Meditate on it

Day Five: Read Isaiah 53:4-12   1. Look up the words "transgression" and "iniquity" in the dictionary. Why does Isaiah 53:4-6 say Christ suffered and died? transgression , noun--An act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct; an offense.   < Latin trānsgressiō the act of going across iniquity , noun--Gross immorality or injustice; wickedness.[Middle English iniquite, from Old French, from Latin inīquitās, from inīquus, unjust, harmful : in-, not; see in-1 + aequus, equal.] He was "pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities" (v 5)  2. Circle the words "we," "our," "ourselves," "each of us," and "all of us" in verses 4-6. Can you substitute your own name in each place? Isa 53:4  Surely he has borne Elizabeth's griefs and carried her sorrows; yet she esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. Isa 53:5  But he was pierced for her transgressions; he was cr

Day Four: Read Isaiah 52:13-53:3   1. What are the contrasting attitudes toward the Servant according to Isaiah 52:13 and 14? Some will raise him up so that He is exalted. Others were appalled. He will startle many nations; kings will be speechless. They will see things they were never told and ponder things they never heard.  2. Compare the Servant's description in Isaiah 52:14 with Matthew 27:28-31;39-44. Isaiah 52:14 describes a disfigured person who doesn't look human. They stripped off his clothes and put on him a scarlet robe, wove thorn-branches into a crown and put it on his head, and put a stick in his right hand. Then they kneeled down in front of him and made fun of him: "Hail to the King of the Jews!"  They spit on him and used the stick to beat him about the head. When they had finished ridiculing him, they took off the robe, put his own clothes back on him and led him away to be nailed to the execution-stake.   Matt 27:28-31 Mat 27:39-44  Pe

Day Three: Read Isaiah 51:1-52:12  1. This passage contains a series of "imperatives." Briefly summarize the Lord's message that follows "Listen to me"/"Pay attention to me;” "Awake, awake;" "Depart, depart;" or "Rouse yourself! Rouse yourself! in Isaiah 51:1  Pursuing righteousness, seeking the Lord, looking to your beginnings in Him: “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, that I might bless him and multiply him. Isaiah 51:1-2 Worthy of reflection---my beginnings are humble, but they are the stuff from which the Lord builds the future.  There is a sense that I should not over-estimate my contribution to His work (as we are hewn by Him) but not underestimate it either, "for he was but one when I called him...that

Day Two: Read Isaiah 50 1. Why was Israel sent into captivity?   Because of her iniquities and transgressions  2. Describe the servant of Isaiah 50:4-9.    * With words of the taught, he is able to sustain the weary. (v 4)  The Lord has opened his ear to wisdom (v5).  He did not rebel or turn away (v5). Andrew MacLaren points out that Jesus faithfully followed His father's will/wisdom: He Himself has said, ‘As the Father taught Me, I speak these things.’ With emphatic repetition, He was continually making that assertion, as, for instance, ‘I have not spoken of Myself, but the Father which sent Me, He gave Me a commandment what I should say, and what I should speak . . . the things therefore which I speak, even as the Father hath said unto Me, so I speak.’ *He made himself open to abuse (v.6)  The Lord helps him, so he is determined, "set my face like flint" (v7-9). The sequence in this context is worth noting. We had first Christ’s communion with God and

Day One: Read Isaiah 49 "The previous nine-chapter section (chaps. 40-48) dealt mainly with Cyrus and his mission in the Jews’ restoration. These nine chapters (49-57) deal primarily with the Servant-Messiah fulfilling His ministry of restoring the covenant people to the land just before the Millennium will begin.   Chapters 49-57 may be divided into four parts: (1) The Servant, being rejected by His people, will take salvation to the Gentiles (chaps. 49-50). (2) The believing remnant will be exalted (51:1-52:12). (3) The Servant, however, will be abased and then exalted (52:13-53:12). (4) Salvation through the Servant will come to Jews and Gentiles in the Millennium (chaps. 54-57)." -BKC 1. Who is speaking in verses 1-6? What verses provide clues? (Feel free to use other passages in scripture to support your answer).  The "Suffering Servant" "And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”  Isaiah 49:3 "He says: “I

 Day Six: Read Isaiah 48   1. How does God characterize Israel in verses 1-5? Who are called by the name of Israel Who are from the waters of Judah Who swear by the name of the Lord and confess the God of Israel BUT not in truth or right. Israel is obstinate--her neck is an iron sinew and her forehead brass  2. What evidence of God's grace toward stubborn Israel is found in Verses 6-11  God has announced new things to Israel Verses 12-16  He will perform His purposes on Babylon Verse 17-19  He teaches Israel to profit, leads them in the way they should go. Verse 20-22  He made the water flow out of the rock in the desert But note: “There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked.”  Isaiah 48:22 3. What evidences of God's grace have you experienced. Daily.  All the time.

Day Four: Read Isaiah 44:24-28; 45  1. What prophecy does God make regarding Jerusalem in Isaiah 44:24-28?  That Jerusalem and Judah's other cities shall be rebuilt, reinhabited, the temple's foundation laid, that Cyrus will be His shepherd and "shall perform all my pleasure."  2. From Isaiah 44:28 and 45:1-7, who will be the Lord's instrument and why has the Lord chosen him? Give verses. Cyrus 44:28 Isa 45:3  And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. For Jacob and Israel's sake. Isaiah 45$  3. From verses 9-13, what is God's answer to those who might question His using a Gentile king as His instrument? He made everything, who can question it? 4. Who will be saved (verses 14-25)? Isa 45:17  But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world wit

Day Three: Read Isaiah 43; 44:1-23 1. To what events is the Lord referring in Isaiah 43:2? (See Exodus 14; Joshua 3; Daniel 3) The textual parentheses refer to the exodus from Egypt, the Israelites' crossing of the Jordan as they entered the promised land, and Daniel's persecution in the fiery furnace.  To me it seems that the Lord is speaking here more generally of persecutions and trials that His people must endure in the future, "When you go...." 2. What does the Lord promise His people in Isaiah 44:3,4? Has this promise been fulfilled? He will pour out His Spirit on Israel's descendants and bless their children.  I'd say it's been fulfilled in part.  The promise has been extended beyond Israel to all who believe in Christ, but it has not been fully realized, especially among the Jews. 3. From Isaiah 43 and 44:1-23, in what verses does God say He is God, Creator, LORD, Savior, Rock, Redeemer, King, Holy One of Israel? In what verse(s) does

Day One: Read Isaiah 41  1. What are the two "Who" questions in verses 1-7 and what is the answer? Give verse. Isa 41:4  Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he. Who stirred up one from the east whom victory meets at every step? v 2 Who called the generations from the beginning? v 4  2. In verses 8-20 what does God call Israel? Jacob? Abraham? Israel--my servant Jacob--whom I have chosen, worm (14) Abraham--my friend He says He will make a sharp threshing sledge of them.  3. What command does he give His servant in verse 10? What promise? "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10 His command: Fear not. Be not dismayed. Promise:  I will strengthen you,  help you, uphold you.  4. What is the Lord's challenge to the nations' id

Day Four: Read Isaiah 40:9-11   1. Where is the messenger to go to proclaim the "good news?" (See also Matthew 10:27; Luke 12:3)  "Go up on a high mountain" (v9), to Judah, Zion, Jerusalem. "What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops." -Matthew 10:27 "Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops." Luke 12:3 2. a. What is the four-word message (three words in ESV)? "Behold Your God." (ESV, KJ) "Here is Your God." (CJB)  "Your God is coming!" (NLT), Look! Your God! (MSG)  b. Find New Testament passages that show this is a prophecy that has been fulfilled. Way too vague a question, way too many passages. 3. What attributes of God do you see in verses 10-11? How does Jesus also have those attributes (give verses from the NT)?  Mighty (v

Day Two: Read Isaiah 40:3-5   1. In addition to telling the people to prepare for the Lord to lead them from captivity in Babylon, what future event is prophesied in verse 3? (See also Matthew 3:1-5; Mark 1:2-3; Luke 1:17,76; John 1:22,23) The coming of the Messiah. 2. What is the fulfillment of the prophecy? Jesus 3. What specific things are the people to do to prepare this highway? Repent (Matt 3:2), make paths straight (Matt 3:3)  turn hearts of parents to children (Luke 1:17), the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous (Luke 1:17), make ready a people prepared for the Lord (Luke 1:17).  3. a. From verse 5, what will happen once the highway is prepared and did the people of Isaiah's time know it would happen? The glory of the Lord will be revealed and all the people will see it together.  I would say no.  b. Has this prophecy been fulfilled? (See John 1:14) "And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of

Day One: Read Isaiah 40:1,2  Voices are ever speaking to us from the infinite; let us heed them. F.B. Meyer Here beginneth the Gospel of the prophet Isaiah, and holdeth on to the end of the book. (J. Trapp.) In passing from chaps, 36-39, to chap. 40. we find ourselves introduced into a new world. To arouse the indifferent, to reassure the wavering, to expostulate with the doubting, to announce with triumphant confidence the certainty of the approaching restoration, is the aim of the great prophecy which now occupies the last twenty-seven chapters of the Book of Isaiah. (Prof. S. R. Driver, D. D.) This section divides into three parts of nine chapters each (chaps. 40-48; 49-57; 58-66). The first two parts each conclude with the statement, “There is no peace… for the wicked” (Isa_48:22; Isa_57:21). These prophecies of deliverance center around three events: (1) Deliverance from captivity in Babylon (already prophesied by Isaiah, Isa_39:7). This is the main subject of chapt

 Day Five Read Isaiah 39 with Jeremiah 25:1-12; 29:10   1. After Hezekiah received the envoys from Babylon, what did Isaiah say would happen in the future? He said the day  is coming when all that is in your house and storehouse will be taken away to Babylon.  2. What was Hezekiah's attitude upon hearing this prophecy? He said the word of the Lord was good, and he was glad it wouldn't happen in his lifetime. 3. How long did Jeremiah say the "Babylonian Captivity" would last?  70 years Day Six This overview is helpful: The captivity of Judah took place in stages. In 605 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar entered Jerusalem, made Jehoiakim a vassal, and took captives to Babylon, including Daniel (2Ki_24:1). In 597 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar again invaded Jerusalem, deported Jehoiachin, and took additional captives, including Ezekiel (2Ki_24:10). Finally, in 586 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the temple and took captive all but the poorest of the people (2Ki_25:1-10). 

Day 2 Read Isaiah 37:1-20  1. What did Hezekiah do when he received the report from his officials? He tore his clothes, put on clothsack, and went into the sanctuary of the Lord.  He took the letter and spread it before the Lord in the sanctuary and prayed.  2. What is the first thing you do when faced with overwhelming difficulty?  Depends.  3. According to Isaiah, what will be the outcome? Give the verse.  Isaiah 37:7--Isaiah says that God will send a rumor (which turns out to be that the King of Assyria is attacking him) that leads the King of Assyria to rush home where he will die.  4. For what purpose did Hezekiah ask the Lord to save them from Sennacherib? Give the verse.  v 20 Let all the nations know that You are God. Day 3 Read Isaiah 37:21-38  1. What did God want Sennacherib to know (See vv 26-28)? He wanted him to know that this was not a new thing, but a longstanding plan.  He was using him as a tool.  2. Based on the sign God gave Hezekiah in verses

Day One: Read Isaiah 36 and 2 Kings 18:1-16  The BKC describes Isaiah 36 as a historical interlude that shows the fulfillment of some of Isaiah's prior predictions: "The historical material in these chapters concerns two events which are foundational to a proper understanding of Isaiah’s theology and Judah’s history. The first event ( chaps . 36-37 ) concerns the Assyrian threat which God miraculously dissipated. This event climaxes Isaiah’s argument in chapters 1-35. In those chapters he had argued that God brought the Assyrians into Judah as a punishment for Judah’s sins and as a catalyst to turn them back to Him. However, he had prophesied that Jerusalem would not fall to the Assyrians and that God would miraculously destroy the Assyrian army because of their pride." " The second event ( chaps . 38 - 39 ) concerned Hezekiah’s breach of the covenant when he was delivered by God from death but then allowed pride to enter his heart. This event serves as a fo

 Day Five: Read Isaiah 33   1. Upon whom is the final woe pronounced? Assyria  2. Find the words "salvation" or "save" in this chapter. Give verses. Isa 33:2  But LORD, be merciful to us, for we have waited for You. Be our strong arm each day and our salvation in times of trouble. Isa 33:6  In that day He will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation , wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the LORD will be your treasure.  Isa 33:22  For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us.  3. How is the Lord described in verses 5-6? Is He all of these things to you? righteous and just, sure foundation, rich store of salvation, wisdom, knowledge.  Yes.  4. What roles does God have in our lives according to verse 22? judge, law giver, king, savior Day Six: Read Isaiah 34-35   1. From Isaiah 34:1-7, how will God judge evil? He will completely destroy nations (v2) The dead will be left unburie

Day Four: Read Isaiah 31-32   1. From 31:1-3, what does it mean to "rely on the flesh?" What happens to those who do? Give verses. Disaster will come to them (v2).  Those who help and those who are helped (Egypt & Israel) will both fall (v3).  "They will all fall down and die together." (v3) 2. What will happen to: a. Jerusalem?  The Lord will hover over Jerusalem, protect it, and deliver it (v5). b. Assyria?  The Assyrians will be destroyed by the sword of God not men, they will panic and flee (v8).  The strong, young ones will eventually be taken away as captives (v 8) 3. From Chapter 32, describe the transformation that will occur when the "righteous king" reigns. The King will rule justly, and his princes (v1). Those who follow him will be perceptive, no longer spiritually blind (v2-3) Gorgeous image here: Isa 32:2  And a man [alternately rendered "each one"] shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from