Category: Bible Journey

Isaiah 36-39, II Kings 18-20, II Chronicles 29-32: Hezekiah

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(2K18) What words are used to describe Hezekiah in v1-6?

How does his example challenge you?

(2Ch29-30) What is Hezekiah’s first order of business (29:3-19)?

Describe the worship that followed (29:20-36).  Note their actions, mood, and motives.

Describe their preparations for, and their keeping of, the Passover in chapter 30.  Note their decisions, actions, mood, and motives.

What can we learn from their example in chapters 29-30?

(Is36) What is the main issue the Assyrian official raises in his speeches (see especially v4-7, 15)?  What three options do the people of Jerusalem have?

What options do we have when trials come against us?

(Is37) Isaiah encourages Hezekiah not to fear – God will take care of the Assyrians (v1-7).  The Assyrians leave to fight another battle, but send a letter to Hezekiah threatening they will return (v8-13).  How does Hezekiah respond (v14-15)?

How does Hezekiah describe God (v16-17)?

What does Hezekiah ask God to do (v17-20)?  Why (v20)?

What can we learn from Hezekiah’s prayer?

How did God respond to Hezekiah’s prayer (v21-38)?

(Is 38-39, II Chron32) Hezekiah became sick.  Once again Hezekiah prayed to God, and God healed him.  How did Hezekiah respond to his healing (II Chron 32:24-26)?  How did this response show itself (Isaiah 39)?  How might we be tempted in the same way?

What were the results?  What warning is there for us?

Reflections on Isaiah 32-35

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

A king will reign in righteousness, but first judgment must come upon the nations.

  • God Is Our Salvation – In times of trouble, we should look to the Lord to be our salvation (33:2). He gives us stability in the midst of a chaotic world (33:6).  In what situations do you need to look to the Lord to be your salvation, your stability?
  • Coming Reign – A King is coming who will bring righteousness and justice and rest (32:1-2). Compare his coming reign to our world today.  How does his coming excite and encourage you?

Reflections on Isaiah 28-31

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Judgment is coming upon Jerusalem, but restoration will follow.

  • Look to the Lord – In their calamity, Jerusalem looked to Egypt rather than God for help. God made clear that Egypt could not help them.  Are you looking to the Lord for help, or are you looking everywhere but God?
  • Heart – Israel’s hearts were far from God (29:13), so God says he will do wonder upon wonder (v14), that they might be in awe of God (v23). In what ways has your heart drifted from God?  Cry out to God that he might do wonder upon wonder, that your hearts might be drawn to him in awe.

Isaiah 28-35: Look to the Lord

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(28) Where did Ephraim look for a crown of glory and beauty (v1)?  Where should they have looked (v5)?  Where do we tend to look?

God offered rest to Judah, but they refused (v12). They looked elsewhere for refuge (v14-15).  Where else do people look for rest and refuge today?

God lays the foundation of true rest and refuge (v16).  How does Peter apply this point for us today (I Peter 2:4-6)?

(29) God is gathering an enemy to surround Jerusalem, but then he will scatter their enemy.  To whom should they look for help?

What was wrong with the way the people looked to God (v13)?  How might we do this today (see also Mark 7:1-7)?

Instead of looking to God, Judah tried to hide so God wouldn’t see them (v15-16).  When do we try to hide from God?

(30-31) Judah looks to Egypt to save them, but Egypt can’t help them.  Where should they have looked, and what does he offer to them (30:15)?

Why weren’t they willing (30:16-17)?  Why might we be unwilling?

(32) We get a picture of an ideal king in v1-2.  How is he described?  Explore each word picture.

Who is the ultimate fulfillment of this ideal king?  How do you need him to be things for you today?

What will the Spirit bring (v15-17)?

(33) Isaiah looks to Lord for help (v2).  How is the Lord described in v5-6?  Give an example of when he has been these things for you.

(34-35) God will judge the nations (34), but redeem his people (35).  What is the mood of chapter 35?  How can this be your mood?

Reflections on Isaiah 24-27

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

God will bring judgment upon the earth, but a glorious day will follow.

  • Worship – This passage is filled with worship – praising and giving glory to God (24:14-16, 25:1). We can praise him because he is our stronghold, a shelter from the storm (25:3-4).  We can praise him because death and mourning will end (25:8), and the dead will rise (26:19).  Ponder these truths and praise the Lord!
  • Peace – We can find peace in the midst of trials when we keep our gaze set on the Lord and trust in him (26:3-4). What trials are you facing in your life?  Look to the Lord.  Trust him.  Find his peace.

Reflections on Isaiah 21-23

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Oracles of judgment continue: now against Babylon, Jerusalem, Tyre, and Sidon.

  • The Lord Has Spoken – God has spoken judgment on Babylon and because God has spoken, it will certainly happen (21:17). Do you believe God’s Word?  Are you trusting in his promises?  What he says, he will do.
  • Repentance – God called Jerusalem to repent of their sins, to return to the Lord. Instead, Jerusalem threw a final party before the enemy attacked.  Is God calling you to repent of some sin?  Are you listening?

Isaiah 21-27: Our Lord Acts

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(21-25) Repeatedly in these chapters, God is referred to as the Lord of Hosts.  He has all of the hosts of heaven at his command.  The imagery speaks of his power and rule.  How do we see his strength and sovereignty play out in these chapters?

(21-25) Four times we read that certain things will happen – for the Lord has spoken (21:17, 22:25, 24:3, 25:8).  When God speaks things happen.  Where else in the Bible do we see this?

God’s words define reality.  What significance does this have for our identity?  How we define right and wrong?  Salvation?  The future?  The relevance of the Bible today?

(23-27) Our Lord humbles the proud in 23:9, 25:11.  Why do you think God keeps repeating this theme?

Our Lord helps the poor in 25:4.  How does each picture word: stronghold, shelter, shade – illustrate this truth?  How has he been these things for you?

Our Lord will host people for a great feast (25:6).  What does this tell you about God?

Our Lord will swallow up death forever (25:7-8, 26:19).  How should this truth change our lives?  How was it accomplished?

Our Lord will slay the serpent dragon (27:1, see also Revelation 12:9).  How does this give you hope?

(25-26) How should we respond to our Lord’s actions according to the following verses?  Based on what we have learned about God, why is each response a good response?

25:9a –                                 Why do we struggle to do this?

26:3-4 –                               What will be the result?

26:8b-9a –                           What might this look like?

25:1 –                                   How might you grow in this response?

Reflections on Isaiah 17-20

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Oracles of judgment continue, now against Damascus, Cush, and Egypt.

  • Look to the Lord – God calls us to look to him for help rather than idols made by men (17:7-8) or powerful nations that God can end in a moment. What help do you need today?  Seek help from the Lord.  Rest in him.
  • Peace and Worship – Again, Isaiah predicts a day of peace – even between enemies like Assyria and Egypt! Peace will reign as people unite in the worship of the true King of Kings. What a glorious hope we have!

Reflections on Isaiah 13-16

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Our passage today begins a series of oracles predicting God’s judgment upon the nations.

  • The Lord Reigns – God is not just the God of Israel, but he reigns over all the nations. He decides when nations form and when they end.  He brings judgment on Judah’s enemies: Babylon, Assyria, Philistia, and Moab.  None can annul God’s purpose or stop his actions (14:27).  How can this truth be an encouragement to you in a world often opposed to God?
  • Proud Humbled – God will humble the proud and the arrogant (13:11, 14:12-15). What pride do you need to confess to the Lord and turn away from?

Isaiah 13-20: God’s Purpose Stands

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(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?