The Heart of Mission

June 9, 2011 at 5:00pm

There has been a long tradition which sees the mission of the Church primarily as obedience to a command. It has been customary to speak of "the missionary mandate." This way of putting the matter is certainly not without justification, and yet it seems to me that it misses the point. It tends to make mission a burden rather than a joy, to make it part of the law rather than part of the gospel.

If one looks at the NT evidence one gets another impression. Mission begins with a kind of explosion of joy. The news that the rejected and crucified Jesus is alive is something that cannot possibly be suppressed. It must be told. Who could be silent about such a fact?

The mission of the Church in the pages of the NT is more like a fallout which is not lethal but life-giving. One searches in vain through the letters of St. Paul to find any suggestion that he anywhere lays it on the conscience of his reader that they ought to be active in mission. For himself it is inconceivable that he should keep silent. "Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!" (1 Cor 9:16). But nowhere do we find him telling his readers that they have a duty to do so. . . .

At the heart of mission is thanksgiving and praise. . . . When it is true to its nature, it is so to the end. Mission is an acted out doxology. That is its deepest secret. Its purpose is that God may be glorified.

(Lesslie Newbigin, The Gospel in a Pluralistic Society, [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1989], 116, 127)

Isaiah 5 Bible Study Questions

What More Can God Do? (Isaiah 5:1–7, 8-25, 26-30; 1a, 4)

"I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard..." "What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad?" (Isa 5:1a, 4, NIV)

Outline (5:1-30):

1. The Song (1-7): Love and grace.
2. The Woes (8-25): Laments of sorrow.
3. The Judgment (26-30): Defeat and darkness.

Recap: In Isaiah 1-4, what challenges and choices does Isaiah present to his audience (Judah and us)?

• Be a ______ (1:2) Or be __________ (1:27).

• Be _________ and __________ Or _______ and ________ (1:19-20).

• Walk in the _______ Or ___________ (2:5; 5:30).

• Trust _____ Or _____ (2:22).

• _______ God alone Or remain _________ and ________ (2:11, 17).

• Live with the glorious ______ of God's coming kingdom (2:1-4; 4:2-6) or live in _______ (2:11, 17; 3:16).

5:1-30

1. Who is "I"? "The one I love" (1)? What does this show about the relationship between God and the prophet?
2. What does verse 2 teach us about God (5:1)?
3. In terms of rhetoric (the art of persuasion) what is Isaiah doing in verses 3–4?
4. Compare 5:5–6 with 4:5–6. What is the significance of this?
5. How might the function of this song (5:1-7) function like Nathan's parable to King David (2 Sam 12:1-10)?
6. What is the relation of 5:8–25 to 5:1–7? Look especially at the last part of verse 7.
7. Find the six "woes." List and title each behavior or kinds of behaviors mentioned (8, 11, 18, 20, 21, 22). Do you see any progression? What would the opposite "good grapes" be in each case?
8. What does it mean to have "no regard for the deeds of Yahweh" (12)?
9. "Therefore" in 5:13, 14, 24, and 25 introduces the effect of a prior cause. What is the cause and what are the effects? How are they related in the context of the vineyard imagery?
10. Note vv. 15 –16 and compare them with 2:11,17. Where is true human glory to be found?
11. Compare 5:25 with 9:12, 17, 21; 10:4. What do you think the significance of this is? How does what is said in this section relate to America and the West today?
12. What does 5:26–30 say about Yahweh's lordship of history? Why is Assyria coming? How do they relate to 5: 5–6? What effects is the imagery designed to convey? What is Isaiah seeking to convey?
13. Compare 5:30, 5:20 and 8:22.

What is God's Own Heart Like?

David is described as a man after God's own heart (1 Sam 13:14; Ac 13:22). How might such a heart be characterized?

1. A _________ / true heart (1 Sam 16:11; 17:34‒36) (cf. Mt 25:21).
2. A ________ / hungry heart (Ps 63:1) (cf. Ps 42:1‒2; Mt 5:6).
3. A ____________ heart (Ps 9:1‒2; 13:5) (cf. Prov 17:22).
4. A __________ / fixed / immovable heart (Ps 57:7) (cf. Ps 112:6‒8; Isa 26:3‒4).
5. A _________/ ___________ heart (Ps 32:3‒5; 51:17) (cf. Isa 57:15; 66:2).
6. A _______ / _______ heart (Ps 24:3‒4; 51:10‒12) (cf. Mt. 5:8; I Tim 1:5).
7. A _______-filled heart (I Sam 16:13‒14) (cf. Acts 15:8‒9).
8. An __________ / _______ / ________ heart (1 Chron 28:9; 29:19; Ps 86:11) (2 Chron 25:2; Eze 11:19; Jas 4:8). Your __________ heart will be the ________ in your armor, the _____ in your boat, the ____ in the perfume that allows the devil to come in and _______ your ____________ flaw.

Reason for God's Destruction of Judah (Isaiah 5:8-25)

Isaiah 5:8-25, 15-16

"So people will be brought low and everyone humbled, the eyes of the arrogant humbled. ¹⁶ But the Lord Almighty will be exalted by his justice, and the holy God will be proved holy by his righteous acts" (Isa 5:15-16, NIV).

Woe denounces and laments. Isaiah is not a blindly ranting and rebuking condemnatory demagogue. Though this passage does pronounce powerful denunciations, they also express deep pathos, for the word "woe" itself--appearing 6 times in the passage--does not just denounce our sins, it laments our sins. Also, Isaiah's words of woe are measured and reasoned. He presents indisputable evidence (the "woes"), and then carefully draws out logical and inescapable conclusions (the "therefores").

The six woes specify the "bad fruit of Isa 5:2, 4. They specifically mention denunciations of particular sins. The list is damning:

1. Greed (5:8): Land-grabbing. Property acquisition. The "good life."
   
2. Drunkenness (5:11-12): Self-indulgence. Pleasure. Leisure.
   
3. Deceit (5:18-19): Arrogant defiance of God. Mocking God.
   
4. Self-justification (5:20): Reversal of good and evil.
   
5. Conceit (5:21): Wise in one's own eyes.
6. Injustice (5:22-23). Perversion of justice. Oppressing the poor.

The four therefore's (5:13, 14, 24, 25) introduces the judgments to the offenders that accompany the woes. Roughly, the coming judgment matches the sin.

1. Land-grabbing (5:8) will be followed by exile (5:13a), and alcoholic indulgence (5:11) will be followed by thirst (5:13b).
2. Those who are greedy for pleasure and leisure (5:11-12) will be swallowed up by death (5:14).
3. The third and fourth "therefore" forecasts death and destruction (5:24-25, 26-30) on all who live in defiance of God and who pervert justice (5:18-23).

A Proud Man/Church vs. a Humble Man/Church

How might one tell the difference?

	The Proud Person / Church	The Humble Person / Church
1	It's all about ___.	It's all about _____ and ________.
2	Get's joy from promoting ______.	Gets joy from promoting _________.
3	Gets ______ and ____________ when confronted.	Is ________ and ___________ when confronted.
4	Loves to _______ / _________.	Loves to _________ / ________.
5	________ about what they know.	__________ about what they don't know.
6	Seeks to ________ others.	Seeks to ______ _____________.
7	Compares self to ________.	Compares self to ______.
8	"Lord, change _______."	"Lord, change _____."
9	_______ ___ sin.	________ ____________ sin.
10	Concerned with _______ / ______________.	Concerned with _______ / ____________.

Answer key:

1. me; God, others.
2. self; others.
3. angry, defensive; humble, responsive.
4. talk / teach; listen / learn.
5. cocky; humble.
6. blame; take responsibility.
7. others; God.
8. them; me.
9. covers up; openly confesses.

A Vineyard Song of Love and Rejection (Isaiah 5:1-7)

Isaiah 5:1-7, 1, 4

"I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside." "What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad?" "The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the nation of Israel, and the people of Judah are the vines he delighted in. And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard cries of distress" (Isa 5:1, 4, 7).

The function of this song (5:1-7) reminds the reader of the function of Nathan's parable about the poor man who had only one lamb and the rich man who had many (2 Sam 12:1-10). Both stories aim to trap the unsuspecting listeners who do not expect the final shocking application of the story (Isa 5:7; 2 Sam 12:7). The song presents evidence against the vineyard and requests a judgment.

1. Tender care (1-2).
2. Decision requested (3-4).
3. Destruction planned (5-6).
4. Identification revealed (7).

Meaning hidden initially. The people mentioned in this parable are initially and purposely disguised so that the audience does not recognize the singer's ploy until the end of the song. Isaiah was probably trying to hide the full import of his words from his listeners at the beginning of his song (Isa 5:1-2). He wanted them to agree with his anger at the vineyard (Isa 5:3-6) before they perceived the full application of his final indictment in Isa 5:7.

Entirely by grace. This song reminded the listener that God is the lover who poured out his love for his special vineyard (Isa 5:2). The vineyard was specially created, planted, and continually cared for entirely by God's grace. People deserve no credit for their election or their privileged status, for it happened totally by grace.

Expecting good fruit. Once God chooses a people, he tenderly cares for and protects them. He patiently waits for his people to produce good fruit in their lives (Isa 5:2b, 4b, 7b). God views all fruit as either rotten or good according to his standards--not ours (Mt 7:15-23). God's protection and care may be withdrawn from those who fail to produce godly fruit (Jn 15:1-7). God is especially severe on privileged people who mistreat others through injustice.

Evaluate the fruit of your own life. Jesus uses a somewhat similar parable of the vineyard (Mk 12:1-9) to indict those who were supposed to take care of God's vineyard. People who are true to God produce good fruit, walk in the ways of justice, exalt God alone (Isa 2:11, 17; 5:16) and honor God's Son.

The Heart of the Matter (What does God really want?) [An overview of Kings and Chronicles]

We want a king! God's people in the Promised Land were initially ruled by _________ (Judg 2:16). These were Spirit-anointed leaders raised up to deal with national emergencies. The people of Israel soon became discontent with this leadership and asked God to give them a _________, like the nations around them (I Sam 8:4‒9).

The United Kingdom. Israel's first king _______ turned out to be a disaster. God rejected him and chose a new king, "a man after his own heart" (I Sam 13:14). _________ was the greatest king Israel ever had and set the standard for all future kings. Next came _____________ who led Israel to her greatest splendor. But he modeled a ___________ heart.

The Divided Kingdom. Solomon's divided heart made possible a divided kingdom. Israel in the north (10 tribes) lasted about 200 years (930‒722 BC) and had ____ kings from many dynasties. All of these kings "did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord." Judah in the south (2 tribes) lasted about 350 years (930‒587 BC) and had ____ kings, all descendants of David. ____ of these kings "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord."

Even the "good kings" of Judah had a ______________ ______, and all finished _______! One _____ can sink a ship. These flaws are not _________ but ______________! And their sins cast a shadow over lives otherwise marked by godliness and faithfulness. The race is determined at the _______ _____, not in the ________ _______.

Study of the "good kings" may help us to better understand:

1. ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­_______________. What should we realistically expect from our leaders?
2. _________ character. How holy can a man/woman be?
3. ______. Who is he and what does he really want?
4. ____________. Is there a flaw in my character? Will I finish well?

What is a heart like David's heart (1 Sam 16:1‒13)? Why did God choose David? What did God see in this teenager with a guitar? The answer is crystal clear. It wasn't his birth order, height, appearance, pedigree, education, or gifting that mattered to God. God was looking on the _________, at the _______ (v. 7). When it comes to leadership and character, the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart. David was a man "after (God's) own heart" (1 Sam 13:14; Acts 13:22). The word "after" can mean either a heart "______" God or a heart "____" God… or both.

1. What does God really want? (2 Chron 16:9; Dt 6:4‒5).
2. Why can't I give God what he really wants?
3. Can God heal my heart and make it whole? (Dt 30:6).
4. How does this happen? (2 Chron. 7:14).

Reflection:

1. The key to every leader is not in his ______ and _________ but in his/her ________. Do you agree/disagree?
2. Has this study brought __________ / _______ to you, or has it been ____________? Explain.
3. Do Christians/evangelicals today attempt to __________ heart disease (we're all sinners!) or cure it?
4. What is your heart reading?

What kind of heart did David have?

1. A faithful / true heart (1 Sam 16:11; 17:34‒36) (cf. Mt 25:21).
2. A hungry / thirsty heart (Ps 63:1) (cf. Ps 42:1‒2; Mt 5:6).
3. A worshipping heart (Ps 9:1‒2; 13:5) (cf. Prov 17:22).
4. A fixed / steadfast / immovable heart (Ps 57:7) (cf. Ps 112:6‒8; Isa 26:3‒4).
5. A contrite / repentant heart (Ps 32:3‒5; 51:17) (cf. Isa 57:15; 66:2).
6. A pure / clean heart (Ps 24:3‒4; 51:10‒12) (cf. Mt. 5:8; I Tim 1:5).
7. A Spirit-filled heart (I Sam 16:13‒14) (cf. Acts 15:8‒9).
8. An undivided / single / whole heart (1 Chron 28:9; 29:19; Ps 86:11) (2 Chron 25:2; Eze 11:19; Jas 4:8). Your __________ heart will be the ________ in your armor that allows the devil to come in and exploit your character flaw.

 

King	Chapter (2 Chronicles)	Text (1 or 2 Kings)	Character Flaw
Solomon	1-9	1 Ki 1-11	Lust
Asa	14-16	I Ki 15:8-24	Unbelief
Jehoshaphat	17-20	1 Ki 22:41-50	Moral compromise
Joash	22-24	2 Ki 11:1-12:21	Fickle faith
Amaziah	25	2 Ki 14:1-20	Divided heart
Uzziah	26	2 Ki 15:1-7	Pride
Hezekiah	29-32	2 Ki 18-20	Bitterness
Josiah	34-35	2 Ki 22:1-23:30	Spiritual deafness

 

Manasseh (2 Chron 33; 2 Kings 21:1‒18) is added to this list of "good kings." He is of interest because of the contrast he brings. All the "good" kings ended up "bad." But evil Manasseh repented in the end, and finished well!

Good Kings of Judah (Workbook with Answers). Stan Key, Francis Ashbery Society.

God's Glorious Holy Kingdom (Isaiah 4:2-6)

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	Salvation/Hope	Judgment	Salvation/Hope	Judgment	Salvation/Hope

Outline of 2:1-4:6

1. The Ideal: Our Glorious Future Hope (2:1-5).
2. The Actual: Our Dark Present Reality (2:6-4:1).
3. The New: Our Glorious Future Hope (4:2-6).
   

The immediate future will be terrible for Judah if the nation does not stop trusting mankind and start exalting God alone. Isaiah wanted God's people to know that their rebellion and pride (2:6-4:1) will not defeat God's ultimate plan to establish his glorious kingdom in the future (2:1-5; 4:2-6). In contrast to 2:1-5 which focuses on the coming of the foreign nations to hear God's laws, 4:2-6 focuses on the purification of a holy remnant.

The New will be characterized by (4:2-6):

1. Beauty (2).
2. Holiness (3).
3. Cleansing (4).
4. Glory (5).
5. Security (5).
   

The New will be:

1. Beautiful (2).
2. Holy (3).
3. Clean (4).
4. Glorious (5).
5. Secure (6).
   

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).
6. Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God (Mic 6:8).
7. Clean out your heart; clean up your life; care for the fatherless and the widows (Isa 1:16-17).
8. Have a clearly defined goal of life (Phil 3:14; Ac 20:24) as our practical expressing of seeking God and loving God and exalting God alone (Isa 2:11, 17).

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.

Proud men oppress others, proud women draw attention to themselves. The pride of man--their essential sin--is expressed as oppression, while the pride and essential sin of women is expressed as ostentatious vanity.

God's judgment on proud women results in:

1. Judgment: Proud women will be judged (3:16-17).
2. Loss: Her objects of pride will be removed (3:18-24).
3. Humiliation: She will be humiliated and become desperate (3:25-4:1).

God hates pride. God loathes arrogance in his people. God's judgment on people (2:6-4:1) should compel and challenge each person to test their own heart to see if anything is motivated by pride or if it will result in pride. [In my case it might be my desire to study in depth "less common" books of the Bible.] Also, an excessive concern for my rights, my opinions, my way, and my honor is a sign of a sick self-centered society that fails to give complete honor and glory to God. Isaiah desires that we evaluate the central motivations and highest priorities that guide our lives. If we (male and female) exalt ourselves and thus fail to exalt God, we cannot but experience what the proud men and women of Judah experienced on the day of God's judgment.

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

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).

Trusting in man (leaders) could suggest not trusting in God. In 2:6-22 Isaiah repeatedly focuses on the humbling of the proud, the exaltation of God alone and the rejection of idolatry. But in 3:1-15 he illustrates the hopelessness of trusting in the specific accomplishments of the human leaders in Judah, which is in sharp contrast to the general exhortation not to put one's trust in mankind in Isa 2:22. People should not trust in human leaders to solve their difficulties (Isa 2:22; 3:7) because they do not have the power to bring about any real, lasting solutions.

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).

Reference:

1. Smith, Gary V. Isaiah 1-39. The New American Commentary: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture. B & H Publishing Group. Noshville, TN. 2007. 143-149.
   

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

The interchange and contrast from Isaiah 1 to 2 is repeated as it is throughout Isaiah 1-5. The current Israel is totally corrupted (Isa 1:1-31). The future Israel (the Israel that will be) will be glorious (Isa 2:2-4). The abruptness of the shift in mood from ch. 1 to ch. 2 is very striking. In Isaiah 1 repentance was viewed as a hypothetical possibility (Isa 1:16-20) and restoration as an end product of destruction (Isa 1:27-31). The main focus of attention was on Israel's rebellion, hypocrisy and injustice. Suddenly in 2:2-4, with no transition at all, the focus is on Israel's glorious future destiny as a light of blessing to the whole world.

From Isaiah Session 2 by John Oswalt - Isaiah 2-3 (1 hr 4 min).

What Isaiah 1 Challengers People To Do

The message of Isaiah 1 serves as an introduction to the rest of Isaiah. The message of Isaiah demarcates people into two groups:

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).

Isaiah wants his listeners to make a choice, take a stand, make a decision by ask ourselves questions such as:

• Is there a spirit of rebellion in you (Isa 1:2; 66:24)?
• Does justice and care for the oppressed characterize your Christian life (Isa 1:17, 23)?
• Is your heart attitude and worship acceptable to God with no hint of deceptive rituals (Isa 1:11-15)?
• Do you need to ask God for forgiveness of any particular sin (Isa 1:18)?
• Do you understand the consequence of not following God (Isa 1:20, 28-31)?
• Are you willing to brutally and honestly examine your own heart (Isa 1:16-20; Jer 17:10)?
• Do you think that because you keep some identity as a Christian that you're basically fine (like the people in Isaiah's day)?
• Does God's holiness and his standard of justice and righteousness uncover a veneer of piety and religiosity hiding a life of selfishness, rebellion, and unwillingness to trust God?

There are two ways to live and two destinations. All paths do not lead to God. Isaiah 1 presents choices that everyone of us must face as it did for the people during Isaiah's time:

1. Being God's children or rebelling against God (Isa 1:2-3).
2. Continuing to receive God's punishment or having the wars stop (Isa 1:5-9).
3. Offering prayers and sacrifices that please God or having God hide his face and reject useless ritual (Isa 1:11-15).
4. Making efforts to remove the stain and guilt of sin or allowing that stain to bring a curse (Isa 1:18-20).
5. Acting like faithful and righteous people or behaving like harlots and murderers (Isa 1:21).
6. Accepting God's redemption or being burnt up with fire in disgrace (Isa 1:27-31).

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)?
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)? Do you have a sense that God sees you (Gen 16:13)?
   
5. How does God expect his chosen person to live (Gen 17:1)?
6. Has God "appeared" to you (Gen 18:1)? Have you encountered God? How is your friendship with God? Is it experiencial? Does God reveal his secrets to you (Gen 18:17)?
7. Have you felt visited by God (Gen 21:1; 18:9-10)? Is your Christian life a life of laughter (Gen 21:6)? A life of wonder (Gen 21:7)?
   
8. How might Abraham have understood God's command to offer Isaac as a burnt offering (Gen 22:2)? Have you deeply felt God's provision for you (Gen 22:14)?
   
9. What is your understanding of:
• The grace of God (Ac 20:24; Eph 2:8-9)?
• The life of faith (Heb 11:6)?
• Trusting God (Prov 3:5-6)?
  
• The God of Abraham?
• Justification (Rom 3:24; 5:1)?
• Sanctification (Phil 2:12-13)?
  

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).

1. What is Isaiah about (1:1)? Why is it a vision that Isaiah saw and not a message that he heard? Who does it concern?
2. Why call on the heavens and the earth (1:2a; Dt 30:19; 32:1, 4–6)? Note the verb used to describe Israel's attitude toward God in 1:2b and 66:24, the last verse of Isaiah. How is rebellion more than mere disobedience? 
3. Why is 1:3 rather comical and yet very serious (Dt 32:6)?
4. See the verbs in 1:4 as a further explanation of rebellion and its effects.
5. What do 1:5–8 describe? How is Isaiah making his point?
6. There are two important titles for Yahweh in 1:1-9. What are they (1:4, 9)? What is their significance?
7. Why the reference to Sodom and Gomorrah in 1:9?

1:10–20 (religious failure): Repentance. "I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly." (Isa 1:13, ESV).

1. What are some reasons the prophet may have brought up 1:10-15 at this point?
2. If God commanded rituals in the law, why is he angry when they performed them, and even called them "rebels"? What is the danger with religious ritual (1 Sam 15:22; Jer 7:21-23; Hos 6:6; Am 5:21–24; Mic 6:6–8)? Why does God not accept their worship and prayers (1:13, 15 explicitly states their problem)? How does all this relate to us?
3. What 9 thunderous corrective actions are commanded and demanded (16-17)?
• your heart (16a) [inwardly - 2 commands].
• your life (16b-17a) [outwardly - 3 commands].
• your society (17b) [socially - 4 commands]
4. What comforting promise does God offer regarding their sins (1:18)? How is this counterintuitive and remarkable? What do you learn about God's grace? Does righteous living (1:16–17) produce forgiveness (1:18)? Why or why not?
5. What are two alternate courses of actions and their respective consequences (19-20; Dt 30:15-20)?

1:21–31 (social failure): Redemption. "...they refuse to defend the cause of orphans or fight for the rights of widows" (Isa 1:23, NLT).

1. What are the contrasts in 1:21-22? What change occurred with Jerusalem?
2. What is the problem with her leaders (1:23, 17)?
3. Note the introduction of a third title for God (1:24). What is the impact here? Who are the "enemies" of Yahweh?
4. 1:25–27 express a key truth of Isaiah. What is God's intent when he brings destruction on his people?
5. What is the relationship of 1:28-31 to 1:25-27? Why do you think Isaiah ends on this note after the promises 1:26-27 (a reversal of vv. 21–23)? How would God deal with the penitent (27)? The sinners (28)?
6. What illustration did God use to describe the end result (29-31)?

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?

1. A rich life, a fulfilling life (Jn 6:63).
2. A Spirit-filled life (Jn 6:63; Gal 5:22-23; 2 Cor 3:17).
3. A useful and profitable life (2 Tim 3:16).
4. A life of love and delight (Eph 5:2; Ps 1:2; 119:97).
5. A wholesome life of flourishing (Ac 20:27).
6. A life in constant awe of the amazing grace of God (Ac 20:24; Eph 2:8-9; 2 Tim 2:1; Tit 2:10).
   
7. A life of blessing (Gen 12:2; 1 Pet 4:11).

Some questions for your own personal HOT reflection and contemplation (There are no right and wrong answers, good and bad answers. These questions are primarily for those who profess to be Christians who regard the Bible as the Word of God.):

1. Are you happy?
2. Are you happy with your life and your lot in life?
3. Do you sense God's presence in your heart and life? Or do you feel a dryness about your life?
   
4. Do you generally love people, or are you often angry and annoyed at certain people?
5. Are you aware that you compare yourself, compete with and try to control others?
6. Do you feel guilty about anything?
7. Are you able to freely confess your sins to others?
   
8. What do you do the first thing in the morning?
9. What do you do the last thing before you retire at night?
10. Do you have a daily schedule for studying Scripture? For prayer, silence, solitude, reflection and contemplation?
11. Do you read the Bible every day? How much?
12. Do you find it difficult (or burdensome or unproductive) to read the Bible?
    
13. How much time do you spend studying and reflecting on Scripture each day?
    
14. Is there something that consumes or distracts you from studying Scripture?
    
15. Are you excited about reading and studying Scripture for yourself? Sharing and teaching Scripture to others?
16. Do you have a favorite book in the Bible?
17. Do you have one or more favorite verses in the Bible that you recite often to yourself and/or to share with others?
18. Will you consider having an accountability partner or mentor or both to help you study the Scriptures faithfully and diligently?