Reflections on Isaiah 7-9

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

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.

  • Sign of Immanuel – God tells Ahaz to ask for a sign of Judah’s deliverance. Ahaz, who has followed other gods, refuses, faking piety with religious language.  So God gives him a sign of a virgin conceiving and bearing a son called Immanuel.  This child will show Ahaz that God is with Judah.  Yet the ultimate fulfillment comes in the virgin birth of our Messiah (Matthew 1:23).
  • Coming King – Isaiah predicts the birth of a child in the line of David who will reign forever with peace and justice. This child has been born and we await his return and glorious reign!

Isaiah 7-12: The Promised Child

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(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?

Sermon Songs: Revelation 13

On By BrianIn Revelation Hymns

MusicNotes

See the Beast rise from the waters, With Satan’s authority
Wars against the saints to conquer, Active throughout history
One day will rule, Over the earth
Dear Christian, beware the Beast

The devil throughout the ages, Bids our rulers rule his way
Play the Beast – the battle rages, For our leaders we must pray
Be vigilant, Fully alert
Dear Christian, beware the Beast

See the Beast full of blasphemy, Mimic Christ and seek His crown
Claim worship as a deity, To him we must not bow down
Our God only, Must we worship
Dear Christian, beware the Beast

To the tune of “Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending”

Reflection on Isaiah 4-6

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

A glorious day is coming, but first judgment is coming for sin.  Isaiah is called to serve.

  • Woe to the Wicked – Isaiah pronounces judgment for those who call good evil and evil good (5:20). In what ways does our world confuse evil and good?  Isaiah sees his own wickedness and cries out his own woe upon himself as he stands before a holy God (6:5).  Through sacrifice (note the altar in 6:6), God cleanses him.  Before a holy God, we too stand guilty.  To whom do you look for forgiveness?
  • Call – God called Isaiah to proclaim his Word (6:8). What work has God called you to do?  Are you doing it faithfully?  If you are unsure how God wants you to serve, seek his direction.

Q&A#5: Loving and Holy

On By BrianIn PASSION Catechism

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.

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

Rubbing and Smoothing

On By BrianIn Uncategorized

YouCanChangeGod is using the different people, the contrasting personalities, in your church to change your heart. He’s using the difficult people, the annoying people, the sinful people. He’s placed you together so you can rub off each other’s rough edges…. Remember the next time someone is rubbing you the wrong way that God is smoothing you down!

– Tim Chester in You Can Change

Reflections on Isaiah 1-3

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Isaiah warns of coming judgment because of Judah’s sin, yet notes a coming day of blessing.

  • Repent – God condemns Judah for their sin: their insincere religious activities, their idols, and their haughty pride. Are you guilty of any of these sins?  He calls Judah to repent and return to the Lord.  If they will repent, God will forgive (1:18).  If they refuse, they will be judged.  For what sins do you need to repent?  Do it!  And then rejoice in God’s forgiveness!
  • Mountain of the Lord – Isaiah foretells the day when all the nations will serve the Lord, and peace shall reign over all the earth (2:1-4). How does this certain hope encourage you today?

Isaiah 1-6: Of God and Men

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(1, 3, 5) What is God’s diagnosis of Israel in 1:2-15?

What further sins does God point out?
1:21-23 –
3: 9, 11, 13-17 –
5:8-12, 18-23 –

What does God call Israel to do, and what would be the results (1:16-18)?

What would happen if they refused?
1:20 –
3:1-8, 5:5-6 –
3:18-26, 5:13-14, 5:24-30 –

(1-5) What names and attributes are given to God in 1:4, 1:24, 2:10, 5:16?  What overall picture of God are we given?

(2) What will God do with human pride in v9-22?

When are we tempted toward pride?

When are we tempted to regard men instead of God (v22)?

From the text, what do you think is the antidote?

(6) In chapters 1-5 we see God’s greatness, man’s sin, man humbled, man called to repent, and the results if they will repent.  How do you see these same themes in 6:1-7?

How does v6-7 point forward to Jesus?

What task is Isaiah given, and what success will he have in v8-13?  What might we learn from these verses?

(2, 4) What pictures of our future hope are given in 2:1-5, and 4:2-6?

How might we respond today to this future hope?