Today’s passage: Isaiah 9:8-10:4

Helpful thoughts:

• God first “cut off” the leaders of Israel, but the sin of the leaders had permeated the whole nation, so that even those typically oppressed were just as guilty.
• God’s judgment of Israel was further compounded by Israel’s own self-destruction.  In their selfish sin, they destroyed themselves!
• In 10:1-4, the audience changes.  Isaiah has turned to Judah after describing the outcome of Israel’s sin and asks the nation, “What will you do?”

Questions to consider:

1. What was the significance of the sinful leaders being both governmental and also religious (Prophets)?  How would this be different in our context today living in a constitutional republic which holds democratic elections and holds forth freedom of religion?
2. What are the other leaders that “speak into our lives” in our day and age?  Who are the “heads” and “tails” of our culture?  How much of an impact does it appear they have on the thinking of the people?
3. Knowing that the Lord is righteous and just, what will you do?  What do you need?  What does your household need?  What does the church need?  What does our community need?  Etc.  Romans 10:15 – As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Today’s passage: Isaiah 9:1-7

Helpful thoughts:

• Go back and read Isaiah 8:22 for the contrast of this passage’s promise.
• Matthew 4:12-14 – Now when he (Jesus) heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled
  • John 8:12 – Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
• The military victory that Israel enjoyed over Midian was not a typical military victory.  Only the Lord could have accomplished it.
  • This future victory will be of the Lord’s doing, and the Kingdom of God will be left to rejoice under a new King!  He will be a Wonderful Counselor (Wisdom), Mighty God (Power), Everlasting Father (Care), and Prince of Peace.

Questions to consider:

1. Who is going to make everything right?  Who is the only One who could?
2. How must the Christian walk with Christ while we wait for His return?  How would a passage like Romans 8:31-39 compare with Isaiah 9:1-7 and encourage us as we wait for King Jesus?
3. How long will Christ’s kingdom last?  Why can we be confident that this will happen?  Whose character and power are we trusting in (End of verse 7)?

For more study on this passage, you can watch these videos:

Desiring God: Look at the Book

Today’s passage: Isaiah 8:11-22

Helpful thoughts:

• God is bigger and more powerful than anything in this world.  He is the LORD of hosts!
• God never changes.  People will either stumble over God, or they will find refuge and sanctuary in Him.
• People can turn to everything but God in their times of need (Or want), but then be angry with God when life isn’t going “well”.

Questions to consider:

1. In what ways was God’s summary of the people of Judah still true of people today?
2. Who is God?  How does a low view of Him result in all kinds of trouble?  How does a high view of Him result in “sanctuary”?
3. What must we do in order to not begin seeing things the way the world sees things?  (“Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy”)  How can we continually be transformed by the renewal of our minds?

Today’s passage: Isaiah 8:1-10

Helpful thoughts:

• That long name in verse 1 and verse 3 means, “The spoil speeds, the prey hastens”.
• Rezin was the king of Syria and the son of Remaliah was the king of Israel (Northern kingdom).  God was rebuking Judah because they had sided with Assyria against Syria and Israel and were therefore rejoicing in the losses suffered by Syria and Israel.  Judah did not trust in the Lord, they trusted in Assyria, and now Assyria was coming for them.
  • The Jordan River runs north to south, this is the direction from which the Assyrian army will “flood” Judah.
  • God had given Judah gentle streams (Verse 6), but they chose a flood.
• God is telling Judah that they will be judged for their wickedness, but not to their demise (“Reaching even to the neck”, God’s promise to Ahaz would be fulfilled).  But, God also tells the nations that no one can destroy Judah without His consent.  God’s people will stand victorious in the end!
• “God is with us” in verse 10 ties back to “Immanuel” from verse 8.

Questions to consider:

1. How easy is it to get caught up in all the conflicts around us in this world and lose track of what God is doing?  Is God ever absent or not involved?  Are we ever on our own, in need of turning to others instead of Him?
2. With all of the world events happening today, whose kingdom is guaranteed to stand?  Why will that kingdom always stand?
3. How will you keep your eyes on King Immanuel today?  How will you serve Him as He continues to build His Church?

Today’s passage: Isaiah 7:10-25

Helpful thoughts:

• God gave Ahaz (Really, the royal line of David, the “You” is plural in verse 14) the birth of Immanuel (God with us) as a sign.  This is Jesus Christ.  But, it was a sign that Ahaz would never see.
• This boy who would be born would be able to refuse evil and choose good.  He alone is righteous,
• Before the Messiah would come, judgment would come on Judah, and that judgment would still be felt.

Questions to consider:

1. If God offered Ahaz a sign, should Ahaz have taken Him up on that offer?  Was Ahaz being spiritual here or not?  What was the sign even supposed to alert Ahaz about?
2. How does this prophecy of a boy being virgin-born compare with the curse of Jeremiah 23:30 against Jechoniah/Coniah and the royal line of David?  How does the virgin birth promised solved the problem of the curse?
3. How did Isaiah’s prophecy of the boy’s diet come to fulfillment?  Did Christ grow up as royalty or in a normal, if not lower class home?

Today’s passage: Isaiah 7:1-9

Helpful thoughts:

• Perhaps Isaiah’s first assignment to Ahaz king of Judah was to tell him not to fear because God was in control.
  • Samaria thought that partnering with Syria would result in the fall of their own brothers in Jerusalem.  Instead, it brought about their own.
• You can read more about Ahaz in 2 Chronicles 28.  Judah lost these battles, but the city of Jerusalem was never captured.
• God’s message to Ahaz concluded with the charge to be strong in faith (He wasn’t), and that the kingdom would only be made firm through firm faith.

Questions to consider:

1. What should Ahaz have been more sure of after Israel and Syria’s plan failed?  Who should he have trusted and worshiped more?  Who did he end up worshiping (2 Chronicles 28:22-23)?
2. How does Ahaz’s response give a good example of God’s explanation to Isaiah, “Keep on hearing, but do not understand;
   
   keep on seeing, but do not perceive“?
3. What did Isaiah do when God told him to take this message to Ahaz?  Why do we sometimes take for granted the obedience of these prophets to take the message, even to kings, just as they are commanded?

Today’s passage: Isaiah 6

Helpful thoughts:

• Isaiah was not rebuked for having a low view of himself.  He had an accurate view of himself when he saw how he compared with God.  Isaiah needed atonement and freedom from his guilt (Not the feeling of guilt…actual guilt).
• 1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
• The people who would not listen to Isaiah’s message were already not listening.  Isaiah’s preaching was only going to make them more calloused.

Questions to consider:

1. What did the presence of the Lord in His holiness do to Isaiah?  How did Isaiah respond?
2. Why is it better to look at ourselves honestly and humbly compared to the Lord as opposed to looking at ourselves compared to other people?  Who is the standard?  If I think I am awesome, what will the result be?  How will I treat others differently?
3. Should people’s responses be the reason we do or don’t share the Gospel?  Why should we share the Gospel?  What is the greatest motivation?  How can you have joy regardless of the response?

Today’s passage: Isaiah 5:8-30

Helpful thoughts:

• These people were moving in closer together and consolidating their fields in order to work less and entertain themselves more.  It was a social construct that can not be maintained, and they suffered for it.
  • This group is going to the grave because they can’t stop playing around!
• Verse 18 (“Pulling iniquity with cords of falsehood”) illustrates these people as oxen who continually pull a cart behind them full of things that would hurt them.  Yet, they do it with joy and eager expectation for what the cart contains!
  • This mentality is not far from addiction.
• It is possible to wholeheartedly believe you are doing the right thing when you are doing a terrible thing.
  • Calling evil good and good evil
  • Being wise in your own eyes
• The preparedness of the invading armies seems to indicate these other nations had not fallen into the same lazy trap as Judah.

Questions to consider:

1. How is the Lord of Hosts exalted in justice when the person who has lived the party lifestyle suffers the natural consequences of their sin?  How is He proven to be right and true?
2. How much entertainment do you think is appropriate and how much do you think is too much?
3. Why is it so valuable to be an active member of the local church?  What do we need other believers to do for us in our lives when we are blind to our blindness?  Why is it more loving to speak these things to one another than to avoid it and hope it goes away?
4. Is our conscience automatically a perfect guide?  How must we train our consciences so that when we have conviction, we know it’s accurate?  What would we measure our conscience against to know if it’s accurate?

Today’s passage: Isaiah 5:1-7

Helpful thoughts:

• The name “Lord of Hosts” reminds us that God has never and will never know defeat.  Israel, Judah, the people of Jerusalem had the only God who could say that about themselves (Or, frankly, say anything at all).
• God’s “vineyard” in Israel wasn’t vineyards!  It wasn’t stuff that people can have.  It was the people themselves.
• Israel had everything she needed to grow and produce the “fruit” that God had planted her for.
  • God doesn’t exist to give Israel grapes.  Israel was there to be fruitful before God.

Questions to consider:

1. What is happening in our hearts when we start thinking that God is doing a good job or being slack depending on how much quality we perceive in our lives?  How is that mindset totally upside down?
2. Christian, did you plant God or has God planted you?  How does this change how you read the Bible, how you pray, how you view your purpose in life (Your “calling”)?
3. What kind of “fruit” should God be seeing coming from First Baptist Church? (Galatians 5:22-24, Matthew 28:18-20)

Today’s passage: Isaiah 4

Helpful thoughts:

• Verse 1 serves as the completion of the content of the third chapter.
• This “Branch” in verse 2 is Jesus Christ (Jeremiah 23:5).
• When God’s judgment is completed, the remnant who remains will be made holy/set apart unto God.  They will believe and worship Jesus.

Questions to consider:

1. When is “that day”?  When will the Branch return to rule and reign on this earth? (Not trying to predict a date…but think about the order of events in prophecy)
2. How did the cloud by day and pillar of fire by night show Israel God’s presence during the exodus?  What would it point forward to (Hint: Isaiah used the word “Create”)? (Revelation 21:1-3)
3. Why were these promises for the coming King and the New Heavens and New Earth time given to the people of Judah while they were living like we have seen describes over the last few chapters?  If I am in sin against God and I hear about what He is going to do, what is the only right response?