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Q6. (Isaiah 54:1-8) In what sense was Jerusalem "barren" without God's favor? The people of Jerusalem were cut down; those who survived were sent away into exile and the city was ruined, shamed, empty of favor, empty of joy–barren and desolate, as were her exiled people. She was an empty tent, occupied only by a rejected wife. Without God, we cannot produce fruit and are barren, just as Jerusalem was barren during the exile. Jesus said "If you abide in Me, and I abide in you, you will bear much fruit; without Me you can do nothing." What does it imply when Isaiah says "your Maker is your husband"? In Isaiah's time, the husband could do whatever He wanted. He could put a wife away for any displeasure she caused and she had no power to oppose him. Her husband was her master. God has sovereign authority to cause Judah's suffering, and to end her suffering. He exiled her for her idolatry. Though the exile was the result of His anger at her infidelity, He brings her back to Him out of love and compassion. What does the husband do in this analogy? He forgives her transgressions, remembers them no more, and brings her back to Him. He will take away her shame. In the New Testament "bride of Christ" analogy, who is the wife, who is the husband? The church is the wife. The husband is the Messiah What is expected of the wife? Love, obedience, and fidelity

Q5. (Isaiah 52:7-9) Why is a messenger or carrier of good news so beautiful? The beauty is in the message; they bring the welcome message of peace and joy to a weary world. What is the original historical context of these verses? This is the return of the captives from Babylon, the gathering of the Lord’s people. How does Paul apply this verse in Romans 10:15? Paul applies this verse to evangelism, to preaching the good news of the gospel to those who have not heard. “ But how can they call on Him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who announce the gospel of good things!”

Q4. (Isaiah 50:10-11) How can you trust the Lord to guide you when you can't see where you're going? I believe that He is a promise-keeping God and He has promised that He will never leave me nor forsake me. He has asked me to walk by faith and not by sight, to trust in Him and not lean on my own understanding. He has not promised me that I will know anything beyond what He has just asked me to do. Just do it, and leave the details to Him. Trust in Him that He knows the way forward and that He will guide you faithfully, and then go forward joyfully in faith. Have you ever experienced fear in this situation? Yes. How do you continue? I spend time with Him in prayer. When I’m really unsure, I find myself talking to Him often throughout the day. What is the danger of creating your own "light" to substitute for the invisible God? Our own ‘light’ is worldly reasoning and it won’t work. Lean not on your own understanding, He tells us. We’re too easily convinced that what we want is okay. The more we work in our own strength and our own will, the easier it becomes to go through the day without thinking about God. And the next day is easier still, until God is in our rearview mirror and we’re racing away from Him.

Q3. (Isaiah 50:4-9) Who does Isaiah seem to speak about in our passage? He is speaking about the Messiah. In what way is he open to the Lord? His mind is open to learn from the Father what to say and do; His ears are open to the Father’s voice and He listens and obeys. In what way does he suffer? He is scorned, scourged, slapped, spat upon, and his beard snatched out. Followed by crucifixion. When was the Messiah vindicated in history? His vindication came with His resurrection. How will he be vindicated at the end of the age? Every knee will bow and every mouth proclaim that Jesus is Lord. What character quality is necessary for believers when their vindication doesn't seem to happen soon enough? Faith. Ultimately it is faith that keeps us steadfast and patient as we wait for vindication.

Q2. (Isaiah 49:14-50:3) Paul teaches that "all Israel will be saved." According to Isaiah in our passage, what will happen to the scattered Jews in the Last Days. The scattered Jews will be brought back to Zion, and the nations will aid in their return. Those who come into Jerusalem will be both the remnant of the Jews and the believing Gentiles and there will be so many that the city will be filled to bursting. Does God seem to love Jews who haven't trusted in Messiah Jesus yet? They are His covenant people and, yes, He loves even the ones who haven’t yet trusted in the Messiah. How can you show your love for Jews? Pray for them, every day! "Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved." (Romans 10:1) In the final analysis, only those who believe in Christ Jesus will be saved.

Q1. (Isaiah 49:1-13) Why do people tend to disregard or even discriminate against aliens in their country? I think the reasons are as varied as the people involved. Fear of someone different, arrogance, or just disinterest in anyone else. Here in Florida we have a mixed populace. There are tensions between races often. But for the most part, the treatment of individuals face to face that I see personally each day is generally ‘normal.’ We tend to feel more comfortable among our own people. How can you increase your love for people of other nationalities? Remember that God created all of us in His image, that He loves each of us, and He wants us to love one another. Look at each individual and see how beautiful they are. Shine the light of God’s love on someone and they will blossom. God's people are called to be a "light to the nations." What might that entail for the church in your community? Our church is inclusive and loving to all. We’re a Bible believing community of Christians. In your country? Be an example of someone who welcomes as Jesus would. Live your life to be an example to others of the value and glory of Christ. Let the fruit of the Spirit be ever present in you. Pray always.

Q7. (Isaiah 45:7b) In what sense does God "bring prosperity and create disaster"? He has sovereignty over both. In the case of Job, for example, God allowed Satan to test Job, though He placed limits on what Satan could do. Had God rejected Satan’s request to test Job, no testing would have occurred. Job did not know that it was his faithfulness that was being tested, nor that his actions would decide a victory between good and evil in heavenly places. It was His love for God that was at the heart of his trouble, and his victory over the forces of evil was also God’s victory: Job did not curse God as Satan claimed that he would. Romans 11:36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. Is God the source of evil? In Him there is no darkness. James 1:13 No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God.” For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn’t tempt anyone. Of trouble? Of prosperity? Of poverty? In what sense is he responsible for these? He allows troubles in our lives when they are needed for Him to bring us to where He wants us to be. The Israelites are a prime example: they turned to idolatry and they refused to listen to His repeated calls for repentance and a return to serving Him. So He withdrew from them and left them vulnerable. Their enemies became the instrument of God in His attempts to turn His people back to Him. He allows trials in our lives for correction and also for strengthening. In what sense are we responsible for these things? We bring trouble upon ourselves through disobedience, through sin, through apathy toward our spiritual growth. Since we know that God is the source of both prosperity and disaster, what should we be doing? Psalm 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. Praise and worship Him, follow where He leads.

Q6. (Isaiah 45:1-4) How can Cyrus be called by name more than a century before he was born? Past, present, and future are all “now” to the Lord. He gave this prophecy to Isaiah so that there would be no doubt in the future that He is God. In what sense is Cyrus "anointed" by God? God gave Cyrus authority over the nations and He will go with Cyrus to accomplish His purpose. How can an unbeliever accomplish God's purposes? God uses whoever and whatever achieves His purpose. In this case, the prophecy given to and written by Isaiah was read by Cyrus more than a century later. God led Cyrus to believe in the prophecy. He became an instrument of God’s purpose. What does this tell us about God? He is omnipotent. He is the Sovereign Lord and His purposes will not be thwarted. But He is also just. In Cyrus’s case, God acted as kinsman-redeemer. He paid the ransom price for His people by giving to Cyrus the lands of Egypt and Cush and others. Being humble in our judgments of others? Judge not that ye be not judged. We are ALL created by God in His image. It is His will that all men be saved. You may have a beef with the guy next to you, but God wants you to love him and help him because He loves that fellow as much as He loves you (and that's a powerful lot of love). And God is going to keep knocking on that fellow’s door by every means possible, using everyone He can, until the last day in the hope that this unique creation of His will, of his own free will, choose to come to Jesus and be saved. He’s holding out His hand to you and asking “Won’t you help Me save My child?” We have absolutely no way to know what effect a kind word or a friendly smile might have on the person we meet in the aisle at the store (or on the street or in the office), but there are accounts written of people whose lives have been saved by something just this simple. The Lord leads us moment by moment. We don’t need to know what happens next; He knows.

Q5. (Isaiah 43) This chapter tells us specific purposes that God's people have been created for. How can you fulfill your purpose to show God's glory (verse 7)? Praise Him, be His witness to others, live a redeemed life exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit to others. 1 Peter 4:11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Cor. 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. To be his witness (verses 10, 12)? Serve Him in the community; testify to others what God has done for you, to His grace, His comforting presence, His love and faithfulness. We should be ready to testify to others of what we know of Him. Offer the proofs from our own lives that He is God. It is in telling others what God has done in your life that you encourage them to seek the Lord. “ I believed, therefore have I spoken” (M. Henry Unabridged Commentary) To proclaim his praise (verse 21)? We proclaim His praise when we praise Him to others and when we praise Him in prayer. We proclaim His praise by the way we live and how we serve Him. And we proclaim His praise by giving thanks for each and every thing He does in our lives--for Jesus, for the Holy Spirit, for His Word, for salvation; for the air we breathe; for our daily bread, His loving care, His protection, His presence, our family and friends, jobs and health and joy and mercy and wisdom and understanding and faith and hope.... What are the obstacles you are facing in fulfilling these purposes? I have no obstacles, only excuses, and they are worthless. The Lord does not ask us to do anything without giving us what we need to complete the task. How do you benefit from fulfilling God's purpose for you? When I walk in God’s will for me, He blesses me. Each obedient act makes obedience easier. Each step taken in faith makes my faith stronger. Each time I praise the Lord, I draw closer to Him in love and He draws closer to me. There is no greater feeling this side of heaven than the strong presence of the Lord. I’m achieving what I’m meant to do and that brings not only joy, but peace.

Q4. (Isaiah 42:18-25) According to this passage, in what ways is God's "servant" blind? They were blind in that they were seeing but not obeying. Why? They were not willing to walk in His ways; not willing to listen to His instructions, Who is the "servant" in this passage? The servant is Israel How would you assess your own degree of spiritual blindness in the last 5 or 10 years? High. Until I rededicated my life to Christ during that time, I was not attending church and not witnessing to others. How effective is a blind servant in accomplishing his master's purposes? A blind servant is just stumbling around in darkness and is not effective. That said, the Lord can use anyone at any time to achieve His purposes. How effective have you been? Only the Lord knows. How can I judge? I was a failure before; compared to that, I’m a whiz now, but I know that isn’t the case. There are many things I need to learn.

Q3. (Isaiah 42:6-7) What does it mean for God's people to be "a light to the nations"? When God brought the people out of Egypt and into the promised land, He intended that they would be His representatives to all the nations. Other peoples were to see the Israelites and want what they had spiritually. As His representatives to the other nations, they would show through their lives how to live in the will of God, how to worship Him. In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus used the same metaphor Isaiah used: “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” As believers, we are His witnesses regarding His death, resurrection, and ascension. When Jesus said, “send the laborers into the harvest” He meant us. We are to tell others about Jesus and His saving grace. We are to demonstrate the resurrected life through our daily attitudes and activities. In what ways are you "letting your light shine"? I witness to others of God’s grace toward me; encourage those who are not yet committed to the Lord; show love to all people I encounter each day, helping others whenever I can–whether financially or physically. I try, with the Lord’s help, to live each day in the fruit of the Spirit. How well do you represent God's covenant in your everyday life? I need improvement. I tend to be a bit shy, so there are times when I miss opportunities because I didn’t speak or act soon enough. In showing love and kindness and compassion and gentleness and patience to others, I am stronger.

Q2. (Isaiah 42:1-4) What do these verses teach us about the Messiah? What will characterize him and his actions? What does it tell us about his quest for justice? About his tenderness? He comes as the Chosen One of God, “whom I uphold”, “in whom I delight”, and “I will put my Spirit on him.” Divine love and awesome power! He comes to bring justice to all the earth. These verses are all about justice. He WILL bring justice to the nations, but He doesn’t come to “break” or “snuff out” the meek or frail or weak. Instead, His actions are truly representative of the fruit of the Spirit. While He is gentle and loving, He will not be turned aside from His goal, nor will He grow weary before He completes His mission. If this describes our Messiah, what difference should it make in our lives, values, and demeanor? As His disciples, we are to continue what He began. We are to walk with Him in such a way that those who see us, see Him in us. We are to be gentle and compassionate, loving and peaceful, advocates for justice. We are to display the fruit of the Spirit in our daily walk.

Q1. (Isaiah 40) What does Isaiah 40 teach us about the necessity of preparing ourselves for the Lord (verses 3-5)? Our preparation time is every day. We need to clear away anything that is separating us from the Lord. Take those aspects of our lives that are not right and seek the Lord’s help; repent of our sins and change our ways. When a king traveled in those days, others went ahead of him and his entourage clearing away any impediments so that his travel would be uninterrupted and as easy as possible. We’re to clear away the impediments in our own lives so that we are ready for the King, the Lord of lords when He comes. In Matthew Henry’s concise commentary, he says, “... may the Lord prepare our hearts by the teaching of his word and the convictions of his Spirit, that high and proud thoughts may be brought down, good desires planted, crooked and rugged tempers made straight and softened, and every hindrance removed, that we may be ready for his will on earth, and prepared for his heavenly kingdom. ” About God's tenderness and compassion (verse 11)? He is a loving, caring God who watches over us as diligently and constantly as a shepherd watches over his flock of sheep, because we are His and He loves us. He is especially caring of the young and the weak; He meets us where we are and carries us when we can't walk. He guides us on safe paths, comforts us, heals us, calms our fears, provides food and water and shelter, and protects us from predators. He is our strength and our shield. And He calls us to follow Him. Sheep without a shepherd will die. It isn’t just that they’re helpless against a predator; they’re helpless in many of the mundane things of life. They need protection from accidents, from thorns and cuts, from bugs. A sheep on its back will kick its legs until help comes or it dies. The shepherd has to be constantly alert. They’re easily frightened, in need of care and constant attention. But they know their shepherd’s voice and they follow him immediately when he calls. About God's glory vs. the glory of nations (verses 15-17)? There is no comparison. The nations are specks beside the Lord. The nations are the proverbial drop in the bucket, as nothing. Why do we get so enamored by the glitter and glory of the world? What pieces are we missing (verses 15-17, 21-26)? We see with our eyes and judge by outer appearances. We’re caught up in the latest gadgets and fads, trying to keep up with what our friends or neighbors have, trying to be them. We’re empty and wanting, but not understanding why or what. We buy houses and automobiles we can’t afford, and max out credit cards for luxuries meant to impress others with our ‘worth.’ Money, prestige, pride. We mistake the fake for the real in life and unless we turn from worldly things, we are caught on a treadmill of always needing something more than what we have. What is missing is the Lord. When we have the Lord, we understand that those things that we chased after are meaningless. The worth we were seeking comes not from the world but from a loving God. According to verse 31, how can we draw strength from the Lord? We draw strength from the Lord through faith and trust, waiting on the Lord in hope. As we trust in Him to provide the strength we need, He will strengthen us. Philippians 4:13 “I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Trust in God for all we need. Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace, for it is trusting in You.” The word "renew" means "to exchange," as taking off old clothing and putting on new. We exchange our weakness for His power (2 Cor. 12:1-10)

Q4. (Isaiah 38:3) What is the basis on which Hezekiah asks for healing? "Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." (38:3) He cried out to the Lord to remember his faithfulness, his devotion, and that he tried to please the Lord in his daily walk before Him. Under the Old Covenant, God's blessings flowed to a man who was obedient. Those who were obedient were assured of long life. Why is personal righteousness and holiness important in getting your prayers answered? The closer our walk is with the Lord, the more our prayers line up with His will. The answer to a prayer is not based on works, but a person who is righteous and endeavors to live a life of obedience is pleasing to God and He will respond to our prayers eagerly when we call on Him. Our Father is eager to hear our concerns, eager to answer our prayers, but we have to keep in mind that He searches the heart and mind and knows our thoughts too. "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16b). How can unrighteousness prevent answered prayer if all gifts from God are by grace anyway? God hears our pleas for help, even when we are disobedient. That is, an unrighteous person crying out for help in a time of emergency will undoubtedly be heard. But when we are disobedient, God may delay an answer to our prayers, not to punish but to instruct. He wants a close fellowship with each of us and He will work in us to perfect us. He doesn’t wait for perfection; He meets us where we are in our walk with Him, but He is working in us to bring us closer and closer to holiness and to Himself. He rewards faithfulness and a willing devotion like that of Hezekiah; He will not reward sin.

Q2. (Isaiah 37:16) How do the first two sentences of Hezekiah's prayer (verse 16) correspond to the first sentence of the Lord's Prayer? Both prayers begin with praise and worship of God as our sovereign Creator of all; our heavenly Father. Hezekiah points out that Sennacherib has insulted the living God, the only God. The Lord’s Prayer calls on us to hallow, or bless and respect, His name. How are they important to faith? To have true faith in the Lord, we have to know who He is and that He can do what He has promised. When we begin our prayers with praise and worship, we draw closer to God and our faith is strengthened as we recognize and praise Him for all that He is. How are they important to God answering the prayer? “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6 Our Father’s first desire is to draw closer to us in fellowship. He wants us to know Him and love Him as He knows and loves us. Hezekiah had a close relationship with the Lord and when he prayed, his praise and worship showed his understanding of who God is.

Q1. (Isaiah 37:14) What is the significance of Hezekiah spreading out the enemy's message before the Lord? Hezekiah turned the problem over to the Lord. And his prayer for deliverance acknowledged the true worth of victory over the enemy–glorifying the name of God. The Lord already knew what Sennacherib wrote in that blasphemous message; He didn’t need to see it. He wanted Hezekiah’s acknowledgment of His sovereignty-- that the battle was Lord’s to fight, that victory was the Lord’s. When Hezekiah laid that message before the Lord, he humbled himself and worshiped the Lord as the One true God who has dominion over all things. He acknowledged the Lord’s throne above any earthly throne, and he prayed for deliverance from the hand of the enemy, surrendering to the will of the Lord. What is the underlying principle illustrated here? The underlying principal is that the battle is the Lord’s, and we are to let Him fight it. He leads, we obey. Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” How can we apply this principle to our own lives? Acknowledge that our battles are the Lord’s too. So we should take our concerns to the Lord, in believing prayer, and leave them there. When you acknowledge that the battle is the Lord’s, you must acknowledge your own humility at the same time. He is the commander. The power to overcome our difficulties comes from the Lord. I have yet to find a Scripture verse that says we only bring the big things to the Lord. He wants to hear everything! “In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (Phil. 4:6 ASV) When we bring our problems before the Lord, we acknowledge Him as Lord of our lives, the sovereign Lord. Take your problems to Him. Take your victories to the Lord and thank and praise Him for His grace, for all our victories are His. What happens when we don't apply this principle? We get discouraged. We take on the weight of a battle we can’t fight on our own, and we struggle with it until we are defeated, or we quit.

Q6. (Isaiah 35:1-10) How do you think these verses brought hope to their first readers? There is a time of joy ahead. A time of restoration, of singing; a time of plenty and protection such as they hadn’t really experienced since they first turned from the LORD. What is promised here? Abundance in the land They will see the glory of the LORD, His splendor. Joy and gladness Vengeance against their enemies Healing of their infirmities--the blind will see, the deaf will hear, the lame will walk, the mute will sing Guidance so that no one will go astray Protection from everything unclean, from predators Why do you think Isaiah relies on heavily figurative language to communicate these promises? He’s describing a spiritual highway to them in word pictures, using illustrations familiar to them, to encourage and strengthen them--desert blossoms when there is a sudden rain, and precious live-giving water, and the dangers of lions and highways. But there is also a sense of dual prophecies...return from captivity and return of the King of kings. How does he describe the "highway of holiness"? ( The Way of Holiness, the Holy Way, the Holy Road, the Highway of Holiness) It is a safe path with no dangers from without and on the highway are only the redeemed of God. There are no turnings, and even the simple can safely travel it without losing their way. There is joy and singing along the way. Who will walk on it? Who won't? The redeemed will walk on the Holy highway, but those who are not redeemed, those who are unclean, will not walk on it. What does it mean to be redeemed and ransomed? We are redeemed by Jesus, our kinsman-redeemer, who paid the ultimate price and liberated us from sin and death by His sacrifice on the cross. .

Q5. (Isaiah 33:14-16) How does ethical behavior display love for God? How does it display love for man? As we display righteousness, and justice, and peace in our characters through the presence of Christ in our lives, we live in love. We exhibit love for God and love toward each other. “Love they neighbor as thyself.” How does the corruption of taking bribes destroy righteous government? Your rights have been sold to another. And your government has taken on a master. Righteousness is justice for all. But where government is corrupt, there is favoritism. Those who pay the bribes control the government and become the masters of those without influence. . In a Charles Stanley devotional, he gave an example of the fruit of your actions. If you plant apple seeds, you expect to grow apple trees and you can reasonably expect harvests of apples. You don’t expect to receive oranges from those trees. Likewise, when you plant seeds of evil, the produce of your efforts will not be justice and peace, but evil. From those seeds of bribery, trees of destructive behavior will grow.

Q3. (Isaiah 30:15-29) Why does God long to show us grace (30:18)? He loves us. We are His creations. Each of us is unique and He loves each one of us. He longs for us to rest in Him, but while we stumble around in our own strength and turn left and right away from Him, He has compassion on us, “not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9) What does that say about God's character? He is patient, merciful, compassionate, loving, faithful, and just What prevents his grace? Unbelief and rebellion. These people turned away from God and instead trusted in Egypt. Getting them to listen and obey Him was like trying to herd cats. He longs for us to trust Him fully, to “let go and let God,” and He will bless us beyond anything we can imagine. Like the Judeans, however, we seek help from the world while paying lip service to the power of the Almighty. Have you ever experienced the kind of guidance Isaiah mentions in verse 21? Yes. Most recently when I chose the church congregation that I now attend: I prayed for His guidance and He directed my steps. In hindsight, I realize that He was turning me to that congregation for some time before I finally made the choice–drawing my eye to them every time we passed by. And since that time, my spiritual life has blossomed. What is necessary in us so that we can hear God's voice? "Be still and know that I am God." We cannot hear His voice while we’re babbling or thinking what we’re going to say when we start talking again.

Q4. (Isaiah 31:1) Why do we tend to seek help from every source except the Lord? The Lord gives us strength and protection when we trust in Him, but we have to make the first move. We first have to take that step of faith that demonstrates our confidence that He will act on our behalf and that whatever He decides for us is best. Intellectually we know that this is absolutely true, but . . .then the doubts come. What if there’s sin that I haven’t confessed, or someone I haven’t forgiven? What if I’ve misunderstood what He wants me to do? What if...??? Let a doubt enter your mind and the devil has a field day with your insecurities. So we turn to things that we know–worldly things. We also want to deal with the ‘small things’ ourselves. But the Lord tells us to bring all things to Him. The Lord’s chosen people turned toward Egypt time after time, though He told them they were NEVER to go back to Egypt or to turn to Egypt for help. Even Solomon, with all his wisdom, bought horses and chariots from Egypt in direct contravention of what God told him. Another example is King Asa. When the prophet Azariah came to Asa and told him that the LORD would be with them as long as they remained faithful to Him, Asa had all the idols removed from the land, etc. In 2 Chronicles 15:17b we are told that (though the high places were not removed) “nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.” The times that Asa grew up in were not times of peace with the LORD; they were worldly times. And there came a time later when Asa became very ill...“And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians. And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.” (2 Chronicles 16:12-13) 2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV) “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,” so what are we to take away from 2 Chronicles? Why are we told that in his disease Asa sought not to the LORD if it’s not to show us that our first move should always be to turn to the LORD? That's not to say that we don't take aspirin or go to the doctor or to a hospital when we're sick. There wouldn't be medicine and doctors and hospitals without Him. It does mean that we bring in the LORD first, whether it's a cry for help on the way to the ER or a time on our knees seeking His guidance. In what way is this similar to idolatry? We make idols of the things we think we need to survive and prosper–whether money or friends or government handouts, position, fame, family. We look for things to fill up our lives in those areas where we’re weak. Instead of first going to the Lord and asking Him to guide us, we go to the world and then ask the Lord to bless our choice, putting the Lord second. People haven't changed. Jesus recognized this tendency. What was the remedy he taught his disciples in Matthew 6:31-33? “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33 It is a promise, and He is a promise-keeping God. We are to work with our hands to earn a living, but not to amass wealth like the farmer who had such a good crop he decided to build extra barns to keep the bounty and then he could retire and have enough forever. His ‘forever’ turned out to end that very day. Instead, the Lord wants us to get on with the work of His kingdom. So work–yes. But make your focus His kingdom and don’t worry about what you’ll eat or wear or if you’ll be able to retire. He’ll guide you in all things..

Q2. (Isaiah 29:13) Have you ever seen a religious person go through all the religious motions, but whose heart is far from God? Yes. I am sorry to say that I have. How can we detect this in ourselves if it applies to us? If you’re just going through the motions, your fellowship with the Lord will be distant or non-existent. Your prayer life will be cold and you’ll ‘work’ at religion, getting your satisfaction from being seen to be religious and seeking praise for your works. One way to detect this is by noticing who you talk about when you talk about your faith: are you eager to talk about Jesus or more eager to talk about yourself? If your conversation is about what you do, how you serve, how much you give, how worthy you are, how much better you are than someone else, then you are, figuratively speaking, praying on the street corner to be seen. What is the remedy? Go to the Lord. Confess your sins and ask for His guidance. Spend time in prayer and in reading the Word of God. How can you tell if your practice of religion is merely following "rules taught by men"? If your practice is only rules taught by men, it will not line up with the word of God. The Bible is the book of knowledge for Christians. You will have no spark, no witness, no daily fellowship with the Lord. Your daily walk will be opposite to that of one who has the fruit of the Spirit–love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. When you use rules taught by men, you will be trying to live according to law rather than by the Spirit and you will fail. What is the danger of a rule-based faith? How does it differ from a love-based faith? A rule-based faith is mechanical. It is going through the motions, following the manual, worrying about getting all the details right, but there’s no heart in it. It is an intellectual exercise, looking down or out rather than up. It is living according to the law. A love-based faith is sitting at the feet of Christ. It is walking and talking with Him all day, aware of His presence. We act, not because we have to but because we want to, not because of a rule book but because of love. We are saved by grace through love that is totally unmerited. And we live, not by works but by faith.

Q1. (Isaiah 28) How are we humans able to justify and deceive ourselves so easily? We trust in ourselves rather than in Christ. We get our ‘answers’ from the world and give honor and glory to the pundits and the academicians. “Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” Psalm 1:1 Why do we hold onto lies that guide our lives? They’re comfortable; they don’t challenge us. The longer we believe the lies, the more entrenched they become in the fabric of our lives. We become hardened to the truth, blinded, and there are so many worldly validations around us that it becomes more and more difficult to discern right from wrong. Why do people stumble over Christ, the tested foundation stone, and his righteous standards? They are blinded by worldly things and cannot understand the mystery of Christ. So they stumble over what they hear and see. They don’t have a basis for trust. The chief priests and elders in Jerusalem were eager for the Messiah to come, but their idea of who would be their Messiah did not allow for a carpenter’s son who disputed with them. They held specific ideas of what the Kingdom would be and they couldn’t accept something contrary to what they wanted and had expected for their entire lives. Christ is a gift. A gift doesn’t unwrap itself; it isn’t ‘received’ if you put it on the shelf. I’m reminded of what someone said about the children who receive the Christmas Box gifts (through Samaritans Purse) each year. Some children will take the brightly wrapped gift and put it on a shelf and look at it. They marvel at how bright and pretty it is and enjoy looking at it. They never look inside, unless someone encourages them. How can we help people come to the truth? Witness to them: tell them what Jesus has done for you. Demonstrate the Spirit of Christ every day, represent Christ; help them understand what Jesus has already done for any person who believes in Him. As Christians, we are being observed. One of our Bible study group this morning related a story of a relative who, at work one day, smashed his thumb with a hammer. Without any sort of outcry, he went and got it bandaged. A co-worker later approached him, impressed by his forbearance, and said “I want what you have.” As a result of what he observed, the co-worker began to attend church and then gave his life to Jesus. He was watching! What he saw changed his life! Helping people doesn't have to be a mission trip to China. You don't have to be an evangelist. It can often be something you did or said without even thinking about it. We don't know what God will use. Just pray that today He will use you to influence someone for Christ. What is the alternative if they don't, according to Isaiah 28:21? The LORD will discipline them. They will be ‘threshed.’

Q6. (Isaiah 27:12-13) When Isaiah prophesies the gathering of all his people at the sound of a great trumpet call, to what New Testament event does this correspond? This corresponds to the end of the tribulation, and the establishment of the Kingdom. Matthew 24:29-35 (HCSB) 29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days: The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the celestial powers will be shaken. 30 “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth will mourn; and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

Q5. (Isaiah 26:19) Does this passage actually teach a bodily resurrection? Yes. “Your dead will live; their bodies will rise.” The 'body' that rises will be a physical body, just as Jesus's body was physical, but it will not be the body of flesh that died; it will be an incorruptible body. What does it teach us about resurrection? Verse 19 tells us that there will be bodily resurrection. It obviously refers to those who are the faithful, for they are told to “awake and sing.” The resurrection of those who are to face judgment will come later. Even as the dew causes new growth of life from the soil, so the Lord will bring forth new life to the faithful who have died. In 1 Corinthians 15:35-49, Paul says: 35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? What kind of body will they have when they come?” 36 Foolish one! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 And as for what you sow—you are not sowing the future body, but only a seed, perhaps of wheat or another grain. 38 But God gives it a body as He wants, and to each of the seeds its own body. 39 Not all flesh is the same flesh; there is one flesh for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. 40 There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is different from that of the earthly ones. 41 There is a splendor of the sun, another of the moon, and another of the stars; for star differs from star in splendor. 42 So it is with the resurrection of the dead: Sown in corruption, raised in incorruption; 43 sown in dishonor, raised in glory; sown in weakness, raised in power; 44 sown a natural body, raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.. . . 49 And just as we have borne the image of the man made of dust, we will also bear the image of the heavenly man. When will this resurrection take place, according to the New Testament? When the trumpet sounds and Christ returns.

Q4. (Isaiah 26:3-4) According to this verse, what is the key to perfect peace? The key to perfect peace is to trust in the Lord, to have a steadfast purpose or frame of mind with our thoughts fixed on the Lord, trusting totally in Him. Matthew Henry Commentary (concise) says about perfect peace: Thou wilt keep him in peace; in perfect peace, inward peace, outward peace, peace with God, peace of conscience, peace at all times, in all events. Several things that came to mind as I studied these verses. One is John 3:14-15 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” When Moses prayed for the deliverance of the people from poisonous snakes, the LORD told Moses to construct a bronze snake and attach it to a pole and place it where the people could see it. Anyone who looked up to that sign on the pole when they were bitten and trusted that their obedience to the LORD’s command through Moses would heal them would be saved. But if they did not look up to it, they would die. And in these verses, John has told us that we should look to Jesus; look to the One who was lifted up for us, for our salvation, and keep our thoughts on Him. Our trust and obedience and peace with the Lord threaten Satan and he attacks us at any weak point we have. There are many times when Satan tries to uses our past failures against us by whispering that we aren’t really forgiven, or attacking our faith in other ways. If he can shake our trust or diminish our witness for Jesus, he has succeeded. And if our trust is shaken, we become vulnerable to his lies. When this happens to me, I go to the cross where I am vividly reminded of all that He did for me. I tell the Lord what I'm feeling. I thank Him for taking away all my sins and giving me His righteousness, and I leave with Him the troubled thoughts and burdens. The second thing that came to mind as I studied these verses was something that our pastor said one Sunday morning. He held his hand in front of his face (almost touching his nose) and said “God is this close!” Can you know that God is that close and not think of Him, not love Him and trust Him? What happens when we get distracted from trusting in the Lord? Without trust we lose our peace; we lose our communion with God. We begin to doubt ourselves and sometimes even our beliefs. The blessings that come from complete trust and obedience are God-sized; what we get from trusting in ourselves and our own efforts is ultimate failure. “Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” (Psalm 1:1) Why is the Lord called the "Rock eternal"? He is our everlasting strength, our refuge and fortress, the Rock on which we stand. On our own we have no strength, but when we walk with the Lord and do His will, he provides the strength we need for any task. He never runs out of strength, nor does He ever stint in the giving of it when we ask Him. He never changes. He is faithful. “He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber.” (Psalm 121:3)