Oracles of judgment continue, now against Damascus, Cush, and Egypt.
Our passage today begins a series of oracles predicting God’s judgment upon the nations.
(14) What general truth do you learn about God’s purpose in v26-27? How would that encourage Judah as they are surrounded by hostile nations? How might that encourage us when we are surrounded by hostile trials of various sorts?
(13-14) What does God purpose for Babylon (13:1-8)? For the world (13:9-11)?
What three reasons are given (13:11a, 11b; 14:1-2)? How do all these reasons relate to each other?
(14) Who do you think Isaiah is talking about in v12-15? Why? What does God purpose for this individual?
How do people in our culture act like this individual? Give examples.
How should we act differently as Christians, and why (see Philippians 2:1-11)?
(15-16) What does God purpose for Moab? Why (16:6)?
Why do you think God hates pride so much?
In 16:5, we see a throne. Whose throne is it? How is the throne, and the one who sits on it, described? Why is each description important and how do they all relate together?
(17) What does God purpose for Damascus (v1-2)? Who gets lumped in with their judgment (v3)? What lesson can we learn about making alliances? In what contexts might we apply that lesson today?
(18-20) What does God purpose for Cush and Egypt?
Where had Judah and their neighbors placed their hope of deliverance from Assyria (20:1-6)? What warning do you see?
What remarkable promise do we find in 19:18-25? How do we see this fulfilled throughout church history? In the future?
See the Beast follow the Devil, Against the saints making war
Persecutes, imprisons, and kills, Striving always to conquer
We must stand firm, No compromise!
Trust in God and so endure!
Trust in our God’s greater power, Trust in His authority
Trust in His plan for this hour, Trust His work upon the Tree
Your name written, In the Lamb’s Book
Trust in God and so endure!
To the tune of “Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending”
God will use Assyria to bring judgment upon Judah, but restoration is ultimately promised.
Delaware’s Department of Education has proposed letting all children choose their own gender and race. They would then be able to use the bathroom of their decided gender, play on the sports of their decided gender, and be able to expect everyone around them to use the pronouns of their decided gender. All without informing their parents.
Nine observations:
Children simply do not have the cognitive ability to be making these decisions.
No one has the ability to make these decisions as they are defined by genetics, anatomy, and, in the case of race, family ancestry. Physical reality matters. Your body matters – it is an essential part of who you are.
The policy itself encourages identity confusion. I grew up knowing I was a boy in part because my anatomy is male and my culture supported this physical reality. This policy tells children to distrust their physical reality. Our culture’s ideology no longer agrees with anatomy. How many otherwise unconfused children are we confusing?
The policy is quite frankly insulting. It would be highly insulting to women everywhere for me to claim to be a woman, as I have no idea what it means to experience life as a woman (as many a wife has told her husband whenever the subject of giving birth comes up). It would be highly insulting to African-Americans for me to claim that I am black, as I have no idea what it is like to experience life as a black person.
We should beware of forcing new untested ideas (that past generations would have immediately rejected) on the next generation. These are unchartered waters, and we have no idea what we are doing.
Safety must come first. There is a reason we have separate bathrooms and locker rooms for girls and boys. This policy can so easily be abused by predators, as any boy could claim he is a girl to gain access to the girls’ locker room.
Once again parental rights are being trampled, as if the cultural elites know better how to raise our children.
I understand that some people struggle with their identity. But the loving answer is not to encourage them to live in a self-made fantasy world. Rather, the loving answer is encourage them to embrace their physical reality.
These are important issues that require rational consideration and discussion. And these issues relate to real people who on all sides deserve love and respect.
For another helpful look at some of the issues see here.
Q/A#5
Q: What is the moral character of God?
A: The moral character of God consists of his perfect love and holiness together, displayed in his mercy, grace, patience, faithfulness, righteousness, justice, and wrath.
Memory Verses
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. – I John 4:7-8
But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct. – I Peter 1:15
Further Supporting Verses
But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. – Psalm 86:15
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. – Psalm 89:14
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. – Romans 1:18
Enemies threaten evil King Ahaz, but Isaiah calls him and all of Judah to look to the Lord for deliverance. In the process, Isaiah proclaims the coming Messiah.
(7-8) Syria and Ephraim come against Judah. How does Ahaz respond, and how should he respond (7:1-8)? How do you tend to respond when trials come upon you? Why?
Isaiah predicts the birth of a child. What will happen before the child can talk (8:3-4)? What will happen before the child becomes a man (7:14-16)?
Instead of trusting God, Ahaz looks to Assyria for help (see I Kings 16). How does that work out for him (7:17, 8:5-8)?
When do you find it hard to trust God? To who or what might you look instead? How has that worked out for you?
(8-10) God instructs Isaiah not to walk like the people, but to follow the Lord (8:11-22). What should this look like? How well does this describe your life? How do you need to heed these instructions?
How does God respond to Judah’s continuous unrepentant sin (9:8-10:4)? Notice the repetition in 9:12b, 9:17b, 9:21b, 10:4b. What warning is there for us?
Assyria is coming against Judah (10:5-19). What does God intend? What does Assyria intend? How does this text help us see the interplay between God’s sovereignty and man’s choices? Why are both of these truths important?
(7, 9, 11) How does the promised child and shoot point forward to Jesus (7:14, 9:1-7, 11:1-10; see also Matthew 1:18-23, 3:16-17, 4:12-16)?
What glorious promises do we find in these passages?
How should we live in response to these promises?
(12) What responses does God call us to make (v1-6)?
Why should we respond in these ways (v1-6)?
How do these reasons spur you on to respond in these ways?
We are a singing people because the gospel of the Lord Jesus compels us to sing…. God’s love for us inspires our response of love for Him and calls forth songs of joy from our lips.
Brian J. Mikul 