Walk in Light of the Lord (Isaiah 2:5)

What does it mean to walk (live) in the light of the Lord (Isa 2:5)?

1. Be honest with yourself. This happens when we see ourselves in light of who God is (Isa 6:3; Lk 5:8).
2. Live a holy life because God is holy (Isa 1:4; 6:3, 5; Gen 17:1; Eph 1:4; Lev 11:44; 1 Pet 1:16).
3. Live by the word of God (Ps 119:105, 97; 1:2; Jn 6:63).
4. Live with no hint of darkness (Jn 8:12; 1 Jn 1:5).
5. Trust God "alone" (Isa 2:11, 17) not man (Isa 2:22).

The Removal of Proud Women (Isaiah 3:16-4:1)

To deal with the pride of man expressing itself in self-exaltation (2:6-4:1), God will humble:

1. God's people (2:6-11)--for their idolatry (magic, money and military might).
2. All people (2:12-22)--resulting in humiliation, disillusionment and fear.
3. Men--for their oppressive leadership (3:1-15). Removal of Judah's arrogant male leaders.
4. Women--for their vanity leading to flirtatiousness, ostentation, shame and insecurity (3:16-4:1). God's judgement would be the removal of Judah's proud women.

The Removal of Male Leaders (Isaiah 3:1-15)

Outline:

1. The problem: Childish, Immature Leaders (3:1-7).
2. The judgment: According To Your Deeds (3:8-11).
3. The indictment: Oppressing Others (3:12-15).

Leadership failure. 3:1-15 addresses the questionable character of leaders. It is closely related to 2:6-22 for Isaiah is addressing the people of "Judah and Jerusalem" (Isa 2:1). The leaders were proud. They trusted in their human accomplishments and in human security. Isaiah 2 emphasizes the demise of mankind in general, but Isaiah 3 considers the specific removal of the leaders (3:1-15) as well as the proud and vain women (3:16-4:1).

Interchange and Contrast in Isaiah 1-6

1:1-31	2:1-5	2:6-4:1	4:2-6	5:1-30	6:1-13
Negative	Positive	Negative	Positive	Negative	Positive
Judgment	Hope	Judgment	Hope	Judgment	Hope

What Isaiah 1 Challengers People To Do

Three sermons on Isaiah chapter 1:

1. Let's Talk 1: How Stupid Can You Be (1:1-9). A message of Sin.
2. Let's Talk 2: Stop Your Church Activities (1:10-20). A message of Repentance.
3. Let's Talk 3: Care For Whom I Care For  (1:21-31). A message of Redemption.

The message of Isaiah 1 serves as an introduction to the rest of Isaiah. The message of Isaiah challenges people to decide which of the two groups they wish to belong to:

1. the rebellious people who forsake God.
2. the redeemed people who trust God.

Isaiah's goal is to open the eyes and heart of both groups to:

1. God's view of sinners who continue in iniquity and rebel against God (Isa 1:2-8, 11-15, 21-23);
2. God's offer of grace (Isa 1:18);
3. the seriousness of God's judgment on those who rebel/do not worship God (Isa 1:20, 28-31).

Random Questions on the Life of Abraham (Genesis 12-22)

Some questions for pondering and reflection:

1. What is your understanding of God calling a person (Gen 12:1)? What do you think is the affect on the life of one who has heard God's calling (Gen 12:2-4; Isa 6:5)?
2. What does the account of Abram and Lot in Genesis 13 teach about what can and cannot fulfill us human beings (Gen 13:10)?
3. How does one become right with God (Gen 15:6)? Is your righteousness credited or earned? What was God teaching Abraham in Genesis 15:9-16 (Jer 34:18-20)?
4. What is the problem with trying to have a child through Hagar instead of through Sarah (Gen 16:2; Gal 4:23)? Do you have a sense that God sees you (Gen 16:13; 1 Cor 8:3; Gal 4:9)?
5. How does God expect his chosen person to live (Gen 17:1; Lev 11:44, 45; 19:2; 1 Pet 1:15-16)?

The Ideal and the Actual (Isaiah 2-4): Bible Study Questions

Isaiah 2:1-4:6 (2:1-5; 2:6-4:1; 4:2-6); 2:2a, 5, 22

 

"In the last days the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as the highest of the mountains..." "let us walk in the light of the Lord" "Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem?" (Isa 2:2, 5, 22, NIV). [Exaltation of God and Humbling of the Proud; Present Judgment and Coming Glory; Hope in the Midst of Judgment.]

 

Theme: Despite our dark present reality (Isa 1:4-8, 10-15, 21-23), our hope is in Isaiah glorious vision of God's coming kingdom. Therefore, live in light of this (2:5). Set your heart on God. Live in the power of this future hope.

1. The Ideal: Our Glorious Future Hope (2:1-5). [The opening positive part has 5 verses.] Promises of God's future kingdom produce trust.
1. What God does: God establishes his rightful rule (2-3) and judges the nations (4).
2. How we respond: We walk in his paths and in the light of the Lord (3b, 5).
2. The Actual: Our Dark Present Reality (2:6-4:1). [The middle negative part has 44 verses!]  The removal of pride and the exaltation of God (2:6-22). The recurring common theme is human exaltation (pride, arrogance and self-sufficiency). This results in God's judgment on:
1. God's people (6-11). Idolatry (magic, money and military might).
2. All people (12-22). Humiliation, disillusionment and fear.
3. Men. Oppressive leadership (3:1-15). Removal of Judah's arrogant male leaders.
4. Women. Vanity leading to flirtatiousness, ostentation, shame and insecurity (3:16-4:1). Removal of Judah's proud women.
3. The New: Our Glorious Future Hope (4:2-6). The Branch (What is yet to be). [The closing positive part has 5 verses.] God's glorious holy kingdom.
1. The Branch of the Lord (4:2a).
2. A fruitful land (4:2b).
3. A holy city (4:3-4).
4. A canopy of glory (4:5-6).

2:1-5

1. What is the relationship between 2:1–5 and 2:6–4:1? How is Jerusalem described in 2:1–5 and in 2:6–4:1?
2. Why is the "mountain" of God's house so important that all nations will come there (2:2)? What is the significance?
3. Notice the same verb in 2:3 and 2:5. What does this say about salvation? God's intent for us (Gen 17:1; Eph 1:4)?
4. What does it mean to judge (2:4)? Why do people not like to hear about judgment?

2:6–4:1

1. Look for a common theme in 2:6-4:1. What is the problem with humanity (2:9, 11-12, 17; 3:16)? What is the most deadly sin according to church teaching (Gen 3:5; Prov 3:34; Jas 4:6)? Why?
2. What is a common word in 2:6–8? What are the four topics? Compare to 6:3. What is the problem?
3. How are 2:9–11 the logical result of 2:6–8? How do we find worth and significance (Lk 14:11)?
4. Why does the worship of humanity (which is what idolatry amounts to) necessarily humiliate us (2:18–22). What is the point being made by 2:22?
5. What is the repeated theme among the three stanzas in this section (3:1–5, 6–8, 9–15)? What happens when we idolize or idealize our human leaders? What should we do?
6. Why does the prophet "pick on" the women here (3:16ff)? Why the "overkill" in the list of finery in 3:18–23? What is the relationship between 2:16 and 17, and between 2:18–23 and 2:24-4:1? How does this relate to what has been said ever since 2:6?

4:2-6

1. What is the relationship between 4:2–6 and 5:1–30? How is Jerusalem described in 4:2–6 and in 5:1–30?
2. What is the question about the identity of  the branch in 4:2?
3. Compare the condition of Jerusalem in 2:6–4:1 with the condition described in 4:3–4. Specifically, what is the difference? Read Ex 19:5–6; Dt 28:9–10.
4. How will the cleansing occur (4:4)? Reflect on what has been said about God's intended purpose in judgment.

Let's Talk (Isaiah 1:1-31): Bible Study Questions

Isaiah 1:1-9, 10-20, 21-31; Key Verses Isa 1:18, 3, 13, 23

"Come now let us reason together" (1:18a, ESV). "Let us settle the matter" (NIV). "Let us discuss this" (HCSB).

Most scholars regard Isaiah 1–5 as an introduction to at least chapters 1–39 if not to the entire book of 66 chapters.

1:1-31	2:1-5	2:6-4:1	4:2-6	5:1-30	6:1-13

How Stupid Can You Be (1.1-9)	Stop Your Church Activities (1:10-20)	Care For Whom I Care For (1:21-31)
1. God's broken heart (1:2-3)	1. What displeases God (1:10-15)	1. Judgment (21-23)
2. Our broken life (1:4-8)	2. What pleases God (1:16-17)	2. Purification (24-26)
3. God's unbroken grace (1:9)	3. How to please God (1:18-20)	3. Redemption or ..... (27-31)

Questions: 1:1-9 (national failure): Sin. "The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner's manger, but...my people do not understand." (1:3).

An Encouragement to Study Scripture (and Isaiah)

From this Sunday, May 3, 2015, West Loop UBF will begin studying of a new book of the Bible--Isaiah. As we begin I would like to encourage our church community to prayerfully study Scripture in general and Isaiah in particular over the coming year, as God willing, we will plow through all 66 chapters of Isaiah!

Personally, I regard the serious study of Scripture as the most important, significant and necessary daily activity of every Christian. Why? In a word, it is because of the countless benefits of studying Scripture from our hearts as our daily priority.

What are the benefits of studying Scripture with all of our hearts?