, and trust in, Him, will never be weary or tired in their souls, but will go from strength to strength, mounting up with sings on high, running without becoming tired and walking endlessly!

g.   What is the prospect ahead for the believer?      (Psalm 16:11; 17:15; 1 Corinthians 2:9; Ephesians 2:7)

That they have the likeness and attributes of God, being in His presence where there is fullness of joy and pleasures for evermore; that these things are beyond our comprehension now, and that we have all of eternity to discover them! What a prospect!!

Isaiah Forty….(verses 1-31)

The whole tone of Isaiah’s writings now changes, with a different message altogether…..let’s look at it:

1.        Verses  1-20           

a.   What message does God bring to the people here?        (verses 1-2)

One of comfort and hope….Israel has confessed her sin and been pardoned.

b.  What hope does this bring to us today?      (Psalm 51:3-4, 17; 1 John 1:9)

We can confess our sin to the Lord and be given a second chance with our sins forgiven.

c.   When was this prophecy fulfilled and by whom?   (Matthew 3:1-3)

This was fulfilled by John the Baptist when he began his ministry preaching about repentance from sin and the Coming One who would take away sin from individuals as they looked to Him.

d.  What is the contrast in this passage?       (verses 5-8)

The contrast of the Lord’s eternal glory and man’s transience… here today and gone tomorrow!

1. f.       What great truth is brought out here?         (verse 8)

That God’s Word stands for ever! It is eternal and has no end.

f.   Which Jerusalem is being referred to here?       (verse 9;  Hebrews 12:22-23; Revelation 21:10)

Zion  is the name of the city of God’s dwelling place, and while the earthly city of Jerusalem was the city where David reigned from and was known as Zion, yet in the wider sense it is referring to God’s heavenly city, the heavenly Jerusalem which is going to descend out of heaven in the time of the new earth.

g.  What are the two pictures of God here?      (verses 10-11)

God is shown as the strong ruler who will judge all those who have ever lived one way or another, and yet on the other hand He is shown as dealing gently with His people.

h.   What else does this passage show God as being?       (verses 12-14; Hebrews 1:2b-3a)

That He is the great Creator…..that it was in fact, the Lord Jesus  who was the primary Person of the Godhead Who did the Creating.

i.  In the light of this fact, what are the nations of the world to God?     (verses 15-17)

They are only like  a drop of water or a speck of dust…..they as nothing (or worthless) compared to God Himself.

j.  What is the comparison in this next passage?      (verses 18-20)

It shows how little understanding people have, to think that they can make a likeness of God out of a piece of wood! The great God of Heaven who made them, impersonated by something they have made themselves!

2.   Verses  21-31

a.   We have been told how people right up until the time of Columbus always believed that the earth was flat…..what do we see here that refutes that theory if people had only believed God’s Word?   (verses 21-22a)

That right from the time the earth was founded, it has always been a round object.

b.  What is repeated here about the greatness of man?         (verses 22b-24)

That man is nothing compared to the greatness of God, he is merely like a grasshopper in comparison!

c.   What can be said is equal to God’s greatness?        (verses 25-26)

Not even the universe, which after all was created by God Himself….even today, man has not managed to see all the stars or the furtherest side of what God has made!

d.   What does God know about every single star?    (verse 26)

He has named each one and not one of them fails in His purpose for it!

e.  Stop and think carefully about this next verse….what comment can you make about it and what should our reaction be?      (verse 28; 1 Timothy 1:17; Revelation 4:10-11)

Mankind can never get to the end of God’s knowledge and creation…..there is always more to find out….we may feel tired at the comprehension of such things, but God is never weary.

f.   What does God give to His people?      (verses 29-31)

Those who wait on, and trust in, Him, will never be weary or tired in their souls, but will go from strength to strength, mounting up with sings on high, running without becoming tired and walking endlessly!

g.   What is the prospect ahead for the believer?      (Psalm 16:11; 17:15; 1 Corinthians 2:9; Ephesians 2:7)

That they have the likeness and attributes of God, being in His presence where there is fullness of joy and pleasures for evermore; that these things are beyond our comprehension now, and that we have all of eternity to discover them! What a prospect!!

 Isaiah Forty-0ne….(verses 1-29

1.        Verses  1-10       

  a.   What is God saying here?        (verses 1-4a)

God is saying to keep quiet and listen to Him…He is asking who called the righteous man, and who is in charge of the different generations.

b.  What does God state about Himself?      ((verse 4b; Revelation 1:8, 11a)

That He is the First and the Last…no-one else can honestly claim this.

c.   What did people do rather than accept this fact of God?   (verses 5-7; chap 40:19-20; chap 44:13)

They made their own images according to their own ideas and worshipped them instead of God.

d.  In what way was Israel supposed to be different to this? Why?       (verses 8-9; Hebrews 11:8)

God had specially chosen them, the descendants of Abraham, as His people. God classed Abraham as His friend because he was a man of faith, and promised that his descendants would be special to Him.

e.    What makes people the friends of God today? Is it possible?   (John 15:10-15)

Those who love God and keep His Word are called the “friends of God (and Christ)”….yes, it is not only possible, but it is expected that we keep His Word or we are not His at all.

f.   What is God saying about His people here? Can we say that we have been chosen too?       (verses 8-9;  Ephesians 1:3-5)

God says He has specifically chosen Abraham’s descendants to be His people, and He has likewise called and chosen others from the ends of the earth, and this includes all those who call on His Name….He has called, chosen and blessed them. What a wonderful fact!

g.  What are the two pictures of God here?      (verse 1)

God is shown as the strong ruler who will judge all those who have ever lived one way or another, and yet on the other hand He is shown as dealing gently with His people.

h.   What do you notice about this verse?       (verse 10)

God is making a wonderful promise of protection and help to His people.

i.  Do you think this promise is still valid today?     (Hebrews 13:5b)

Yes, God has said He will NEVER leave His people.

j.  How many different things does God tell us in this verse?  What are they?  (verse  10)

There are seven things that God tells His people….not to be afraid; He is always with us; we are not to be dismayed; He will not only strengthen us, but will help and uphold us with His right hand.

k. Why can we have the utmost confidence that God means what He says? If we feel that He is far away from us, whose fault is it?    (Numbers 23:19; Psalm 66:18)

God has said it, and He CANNOT lie, so we know He will do this for us. If we feel He is far away, it is because we have some sin in our life that we need to repent of and turn back to Him.

2.   Verses  11-29

a.   What are we to remember about those who are against us?   (verses 11-12)

If they are unbelievers, they are as nothing in God’s sight….His people are far more precious to Him than those who are against them.

b.  What promise is re-iterated here for God’s people?    (verses 13-17; Psalm 10:14)

They are not to be afraid because God will help them

c.   What sort of people does God particularly care about?  (verses 15-20; Psalm 72:12)

Those who are poor and needy with no-one else to help them.

d.   In what way can we apply verses 17-18 to ourselves today?    (John 4:13-14; 7:37-38)

Jesus Christ has promised that those who thirst for Him will find total satisfaction and never thirst again.

e.  What results when there is plenty of water?  How can we apply that to ourselves today?    (verses 19-20; Psalm 1:1-3)

There is abundant growth…as we give ourselves over to meditating and reading God’s Word, God will see that we grow and prosper in His things.

f.   What does the rest of the chapter show us?      (verses 21-29)

That mankind without God has no case at all….their gods and idols are useless and their works are as nothing in God’s sight. People today don’t even have a good argument about how the world began…a “big bang” is completely unbelievable. No-one will be able to answer God with any reasonable point….their reasons are futile and pointless and their works and what they delight in, is worth nothing to God.

g.   What does the world’s theories result in?      (verses 28-29)

They result in wind and confusion, with no convincing arguments for the spiritual good  of mankind.

 Isaiah Forty-two….(verses 1-25)

1.        Verses  1-25

 a.   What is God talking about here?        (verse 1; chapter  11:1-2; Matthew 3:17)

His chosen servant who He delights in; the One who He has sent to bring all people (even the Gentiles) to Himself

b.  What are we told about the work of this One?   (verses 2-4; Matthew  12:15-21)

That He would be gentle and quiet with people and would accomplish all that God wanted Him to do.

c.   Whose idea was it that Jesus Christ should come into the world to do this work? What sort of work was it primarily to do?   (verses 5-7; Matthew 25:34; John 3:16;  Ephesians 1:4)

God loves all people (not just the Jewish people)  so much and wants them to be able to come to Him, and the only way for this to happen was through the work of Christ’s death on the cross.

d.  What does God declare here that we must always remember?     (verse 8)

That He alone is the Lord and He will not share His glory with any other….we must never take the glory for anything to ourselves, all that we have has come from Him.

e.    What are we told here?  Will we ever come to an end of knowing them?    (verse 9; 1 Corinthians 2:9;  Ephesians 2:7)

That God has many new things  to show us, (things that we cannot even begin to imagine) and these will go on into an endless eternity. What a wonderful prospect!!!

f.      What are God’s people encouraged to do here?     (verses 10-12; Psalm 29:1-2)

God’s people are told to sing praises to Him and to give Him the glory that is due to His Name.

g.  How does God describe Himself here? Why do you think He feels like this?   (verses 13-15; Judges 21:25b )

God was going to bring judgment on those who were His enemies; He was crying out like a woman in labour and He was going to bring famine and waste to the land. This was all because the people had forsaken Him and were all doing their own thing.

h.   In spite of all that the people had done, what was God’s one great desire?     (verses 16-21)

That they would return to Him and He would be prepared to show them the way to live if they would only forsake the images and gods that they had made; though they were deaf and blind to His things, He would show them to them again.

i.  What is God asking again in this passage?      (verses 22-24)

Why the people wouldn’t listen and turn to Him when they were in such a poor state, and why they weren’t obedient to Him.

j.  What could they expect as a result of their disobedience?          (verse 25)

God’s anger and judgment for it all.

 

Isaiah Forty-three….(verses 1-28)

1.   Verses  1-28                 

a.   What wonderful promises does God give His people here?    (verse 1; Galatians 3:28-29)

God has created and formed His people for Himself….He has redeemed us, given us His name, and we have nothing to be afraid of.

b.  What do you particularly notice about God’s protection?    (verse 2)

God may not remove the circumstances that are giving us grief, but He is always with us and goes with us through our afflictions….He gives us strength to bear whatever comes our way.

c.   What does God think of His people here? Why?     (verses 3-4; John 3:16)

God is our Saviour and has bought us from the  sin of the world; His people are precious in His sight and because He loved people so much He was willing to give His only Son to redeem them and buy them back from sin’s dominion.

d.   We now see a promise that has two applications…what are they?   (verses 5-6; John 10:16)

There is the application for Israel as God’s earthly people  as in the fact that He is going to take them back to their land from among the nations; there is also the application of God’s heavenly people being called from all nations of the earth and gathered together as one in Christ Jesus in the day to come into one fold under Him as the one Shepherd.

e.  What has been specifically created for God’s glory? What is the challenge in this?    (verse 7; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)

People who have been called by God’s name….the challenge is, does how much does our behaviour and manner of life glorify God?

f.   What is one thing that we can all do?    (verses 8-10a)

We can all tell others of our faith; even the way we live will show this, and if we cannot do this literally, then we can support those who actively serve the Lord in spreading His Word.

g.   What does God say about Himself in these verses, and how does this affect His people?       (verses 10b-17)

Those who believe are to understand that there is no other God but Himself, there is no other Saviour…..He has done all that is necessary for our salvation, we don’t have to add to it….to do so, is to make Him a liar. Whatever He says and does is final, and no-one can alter it….we are to realise and acknowledge that He is our Creator and our King. Too many Christians think they can add to what God has already done by being good or keeping certain rules. We don’t do good to earn favour with God, we do good because of what He has done for us!!

h.  What was God saying here that He was going to do?                  (verses 18-21)

He was going to make something entirely new that people had never thought of before….He was going to form a new people for Himself who would show forth His praise.

i.   What was this new thing that had been a mystery up to the time of Paul’s writings?  (Romans 11:25; 16:25-26; Colossians 1:26-27)

The mystery of God’s salvation through Jesus Christ to ALL people of the world (not just the Jews); the fact that Christ lives in those who turn to Him

j.  How had the people of Israel treated God during all these years?      (verses 22-24)

Their sacrifices were done half-heartedly with smaller and smaller offerings, and sinful hearts and ways.

k.   What does God promise to do here? How can He overlook the sins of people when He is so holy?                 (verses 25-26; 1 John 1:9)

God promises to blot people’s sins out and to never remember them again if they will only confess them and declare that they are sinners needing a Saviour.

l. Why does God punish people, both nations and individuals?    (verses 27-28; Romans 3:23)

Because ALL people have sinned from birth, from the first man down to the people’s current teachers. Because of this, God turned away from the people of Israel and brought it to its current situation.

m.  What is the warning in this?       (Matthew 22:37; Hebrews 9:26-28)

We cannot afford to play fast and loose with God….we MUST take heed to His warnings and turn to Him with all our hearts, minds and souls because we are all going to have to stand before Him in judgment one day.

 

Isaiah Forty-four….(verses 1-28)

1.        Verses  1-8              

a.   What does God affirm in verses 1-2?        (verses 1-2)

That He has chosen Israel to be his servant…..He has made and formed them and will help them.

b.  What does God promise here? How can we apply this to ourselves?     (verses 3-4)

That He will give water on the thirsty ground….in other words, that He will satisfy the thirsty soul and give his Spirit to them, and they will grow in His ways.

c.   What is the result of this promise today?   (verse 5)

Many have called on the Lord and taken His name to themselves…..Christian

d.  When did this begin?        (Acts 2:1-4, 16-18, 21)

At Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was given freely to all who believe in Jesus Christ.

1. g.     What two titles are ascribed to the Tri-une God in verse 6?

The Lord; the King of Israel; the Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts.

f.      What does God say about Himself here?      (verses 6, 8c)

He says that He is the First and the Last, and that there is no God apart from Himself.

g.  What does Jesus Christ say about Himself?      ( John 10:30,  Revelation 1:8)

That He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending and that He and the Father are one!

h.   What has God declared to His people?       (verses 7-8)

That He is God, and there is no other, and that His plan WILL be fulfilled regardless.

i.  What has God revealed to His people now?     (1 Corinthians 2:7-9)

His hidden wisdom….the mystery of God which was ordained before the world began! And the things which God has for his people.

j.  How is this information revealed to us?     (1 Corinthians 2:10-13)

By God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit.

2.   Verses  9-28                 

a.   What is this next section about?       (verses 9-17)

The heathen making an idol out of wood to worship.

b.  What spirit and wisdom does Paul call this?       (1 Corinthians 2:12a, 14)

The spirit of the world and the wisdom of man.

c.   What do the things of God seem to the natural man?      (1 Corinthians 2:14a)

Merely foolishness.

d.   What do the heathen do with this idol they make in verse 17?

They bow down and worship it, and ask it to deliver them.

e.  What do they seem to NOT understand?    (verses 18-19)

That it is only a wooden object; that they are worshipping a cut down tree!  They have used the same tree that they are worshipping to warm themselves and cook their food!

f.   What are they feeding their souls on?   (verse 20)

Ashes and a deceived heart.

               Romans 8:30-34

g.   Who is God talking to in this section? What has He done for them?  (verses 21-23)

His redeemed people whose sins He has blotted out….in this instance, it is Israel, but in a wider sense it is all His people down through the ages who He is talking to, all those whose sins He has blotted out who He has redeemed.

h.  What is God saying here?                  (verse 24a)

He is reminding us that He has redeemed us; in fact, He has formed us from our mothers’ wombs

i.   What else is God saying about Himself?          (verses 24b-28)

He is showing how He is the great Creator of heaven and earth, how He has everything in control, and that what the wise people of this world say has no effect on Him….what He says will happen, WILL happen.

j.   What is so amazing here?      (verse 28; Ezra 1:1-4)

God can use even the heathen rulers to perform His will….God stirred up Cyrus to allow the people of Israel  to go back to their land and rebuild the temple, in fact he encouraged and helped the people to return and do this.

 

Isaiah Forty-five…(verses 1-25)

1. 1.      Verses  1-8 

a.   This passage is written concerning Cyrus many years before he was born. What was he king of?                (Ezra 1:1)

He was king of Persia.

b.  What notable project did he sponsor?                (Ezra 1:2-4)

The rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem

c.   What does God promise him in verses 1-2?       

“I will help you subdue nations and will open yet other gates before you; I will make the crooked ways straight.”

d.  What does God promise him in verse 3 and what would he know?      

That he would be given treasures and hidden riches and would also know that the Lord was God of Israel.

1. e.      What did Cyrus send back to Israel when Ezra went to rebuild the temple?     (Ezra 1:7-8, 11)

All the treasures from the temple which had been taken away many years earlier.

f.      What was the reason that Cyrus was called and named?     (verse 4)

It was for Israel’s sake, so the temple rebuilding could begin.

g.   Were there any nations who would be able to say that they didn’t know there was a Great Creator?  What about today?       (verses 5-6; Romans 1:20-22)

All people around the world know deep in their hearts that there is a great One (whether they refer to Him as a “Force” or the “Great Spirit”). But whether they acknowledge Him or not as God is another matter….so many so-called educators prefer to push this knowledge out the door and establish evolution.

h.  What gives all men a clue that there is a Creator?        (verse 6; Romans 1:20)

The very fact of the rising sun each day points to a Creator of order.

i.   What contrasts has the Lord created?      (verse 7)

Light and darkness; good times and bad times; happiness and sorrow.

j.  Verse 7 shows the sovereignty of God and the fact that He is over all….great natural disasters are called “an act of God”. Put verse 7 into your own words……

I give light and make darkness; I give peaceful times and allow calamities; I am in charge of all these things.

k.   What is verse 8 talking about?

Righteousness from heaven coming to earth, and also God’s salvation.

l.  What does this tie in with? What person came from heaven to earth to bring salvation and righteousness to men?       (Matthew 1:20-21; John 3:16)

Jesus Christ is the only One who could do this.

2.   Verses  9-25                                 Read Romans 9:15-24

a.  Has man any valid right to question God? Give reasons for your answer…..(verses 9-10; Romans 9:20)

No, because he is the creature, the one who was created!

b.  What example is used in both verse 9 and the Romans verse?     (Romans 9:21)

That of the clay complaining to the potter as to why it was made in a certain manner.

c.   What else does God remind us that He has made?         (verses 12, 18)

The universe with its hosts of galaxies.

d.   Look at verses 1 and 13; take verse 9 and comment on these verses all taken together……

Cyrus was a heathen king who God chose for the special purpose of releasing the Jews from captivity to go back to Jerusalem. No-one had any right to question why God should have chosen him for this job….no-one has any right to question God on any of His moves.

e.  How does all this affect us today? What must we remember?  (Genesis 18:25)

We cannot question or blame God for circumstances in either our personal lives or in world conditions. We must remember that God has every right to order things as He sees fit and that His judgement is always righteous and fair.

f   Taking Egypt as a picture of the world, what does verse 14 suggest to you? What chains are people bound in?

They  are bound in sin, and  will come to God’s people asking how to be free…they will acknowledge that believers have something that they haven’t got….God in them.

g.  How will people feel one day when they think back to what they once trusted in?   (verse 16)

They will feel ashamed and confused.

h.   Contrast this with the people of God…. (verse 17)

They know they are saved with an everlasting salvation….there is no shame or confusion before God  in this!

                      John 14:6;     Philippians 2:10-11;    Revelation 22:17                      

i.   What do we see here about the nations that don’t accept God’s message?  (verse 20)

That they are ignorantly worshipping things that don’t give spiritual life…..it is all futile!

j.  What do verses 19 and 21 tell us?

God makes it clear and plain what His message is….He only speaks what is right. He is the only One who knows and has always known; He is the only One who is Just (good and honest) and the only One who is the Saviour of mankind.

k.   What is God’s message to mankind? Does it still stand?       (verse 22; Revelation 22:17)

Yes! God’s message is still, “Come to Me and be saved!”

l.  How many ways are there to heaven?         (verse 22c; John 14:6; Acts 4:12)

Only one, through Jesus Christ.

m.    How and when will every knee bow to the Lord Jesus?      (verse 23; Philippians 2:9-11)

In the day to come ALL will confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God…..those who refuse Him now and use His name in blasphemy will exalt Him then; they will see Him for Who He is but it will be too late for them to be saved.

n. What does it mean by the statement “ALL the seed of Israel” will be justified?    

        (verse 25; Genesis 22:18; 26:4c;  Galations 3:14,16?

That in Jesus Christ ALL ( both Jews and Gentiles), can be justified and glory in Him. Together, all the saints of Old and New Testament times become God’s people and therefore the “seed of Israel”.

 

Isaiah Forty-six…(verses 1-13)

1.     Verses  1-13                                    

a.  What is the picture here?         (verses 1-2)

One of burdens and weariness that cannot be  relieved.

b.   What is the promise that God gives His people in their old age?        (verses 3-4)

That He will never leave his people….He will carry and support His people right through to their old age.

c.   What hope has the aged believer got?   (Psalm 71:18)

They can still be useful  to the Lord in their old age. God will never leave them, even in their weakness and infirmity.

d.  In what ways can they still be useful?     (Psalm 92:13-14)

In being cheerful and thankful in spite of disabililties and pain; in encouraging others and in praying for their families etc.

e.   What is God contrasted with in these verses?      (verses 5-8)

The futility of idol worship.

f.  Where do these idols come from?           (verse 6)

The materials were bought and then made up by men.

g.    How do these heathen idols operate?       (verse 7)

They don’t!   They are dead and useless. It is only as people move them around that they move and they cannot hear or see. They are as dead as the material they are made from!

h.  What is the contrast in a believer’s new life?    (1 Thessalonians )

They once served these dead idols, but now they are servants of the true and living God.

i.  What do people in the western world worship today?

Other men and women who entertain and amuse them….film and singing stars, e.g. Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson

j.   What were the people of Israel told to remember?     (verses 8-10)

That God is God alone…..there is no other God who plans and brings things to pass without man’s help. They were to remember the mighty things God had done in the past and to realise that He could do them again.

k.  What is to be noticed about God’s plans and purposes?      (verse 10c)

Nothing will prevent it; what God has said, will  come to pass and be done.

l.    What are we to remember?     (Ephesians 1:4-12)

How God has worked for us in the past, and what He will do for us in the future…..how He has chosen us in Christ, adopted us into His family, redeemed us and made known His mysteries which people never knew before (and which the world doesn’t know or understand even now!)

m.  What will God use to bring about His ultimate purposes?      (verses 11-12)

He uses nations and peoples from far away to work His purposes with His disobedient people…in Israel’s case it was Nebuchadnezzar who would take Israel captive until they were ready to turn back to Him.. In our case it could be the circumstances of illness or accident to bring us back to Him.

n.    What is God’s ultimate purpose?   (verse 13; Ephesians 2:1-22;  Hebrews 12:22-23)

To gather together all His people to Himself, both Jew and Gentile, one in Christ Jesus….they will show forth His glory and praise Him for ever

2.  Challenge….  

a.   How well am I doing to be part of God’s glory?

I should be thinking about this aspect more and being more obedient to God’s Word.

 

Isaiah Forty-seven…(verses 1-15)

1.     Verses  1-15               

a.   What is God saying about Babylon as the world system, here?   (verses 1)

That they have had their day, and now the day of judgement has come, and the time of reckoning is here.

b.  What sort of picture about Babylon (the world system), is painted later on in Revelation?     (Revelation 18:2-3, 7-10)

One of pride and debauchery, evil living and immorality, and persecution of God’s people…. the time of its ascendancy is over and gone.

c.   What does God promise his people in verse 3 and Revelation 18:20?

That the day of avenging will come …all the wickedness the world has heaped on God’s people down through the ages will be judged and punished.

d.  What are God’s people reminded of in verse 4?

That they have a Redeemer whose name is the Lord of Hosts and He is the Holy One of Israel, His people.

e.  How does God regard iniquity and evil?   (Habakkuk 1:13a)

He cannot bear to look at it, it is utterly offensive to Him.

f.   What is the greatest sin in the world today?

Complete indifference to God and His Word; pride in self, possessions and pleasures.

g.  What is the state of the world today?  (Psalm 51:1-3)

People have thrown God out of their lives, and have become corrupt, evil, filthy and non-understanding.

h.    How does God view mankind?    (Romans 3:23)

As having sinned and missed the mark! They have ALL come short of His standard and glory.

i.   What does the world look to today, to tell them the future?   (verses 12-13)

Enchantments and sorceries, horoscopes and psychic source.

j.  What is one thing that is in every weekly magazine in this line?

Fortune in the Stars; horoscopes, and asking what the future holds etc.

k.    What does God think of these things? What should His people do about them?  

    (Deuteronomy 18:10-12)

God detests and abhors them, they are an abomination to Him, and His people should be the same. We should not even read or look at these things.

l  What is their end result?   (verse 14)

They will be destroyed as stubble is burned and becomes no more.

m.    How should God’s people feel about future events ?    (Psalm 112:7)

They are not afraid because their heart and mind is fixed on God and they trust in Him.

 Isaiah Forty-eight…(verses 1-22)

1.     Verses  1-10                                                                                          

a.   What was wrong with Israel’s affirmation of God?  What are we told elsewhere about their attitude?                  (verses 1-2;  2 Kings 17:33, 41)

It was not being done with a sincere heart; their heart was not in what they were saying….they were pretending to be what they weren’t.

b.  What were they trying to mix  together?    (verses 1-2)

They were trying to have a foot in each camp….worshipping idols and God at the same time.

c.   What did our Lord tell the people of His day? Are things any different today?   (Matthew 23: 27-28)

He told them they were like beautiful mausoleums that looked nice on the outside but were full of bones inside….they were pretending to be good people but their hearts were still evil and not right with God.

d.  What does God want more than just words and lip-service?   (Deuteronomy 11:13)

He wants worship from a true,  sincere heart with obedience and shows mercy to others.   

e.   Why does God bother to foretell things to people?      (verses 3-8)

So they can see that He is greater than their idols, otherwise they would attribute circumstances to their gods.

f.  How does God describe the people in verses 4 and 8?

As being obstinate and stubborn, refusing to listen to Him;  and as being  treacherous transgressors from the day they were born.

g.    What does God say will happen?  (Daniel 12:4b)

That knowledge will increase and new things will be shown to mankind….principles that were always in place but not understood.

h.  What sort of principles have been realised in the last couple of hundred years that were not understood earlier?      (verse 6) 

Principles of hygiene and cleanliness; that the atoms, protons and neutrons have always been since before the beginning of time but weren’t understood by mankind.

i.    What other new things has God revealed to mankind in these last times?

All the technology that we all enjoy and use has been given to man by God.

j.    What is the “hidden wisdom” that is even more important that God has revealed to people by His Spirit?                  (1 Corinthians 2:7-12)

The spiritual truths concerning Jesus Christ and the work of redemption.

k.   Why does God show mercy to people?       (verse 9; Jeremiah 31:3; John 3:16)

For His Name’s sake and for His praise. Because He has loved people with an everlasting love which gave His only beloved Son to redeem them from sin.

l.  What does God call times of affliction that people suffer, and why are they necessary?  (verse 10; Malachi 3:3)

He calls them times of refining that make people stop and take stock of themselves and think about their standing before Him, and to bring them back to Him.

m.    What is this “refining”  experience called in the New Testament?    (Hebrews 12:5-11)

It is called chastening which the Lord sees fit to use to train His people to become more like Him; it is through these painful experiences that we learn more of God’s care and power in our lives.

2.   Verses  11-22

a.    What does God say about His glory in verse 11b?

He says that He will NOT share it with any other person.

b.  Can you think of anything that God has said in the ten commandments that backs this up?  (Exodus 20:1-17)

That man is to love the Lord with ALL his heart, mind and sou, and is to have no other gods but the God of heaven.

c.    What gives God the right to ask this of people? (verse 12-13; Romans 9:20-24)

Because He has made us and given us everything we have….even this earth to live on!

d.    What is God’s supreme attribute? What is His reason for calling men to Himself?  (verse 14; John 3:16; 1 John 4:9-10)

Because God is love….because He loves us!

e.   What was the attitude of the people here?        (verse 18a)

They wouldn’t listen to the Lord’s voice.

f.  What does obedience to God’s Word bring?   (verse 18b)

The peace OF God and peace WITH God, and right ways of living.

g.    What other promise does God give in this verse when His people obey Him?    (verse 19)

That their descendants will be like the sand of the sea shore.

h.   How do people feel when they have left the bondage of their captors?      (verse 20)

They sing praises to God for redeeming them from captivity.

i.  What is the song that believers can sing today ?      (Psalm 40:3; Revelation 6:9; 15:3)

Songs of praise for their deliverance and how God  has redeemed them and delivered them from their sins.

j.   What did God do for His people in the wilderness when they ran out of water?   (verse 21; Exodus 17:6)

He told Moses to hit the rock with his rod and then water would come out for them.

k.  What relevance is there in this picture for God’s people today?  (John 4:13-14)

God provides water for the thirsty soul through our Lord Jesus Christ, water that will never fail and will lead into everlasting life for them.

l.   What is the sad contrast in verse 22?

The contrast that there is no rest, nor ever will be, for the wicked (those who refuse to accept God’s gift)

 Isaiah Forty-nine…(verses 1-26)

1.     Verses  1-26                                                                           

a. What is Isaiah saying here about himself?     (verses 1-3)

That God had called him to do this work from the time he was born, and that what he was saying to them was indeed the Word of the Lord….he was seeking to do this to the glory of God.

b.   Who is being  referred to  here in the wider sense?   (Matthew 1:21)

The Lord Jesus Christ

c.   In what way is Christ’s mouth like a sharp sword?       (Hebrews 4:12; Revelation 1:16)

Because He spoke the Word of God which is alive and powerful, sharper than any two edged sword, showing us as we are before God.

d.  What was Jesus Christ doing as He went around serving God and people?   (John 11:4; 17:4)

Everything that He did was to glorify God.

e.  How did Isaiah feel about this task that God had given him to do?  (verses 5-7)

Even though he felt unequal to the task, yet he knew that God was with him and would give light to those he was talking to.

f.   What is the wider sense of these statements about God’s servant?    (verses 6-7; Galatians 3:13-14)

It points to the fact that the Lord Jesus would come as God’s servant to raise Israel back into favour with God and to be a light to the Gentile nations throughout the world.

g.   What does the first part of verse 8 talk about?

It talks about the time to listen to God’s Word to find salvation.

f.  When does Paul say this time is ?       (2 Corinthians 6:2)

He says it is NOW!

h.   Who were the prisoners and what darkness were they in?   (1 Peter 2:9-10)

Those who don’t believe are held in the chains of sin and its darkness…..these people are blind to a whole new spiritual dimension.

i.  What does verse 10 tell us about some of the blessings that believers  are brought into?        (Ephesians 1:3-11)

He has given us everything that we need and more besides!  He has given us all the spiritual blessings that are at His disposal…He has chosen us, brought us into His family, accepted us, redeemed and forgiven us, shown us many mysteries we never understood before and has an inheritance waiting for us in heaven.

j.   What do verses 11-12 talk about?     What sort of way is this?   (John 14:6)

It is talking about the spiritual way to God, and that many people from all over the world will find it;  it is  a clear and plain way, the Lord Jesus Christ being the Way to God.

k.   What do people feel in verse 14? Who would have done the moving away?

When people feel that God is far away, they are the ones who have moved away; God never leaves His people.

l.   What is God’s promise here concerning this?        (verses 15-16)

He will never forget us….He thinks of us constantly like a mother with a newborn baby; it is though our names are tattooed on His hands!

m.  What is God going to do with people in a time to come?        (verses 22-23)

He is going to call all people, from the Gentiles to the Jews, and they will begin to realise what God’s plan has been and the people will be helped to return to their own land as God has always said. 

n.   When is this time coming when everyone will know who God is?   (verse 26b; Philippians 2:9-11; Revelation 19:11-16, 19)

Right at the end of time. The Lord Jesus will be shown as the Mighty King whose words will pierce like a sword, and people will bow down before Him and confess Him as Lord after all. God’s Redeemer will be known and acknowledged to God’s glory.

 Isaiah Fifty…(verses 1-11 )

1.     Verses  1-11                                             

a.   What is the picture here?     (verse 1)

A people who have rebelled against the Lord……people who have gone their own way.

b.  What does God liken these people to?      (verse 1)

A wife who is playing around with other men.

c.   What is God’s plea to them?   (verse 2a;  chapter 1:16-18)

Why won’t you listen to Me? Wash yourselves clean, and come to Me to talk this out.

d.  What is God pointing out to the people here?   (verses 2b-3)

God is saying that He is able to redeem and deliver them…after all He is still in charge of nature around them!           Isaiah 59:1, 16                    

c.   What do we see about God’s power?    (verses 2b-3)

He can dry up rivers and seas, and turn the sky into darkness if He wants to.

d.  What does verse 4 tell us? What else is this referring to?   (Luke 4:22, 32)

It tells us that God had given Isaiah a message for the people who were weary and tired. This is also referring to the message that Jesus Christ brought to the world, and the way He presented it to the people who heard Him…..wonderful words of  convincing authority! The people were amazed and marvelled at His words.

e.  How is this verse relevant for us today?  What did David say about this ? (Psalm 143:8)

It tells us that the way to learn God’s word is to take it in every day, gathering it fresh each morning. David wanted to hear God’s voice each morning telling him what to do, and praising Him at the same time.

f.   What do we see in this section?    (verses 5-9)

We see Someone who is doing God’s will and being dreadfully treated because of it.

g.  What is this referring to?       (Matthew 26: 39, 67; Luke 22: 39-44 )

It is referring to the agony of the Lord in Gethsemane, and His suffering at His trial.

h.  What do we see here that is not specifically spelt out in the New Testament?  (verse 6)

That not only was He whipped, but that His whiskers were actually pulled out of His face and that people were spitting in His face with their saliva….we can’t imagine it!  

i.     What helped Him to get through this time of shame and suffering?    (verse 7; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; 1 Peter 1:18-20)

It was all part of God’s plan for mankind’s salvation; He knew He was doing His Father’s will, and even though this entailed God turning His face away from Him when He bore mankind’s sin, yet He was prepared to go through with it…nothing would deflect this purpose.

j.   What questions are asked in this passage?      (verses 8-9)

Who will contend with me?  Who is my enemy? Who will condemn me? Who walks in darkness and has no light?

k.   Notice similar questions that Paul asks and answers Romans …what are they?               (Romans 8:31-37)

If God is for us, who can be against us?            No one, only God who has already saved us.

Who can say anything against us?        No-one, only God

Who can condemn us?                          Only Christ and He is interceding for us!

Who or what can separate us from the love of Christ?      No-one and nothing.

Can any tribulation or persecution take away His love?  No, even if we are killed, we are still      

 more than conquerors!!

l.   What confidence does the believer have?   (verse 9; Romans 8:38-39)

It is God who will help me! No-one else can condemn us!!

 Isaiah Fifty-one ….(verses 1-23)

1.     Verses   1-8                                              

a.  Who is being spoken to here?             (verse 1)

Those who follow righteousness and seek the Lord.

b.   What are we to remember about our salvation?     (verse 1; Psalm 40:1-2)

That God is our Rock and remember the pit we have been lifted out of.

c.   How does David describe God in Psalm 62:1-2, 7?

As being his Rock and Salvation that he could totally depend on, His strength and Refuge at all times.

d.   What does Paul tell us to remember?  (Galatians 3:28-29; Ephesians 2:11-13)

That we have come from Gentile stock, with no claim on God or His promises and totally without hope, yet now we have been made near to God by the blood of Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile among God’s people, ALL are one in Christ Jesus. 

e.   Who is Abraham the father of?    (verse 2; Romans 4:13, 16)

All who believe and walk by faith.

f.   What promise does God give His people here?          (verse 3)

That He will comfort them and give them peace and joy as they give thanks and praise to Him.

g.   How can we claim this promise right now?  (Philippians 4:6-7)

By taking EVERYTHING to God in prayer , and thanking Him for the answer even if it isn’t what we want. We have to have a positive attitude and make an effort then God will meet us and do the rest.

h.  What do we see in these verses?       (verses 4-5)

One day all wrong will be sorted out and dealt with; law and order WILL prevail, righteousness WILL pervade and God’s salvation will be complete.

i.  What is going to happen to this universe as we know it?   (verses 6-8; chapter 34:4; 2 Peter 3: 10-13)

It is going to come to an end and be totally destroyed….rolled up like a scroll. The earth will explode and burn up while all people will stand before God with nowhere to hide.

j.   What will be a reminder that this is going to happen?     (Luke 21: 25-28)

There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars, with distress of nations on the earth.

k.   What part of this are we seeing today?

Nations squabbling and fighting with protestors roaring in different places. The first big explosion of the sun occurred in March of 1997. Extremes of weather such as never known before, and natural disasters occurring almost every week somewhere in the world.

l.   What is contrasted with this transient universe?   (verse 8c; Luke 21:33)

God’s salvation is for ever, and His righteousness and Word will NEVER be done away with! This universe has just been a vehicle for God’s people to be gathered together and His love displayed.

m.   What are God’s people not to be afraid of?     (verse 7b)

Those who reproach and mock them.

n.   What will happen to those who treat God’s people in this way?   (verse 8a; Mark 9:43-48)

They have no future to look forwards to, and will one day be thrown into the lake of fire where their consciousness will be alive and well for eternity.

2.    Verses  9-23                 Revelation 21:4

a.  What prospects do the redeemed of the Lord have?    (verse 11)

One of eternal gladness and joy where there will be no sorrow or disappointments; death and separations are done away with and tears are unknown!

b.   What are God’s people not to be afraid of?  Why?     (verse 12)

We are not to be afraid of mere man….we have God’s comfort…. no matter what people do to, or say about us, they will all come to nothing.

c.   The scene changes in verse 13-16…..what were the Israeli  people of that time really like?         

They had forgotten the Lord and were trying to get themselves out of the pit they were in. God was there waiting to take them out and tell them that they were His if only they would turn to Him.

d.   How can we relate this to these days?

People have thrown God and His rules out and are getting into a deeper hole than ever, of crime, immorality, broken families and drug addiction. They can think of no solution except one of more education which never works.

e.   What has to be changed to improve things? Can you think of an example of this?   (Jeremiah 17:9-10)

The heart of man has to be changed….if the core is rotten it’s not long before the whole apple is bad. Another example is that of an ulcer that heals temporarily but then breaks out again and again; it’s not until the root cause is fixed that the ulcer will go away.

f. What does God want more than anything else?    (verse 16c; Proverbs 23:26; Mark 12:30)

He wants a people for Himself who are happy to be called “God’s people”;  He wants people’s hearts to be given to Him, to be put first in people’s lives.

 Isaiah Fifty-two ….(verses 1-15 )

1.     Verses  1-10               

a.  What are the beautiful clothes that the people of God are to be clothed in?  (verse 1; Colossians 3:10-14; Revelation 19:8)

The clothes of righteousness, clean  and white, ….the new man created in Christ Jesus wearing His image and like Him in character….having mercy, kindness, meekness, patience, forgiving others and finally putting on the overcoat of love.

b.   What should be unknown among the people of God?     (verse 1b; Ephesians 5:3-7)

Uncleanness, rebellion and stubbornness.

c.   We read that we are redeemed without money….what IS the cost of our redemption?                     (verse 3b; 1 Peter 1:18-19)

The precious blood of Christ which He shed on the cross….His blood was pure and sinless, while ours is full of sin and rebellion.

d.   We read that the people of Israel (God’s people)  were in Egypt (type of the world) under oppression……what is the state of the world today?      (verse 5; 2 Timothy 3:1-2)

People are under the bondage of sin and God’s name is blasphemed every day.

e.  What is the Good News that is going out today?    (verse 7; Romans 10:12-16)

It is the news of the Gospel….whoever calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved!

f.   What does Romans 10:14-15 say?

How can people come if they don’t hear? Those who want to preach, must be sent out! Those who hear regard the bearers of Good News as having beautiful feet!

g.   Do all who hear accept the message and act on it?

No, they do not all obey God’s Word.

h.   What are some things that are going on apace today to spread the Word?

The Bible is being translated into many indigenous languages; radio work; the Bible Society is seeking to supply the Bible in many parts of the world, and the internet is being more widely used all the time.

i.   What does God’s good news,  the Gospel, bring to people who respond to it?        (verse 9)

Joy and singing, hope, purpose in life, salvation!

2. Verses 11-15

a.  What sort of lives must those who preach God’s Word live?      (verse 11)

They must live pure and clean lives before God and man, not dabbling in the things of the world.

b.  Who do they rely on in the preaching of the Word?       (verse 12)

They are to wait on the Lord’s leading, and not do things in a hurry without prayer or thought.

c.  What are we told here about the Coming One?       (verse 13a; chapter 42:1)

That He would delight God by his obedience and His life.

1. c.      How does God view Him…what will He do with His “servant”?     (verse 13b; Philippians 2:8-11)

 He will exalt Him and give Him a Name above every other name, and every knee of every person who has eveer lived will bow before Him and proclaim that He is indeed Lord of all..

d.   What are we told here about his appearance  that the New Testament doesn’t go into?            (verse 14; chapter 50:6)

He would be dreadfully tortured and mutilated, flogged so much that His back would be torn to shreds and His face be unrecognisable.

e.   Read verse 15a ……what does this verse tell us that He will do? 

He will sprinkle many nations.

f. How does 1 Peter 1:2b say this will be done….what with?

It is done by the blood of Jesus Christ.

g.   What is the condition that people have to fulfil before this is effective?   (verse 15b; John 3:16b)

They have to consider what they hear and be obedient to the Word and believe on Him.

 Isaiah Fifty-three ….(verses 1-12 )

It is generally understood that this chapter refers to the Lord Jesus Christ and His time of trial and crucifixion.

 1.     Verses   1-5                 John 1:10-11;  12:36-40;       Acts 18:5-6

a.  What was (and still is)  the general attitude of  people to the gospel message?  (verse 1)

One of hostility, resistance and not wanting to hear it.

b.   Was there ever a time when the Jews as a nation accepted the message of Jesus Christ?     (John 1:10-11)  

No, we read that He came to His own people and they wouldn’t have Him or believe what He said.

c.   What do we read about the people of Jesus’ time acceptance of Him?     (verses 2-3a;  John 12:37-41; 19:15)

They wouldn’t believe what He was saying, even after seeing the miracles that He did….they wanted Him out of the way.

d.  How does God view Christ?   ( verse 2;   Matthew 17:5)

As a tender plant, His beloved Son

e.   What was the dry ground that He grew out of?    (verse 2b)

The nation of Israel was naturally a dry bit of land, and it was also very dry as far as following God went. This was the nation that was His heritage from His mother.

f.   How did the Jews view Him?         (verse 2c)

As not the slightest bit attractive, either  Him or His message!

g.   How does the world today see Him?                (verses 2c-3)

They don’t want Him….there is nothing attractive in Him as a Person or in His teaching. They despise Who He is,  and His teachings and want nothing to do with Him.

h. What does it mean when it says that Jesus was acquainted with grief?    (verse 3b; Mark 3:5; Luke 19:41-44; John 11:35)

Our Lord wept at the hardness of people’s hearts and the fact they didn’t want God’s message…because of this He knew what would happen to them in the future and was saddened by it; He was also touched by other people’s grief.

i.  When did Christ bear our grief and carry our sorrows?      (verse 4; Matthew 8:16-17; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18)

During His lifetime here on earth and also on the cross when He took on Himself the payment of the sin of the world.

j.   Why was Christ wounded and bruised?         (Hebrews 2:9-10)

For our sins (deliberate or otherwise), as it was the only way we could be spiritually healed.

k.   What was the contrast between Him as a human being and us human beings?    (Hebrews 4:15)

He was the just One, we were unjust; He was sinless, and we are sinful.

l.  What did it take for sin to be forgiven?    (verse 5; Romans 5: 10, 19-21 ; Hebrews 2:9, 14-18 )

It took the death of the sinless Son of God, Jesus Christ, to pay for mankind’s sin

2.     Verses  6-12             

a.  What do sheep need?       (verse 6; Matthew 9:36; John 10:14)

A shepherd to guide and look after them.

b.   What is man’s general attitude to this idea of being looked after?   

People resist being told what to do, and they say  “No-one’s going to tell ME what to do”!!

c.   Mankind is portrayed as a straying sheep….what sort of sheep is the Lord Jesus shown as?       (verse 7; John 1:29;  Acts 8:32-35)

The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and like a sheep who doesn’t struggle or resist when being shorn.

d. Was this slaughter an accident that just happened?    (Revelation 13:8)

No, it was part of God’s plan,  planned long before the world was brought into being.

e.  Why was Jesus tortured in this way to die?  (verse 8; Romans 6:23a; 1 Peter 1:18-20)

Because death was the penalty of mankind’s sins, and the type of death He endured is what man deserves for eternity….He paid the penalty and man is set free upon his confession of sin.

f.   Who were the wicked that He died with?      (verse 9a;  Matthew 27:38)

The two thieves who were crucified on either side of Him.

g.   Who was the rich man in His death? What did he do?    (verse 9b; Matthew 27:57-60)

Joseph of Arimathea took His body down from the cross and placed it in his own new tomb.

h. What are we told about Him here?     (verse 9c; 1 Peter 2:22)

He had never sinned or told the slightest untruth.

i.  Why did it please God to bruise His Son?       (verse 10)

Because now sin’s penalty was paid and mankind could be redeemed…..God’s plan of salvation was fulfilled.

j.   How does Jesus Christ feel now?  Why?    (verse 11; Hebrews 2:9-10)

He is satisfied because He can now see the result of His sufferings in bringing many people into His family. All His suffering has brought about the desired purpose….man’s salvation.

k. What did He say in His prayer to His Father?     (John 17: 4, 6, 12, 26)

I have finished the work which You gave Me to do; I have glorified You; I have shown Your name; I have given Your Words; I have kept those who you gave Me; I have declared Your name and Your love to them.

l. What is Christ doing for us today?   (verse 12c;  Romans 8:34;  Hebrews 7:25)

He is interceding for us before His Father….showing that He has paid for the sins of believers by dying in their place.

m. What has this chapter been all about?   Did the people of Isaiah’s time know what it meant?      (Acts 8:30-35)

It is all about Christ dying for our sins…Philip was able to preach the gospel from it;  the people back in Isaiah’s time didn’t know anything specific, all they knew was that One was coming one day to do something great.

  Isaiah Fifty-four ….(verses 1-17 )

1.     Verses  1-17               

 a.  Read the chapter right through first….what is it all about?              

About those who don’t have children, and how they will have more in the long run than there will be to the married woman.

b.   Remembering that this is figurative language, how would you explain this?

That those who will produce more for God, will not be those to whom God was “married” (the nation of Israel), but  that God will take up other people for Himself.

c.   What sort of people are barren as far as God is concerned?    (verses 1-3;  Ephesians  2:12)

All those who don’t believe in Jesus Christ and who ignore His offer of salvation.

d. What are they called?      (Ephesians 2:12)

Strangers and foreigners from all of God’s promises.

e.  What are we reading about here?      (verses 2-3)

How there are going to be more coming to God from the Gentile nations, and the space is there for them.

f.   How does God describe Himself here?         (verses 4-8)

As the husband with His people as His bride.

g.   When is God angry with people?    (verse 8a,  Psalm 7:11-12)

When they ignore Him and refuse His gift,  the person of His Son….when they remain in their wicked ways.

h. How does Paul describe us before we believed?      (Colossians 1:21)

As being enemies and aliens of God.

i.   How does He treat us  when we turn to Him?    (verse 8b-10; John 3:16)

With love, mercy and kindness.

j.  How does God see those who turn to Him?      (verses 11-12; `1 Peter 1:7)

As beautiful and precious.

k.   What are they described as being covered in?

Precious stones, jewels and pearls.

l.   What promise is given to God’s people in verses 13-17 and in John 16:33?    

They will have great peace and will not fear when the world is against them. Nothing will prosper against them in the things that really matter. Even in persecution, Christ has overcome the world and He will stand by His people.

m. Challenge….. after having done this study, can you put it into one sentence?

God has provided salvation for whoever comes to Him and He will love and protect them as a husband does his bride.

  Isaiah Fifty-five….(verses 1-13 )

1.     Verses  1-7                 

 a.  What is the invitation here?        (verse 1)

To come to the Lord, even if you have nothing,  and accept what is being offered.

b.   What did Jesus say to the woman at the well?      (John 4:13-14)

The water that I will give you will satisfy for ever, and give eternal life.

c.   What is the invitation in Revelation and how is the water described?    (Revelation 22:17)

Those who are thirsty, come and drink of the water of life freely.

d. What is the overlying thought about water in each of these verses?   (Psalm 42:1-2a)

That people have thirsty souls and there is living water available for all who will take it.

e. What is the next question?            (verse 2)

Why spend all your life working for things that don’t really matter? God says to come to Him and be truly satisfied.

f. What is the challenge that Jesus Christ is presenting in Mark 8:36??

What’s  the point in being the richest man in the cemetery and yet missing out on the things that really matter? You can’t take material things with you when you die, but you CAN take God’s salvation and  knowledge of Him with you if you have invested in them while alive.

g.  What is the invitation given here?  What promise is given for obeying?     (verse 3)

Listen and come to Me; seek the Lord; leave your old ways and return to the Lord.  If you do, your soul will live, and  He will make an everlasting covenant with you; He will have mercy on the repentant and wicked person and will pardon their sins.

h.   What is the reference to David all about in verses 3b-4?

This is all possible through the Lord Jesus Christ who descended from David….Christ is our leader and commander, and He is calling the nations to come to Him.

i. What urgency does verse 6 suggest?

To seek the Lord NOW because you may not have tomorrow! Time is shorter than you think!

j.  What is the condition of God’s forgiveness to people ?      (verse 7; Psalm 51:17;
Romans 3:23)

That they will confess their sins and turn away from living that way any longer; God will always take notice of a contrite and broken heart and respond to that. We cannot sail through life thinking that our “good” deeds will out weigh the bad we do….God has said ALL have sinned.

2. Verses 8-13

a.  What is God telling us here that we should always remember?      (verses 8-9)

That His ways and thoughts are so much higher than ours…we are such puny creatures with limited knowledge.

b.  What are we to always remember in our dealings with God?     (chapter 46:9-10 )

That He knows best because He knows the END from the BEGINNING. Our minds can’t fully understand God and we will never plumb the depths of His knowledge because He is so much greater and higher than mere man.

c.   What are we made aware of in the New Testament?     (Romans 11:33-36)

Of God’s tremendous wisdom and knowledge; we cannot presume to tell Him what to do.

d.   What do we, as mere mortal beings, tend to do in our  prayers?  (Hebrews  4:12-13)  

We forget that God is omniscient…..he sees and knows everything before we start to pray, and we tend to bring God down to our level, and limit His power.  We ask Him to “be with us” and to “bless us” when He has already promised these things!  We should be thanking Him for doing these things!!

e.  What two spheres are we to remember that God is in charge of totally?   (verses 10-11)

Both the physical and spiritual….He keeps the natural things functioning perfectly, and in the same way provides His Word to bring people to Him and to feed them when they do.

f. What must we remember about what God says?      (verse 11; Numbers 23:19)

He means what He says and says what He means. He is not like a human being who changes his mind constantly…..God NEVER changes!

g.  Why is God’s Word so powerful?   (Hebrews 4:12)

Because it is living, ALIVE, and cuts to the bone. God gets down to the nitty gritty and never lets up on those He is calling.   

h.   In the light of these verses, what is the most important thing we can do now?   (2 Timothy  2:15)

Get to know God’s Word the best we can; learn if off by heart  and teach it to our children, obey it ourselves and study it so we can teach it to others.

i.   What will be the result of doing this?    

Our lives will produce something worthwhile to God that will last for eternity.

3.     This chapter falls into three sections about God’s WORD……..can you divide it up?

Section 1   (Verses1-7) God’s Word of invitation;   Section 2 (verses 8-9) God’s Word of authority;  Section 3     (verses 10-13)     God’s Word at work

 Isaiah Fifty-six….(verses 1-12)

1.     Verses  1-12        

 a.  What does God call man to do here?       (verses 1-2)

To be honest, fair and kind, and to keep the Sabbath day.

b.  Can a person belong to God and still be cruel and unreasonable in his dealings with others?     (verse 1; Micah 6:8)

No, it is impossible….if a person still behaves like this, he is not truly one of God’s people.

c.   What is His promise to those who are just and fair in their dealings with others?        (verse 2a)

They will be blessed in their heart.

d.   Who is God speaking to here in this invitation?   (verses 3-4)

All people, the outcasts and eunuchs as well; all those who feel worthless and good for nothing.

e. What does He promise to give them?     (verse 5)

An everlasting name that will never be cut off.

f.   What does this name include?    (Revelation 3:12)

The name of God and the heavenly Jerusalem.

g. What will these ones be able to do then?    (verse 7)

Rejoice, pray and bring acceptable offerings to God.

h. What sacrifices can we bring to God today?   (Hebrews 13:15-16)

Praise, thanksgiving and doing good to others.

i.  Who else is God sending His message to?  Who does this refer to?  (verses 8-11; Matthew 15:22-28; Ephesians 2:1-6, 19)

People who are regarded as even lower than the poorest of Israel…the Gentiles were regarded by them as only dogs in God’s sight compared to themselves!

j. Who is God’s message going to today?    (chapter 55:1; John 3:16; Revelation 22:17)

Everyone…..there are those who will listen and respond, and there are others who will refuse and be damned.

 

Isaiah Fifty-seven….(verses 1-21 )

1.     Verses  1-21           

 a.  We sometimes wonder why “good” people are stricken down in their prime and die….what angle do these verses look at in reference to this?         (verse 1)

That they are in a better place, safe from any sorrow and pain that this life on earth may have brought them.

b.   What are we told in the Bible about the state of those in heaven?    (verse 2; Revelation 21:4)

As having no more death or tears, and no pain….all this has gone for ever.

c.   How did Paul feel about dying?    (Philippians 1:21, 23)

That it would be to his gain….to be with Christ is far better.

d.  What were the people of Israel doing under the trees and on the high places?  (verses 5-7; 2 Chronicles 28:25)

They were sacrificing to idols.

e.   What does God call this sort of behaviour?    (verses 8-9)

Being a prostitute, loving other gods rather than loving Him.

f.  Did they find satisfaction in the idol worship?  What did God say to them?  (verses  12-13)

Even any good they did, didn’t profit them…they were finding that if they cried to their gods and idols, none of them would hear them, but if they trusted  in God, they would possess the land of God’s promises.

g.   What is God looking for in people today?   (verse 15; Psalm 34:18; 51:17)

A humble and contrite heart, one who will turn to, and trust in Him.

h.   Why does God look for these in a person?    (Micah 6:8)

Because He can do nothing for a proud person who trusts in their own good works….we must be humble enough to come to him in the first place.

i. Who does God call to, offering peace and healing?  (John 3:16)

Those who are far away and those who are near…..whoever believes!

j.  Why can the world never achieve peace among nations?     (verse 19; chapter 9:6)

Because they are trying to find peace without the Prince of Peace…there is no peace of heart or mind without Christ.

k.   What are the wicked like? Why?     (verse 20)

They are like the troubled sea that throws up sand and dirt all the time….there is never any rest for them, either here or there, now or then.

k. What do Mark 9:43-48 and Luke 16:23-24 say about hell? Tie it in with verses 20-21….

It is a fire that will never go out, this theme of remorse and regrets that will never let up and never give rest or peace. Imagine continual noise, heat, movement, coupled with sorrow and depression!

Isaiah Fifty-eight….(verses 1-14 )

Read this chapter in a modern version……….

1.     Verses  1-14          

 a.  What were the people doing in verses 1-2?        (verses 1-2)

They appeared to be doing everything that was right

b.   What was actually wrong with what they were doing?       (Matthew 15:7-9)

It was all only an outward ritual; their heart wasn’t in it at all.

c.   What do the Kings verses tell us about the people’s spiritual state?      (2 Kings 17:32-33 )

They seemed to be fearing the Lord, but they were secretly serving heathen idols.

d. What did Christ call people who did this?       (Mark 7:6)

Hypocrites!

e.   What will God say to them in the final analysis?     (Matthew 7:22-23)

I never knew you in spite of all your good works!

f. What is the challenge in all of this for us today?

Where is my heart? Is it in serving God or self?

g.  What else were the people doing to show how religious and good they were?    (verse 3)

They were fasting to show how good they were.

h.   What did Christ have to say about this sort of fasting?       (Matthew 6:16-18)

That they were having their reward NOW….they were taking pride in how well they were doing and looking in front of other people.

i.   What sort of fasting does God require in people? (verse 6)

Fasting AFTER they had dealt with all that was wrong in their lives….they were to do away with oppression, discrimination the needs of those they could help and loving those who were nearest them.

j. What happens when people obey these rules?   (verses 7-8)

Their testimony then carries some weight before both man and God.

k.   What else will God do for them?  (verses 10-12)

He will answer their prayers and guide them continually; this is when people become like a well watered garden, able to bear fruit and be of some use and encouragement to others.

l.  What other rule were the people breaking?       (verse 13)

That of keeping the Sabbath day.

m.   Why does God place so much emphasis on keeping one day special for Him?  (Exodus 20:8-11)

Because He made creation in six days and rested on the seventh, therefore He expects man to do the same.   

n.   What are the benefits of keeping this one day special?      (verse 14;  Exodus 23:12)

It gives everyone and everything a rest to become refreshed for the next week….even the working animals.

o. What should be  the focal point of the day of rest?   (verse 14; Psalm 37:4a)

People have the time to give to God in getting together to praise and thank Him and contemplate on His goodness to them.

p.   What happens when we take the time to delight ourselves in the Lord?    (Psalm 37:4)

Our desires change and become His desires for us, and this is what we then receive from Him.

Isaiah Fifty-nine….(verses 1-21 )

1.     Verses  1-14         Isaiah 57:20-21

 a.  What is verse 1 telling us?

That God CAN save and He CAN hear man’s prayers.

b.   What is the hitch then? What has come between them and God?   (verse 2)

Man’s deliberate and unrepentant sins have come between him and God.

c.   What sort of picture of man is painted here?     (verses 3-8)

They do everything that is wrong; they tell lies and pervert what is good; they don’t try to do anything good. They continue in mischief and wrong and have no peace in any way.

d. How does this tie in with verses 20-21 of chapter 57?

They have miserable lives with no peace and make everyone else’s miserable too!

e.  What is man’s state while he is in this condition  of rebellion?     (verses 9-14)

Man can’t practice good judgement; he is in the darkness of sin; things look hopeless; he is full of lies and has no justice.

f.   How do verses 9-10 describe these people?

As being in darkness.

g.   Why do people  love being in darkness?  (John 3:19)

Because their deeds are evil and they refuse to come to the light of Jesus Christ.

h. What is one relatively simple thing that causes people to be in darkness?   (1 John 2:11)

To hate (or despise) one’s brother is to be in darkness.

i.   What three words are used to describe the people’s state before God in verses 12-13?

They were deep in transgressions, sins and iniquities.

j.   What is the difference between these three things?

A transgression is to deliberately choose to do wrong; a sin is straight out disobedience, and iniquity is plain evilness.

k.   Where does this condition of man lead him to?    (verses 14-15)

No proper judgement or justice,   truth has gone out the door, and honesty has disappeared altogether.

2.   Verses  15-21                    

a.  How did God feel to see man in this state? Did He do anything about it?    (verse 16)

God was not at all pleased at these things and because of man’s dire state, He brought about man’s salvation Himself.

b.   How did God bring this salvation about? What did it cost Him? Why?  (John 3:16)

God GAVE His only beloved Son because He loved mankind and wanted them delivered from sin’s darkness. His Son was the only One Who was able to pay the price of sin and set man free.

c.   Verse 16 is the pivotal verse of the whole chapter….what does it tell us?

Man was in dire straits and could do nothing to fix the problem, so God stepped in with the solution.

d. What two pieces of armour are mentioned in verse 17 and what did they represent?

The breastplate which represents righteousness and the helmet representing salvation.

e.   Who does Paul say is to put on the breastplate and helmet?      (1 Thessalonians 5:8)

Those who believe…..Christians today.

f.   What parts of the body are protected by these two pieces of armour and what spiritual application is there that you can think of?    (Matthew 22:37)

The breastplate protects the breast, and the helmet the head….our hearts and minds are both involved in our salvation….we are to love God with all our hearts, souls and minds, otherwise it is only an empty profession.

g.   What promise  does God give His people in verses 20-21?

His Redeemer will come to Zion (the Church) and to those of the Jews who repent, and the Holy Spirit will be with them for ever.

h.   This chapter is the Gospel in a nutshell…give a brief overview of it all……

God is there, looking over all things. He cannot help man because man’s sins have put up a barrier between them and God, and their sin is beyond help. They are in darkness and pain, they have left God out completely and are reaping the consequences. But God stepped in and made a way out of the mess Himself through the righteousness of His Son, the Lord Jesus. Those who turn from their sin back to God, come into His covenant and God has given them His Spirit to be with them for ever.

Isaiah Sixty….(verses 1-22 )

This chapter has several prophetic angles, but we will look at it as speaking of the ideal spiritual state of the church, God’s people….what God has for His people NOW.

1.     Verses  1-22           

a.  Write verse 1 as the margin puts it, or from a modern translation…..

Be enlightened for your light is coming! The glory of the Lord is risen upon you.

b.   What is the darkness that covers the whole earth and what is the glory and light in verses 2-3?      (John 3:19-20)

The darkness is the blindness of people who refuse to believe….Satan has blinded their minds and they CANOT understand or see. The Light is Jesus Christ and His glorious Gospel, which enlighten the minds of those who do believe.

c.   What are verses 4-10 talking about?

All those Gentiles who come from far and believe will bring glory and praise to God….they are all part of the body of believers, the Church, the New Jerusalem.

d. What does Paul tell us in Ephesians 1:3,  18-19?

He tells us that believers have all God’s spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus NOW and all the riches of God’s glory and power are bestowed on them.

e.  Who enters this city with the open gates?   (verse 11; John 3:16)

All those (including the Gentiles)  who come to Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth.

f.   What happens to those who refuse to believe and enter?       (John 3:36)

They will perish and be utterly wasted.

g.   What happens to those who suffer for the Lord?  (verse 15, Psalm 30:5; 1 Peter 4:12-14)

They are to rejoice in suffering, because they can still glorify God in spite of what the world says and does to them. Weeping may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning!

h. What are verses 17-18 telling us?

That God’s people prosper spiritually, live in peace and are able to give praise to God.

i.   How do verses 19-20 tie in with what we are told in Revelation?   (Revelation 21:22)

There is no need for the sun and moon to give us spiritual light, as knowing the Lord is one eternal day! The believer can have joy and gladness in his heart all the time.

j.   How can we enjoy this NOW regardless of our circumstances?   (Romans 12:2)

God is our Light and we are to train our minds to continually  rejoice in Him .

k.  What do these righteous people inherit?    (verse 21)

The land of God’s blessings, the land that will never cease.

l.   Whose work was all this, the land, the salvation etc? For what purpose?  (verse 21b; chapter 43:7)

It was and is, all God’s work, the work of the Tri-une God…. Father, Son and Holy Spirit,  so that man can glorify God, and until he is cleansed from his sin, he can’t do it.

m.    We must each one ask ourselves…..what am I doing towards this purpose of God NOW?

Isaiah Sixty-one….(verses 1-11 )

1.     Verses  1-7   

a.  When were these verses fulfilled?      (verses 1-3; Luke 4:17-21)

At the beginning of Christ’s earthly ministry.

b.   What does verse 1 say that He would do?    (Matthew 3:16-17; Romans 6:22)

He was seen to be annointed with the Spirit at His baptism; He began to preach the gospel of the Kingdom; He offers peace of mind to those who come to Him; He shows to those who are bound by sin how to be free, and shows that the Gospel is for “whoever” from then on.

c.   How far did Jesus go with His reading and why did He stop there? ( Luke 4:16-21)

He stopped halfway through verse 2 because the day of God’s vengeance was not ready to come at that time (and still hasn’t)

d. What is verse 3b a picture of?

The church growing from the preaching of the Gospel.

e.   What does accepting the Gospel do for people?   (verse 3)

It gives beauty of character, joy of spirit, praise for God and a righteous way of life….people become a whole new creature!

f.   What is the ultimate purpose of the Gospel?     (verse 3, Philippians 1:11)

To bring  praise and glory to God.

g.    What are verses 4-5 talking about? 

About wasted areas and cities becoming productive again.

h. How can we reconcile these verses  with the church situation today?    (Ephesians 2:12, 19-20)

We Gentiles were once strangers and aliens from God’s promises, but now we are brought into God’s household to help to build it up and feed others.

i.   What position do believers have before God now?   (verse 6 ;1 Peter 2:9-10)

That of being a special people and priests of God.

j. What was the job of  priests, and how do we do this?      (Hebrews 13: 15-16)

The priests brought offerings and sacrifices to God and we do this when we give thanks and praise to God for all He has done. Each believer has the privilege of being able to minister these to God.

k.  What does God desire that His people have?     (verse 7; John 15:11)

Much joy for ever, everlasting joy that never stops.

l.   No matter how bad things are, what is one thing that we can still rejoice in? (Luke 10:20b)

We can always rejoice that our names are written in heaven! Nothing else gives  a lasting joy like this does.

2.     Verses  8-11            

a.  What does God hate in people?      (verse 8a)

Pretence and hypocrisy….stealing and ripping off to make offerings to Him.

b.   What was one example of this happening?   (Luke 19: 45-46)

The traders doing business in the court of the temple, making money out of those coming to sacrifice.

c.   What does God love and look for in His people?    (verse 8b; Psalm 82:3-4)

Truth and honesty, fairness in business dealings.

d.   How can we be directed into the ways of truth? ( John 16:13)

By God’s Holy Spirit as we read His Word.

e. What does the last phrase of verse 8 tell us?

That God is going to make an everlasting covenant with His people.

f.   How has this new everlasting covenant come about?   (Hebrews 8:6; 13:20)

Through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Mediator of it…..through His resurrection after shedding His blood.

g.    Who has the Lord blessed?    (verse 9; Galatians 3:8-9, 26-29)

All those who come to Him, Jew and Gentile alike.

h. What sort of blessings has the Lord given His people?    (Ephesians 1:3)

All the spiritual blessings of heaven are available to us if we will only take them and think about them.

i.   What are some of these spiritual blessings mentioned in verse 10?  

Being joyful in God, and having a grateful and thankful heart of praise for His wonderful salvation. For being covered in Christ’s righteousness by faith.

d. What sort of frame of mind do we need to enjoy all this?     (1 Corinthians 1:30-31)

A positive, yet thankful and humble attitude, looking upward to God and giving Him the glory.

e. What can we  be likened to,  when we are functioning as we ought to?  (verse 11)

A fruitful garden.

f.   What did Christ liken the relationship between Himself and His people to?   (John 15:4-5)

He as the vine and we as the branches…..we cannot bear fruit without being in Him.

g. Challenge…..

What a wonderful picture we have in this chapter! What is one particular blessing you have received as a result of this study?

The positive aspect of the blessings we have in Christ!

Isaiah Sixty-two….(verses 1-12 )

1.     Verses  1-5              

a.  What (or who) is the city of Zion, the Jerusalem,  that we read so much about in this book,  and is mentioned again here?        (verse 1)

It is not so much a physical place but all of God’s people who believe in Him, His holy ones, the redeemed ones.

b.   What is a city or town without people?

A ghost town, completely without life!

c.   What is this new name that believers have?   (Revelation 3:12)

The name of God’s city….they are citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem

d.   How should believers be seen by the world, those who don’t believe? ( Ephesians 5:8)

As living right and good lives, as a bright shining light for the Lord.

e. What comfort do we believers who are not Jewish, have from Ephesians 2:19?

That we are not strangers or foreigners to God, we are part of His household!

f.    What is the thought that comes through in verse 3 and in 1 Peter 2:9? 

That God’s people are special to Him, and are a crown of glory to Him.

g. We often read of a crown that we will inherit, but have you ever thought that God regards us as a crown to Him now ?  In the light of this, how should we be living our lives?    (1 Peter 2:9-12)

Holy, pure lives, giving Him praise and thanks for all He has done for us.

h.   What are the thoughts that come through in Jude 1:2 and Ephesians 5:27?  

That Christ will present His people, holy and blameless, to Himself as part of the God-Head.

i. What does verse 4 tell us?

That God delights in His people and the more so when they are obedient to Him…..God does not regard them as a barren land, but as a fruitful one.

j. What is the picture in verse 6?

That of a bride getting married.

k.   What does Paul say in 2 Corinthians 11:2? 

That he wanted to be able to present the Christians as a pure bride to Christ.

l. What do we see in Revelation 21:9c-11?

The Bride, the Lamb’s wife as the Holy Jerusalem covered in the glory of God.

m.   What are the different pictures we have seen in this chapter so far?  (verses 1, 3, 4, 5)

2.     Verses  6-12          

a.  What were the watchmen to do in verse 6?

They were to continually preach and make known the glories of the Lord and their city.

b.   What was Paul’s burning ambition? What did he consider himself to be?   ( 2 Corinthians 5:20)

As an ambassador for Christ, he begged his listeners to turn to the Lord.

c.   As an ambassador for Christ, what did he need his friends to do?   (Ephesians 6:18-20)

He needed the prayers of others to support him so that he could perform his job to the best of his ability.

d.   Whose work was he really doing? ( 1 Corinthians 3:5-9)

It was (and still is) God’s work with different ones taking part, but it is only God who gives the results.

e. What is the end result?  (verses 8-9)

Satisfaction for the workers and praise to God.

f.    What is verse 10 talking about? 

Someone who is willing to go through the gate and prepare the way for others, lifting up the standard for others to see

g. What do you think it means when it says to throw up the highway and take out the stones?    (Ephesians 6:19)

Those who teach others or preach are to make the message clear and plain, and are not to talk above people’s understanding.

h.   What is Paul saying in 1 Corinthians 3: 6-7?  

He is saying that he and Apollos may be doing the preaching work, but it is only God who can give the positive results.

i.   How can we relate that to today? What are some examples?  

There are those who are prepared to get up and help others to know the ways of God. E.g.  Young People’s work, missionary efforts, Children’s clubs etc.

j. Whose work is this really?

It is God’s work

k. What is the end result?    (verses 11-12)

The gathering together of all God’s people as one glorious city full of light and honour, with the redeemed walking in it.

l.   Our challenge…. Are we living in a manner that is becoming and honouring to God as a citizen ALREADY of God’s holy city?  What thoughts do 1Peter 1:15 and 1 John 3:3 give us?

We are to live pure and holy lives to be worthy of God and not to bring disgrace or dishonour on His Name.

Isaiah Sixty-three….(verses 1-19 )

1.     Verses  1-9          

a.  Who is verse 1 talking about? The clue is in the last phrase…..

The One Who is Righteousness and Mighty to Save…..Christ  Himself.

b.   How is He described?   (verse 1)

As being clothed in glory, mighty strength and righteousness.

c.   What were the red clothes symbolic of in verse 2?       (John 1:29)

The fact that He died as the Lamb of God to take away sin.

d.   What does the wine press that He trod alone represent?   ( verse 3;   Revelation 19:13-16)

His work of salvation on the cross when He bore God’s judgement and anger for sin.

e. What do you think the winepress of His anger is,  where His clothes will be stained red?       (verse 3)

This tells of when Christ comes to judge the world in righteousness….His clothes were dipped in blood to show He paid the price with His own blood and these nations  refusing to recognise this, now pay the price with their own blood.

f.   What does verse 4 tell us has finally come?

The day of God’s vengeance on those who still refuse to come to Him for salvation.

g.    Who could help man in the situation he found himself in?  (Isaiah 59:16)

No-one

h. What was the solution for this mess that man was in?    (chapter 59:16)

God Himself had to bring salvation through Jesus Christ.

i.   What did Jesus say about being alone?   (John 16:32)  

That even though the disciples would leave Him, He wasn’t really alone as His Father  was always with Him.

j. When did Jesus feel really alone?    (Matthew 27:46;   Psalm 22:1)

When He was on the cross suffering God’s judgement for sin, He was then left alone by even His Father God.

k. When did God become the Saviour of the nation of Israel?     (Psalm 106: 21)

When He brought them out of Egypt.

l.   How did God feel about His people at that stage?  What three things did He do for them?       (verses 7-9)

He loved them, redeemed them and carried them through their trials.

m.   What two sides of God’s character do we see in this passage?      (verses 6-7)

His anger and judgement on sin and evil on the one hand, and His love, mercy and pity on the other.

n.   Do you think that God could be one without the other?     (Ezekiel 18:20-32; John 3:16; Romans 3:23; 6:23)

No, His holiness and justice demands that sin be punished….. God has said the soul that sins will die, and that the wages of sin is death, and we know that ALL have sinned and come short of God’s standard. Yet in spite of that, God’s love shines out over and above this in that  He provided the remedy in the person of His Son Jesus Christ who died to pay the penalty of man’s sin upon belief in Him (it doesn’t just happen automatically, it is dependent on our response to this).

2.     Verses  10-19      

a.  How did the people of Israel react to God when going through the wilderness from Egypt?  (Psalm 106: 13, 21, 25, 29; Acts 7:38-40)

They rebelled and annoyed Him; they refused to obey Him and hankered to go back to Egypt.

b.   What does this show about the nation of Israel?     (Mark 12:30)

That they didn’t follow the Lord as He wanted them to, with all their hearts. Their hearts were still back where they had come from.

c.   What lesson is there in this for us?    (2 Corinthians 13:5)

We are to examine ourselves and see where our heart really is…..are we still hankering for the world and what it has to offer? Are we rebelling against what the Lord has told us to do?

d.   What did God desire for His people?  What did He create them for?  ( verse 14)

God’s desire is that His people will glorify His name; this is why He created them.

e. What is the real purpose of man, even today?     ( Isaiah 43:7)

We are to glorify God still today, and be the praise of His glory

f.   How are we to do this?   (Psalm 101:1-3; Colossians 3:15-23)

It is in the way we live at home with our families that expresses the glory we give to God….this is the nitty-gritty of ourselves!

g.    What does verse 15 tell us about God?

That He lives in Heaven, a place of holiness and glory, and that He is full of zeal (enthusiasm), strength, love and mercy.

h. What wonderful truth and hope  do we have today?    (verse 16; Ephesians 2: 12-13, 19)

That  even though we are not naturally Jews, God has brought us into His family through His mercy by the blood of Christ Jesus and we are all one in Him.

i.   When does God give people up?   (Romans  1:21-24, 28)  

When they rebel against Him and turn away to go their own way.

j. What are we told that God has done for those who turn to Him?    (Ephesians 2:8)

His love is rich in mercy to those who turn to Him, and He has made them near to Him through the blood of Christ, bringing them into His household.

k. What can believers call themselves now?     (1 John 3:1)

Christians, Christ’s ones, the sons of God who are called by His name.

Isaiah Sixty-four….(verses 1-12 )

1. 1.      Verses  1-7  

 a.  What was the writer feeling in verses 1-3?

That if only God would show himself on earth, people would believe in Him!

b.   God DID come to earth in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, and what did the chief priests say about Him on the cross?   (Matthew 27:39-43)

If You come down from the cross we’ll believe You!

c.   What did the rich man in hell ask to happen? (Luke 16:27-31)

Send someone back from the dead  to warn my brothers to not come to this place.

d. What was the reply?

Not likely! If they don’t believe the Scriptures without this,  they won’t believe even if someone DID go back from the dead.

e.   What does verse 4 tell us?

That no person on earth has any idea of what it is like to be with God in person and see the heavenly things.

f. How does Paul expand on this in 1 Corinthians 2:9-10?

He quotes this verse and then says that God has shown us many deep thoughts by His Spirit, but there are still immeasurably more things to come!

g. What else does Paul tell us in 2 Corinthians 12:2-4?

That he’d  had a vision of heaven where he saw and heard indescribable things which he was unable to talk about….words couldn’t describe them, our minds wouldn’t be able to take it in!

h. What DO we know about what lies ahead for the believer?  (Psalm 16:11,  17:15)

That in God’s presence there is fullness of joy and pleasures for evermore, and  that we will be with and like Him.

i.  How does God see man in his natural state?   (verse 6 and Psalm 14:3)

As filthy, and covered in rags….there is no-one who does any good at all!

j.   What caused men to be like this?     (Isaiah 59:2)

His sin  (pride, disobedience and rebellion) has come between him and a Holy God.

k.   How does man stand in relation to God’s standard? (Romans 3:23)

Everyone is short of God’s standard of holiness and glory…..no-one can come anywhere near it!

l. What is man’s life likened to?     (Psalm 103:15-16)

The life of a leaf or flower; very transient.

m.   What is the comparison to God’s Word?  (Isaiah 40:6-8)

Man’s life is short; God’s Word is eternal, standing for ever and ever.

2.     Verses  8-12                                         

a.  What is verse 8 telling us?

That God is sovereign and can do with us as He likes.

b.   What do we have to remember and do?   (Isaiah 45:9, 12; Romans 9:20-21)

That God has made us as He see fit, and we have to give thanks and remain positive.

c.   The city of Jerusalem and the temple were laid waste (verse 11) and they were restored in a measure. Did this make any difference to the people’s attitude to God? What did they say to His messenger  (Christ)?    (John 19:5-7)

We don’t want Him! Crucify Him! We want Him dead!

d. Did God take this as final from mankind?      (Acts 13:44-48)

No, when the Jews rejected Him, the Gentiles were given the Gospel and many have cometo know God in the intervening years.

e.   What is God’s message to people today? (Revelation 22:17)

Come! Everyone who is thirsty and has a need, come and take the water of life freely.

f.   Challenge…….have YOU done this?

Isaiah Sixty-five….(verses 1-25 )

1. 1.      Verses  1-25                                  

a.  Who is Isaiah referring to in verse 1?

The Gentiles believers who would one day turn to God.

b.   Who is referred to in verse 2?

The people of Israel who had the first opportunity and who turned away from God.

c.   What were some of the things that Israel did that made God angry?   (Verses 4-5, 7)

Sacrifices to idols, eating unclean meat (both literally and figuratively), being full of pride and contempt for others…..these sins and blasphemy are all repugnant to God.

d.  What is verse 8 telling us? 

That mankind would not be destroyed; there will come a core of servants oof God out of it.

e.   What is verse 9 saying?

That God will still bring out a “seed” for Himself.

f.   What is this “seed” made up of?      (Rom 11:25-26)

Both Jews and Gentiles make up the new and complete Israel.

g. What does God call this “seed” in verse 9?

He calls them His elect and His servants.

h.  What does verse 17 tell  us?

That God is going to create a new heaven and new earth.

i.   What especially comforting thought is in verse 17?    

The fact that we will never even think of or remember this life back on the old earth.

j.   What else are we told about this new heaven and new earth?    (verse 19 )

That there will be no sorrow or sadness there; no more death or partings; no more disappointments; even the animals will live together amicably.

k. Read Romans 8:19-23 in a modern version…..what do you see in these verses about the effects of sin in the world now?     

Sin has affected even the things of nature (animals and plants) and when sin is dealt with and put away for ever, the whole creation will be released into a freedom that has never been known since the Garden of Eden where man fell into sin.

l.   What promise can we take out of this for now? (verse 24 )

That God DOES hear our requests, and He does answer our calls for help.

Isaiah Sixty-six….(verses 1-24 )

1. 1.      Verses  1-14                      

  a.  What is God saying  in verse 1?

Why bother to build Me a house? Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool!

b.   What attitude does God look for in people?     (Psalm 34:18)

Someone who is contrite and humble and who will obey His Word.

c.   What attitude does natural man have?

I’ll do  my own thing; I’ll sacrifice how, when, where and what I like! No-one is going to tell me what to do!! They refuse to listen to God’s requirements and offer of salvation.

d.   What sacrifice does God look for?   (Psalm 51:17)

A broken heart and a contrite spirit.

e.  What is God describing  in these verses?  (verses 7-9)

About the progress of a pregnancy…. how it takes time for a baby to grow and then be born….nothing happens overnight.

f.   What people is God causing to be brought forth? That God is causing to be born?

Those who are going to come to Him in the process of time, and become His people.

g.   What is the “milk” that satisfies God’s  people?    (1 Peter 2:2-3)

The milk of God’s word gives growth,  delight and comfort

h. What is the result of all this in verse 14?

Joy and satisfaction in knowing the Lord.

2.    Verses  15-24   

a.  Read this passage in another version. What is God doing in verses 15-16?

He is judging  people who have disobeyed Him.

b.   What are verses 17-18 telling us?    

That those who disobey God in worshipping other gods will be punished.

c.   What will those who escape this judgement do?      (Matthew 28:19-20)

They will go into all the world and declare God’s glory to all  Gentile nations.

d. How do we see this being fulfilled today?     

The Word of God is being declared in all countries of the world by all sorts of means….radio, internet, TV as well as missionaries going out themselves to preach.

e.   What does verse 20 tell us?     (Hebrews 12:22)

That there will be many people brought into being,  citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem  from all nations

f.  What will they be doing?     (verse 20)

They will be bringing people from all countries with the offerings of praise to God, clothed in the clean white clothes of salvation.

g.   What are verses 17-18 telling us?    

That those who disobey God in worshipping other gods will be punished.

h.   What does verse 22 tell us about?

That God is going to make a new heaven (universe)  and new earth which will never deteriorate or fail….it will always remain before him for His people in eternity.

i. What does verse 23 suggest?      (Also Revelation 10:6; 22:5)

That God’s people will come to worship before Him at regular times (like monthly and weekly). It is beyond our earthly imaginations to  take it in when taken with what Revelation tells us that time doesn’t exist any more and there will be no need for the sun and moon which give us our times and dates!

j.  What does the last verse tell us? How does this tie in with Revelation  20:15?

Those who have sinned against God will end up in a place where there is unending torment. The Revelation verse tells us that all those whose names aren’t in the Book of Life will be thrown into this place. What a dreadful prospect!!!

 Overview of the Book of Isaiah.

We have just done an in depth study of what is IN the book of Isaiah, and now we will have a look at some interesting points and parallels……

 Overview One…

a.   How many chapters in Isaiah?

There are sixty-six chapters.

b.   Count up how many books there are the whole of the Bible….

There are sixty-six books.

c.   We have noticed that the general tone of the book changes in chapter 40…..how many books are there in the Old Testament?

There are thirty-nine books in the OT.

d.   How many chapters does that leave? Where do we find that number of books in the Bible?

There are 27 left….that is the number of books in the New Testament part of the Bible.

e.  Therefore what conclusion can we come to? 

That the book of Isaiah is a miniature of the whole Bible!

 

As we go through the rest of the parallels, we are left in wonder and awe at the wonderful way that God has woven all His truths into one book. This would have been  something that Isaiah was quite unconscious of as he penned the words that the Lord gave him to write. As Peter says in 2 Peter 1:21, holy men of God wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

 f.  What does the Bible start off with?  (Genesis 1:1, 31; 2:7, 17)

The creation of all things, the entry of sin, and man’s depraved and sinful nature showing itself after Adam’s initial disobedience.

g.   What does the book of Isaiah start off with?   (1:2, 6)

The rebellion and sin of mankind.

h.   In spite of man’s wickedness in general, how did God react to Noah?      (Genesis 6:5-9)

Because Noah walked with God and obeyed him, God had mercy on him.

i. What do we see that God’s attitude to sinful man is, in Isaiah 1:18-19?

God will listen to anyone and be merciful to them if they will only turn to Him and obey what He says.

j.  What did Israel see in the wilderness, and how did they react to it?  (Leviticus 9:23-24)

They saw the glory of the Lord and fell down with their faces to the ground.

k.   What did Isaiah see in Isaiah 6:1-5 and what was his reaction?    

He saw the Lord in His holiness and glory, and he felt filthy and totally unworthy.

l.   How did John react when he saw the Lord in Revelation 1:17?

He fell down in a faint as though he were dead.

Overview Two……

a.  What promise does God give all the way through the Old Testament?  (Deuteronomy 18:15, 18; Psalm 2:6-7; Jeremiah 23:5)

That there would be a coming One who would rule in righteousness.

b.   What do we see in Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6-7?

The promise of the coming One who would  be God in human form.

c.     Read  these verses…..Psalm  98:1;   118:14;   14 9:1-9…..what style of writing does chapter 12 remind you of? 

The same style that the psalms are written in.

d.   What are some of the parallel things are in these psalms when taken along with Isaiah 12?

Praise to God, exalting His Name and thanks for His salvation.

e.  What are we reading about in Isaiah 14: 12-17?

It is telling of Lucifer (Satan) and why he fell from heaven and the cause of his fall….pride!

f.   What does Ezekiel tell us about Satan?        (Ezekiel 28:13-15, 17)

His pride in his beauty and arrogance before God wanting to be higher than Him; and his  fall into deep, deep sin.

g.  What do we see about Satan in the book of Job?  (Job 1:6-12; 2:4-5, 7)

That he tried to discredit Job before God, and tried to trip him up and fall.

h.    What is God’s call to men all through the Old Testament?   (Deuteronomy 10:12-13; Psalm 82:3-4; Micah 6:8)

To live upright lives and be kind to others; to not oppress those who are disadvantaged.

i.   What is God saying in Isaiah 33:14-17?    

That those who live upright lives and are good and kind towards others will see the King in His beauty.

   All through the books of the Judges through to 2 Chronicles, we read of the judges, kings and historical happenings.

j.  What do we read about in chapters 36-39 in this book? 

It covers historical information about King Hezekiah.

Overview Three……

a.  How does chapter 40 start this section, the second part of the book of Isaiah?   (chapter 40: 3–5, 11)

By talking about someone coming from the wilderness to talk about the way of the Lord, and  the glory of the Lord being revealed to all people; by this Person being like a shepherd to His flock.

b.   What are we told about in John’s Gospel  (which is in the second part of the Bible)?     (John 1:14, 22-23, 29; 10: 11-16)

About John the Baptist preparing the way and introducing the Lord Jesus to the people, and saying He was the Lamb of God ; how that Jesus Christ is the Good shepherd Who gives His life for His sheep.

c.   Verse 3 says that this person has come from the wilderness…where had John the Baptist been living until the time of his preaching?        (Luke 1:80)

He had been living in the desert.

d.  Who else do we read of in the book of Isaiah?    (chapter 40:13; 48:16)

The Spirit of the Lord.

e.   What did the Lord Jesus have to say about the Holy Spirit?    (John 14:16-17; 16:13-14, 19-23)

He called him the Comforter and said that He would guide the believer into all truth and bring things back to their memories, speaking of Christ and glorifying Him.

f.   When did the Holy  Spirit come upon the disciples?         (Acts 2:1-4)

At the time of Pentecost, after the Lord Jesus had gone back to heaven.

g.  When did the Holy Spirit come upon the Gentile believers?  (Acts 10:33-34,  44-45)

When they heard the Gospel and believed it.

h.   What do we read about in chapter 40:31?    

About those who wait on the Lord getting strength to lift them above their troubles.

i.   Where did Paul say he got his strength from?       (Philippians 4:13)

From the Lord Jesus Christ.

j.  Who is spoken of as being revealed in chapter 42:1-8?

God’s servant Who He delighted in.

k.   Who was God well pleased with? Who was specifically stated to be this servant of God?     (Matthew 3:16-17; 12:15-21)

His beloved Son, our Lord Jesus……we are told that Jesus Christ fulfilled this prophecy of Isaiah.

l.  Why has God created man?            (chapter 43:7)

For his glory and to give Him glory.

m.   How does Paul bring this thought out?     (Ephesians 1:3-6, 12)

We are chosen in Christ, to be the praise of the glory of God’s grace.

Overview Four……

a.  How is God described in chapter 44:6a?  

As the King of Israel and the Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts.

b.   How does God describe himself in 44:6b?   ( Revelation 1:11a, 17)

As being the first and the last

c.   Read John 10:30 and 1 Corinthians 1:24, 29-31….taking all these specific passages above  together, what are we being told?

That Jesus Christ is one with the Father, He is part of the Tri-une God.

d.  What are a couple of foolish (and erroneous) ideas that man has embraced in his wisdom?

Evolution and the New Age teaching, as well as idolatrous practices.

e.   Compare God’s “foolishness” with man’s foolishness…..    (chapter 44:24-25;   Romans 1: 19-22; 1 Corinthians 1:25-27)

God’s “foolishness” is wiser than all man’s wisdom put together.

f.   What does man consider is God’s “foolishness”?   (1 Corinthians 1:21-23)

Preaching about Jesus dying on the cross.

g.  What is the message of chapter 45:22?

To look to God and be saved…..the message that is to all peoples.

h.   What is the message that runs through the New Testament?     ( Matthew 1:11a, 17; Ephesians 2:8;  1 Timothy 1:15; 2:4-6)

That Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the world; we are saved by the grace of God, and God wants ALL people to be saved.

i.   Read these verses…..chapters  50:6-7;   52:14;  53:1-12.  What are these verses showing us?

The suffering and death of our Lord Jesus on the cross

j.    Read these following New Testament verses against the corresponding references from Isaiah….

53: 3                            He was mocked and despised               Mark 15:19-20

53: 6                            We are like sheep astray                       1 Peter 2:25

53:7                             Jesus answered nothing                                    Mark 15:3-5

53:5, 10a                      They spat on Him and slapped Him       Mark 14:65

                                    Pilate ordered Him to be flogged                        Matthew 27:26

                                      They crucified Him                              Mark 15:25

53:9                             He was crucified with the wicked                       Matthew 27:38

                                    A rich man took his body to be buried    Matthew 27:57-60

53:12                            Christ took man’s sin on Himself                       Hebrews 9:28

k.  What is there absolutely no doubt about, that chapter 53 is referring to?   ( Acts 8:26-35)

It is all about the sufferings and work of Jesus Christ on the cross

l.   What is the message of Chapter 55:1? How does it tie in with the New Testament?

(John 4: 13-14; 6:35; 7:37)

It says to come and get the water and bread of life which is offered freely. The Lord Jesus gives both….. He is both the bread of life and the water of life.

m.  What is the everlasting covenant mentioned in chapter 55:3?  (Hebrews 7: 22; 8:6, 13)

It is the gift of eternal life through the Lord Jesus where animal sacrifices are no longer necessary. Christ has given a BETTER covenant and intercedes for His people.

Overview Five……

a.  What is the passage in chapter 55:8-9 telling us?

That God’s thoughts and ways are so much higher than ours.

b.   How does the New Testament  expand this thought?    (Romans 11:33-36; Ephesians 3:8, 19-20)

Man can never know while here on earth, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God, but Christ will continue to reveal these things to us in heaven. There will never be any end to these riches and we will then have the minds to be able to comprehend them!

c  What does chapter 55:11 tell us about God’s words?

It is alive and powerful, and it will accomplish God’s will; every word is full of meaning.

d.   What does the New Testament tell us about God’s Word?   (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

That it is sharper than any double edged sword and cuts right to the heart of the matter;  that it is the inspiration of God and builds up those who listen and take note; that it is nothing to do with man’s ideas, but is inspired by God and written down by holy men of old as God put the words into their heads.

e.  Read chapter 57:20-21…this is an apt description of the wicked. What does the New Testament have to say about the wicked?     ( John 3:18-20, 36; Romans 1:28-32; Jude 1:12-13)

John says that they love darkness rather than the light of God’s Word because of  their evil  deeds  and if they don’t turn to Christ, God’s anger  will be poured out on them.

Romans lists the characteristics of those who have thrown God out of their lives, and shows that they are people of stirrings and unrest.

Jude shows that they are empty, dissatisfied and unfulfilled.

f.  Read these verses….59:1-2,16; 63:5…. what are they talking about?

The need for salvation and the fact that man couldn’t clear the sin away that separated him from God….God Himself had to bring salvation to mankind.

g.   What does the New Testament  have to say about this?   (John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; 1 John 4:9-10)

That God SO loved that He GAVE…..it was in this GIVING, that God proved His love to mankind; in fact God was in as much pain as Christ was when the price was paid. God has done His part, now we must do ours!

h.  What are we reading about in chapter 61:1-3,  10?

We read about the preaching of the good tidings which give joy and praise to God for His salvation to men, and for the clothes of righteousness which now cover His people.

i.   What is the main thrust of these  New Testament  verses?    ( Luke 4:16-21; Romans 10:9-15)

That the Isaiah verses were fulfilled in Jesus Christ ….how He preached repentance of sin, and God’s Word to the people of that day. We too must believe in our hearts and speak of how we have come to God.

j.   What has God clothed his people with?    (chapter 61:3; Revelation 7:9)

He has given them clothes of righteousness because they have accepted what Christ has done for them.

Overview Six……

a.  What is the promise given in chapter 64: 4?

God has prepared wonderful things for us which we can’t even begin to comprehend while here on earth.

b.   How does the New Testament expand this thought?     (1 Corinthians 2:9-10; Ephesians 2:7)

God has revealed many new concepts (which are contrary to popular worldly belief and practice) to His people by His Holy Spirit, and this will continue on for the ages of eternity….there will always be something new to discover!!!.

c.  Read chapter 65: 1….who are the people who have come to know God now?   (Acts 13:46-48; Romans 11:11-13, 25)

The Gentiles on the whole…. the Jews rejected the gospel while the Gentiles received it with great gladness.

d.  What does chapter 65: 17-19 talk about?

The new heavens and the new earth, the new Jerusalem where there are no more tears or sorrows, only rejoicing and gladness.

e.   How does the New Testament  expand this thought?   (2 Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 21: 23-24)

It is a picture of the eternal day where all things have become new; a place of light and glory where those who are saved will live with their Lord

f.  Compare chapter 66: 22a with Revelation 21: 1-5…what do we see?

Everything will be new.

g.  What sombre thought does the book end with?  (chapter 66:24)

The end of those who do not obey God.

h.   What does Revelation tell us?       (Revelation 20:12-15)

It tells how everyone will be judged according to God’s books and the end of those whose names are missing from the Book of Life.

 Summing Up….

a.  As you have finished this completed overview of Isaiah, what have you seen?

It is a complete history of mankind as recorded in the Bible, all compressed into this one book.

b.  What feelings do you have as you contemplate all that God has shown us in this book?    (2 Timothy 3:16)

One of awe at the way God has dovetailed it all in with the New Testament teaching, and with exactly the same progression through it…. It is ALL His Word for our benefit!

c.   What do we see about how the book of Isaiah was written?     (2 Peter 1:20-21)

It wasn’t just thrown together with haphazard snippets of information; it is clearly not authored by man, but by God in its reasoned progression……….it is God’s message to mankind!