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Q3. (Isaiah 25:7) Why does the promise that "he will swallow up death forever" provide such comfort to us when we grieve the death of loved ones? If the loved ones are saved, we are comforted because they will rise again to eternal life. Every tear will be wiped away. There will be no sorrow, no pain. They will have joy and peace and love and be face to face with the Lord. When we contemplate our own death? What will we experience instead of death when Christ comes? Psalm 23:4-6 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. John 14:1-3 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."

Q2. (Isaiah 25:6-8) Obviously this "feast of rich food for all peoples" is a symbol of something more than just good food. What does this theme represent in Isaiah and the New Testament? For the Old Testament Jews, the feast represents the coming of the promised Kingdom Age when the Messiah will reign over Israel and the Gentiles will come to Zion to worship. In the New Testament, this is the wedding feast. What does it promise about the Last Days? Rev 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away.

Q1. (Isaiah 24) What is the reason that Yahweh will devastate the earth (24:5-6)? The devastation will come because of sin and disobedience. The everlasting covenant is to obey the LORD. God made man an absolute sovereign in one realm, that of his will, his power of choice. And since that time when Adam bit into the forbidden fruit, man has been making the wrong choices more often than not, and God has been working to lead His creation back to Him. But throughout the world, sin has been magnified to a point that is beyond belief. Today, we’re worse than Sodom and Gomorrah. We need to pray daily for our nation(s) for a return to obedience, a return to God! Why do we feel so threatened by this kind of prophecy? We’re told to “fear not,” but the magnitude of the events prophesied is so overwhelming that we cannot absorb it with our limited wisdom. We know that we are aliens and travelers on earth, and our spiritual focus is on heavenly things, where we belong. Yet, we are a part of the neighborhood too, the city, the state, the nation where we live. Utter destruction of New York City? Washington? The nation! Earthquakes, tidal waves, fires, tornadoes, wars, exploding stars, meteors striking earth. We know that believers are saved: He said it, I believe it, and that’s that! But though we have faith and hope through Jesus, what of the people around us? What of the ones we love who aren’t saved? Every time I pray “Thy kingdom come,” my heart is in my mouth for those I know who are not yet saved. And consequently, for myself, I have to ask is there something more I should be doing? Why is this kind of prophecy important to forming faithful disciples who "fear the Lord"? There is no tomorrow unless God wills it. We like to think that we have plenty of time. We like to think of our loving Father and peace and joy and loving our neighbors. We take to heart Scripture like Philippians 4:8 "Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable--if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise--dwell on these things." Without an understanding of the end times, we are not always energized to obey RIGHT NOW. We need to understand the magnitude of His power, the bite of His purity, and the steel in His purpose. Then, while we might stop to smell the roses, we will keep our eyes open. In what way does the glitter and glory of man (1 John 2:15-17) contradict this kind of prophecy? The glitter and glory of man is a delusion where we expect that what is will continue to be, and what we want is what we deserve. Those who rely on worldly things, who have no time for God, do not believe that destruction will come, just as those who do not believe in God do not believe that man is an eternal being. They never make the choice to be saved because they don’t believe it’s possible to be ‘lost.’ You live, you die. The End. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Judah was faulted for making necessary military preparations in the face of the Assyrian armies because they did not humble themselves before God and they did not rely on God for their protection. They did not seek God. Instead of putting on sackcloth and weeping and crying for mercy and deliverance from God, they celebrated on their rooftops while they relied on their own strength and wisdom to build up their supposed defenses. "(If ) My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chron 7:14 They should have humbled themselves before God. Shebna, who was second in command to the king, was busy enriching himself and building himself a grand tomb. He was too busy looking after himself and his legacy to actually worry about an attack. Have I ever been guilty of selfishness instead of doing my duty to Christ? Yes. Every time I make my own plans instead of looking to Him for direction, or every time I purchase something that is a “want” instead of a “need” without looking to Him for His wishes, I am guilty of selfishness. Do I look to Him for everything? Do I obey Him immediately? Do I exercise my own will? We are selfish creatures, and in ways large and small we are guilty of selfishness toward Christ. If He is not truly Lord of our lives then we show selfishness toward our Lord who gave His life that we might have life and have it in abundance.

God commanded Isaiah to go naked for three years to be a constant, visible reminder of the fate of Egypt and Cush (Ethiopia) and any of their allies if they fought Assyria. So for three years Isaiah dressed like a prisoner of war as a warning to the people that those who make Egypt their hope will be dismayed and shamed when the Assyrians lead the captives out naked and barefoot, with bared buttocks. In the beginning, Judah heeded the warning and they were not attacked by Assyria, but by the time the prophecy was fulfilled, Judah had given in and as a result was attacked. If I were Isaiah, would I obey God? Could I shame myself publicly for three years? I am assured that when God asks us to do something, He always gives us the strength to do it. That said, I quake at the thought. To do what Isaiah did, I’d be on my knees before God pleading for strength moment by moment, but only after I’d offered my insufficiency for the task and perhaps suggested others who were better suited. If that sounds weak, consider exactly what Isaiah did! Would you dress, or undress, as Isaiah did and go to work? to a restaurant? to the grocery store? go for a walk in the park? Would you even be allowed to enter any or all of those places? He couldn’t be an example if he hid inside his home 24/7. He was out there in public. I pray to God that if He wants me to emulate Isaiah, He would not let my faith fail me.

The king of Babylon was filled with arrogance and declared that he would exalt himself above the gods. An indication that these verses could refer not only to the king of Babylon but also to Satan is in Isaiah 14:12 where it says “Shining morning star, how you have fallen from the heavens!” The name Lucifer means “morning star” and is an indication of how Satan tries to imitate Jesus who is “the Bright Morning Star.” (Rev. 22:16 HCSB) In both the KJV and NKJV translations of verse 12, "shining morning star" is given as "O Lucifer" Have I ever exalted my opinion and will over God’s will and God’s word? Yes, I have done so every time I’ve sinned. Psalm 51:4 (NIV) 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. My rebellion was through ignorance and worldliness and a failure to fear God. Satan’s rebellion was against God in the full, experiential knowledge of God and in the belief that he could actually be equal, in heaven, to God.. What is the best way to humble oneself? Confess your hopelessness in your sinful nature and your poverty without His saving grace, pray for His grace and His will to be done, praise and thank Him for his mercy, and make Him Lord of your life. In 2 Chronicles, the LORD declares "If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place.…” 2 Chronicles 7:13-15

Q7. (Isaiah 11:10-16) What does it mean that "the nations" will rally to the Messiah when he appears? Gentile believers in all nations will rally to Him. “They will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. He will send out the angels and gather His elect...” Who are these "nations"? The nations are the Gentiles. Who else will be "gathered" at this time? The Jewish remnant of Judah and Israel will be gathered from the four corners of the earth. How does this prophecy relate to Jesus' and Paul's teaching about the Rapture (Mark 13:26-27; 2 Thessalonians 2:1)? On the day of the Rapture, we will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory and He will send out the angels and gather His elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky. When will this prophecy be fulfilled? When Jesus comes again. We don't know the day or time, so be ready.

Q6. (Isaiah 11:6-9) The passage speaks in figurative language. What kind of peace does it describe? How far will this peace extend? According to Isaiah 11:9b, why will there be peace? What does "the knowledge of the Lord" mean? How widespread will this "knowledge" be? The peace described here is the peace that existed in the Garden of Eden before sin entered in. It will cover the earth. There will be peace because of the knowledge of the Lord, a knowledge that is experienced in a personal relationship with the Lord such as Adam and Eve had with the Father before they sinned. All creation has been groaning because of sin. Now “the land will be full of the knowledge of the Lord.”

Q5. (Isaiah 11:1-5) Who was Jesse? Jesse was the father of King David. How does his name indicate that this passage speaks of the Messiah? Isaiah 11:1 references “a shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit,” and again in v 10 “On that day the root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples...” And in Revelation 22:16 “I am the Root and the Offspring of David and the bright Morning Star.” What attributes will he have due to the Spirit of God upon him? His wisdom amazes and awes far beyond the wisdom that was given to Solomon; He possesses discernment, understanding; His counsel is perfect and He requires no outside advisors; His power is the power of a true Sovereign to bring about that which He determines to do; He is all seeing; and He has joyful reverence for the LORD. What do we learn about this Messiah from verses 4-5? Who seem to be the victims of injustice and oppression here? When the Messiah comes, what will happen to all who involve themselves in injustice? He is righteous and just and will judge the poor and the oppressed fairly. Those who are the oppressors and the unfair judges will be struck down.

Q4. (Isaiah 10:1-2) Why do we humans tend to pass laws that oppress the weak and poor? A failure to understand the will of God, or to care. Man is flawed, corrupt, and it is only when we obey the will of the Lord that our actions follow our words. In this country, we tend to point to others and say “they’re the corrupt ones” and a loud, vicious, slanderous battle ensues that divides and conquers, with the victor being Evil. What can we as Christians do to prevent this? Prayer is our first line of defense: Prayer for those who are suffering oppression, for those who lead the nation, for those who uphold justice, for those who devote their lives to helping others. And we can support programs that help the weak and poor, with our hands, with our voices, and with our finances. What can we do to help the poor and weak in our communities? Again, pray first and follow the leading of the Lord. You can support the organizations that work with them, that already have established infrastructure. Volunteer your time, and support them with your money. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.

Q3. (Isaiah 9:6-7) What in the text convinces us that the Child/Son is the Messiah himself? Everything. Though the reference to a child being given might well point to Isaiah’s son, it certainly points to the Son of God also. The government will be on His shoulders (see Isa 22:22). And then there are the Names of the Lord–Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Then in verse 7 ... His dominion will be vast...the prosperity will never end; He will reign on the throne of David...forever. What do you learn about the Messiah from the four word pairs describing him? His wisdom is beyond our comprehension; He is God; Father; the source of Peace. Which of these saving attributes do you need most in your life right now? My first response to this question would be: How can I possibly select one attribute of the Lord for my current need? In the spirit of the question, however, I choose Wonderful Counselor. My walk with the Lord, at this point, is trying to live in a deep-water fellowship with Him. The experience Peter had of walking on water (until he looked away from Jesus) and the exhilaration of that total dependence has always captured my heart. Then last year a brother in my church told us about a dream he had that too many church members were living, and dying, in water too shallow to sustain them. I felt I was one of those people. So I told the Lord I wanted that total dependence, I wanted to ‘walk on water’ and, after some time, He said “Come.” I have no idea where He will lead me; I’m taking it one day at a time, and loving it.

Q2. (Isaiah 8:14-15) In what sense is Yahweh (and his Messiah Jesus) a "stumbling stone" and "a trap and a snare"? The LORD (and His Messiah, Jesus) are a stumbling stone when people do not believe or trust in the LORD and they are shut out of a relationship with Him as a result. They become increasingly hardened to His will, spiritually blind and deaf. His Word becomes foolishness to them. Their rebellion leads them into ever deepening sin and eventual destruction as they rely on their own wisdom and their own work. In what way are people broken in this stumbling? Their lives are separated from the fellowship and grace of God. They reject what is good and follow what is sinful. Ahaz rejected God’s offer of a sign, and instead chose his own plans. He turned his back on God and opened his life to fear and deceit and bondage. Why do you think people stumble over a God who is almighty and righteous and must be obeyed? We think we have the answers and we don’t want to give control of our lives–either work or pleasure–to someone who might require us to do something we don’t want to do. We see a God of justice and might and retribution, a God of fire and plagues and war. What we often fail to see is the God of love and light and grace and truth and faithfulness. If we fail to understand all that Jesus did for us, then we go through life trying to cure ourselves of sin and failing, just as the Israelites failed to keep the Mosaic Law.

Q1. (Isaiah 7-8) What was the gist of Isaiah's prophetic instruction to Ahaz? Isaiah told Ahaz to be strong and courageous (do not fear and do not be a coward) because the One who was with him was stronger than those who were against him: “It will not happen; it will not occur.” How many times do we respond just as Ahaz responded here? He trembled from the threat from Syria and the northern kingdom of Israel. Instead of trusting in God, trusting in His promise, he decided to rely on his own wisdom. Why do you think Ahaz chose to disregard it? While Ahaz heard with his ears that the LORD could and would protect Judah, his faith was not strong enough to rest on that knowledge. It takes courage to do nothing in the face of a significant threat and to rely on an invisible God. He may have welcomed Isaiah’s proclamation that the defeat of Judah would not happen; he just didn’t believe it. What did Ahaz do instead? Ahaz made an alliance with Assyria, sending all the gold and silver there was in the temple and in the palace and announcing that they would be subject to Assyria if Assyria would defend them now. In the HCSB translation, Ahaz said “I am your servant and your son” to the king of Assyria. But they were never going to be ‘sons’ to the Assyrians. And when God, through Isaiah, said to ask for a sign, Ahaz blustered and claimed that he would not ‘test God.’ What was the consequence of this disobedience? The LORD would eventually send Assyria against Judah as a ‘razor.’ Assyria would roll over Judah and right up to the gates of Jerusalem. Why do we sometimes seem to think that we're smarter than God? It’s worldly blindness . We see the prosperity of others around us, perhaps our own prosperity, people who have gained reputations for brilliance through their occupations and their money and we make heros of them. Or we hear about wars and violence and terrible storms and we become afraid of what is going to happen to us. We know that God promises us blessings and strength and guidance, and that’s wonderful, but just for now, just this time, I’m going to (do, buy, follow, try) something else. I don’t see it so much as “thinking” we’re smarter than God, but that we’re not thinking OF God. Why is it sometimes so hard to do what God tells us to do? It is difficult for us to do what God tells us, to take that step of faith, when our love for God is weak, when we live by sight and not by faith. A weak love leaves us uncertain, unable to trust fully in a God we can’t see, so we turn to what is familiar to us. We are like waves of the sea, unsteady in all our ways. Maybe it’s fear of what God is going to ask, or where He’s going to send you, or how your family or friends will react. We have our catalog of things we can’t do, or don’t like to do, or don’t want to do. Sometimes it’s doubt that what we ‘heard’ was from God and not just an overactive imagination. The more we resist, the easier it becomes.

Q6. (Isaiah 6:9-10) How do you make sense out of these verses? It is not the Lord’s intent to prevent His people from turning from their sins. He knows that Isaiah’s message to them will cause most if not all to become even more set in their ways, but He’s going to give them the message anyway. Is Isaiah called to an impossible mission? It will appear a failure to Isaiah. But we often will not know either the purpose or the result when we answer God’s call. I believe it was S. D. Gordon who wrote about the weavers of Gobelin tapestries who worked from the back of the piece and never saw the pattern they were weaving. They worked from the master weaver’s plan. Why will Isaiah’s prophecy make the task worse? Those who have turned away–blind eyes, deaf ears, hard heart–will grow harder, more settled in their opposition. Isaiah has been given a specific message. He cannot, like Paul in 1 Corinthians, change the delivery to match the audience “I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some.’ (1 Corinthians 9:22b). In which parable did Jesus quote this passage (Matthew 13:1-23)? Jesus told the parable of the Sower. And when He finished, the disciples asked Him “Why do You speak to them in parables? He answered them,’Because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know, but it has not been given to them.’” (Mt 13:10-11) In Jesus’ parable, is there any frustration in preaching the gospel? Yes. His people are just as stiff-necked now as they were in Isaiah’s time. He knows that many won’t respond. How did He feel about that? "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Mt. 23:37) Is there any hope? Not likely.

Q5. (Isaiah 6:5-8) What is Isaiah’s reaction to the vision? Isaiah trembled with fear. No man is allowed to see God and live (Exodus 33:20) And in the awsome presence of the Lord, he recognized the depth of his sinfulness. “Woe is me, for I am ruined.” How does God deal with Isaiah’s fear? God has compassion. He provided cleansing for Isaiah. With his confession of unclean lips made and his sin cleansed by the seraphim’s action, there is no longer any barrier between Isaiah and God. What question follows Isaiah’s cleansing? “Who should I send? Who will go for Us?” What is Isaiah’s response to God’s question? Isaiah was ready. He accepted the call and responded “Here I am. Send me.” What is your response when you sense God calling you? I’m willing. Too often in the past my response was hesitant and I missed opportunities. I’m a better listener now, though still not as quick to respond as I should.

Though Isaiah was dedicated to God, the task that would be his would test his strength and heart. The people were sinners, but they were still Isaiah’s people. Just as the Apostle Paul was shown things in heaven that he could never speak about, Isaiah was commissioned in an emphatic way. There could be no room for doubt in Isaiah’s mind, no wavering in his belief, when he gave the word of God to the people. In what ways does this vision reveal God’s majesty? It shows Him high and lifted up, and His presence fills everything. The seraphim give Him honor and glory as they continually proclaim His holiness from one to another, while their eyes are covered to protect them from the awesome, blinding glory of the LORD. As they call, the foundations of the doorways shake and the temple is filled with smoke. When the LORD visited Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the wilderness, and again when the temple in Jerusalem was completed and the LORD entered the Holy of Holies, the place was filled with smoke too. What do we learn about Yahweh from the seraphim’s chant? A three-fold repetition was a sign of great weight and the seraphim’s chant emphasized Yahweh’s purity, His ultimate holiness above everything. His glory is limitless. His presence, everywhere. His power, almighty.

Q3. (Isaiah 5:1-6) What was the vintner’s vision for the vineyard? He planted a beautiful vineyard designed to yield good grapes, a bountiful harvest. What did he do to accomplish his vision? He chose a fertile hill, tilled the soil, removed the stones, and planted the finest vines. Then He built a tower in the middle of the vineyard as a watchtower and a shelter in time of need. And He excavated a wine press. What happened when the crop came in? When the crop came in, the grapes were bad. The were sour and smelled awful. What did the vintner say he would do with the vineyard? He said that He would destroy it. He would make it a desolation. He would remove the hedge, a thick thorn and bush protection against animals; He would tear down the wall, usually a stone enclosure to protect against destruction from others. No vines would be pruned, no weeds mown, no rain would fall. The animals would devour the fruit and the vineyard would be trampled under foot. What does this parable mean? The parable means that the Lord’s patience was gone. He had given His chosen people the best land–a land of milk and honey. He drove out the people who lived there–the stones–and gave the land to His people for their own. He was their strong tower, their protection from every evil. But where He planned for them to be examples of His glory and His love, they rejected Him and instead turned to the idols of other nations. They were as bad as, or even worse than, the pagan nations around them, for they knew the One True God and rejected Him. They continued to give sacrifices in the temple, but it was only ritual to them and not something from their hearts. What else could He have done for them? So He strengthened the enemy and they destroyed the vineyard and took the people into captivity. For us, today, we have only to look around at what is happening in the world. We were once a nation 'Under God' and a significant portion of our citizens were believers or, if not believers they were at least respectful of God. But the Lord is slow to mete out justice for our sins and we keep pushing the limits, keep testing God (an earlier post by Ivory details many of our sins, though not all). No punishment? Well, then, that must be sort of okay. What about this, then,..? We have come to believe that He isn't watching us, or working justice out in the world even now. In our pride, our arrogance, we consider ourselves the good guys in the world and wrongly believe that the good guys will never be sold into slavery to those other people, those sinners. But just as the Lord sent the Babylonians to destroy Jerusalem and take the people into slavery (and they were a barbaric people who did evil things to their captives), He is working even now to tear down our hedges and our walls, to trample our vineyard and to leave the watchtower unoccupied. He is rapidly losing patience with us and if we do not change the direction in which we're headed, we're going to be a desolation too. (I give considerable credit for this modern interpretation to a description I read today from Habakkuk in J Vernon McGee's Thru the Bible Series). It struck a chord with me for sure!

God’s plan includes all the nations and all the people of the earth. His plan always included the Gentiles. When the Jews turned away from God and turned to idolatry, they were no longer fit to be the example of God’s Kingdom to the Gentiles as God intended. But God's plans are never thwarted. He made a way for the Gentiles. The Jews will return to Him from their idol worship. These are His chosen, covenant people; He will not forsake their remnant. About spiritual hunger? A revival! From all the nations, people will turn away from their idols and come to Zion to worship the One True God and to learn. Spiritual hunger will be strong, prevailing, energizing the people. There will be real peace; peace between people, between nations, between predators and prey of all kinds. It will be a literal kingdom of righteousness and peace.

The people of Judah didn't understand who God is. They had forgotten all that He had done for them in the past and they no longer feared him. They did not trust Him. He was no longer Almighty in their eyes, and they turned to the visible things in their lives as a sort of touchstone. Their worship was empty words. When we lose sight of God, we pile things around us to define who we think we are, to give us worth in the eyes of others. And when that doesn't work, we reach out for the gods of others. God accuses His people of having blood on their hands, of impurity, of doing evil, of injustice, oppression, and failing to defend the rights of the fatherless and widows.. They have chosen death and adversity over life and prosperity. They have chosen sin over purity, bad over good, idols over God, curse and death over life and blessings. But even in their rebellion, God longed for their return to Him. If only they would willingly obey Him, He would wash away their sins and bless them once again with His favor.