Sank T Monius

Isaiah 35:1-10 Q). How do you think these verses brought hope to their first readers? A). By promising a glorious future where the Lord will be king. # Q). What is promised here? A). It is promised that in the Day of the Lord, the New Jerusalem will be a place of wealth, of healing, and of forgiveness. # Q). Why do you think Isaiah relies on heavily figurative language to communicate these promises? A). To instill a strong sense of hope and anticipation # Q). How does he describe the "highway of holiness"? A). "and it shall be called The way of holiness" (Isaiah 35:8) # Q). Who will walk on it? A). "but the redeemed shall walk there" (Isaiah 35:9) # Q). Who won't? A). "the unclean shall not pass over it" (Isaiah 35:8) # Q). What does it mean to be redeemed and ransomed? A). The redemeed are those who have been bought back by the gospel. Ransomed means Jesus paid the price for our redemption.

Isaiah 33:14-16 Q). How does ethical behavior display love for God? A). Ehthical behavior displays love for God because it obeys His word # Q). How does it display love for man? A). Displaying ethical behavior towards people shows the same love for our neighbors as we have for ourselves. # Q). How does the corruption of taking bribes destroy righteous government? A). As the old saying goes "He who pays the piper calls the tune".

Isaiah 31:1 Q). Why do we tend to seek help from every source except the Lord? A). In times of fear, doubt and anxiety it's often easier to trust and rely on things that seem like probable solutions rather than trust in the unseen God. # Q). In what way is this similar to idolatry? A). It's like idolatry because we put our trust, faith and hope in things rather than having faith in God only. # Q). People haven't changed. Jesus recognized this tendency. What was the remedy he taught his disciples in Matthew 6:31-33? A). Trust God to supply all our needs and seek the kingdom of God above all other things.

Isaiah 30:15-29 Q). Why does God long to show us grace (30:18)? A). He shows us grace so he will be exalted, that he may have mercy upon us. For the Lord is a God of judgment # Q). What does that say about God's character? A). It says that God is patient, merciful and desires to pour His grace upon us. # Q). What prevents his grace? A). Rebellion and obstinacy can prevent His grace. "Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin" (30:1) # Q). Have you ever experienced the kind of guidance Isaiah mentions in verse 21? A). I have heard the 'still small voice' sometimes. # Q). What is necessary in us so that we can hear God's voice? A). Humility combined with reverence for the Lord and honor of his holiness.

Isaiah 29:13 Q). Have you ever seen a religious person go through all the religious motions, but whose heart is far from God? A). I cannot know another person's heart. But I believe that I've seen some people engage in religious activities while also practicing a bit of their own personal ungodly behaviors. # Q). How can we detect this in ourselves if it applies to us? A). Paul suggests self-analysis in 2 Corinthians 13:5 "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves...". We ought to honestly check ourselves before we wreck ourselves. # Q). What is the remedy? A). The remedy is to repent and ask God's forgiveness when we stray. It would be helpful if we commit to walking humbly before God in all circomstances. # Q). How can you tell if your practice of religion is merely following "rules taught by men"? A). When my practice is not backed up by scripture I am probably practicing rules taught by men # Q). What is the danger of a rule-based faith? A). The danger is that we no longer seek the Lord himself, but instead hold a cold orthodoxy. # Q). How does it differ from a love-based faith? A). A love-based faith produces the fruit of the spirit which cannot be manifested in a rule-based faith.

Isaiah 28 Q). How are we humans able to justify and deceive ourselves so easily? A). We humans are able to justify and deceive ourselves so easily because we take refuge in falsehoods we mostly believe -- and act on. "...for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:" (Isaiah 28:15) # Q). Why do we hold onto lies that guide our lives? A). False beliefs hold us in bondage -- and we cannot free ourselves. The gospel's truth can set us free, if we will just take heed. But so many of us prefer the popular lies of the culture, and the falsehoods they hold more dear than God's truth. # Q). Why do people stumble over Christ, the tested foundation stone, and his righteous standards? A). When people are arrogant and self-serving they reject him, they stumble over him, rather than trusting in him. # Q). How can we help people come to the truth? A). Jesus taught us how we can help people come to the truth when He said: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." # Q). What is the alternative if they don't, according to Isaiah 28:21? A). The Lord will do His "strange work" of bringing destruction to his own people.

Isaiah 22 Q). Why is Judah faulted for making necessary military preparations in the face of the Assyrian armies? A). As Motyer puts it, "So delighted were they in their do-it-yourself security that a public holiday was declared (verse 13). They are trusting in their own security, rather than in Yahweh who made the city and loves it". # Q). What should they have done at the same time (verses 11-12)? A). They should have trusted in the grace of God. "They have trusted in their own works, rather than the grace of God, and so have committed the unforgiveable sin of unbelief" (verse 14) # Q). What seems to be the sin of Shebna, steward of the palace (verses 15-19)? A). Perhaps this is an example of corruption -- using the nation's resources to further one's own purposes and pride. # Q). Have you ever been guilty of selfishness instead of doing your duty to Christ? A). Yes I have been guily of selfishness but the bible shows me how to be unselfish. If I love the Lord as I profess, I would keep His commandments (If ye love me, keep my commandments John 14:15). And one of the greatest commandments requires that I behave unselfishly (And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself Matthew 22:39). Faithful adherence to the second greatest commandment is the key to an unselfish way of living (love thy neighbour as thyself).

Isaiah 20 Q). Why did God command Isaiah to go naked for three years? A). The Lord sends Isaiah with a somewhat bizarre command -- to strip down for three years as an acted prophecy. # Q). What was its meaning? A). Isaiah's nakedness is to be a constant reminder to Judah not to rely on Egypt, that Assyria will attack Egypt and carry off captives, who were often stripped just as Isaiah was. And that's just what happened. # Q). What effect did this acted prophecy have on Judah's foreign policy? A). Apparently, Judah's king Hezekiah did not join the rebellion, since Judah suffered no reprisals in 711 BC. But later (unknown date) Judah had joined in the rebellion against Assyria and has suffered an invasion by Assyria that conquered all her fortified cities except Jerusalem itself. # Q). If you were Isaiah, would you have obeyed God? A). No! But saying no would have caused me to break my vow to God when I said "Here am I, send me". Therefore, the lesson learned is for me to be careful what I ask for. I just might get it and all that goes with it.

Isaiah 14 Q). What was the attitude of heart in the ruler described in Isaiah 14:12-17? A). The ruler described in Isaiah 14:12-17 had a haughty attitude of heart # Q). What is the scriptural evidence that this indeed refers to Satan? A). There is no clear scriptural evidence that this indeed refers to Satan. # Q). Have you ever exalted your opinion and will over God's will and God's word? A). Yes # Q). How does this differ from the ruler in 14:12-17? A). I am not the ruler of a nation but, like the ruler described in Isaiah 14:12-17, pride has caused me to sometimes behave in ways that I regret. # Q). What is the best way to humble oneself before the Lord? A). I believe the best way to humble oneself before the Lord is to learn from Jesus when He washed the disciples' feet. We can, by God's grace, do something for someone else that we may normally detest (e.g. pick up and discard a paper towel on the floor in a public bathroom). When this type of task is done to honor God our humility has transcended from a feeling to an actual way of living. Being humble also suggests that we be thankful to God for an opportunity to be useful to our neighbors.

Isaiah 11:10-16 Q). What does it mean that "the nations" will rally to the Messiah when he appears? A). The Messiah is not just the leader of one reunited nation of Israel, but the leader of the whole world. # Q). Who are these "nations"? A). The Gentiles # Q). Who else will be "gathered" at this time? A). The exiles of Judah and Israel # Q). How does this prophecy relate to Jesus' and Paul's teaching about the Rapture (Mark 13:26-27; 2 Thessalonians 2:1)? A). It speaks of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him... # Q). When will this prophecy be fulfilled? A). This prophecy will be fulfilled when the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

Isaiah 11:6-9 Q). The passage speaks in figurative language. What kind of peace does it describe? A). Enemies will live in absolute peace with each other... # Q). How far will this peace extend? A). The whole earth # Q). According to Isaiah 11:9b, why will there be peace? A). The reason there will be peace is because of "the knowledge of the Lord." # Q). What does "the knowledge of the Lord" mean? A). the prophet speaks of a personal relationship with the Lord, not just an intellectual awareness of him. # Q). How widespread will this "knowledge" be? A). for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. (11:9b)

Isaiah 11:1-5 Q). Who was Jesse? A). Jesse was the father of David # Q). How does his name indicate that this passage speaks of the Messiah? A). The Davidic messiah is called the root of Jesse. "A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit." (11:1) # Q). What attributes will he have due to the Spirit of God upon him? A). The Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD--3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD." (11:2-3a) # Q). What do we learn about this Messiah from verses 4-5? A). 4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. 5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. # Q). Who seem to be the victims of injustice and oppression here? A). The poor and the needy # Q). When the Messiah comes, what will happen to all who involve themselves in injustice? A). With the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

Isaiah 10:1-2 Q). Why do we humans tend to pass laws that oppress the weak and poor? A). Humans tend to pass laws that oppress the weak and poor because we spend more time 'playing' god rather than 'obeying' God. # Q). What can we as Christians do to prevent this? A). Do unto others as we would have others do unto us. # Q). What can we do to help the poor and weak in our communities? A). Obey the second greatest commandment which is to love our neighbors in word and deed. (1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.)

Isaiah 9:6-7 Q). What in the text convinces us that the Child/Son is the Messiah himself? A). The reference to Matthew 4:12-14 convinces us that the Child/Son is the Messiah himself: "When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali -- to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah." # Q). What do you learn about the Messiah from the four word pairs describing him? A). The four word pairs describing him are: 1. (Wonderful Counsellor) This Son will possess counsel to be wondered at. 2. (Mighty God) This Child is identified with Yahweh himself. 3. (Everlasting Father) He is the one who is eternally a Father to his people. The concepts of fathering and shepherding a people are very close to each other. Jesus' statement, "I am the good shepherd" (John 10:11, 14) captures the heart of this idea. 4. (Prince of Peace) The "Prince of Peace" is the chief bringer of reconciliation, peace, fulfillment, and wholeness. He is the master of this realm. If you want this kind of all-encompassing peace, you come to him. # Q). Which of these saving attributes do you need most in your life right now? A). The saving attribute that I need right now is "Prince of Peace"

Isaiah 8:14-15 Q). In what sense is Yahweh (and his Messiah Jesus) a "stumbling stone" and "a trap and a snare"? A). We must either trust in or surrender to our God or we will stumble over him; either we find our strength in him or he will break us. # Q). In what way are people broken in this stumbling? A). They are broken of pride. Proverbs 16:18 says it best: "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." # Q). Why do you think people stumble over a God who is almighty and righteous and must be obeyed? A). People stumble over God when they rely on their own strength (self-reliance).

Isaiah 7-8 Q). What was the gist of Isaiah's prophetic instruction to Ahaz? A). Be careful, keep calm and don't be afraid... Isaiah 7:4 # Q). Why do you think Ahaz chose to disregard it? A). Because he was afraid of the king of Aram and of the king of Israel, who were attacking him. # Q). What did Ahaz do instead? A). He chose to become a vassel (servant) for the king of Assyria. This would protect him against syria and Israel. # Q). What was the consequence of this disobedience? A). the cost of this protection is high indeed. Ultimately, the Lord will bring the king of Assyria upon Judah as a "razor" to shave them completely (Isaiah 7:20). By Hezekiah's time, Assyria had destroyed all of Judah's fortified cities; only Jerusalem escaped. # Q). Why do we sometimes seem to think that we're smarter than God? A). We sometimes think that we're smarter than God because we are influenced by our natural senses. We depend on our natural senses because they appear to be more reliable than living by faith. When we rely on our natural senses rather than faith we behave as though we are smarter than God. # Q). Why is it sometimes so hard to do what God tells us to do? A). It's sometimes hard to do what God tells us because we are oppressed by fear and doubt.

Isaiah 6:9-10 ... 9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed." ... Q). How do you make sense out of these verses? A). Isaiah is to tell the people that they are "not listening" to the truth. And they will suffer because of their stubborness. # Q). Is Isaiah called to an impossible mission? A). In verse 10, Isaiah is commanded to carry out a hopeless task of preaching truth to a willfully stubborn people, who only become more hardened in the process. # Q). Why will Isaiah's prophecy make the task worse? A). Isaiah's prophecy will make the task worse because it is accusatory (critical) in it's substance. # Q). In which parable did Jesus quote this passage (Matthew 13:1-23)? A). The parable of the sower. "And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:" -Matthew 13:14 # Q). In Jesus' parable, is there any frustration in preaching the gospel? A). In Jesus' parable there was frustration in preaching the gospel. He said: "For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." -Matthew 13:15 # Q). Is there any hope? A). Some -- a remnant -- will hear and believe, but most, sadly, will become even more resistant.

Isaiah 6:5-8 Q). What is Isaiah's reaction to the vision? A). Isaiah reacted to the vision with great fear: "Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone;..." -Isaiah 6:5 # Q). How does God deal with Isaiah's fear? A). Just as fire purifies, so a live coal from God's fire on the altar touches Isaiah's lips, and Yahweh declares that his sin and guilt are removed. The removing of sin and guilt also removes Isaiah's reasons for his fear. # Q). What question follows Isaiah's cleansing? A). Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? -Isaiah 6:8 # Q). What is Isaiah's response to God's question? A). Then said I, Here am I; send me. -Isaiah 6:8 # Q). What is your response when you sense God calling you? A). Usually fear and feeling inadequate to do what He calls me to do.

Isaiah 6:1-4 Q). Why do you think Yahweh revealed himself in this way to Isaiah? A). Yahweh may have revealed himself in this way to Isaiah to demonstrate how awesome He is. Israel was in a mess and needed an awesome God to rescue them. # Q). In what ways does this vision reveal God's majesty? A). Yahweh is mighty because the armies of heaven accompany him and are at his bidding. He must not be trifled with! # Q). What do we learn about Yahweh from the serphaim's chant? A). Three things we learn about Yahweh from the serphaim's chant are: 1). Yahweh Is Holy 2). Yahweh Is Mighty 3). Yahweh's Creation Exhibits His Glory

Isaiah 5:1-6 Q). What was the vintner's vision for the vineyard? A). The vision for the vineyard was to produce good grapes: "Then he looked for a crop of good grapes..." -Isaiah 5:2 # Q). What did he do to accomplish his vision? A). He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well. -Isaiah 5:2 # Q). What happened when the crop came in? A). ...but it yielded only bad fruit. -Isaiah 5:2 # Q). What did the vintner say he would do with the vineyard? A). "Now I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed; I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled. I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and briers and thorns will grow there. I will command the clouds not to rain on it." -Isaiah5:6 # Q). What does this parable mean? A). God's vineyard, of course is Israel. What more could I have done? asks Yahweh. I have given the grapes every opportunity to grow fruitfully and well, but all that comes of it is, literally, "stink-fruit" -- foul-smelling fruit. The bad fruit represents the gross injustice and unrighteousness that abound in the land. As a result of bad fruit where there should have been good fruit, the Lord declares a judgment of exposure to destructive forces. The thorn-hedge will be removed, any stone wall will be broken down, and nothing will grow there except briars and weeds. This prophecy was fulfilled in the increasing destruction wrought in Judah by the Assyrians, culminating with the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian army in 587 BC.

Isaiah 2:1-5 Q). What does this prophecy of the future Jerusalem tell us about God's plan for the Gentiles? A). The gentiles will worship the true God Yahweh. There shall be universal belief in Yahweh (2:2). Whereas each nation previously had its own god (2:5), now there is a general acknowledgement of the true God, signified by the elevation of his temple. # Q). About God's plan for the Jews? A). There will be a general acknowledgement of the true God, signified by the elevation of his temple. # Q). About spiritual hunger? A). Spiritual hunger (2:3). There is a widespread hunger for God's word and way. The peoples are now seeking to learn from the true God -- and to obey him, "so that we may walk in his paths" (2:3b). # Q). About peace? A). Peace (2:4). Previously, disputes between nations were settled by war, the strongest nation forcing its will on the others. But now, Yahweh is looked to as the high king whose justice is sought to settle disputes. War becomes a thing of the past, and peace reigns to such an extent that people turn their weapons into farm implements, since they will never be needed again.

Isaiah 1:2-20 Q). In what way is Judah confused about its identity, according to verses 2-4? A). They are confused about their own identity as children of Yahweh. # Q). What are the consequences when Christians today suffer from such identity confusion? A). They become worldly and carnal-minded. They become like children of the ruler of darkness rather than children of Yahweh. The consequences suffered are the penalties of their sinful ways. # Q). What injustices does God accuse his people of in verses 15-17? A). Broadly speaking, the injustices are disobedience to God's commands and not conforming to his values. # Q). In verses 18-20 God argues that their behavior is "unreasonable." Why is it unreasonable? What does God offer as an alternative? A). Their behavior is unreasonable because they don't understand the terrible state they are in. If they repent, God offers as and alternative the following promise: "18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:"

(The Promise): But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:19 ... Philippians 4:19-20 Q). In this context, what is the condition that must be met for the promise to be valid? A). It is a promise conditioned upon the giving of our own resources to God and his kingdom work. # Q). What is the limit of the fulfillment of the promise? A). There is no limit of the fulfillment of the promise. If God were to meet our need one hundred times in excess of our need, it would not draw down his resources or his wealth. Not one bit! We cannot deplete God's wealth by answered prayer. # Q). In your own words, what does the promise mean to you? A). When I give with a desire to please God, He will abundantly meet my every need.

Philippians 4:14-16 Q).How were the Philippians' financial gifts credited to their heavenly account, do you think? A). Paul supplied the labor while the Philippians supplied the financial backing. The "profit" or "fruit" that resulted in men, women, and children won to Christ and serving as disciples in new churches -- that was credited to their heavenly account just as much as it was to Paul's account. They would both share in the reward. # Q).How was their giving linked to temporal blessings? A).Paul expresses the principle in an agricultural context of sowing and reaping: (see 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, 10-11)