Search The Scriptures —Study 34 — Isaiah 55

Study 34 From the Book of Isaiah is: Isaiah 55

1. Is the appeal in this chapter any less applicable or less urgent in our day than it was to the Jews living in Babylon? Are you then proclaiming it to those around you? Try to state its argument in present-day language.
2. In verses 8-13 what do we learn about (a) man's inability to comprehend God; (b) God's word of promise; (c) the future for God's people? How ought we to act in response to such truths?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 33 — Isaiah 54

Study 33 From the Book of Isaiah is: Isaiah 54

1. In verses 4:10 consider all the reasons given why god's reconciled people should not fear. In what ways will God be like a 'husband' to His people (verse 4-7)? How does God reveal in His treatment of His people that He is faithful to His covenants (verses 9, 10)?
2. 'This the heritage', says the prophet, 'of the servant of the Lord' (verse 17). What is this inheritance? List the blessings here promised. What guarantees that we can enjoy them?
3. William Carey applied verses 2 and 3 to the missionary enterprise, and summoned the church to reach out to the evangelized nations. What does this chapter mean for you? In what direction does it summon you to 'lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes' your stakes'? Have you grasped how great your God is, how far-reaching His purposes of blessing?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 32 — Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12

Study 32 From the Book of  Isaiah is: Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12

This is the fourth of the 'Servant' passages, which portray with much marvelous accuracy the mission, character, and redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ. (see introduction). Today's portion falls into three parts:(1) an introductory summary, announcing the Servant's exaltation after extreme suffering, and the effect of this upon surrounding nations and kings (52:13-15); (2) the story of His life and suffering unto death, told by His now penitent fellow-countrymen (53:1-9) and (3) the glorious issue, both for Himself and others, of His sufferings, and redemptive work (53:10-12).

1. How is God's Servant the Lord Jesus Christ depicted in 52:13-15? Notice the depth of His suffering, His exaltation, and the effect of this upon the nations. Cf. 49:7; Jn 19:1-5; Eph. 1:20, 21.
2. Work out in detail the many close parallels between 53:1-9 and the actual life of the Lord Jesus, as for example, (a) the form of His manifestation to the world; (b) the reception accorded Him; (c) His sufferings and the meaning of them; (d) His behavior when arrested; (e) the manner of His death and of His burial.
3. Who are the 'offspring' spoken of in 53:10, and what benefits are shown in this whole passage to have been procured for them by the Servant's substitutionary death? Cf. Heb. 2:10. Do you belong to this number?

Notes

1. 53:1. The nation had not heard (52:15); but Israel, hearing, had not believed.

2. 53:8. 'Considered': or possibly 'complained', in the sense of making an appeal against the sentence.  All were indifferent and even scornful. Cf. Mt. 27:39-44.

3. 53:11. 'By his knowledge' may mean 'by means of His knowledge or 'by the knowledge of Him' (on the part of others). Cf. Jn. 17:3.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 31 — Isaiah 51: 17 – 52:12

Study 31 From the Book of Isaiah is: Isaiah 51: 17 - 52:12

1. Consider the seeming hopelessness of Zion'scondition in 51:17-20, 23.  How and why does God promise to act on her behalf (51:22; 52:3-6)? What must she herself do (52:1, 2)?  What  message has this for a backsliding Christian? Cf. 1 Jn. 1:9.
2. Let your imagination picture the joy of Zion, describe described in 52:7-12. What application does the apostle Paul make of this passage in Rom. 10:14, 15 and 2 Cor. 6:17?

Notes:

1. 51:23. An allusion to the practice of making captives lie face downard on the ground, and using their backs as a road to walk on.
2. 52:8. 'Eye to eye': i.e.,  face to face.  This is how they will see the Lord when He returns to Zion.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 30 — Isaiah 50: 4 – 51:16

Study 30 From the Book of Isaiah is: Isaiah 50: 4 - 51:16

1. What qualities are revealed in this picture of God's servant? Meditate on the fulfilment of these in Christ. Cf. Jn. 12:49;  Mt. 26:67.  Consider from His example and experience what you may count upon God to do for you, and on what conditions. 

2.What comfort and encouragement for your own faith do you find in 51:1-6? What divine reassurances are given to those who are frightened by the hostility of men. (verses 7, 8, 12-16)?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 29 — Isaiah 49: 1 – 50: 3

Study 29 From the Book of Isaiah is: Isaiah 49: 1 – 50: 3

In Chapters 40-48 the prophet has been concerned to show the supremacy of the God of Israel over the nations and their gods, and that God's purpose is to be accomplished through Cyrus. These two themes now disappear, and attention is turned to Israel's glorious future. Much of the section 49-55 consists of words of encouragement, spoken to overcome the doubts, hesitations and difficulties which the message of the proceeding chapters had around in many minds. It contains also three of the 'Servant' passages in which the mission, the sufferings, and the atoning death of the Lord's Servant are set forth. (See Analysis)

1. Verses 1-6. The 'Servant speaks to the nations. What does he say concerning (a) his call; (b) his equipment; (c) his initial non-success, and his attitude in face of this; (d) the new task which God gave him to do? Although the passage applies to the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul uses part of it of himself and Barnabas. Wee Acts 13:47. How is this? Have we then a share in the Servant's task? Cf. Jn.
2. How does the Lord answer Zion's doubts, first that the Lord has forsaken her (49:14); second, that her children are taken from her and lost to her (49:21); third, that Babylon was too strong to give up its prey (49:24); and fourth, that her covenant relation with Jehovah is broken (50:1)?
3. Try to put yourself in the position of Israel in exile, as described in 49:7a (cf. 41:14, 'worm'); and then contemplate the faith that could see and declare the transformation announced in 49:7b-13. On what is the prophet's faith founded? With verse 7 cf. Ps. 22:6 and 27-29a.

Notes.

1. 49:12. See mg. Some scholars connect 'Sinim' with China, but it seems unlikely that Jewish exiles would have traveled so far East by this period. The rsv 'syene' refers to the more southerly country mentioned in Ezk. 29:10; 30:6
2. 50:1-2. 'What writ of divorce did I ever hand to your mother? The meaning is that the breach between God and Zion and her children is not irreparable.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 28 — Isaiah 48

Study 28 From the Book of Isaiah is: Isaiah 48

There seems to have been a party among the exiles which received God's message concerning Cyrus with disfavour. God has already rebuked them more than once (45:9-13; 46:12, 13; and now in verses 1:11 of this chapter He answers an objection they seem to have raised that the teaching was novel, and not in accord with God's usual procedure. He tells them that in spite of their rebellious attitude, He will carry out His plans.

1. What does God condemn in the nominal religiosity of the Jews? Why did this cause God to announce His intentions beforehand (verse 3:5), and yet to keep some of His purposes hidden (verses 7, 8)? Do we grieve God by failing to acknowledge Him, and to give Him glory?
2. Verses 17:22. What conditions does God lay down before we can experience the fullness of His grace and peace in our lives?

Notes

1. Verses 3:6a. 'The former things': a reference to prophesies long foretold and now fulfilled; see also verse 5a. In verse 6b God acknowledges that He has now used a different method, keeping back the revelation of His intended action until just before it happened, but in this also He had a purpose (verse7).
2. Verse 10. 'But not like silver': a phrase that seems to express the divine sorrow that the refining process had not given a better result, such as happens when silver is refined. Cf. Je. 6:29, 30.
3. Verse 14. 'All of you' refers to Israel; 'who among them' to the nation; and 'the Lord loves him' to Cyrus.

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