Questions

Scriptural Reflection
Isaiah 40:12–31

This week we will continue the study of the Book of Isaiah in the Old Testament.

At the announcement of the good news — “Here is your God” — His great plan of salvation — the Lord challenges His people with the question: “To whom will you compare me?” to convince them to put their trust in Him alone, even though they have sinned and will suffer judgment:

40:12-14—The Incomparability of God’s Wisdom

(1) Even with the advanced technology we have today, how much do we know about the oceans, the heavens (the universe), the dust (the lands) and the mountains?

(2) With the extreme difficulties in surveying the ocean floor (to find the missing Malaysian Airline (MH370) in mind), how will you answer these questions in vv. 12-13?

(3) What is the point of asking these questions according to vv. 13-14?

(4) How then can you apply the answers from vv. 13-14 to how God deals with Israel and the nations and the ultimate plan of salvation through “Immanuel”?

40:15-20—The Incomparability of God to Nations and their Idols

(5) To what does the Lord liken the nations?

(6) What conclusion does He draw?

(7) How do idols differ from God?

40:21-26—“Do you not know? Have you not heard”

(8) What has God revealed to us through His creation and His word, concerning the following?

a. Who the Creator is (vv. 22, 26)

b. Who is enthroned to rule over all creation

c. What the shape of the earth is

d. How He has dealt with the rulers of the world

(9) How then should we answer the question in v. 25?

(10) What does it mean by the “Holy One”?

40:27-31—“Do you not know? Have you not heard” — The Application

(11) What conclusion can we draw from the above? (v. 28a)

(12) What might be the reason for Jacob’s complaint? (v. 27)

(13) What should Jacob know and do instead? Why? (vv. 28-31)

(14) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Isaiah 41:1–29

The message of God’s incomparability continues with the emphasis on Him being the Master of human history: He  has raised (or stirred up) a forthcoming world power from the East who is identified as Cyrus, the king of Persia in 44:28 and 45:1.

41:1-7—A Challenge to the Nations to Judge

(1) In the Assyrian Era, the Lord, through Isaiah, clearly prophesies about the rise of Cyrus. The time of Isaiah would be followed by the era of Babylonians and then that of the Persians (i.e. the prophecy came more than 150 years before the fact):

a. What will Cyrus do to the nations of the world? (vv. 2-3)

b. How will the nations respond to the invasion by Cyrus? (vv. 5-7)

(2) Does history, like the rise of Cyrus, happen by accident? (v. 4)

(3) How does this demonstrate Who God is? (v. 4)

(4) How should such a fact silence these idolatrous nations?

(5) How should such a fact silence all the gods and idols in the world?

41:8-20—A Comfort to Israel: As the nations fear and tremble at the sight of Cyrus, the Lord asks Israel not to be afraid and gives them the following reasons:

(6) Vv. 8-10—They are different from the nations:

a. Who are they to God? (vv. 8-9)

b. Why should they not fear? (v. 10)

(7) Vv. 11-16—God is their help

a. What will happen to those who rage against them? (vv. 11-12)

b. Why? (v. 13)

c. What will Israel become to their enemies? (vv. 15-16)

d. Why then does the Lord still call Jacob a “worm” and Israel “little”? (v. 14)

(8) Vv. 17-20—Poor and Needy

a. How may we understand the spiritual condition of Israel in their sufferings under God’s judgment?

b. What does the promise that “the Lord will answer them” imply?

c. What does the imagery of vv. 18-19 depict of the blessings they will experience?

d. What is the purpose of God’s miraculous work in answer to their prayers? (v. 20)

41:21-29—A challenge to the Nations and Their Idols

(9) What does the Lord challenge the idols to do in vv. 22-23?

(10) What is the message behind this challenge? (v. 24)

(11) The Lord points out that He is the one who announces and causes the rise of Cyrus (as judgment to the nations) and foretells the sending of a messenger to bear good news of salvation to Zion (see 40:9):

a. In both cases, how does He differ from the idols?

b. In both cases, how does Christianity differ from other religions?

(12) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Isaiah 42:1–25

Now, the “servant” who will bring justice to the nations is being introduced in a bit more detail:

42:1-9—The Servant

(1) What are the things being introduced concerning this “servant” and what is His mission, according to v.1?

(2) Normally we associate the bringing forth of justice with authority and power, but what is being emphasized about this servant in vv. 2-3 and why?

(3) In what will the world (as symbolized by the islands) put their hope and why? (v. 4)

(4) In emphasizing He is the one who has called this servant, what does the Lord emphasize about Himself and why? (v. 5)

(5) The mission of this servant is so unlike any of the servants of God in the Old Testament (vv. 6-7). How is this mission fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ in the following terms?

a. A (new) covenant (Lk. 22:20)

b. Light for the Gentiles (Matt. 4:13-16)

c. Making the blind see, freeing captives and releasing the captives (Matt. 11:5; Lk. 4:21)

42:10-13—Call to Praise

(6) Who are the people being called to give praise? (see Note below)

(7) Why are they called to sing a “new” song?

42:14-17—Time to Act

(8) Why has the Lord been quiet? Why has He held Himself back and not unleashed His judgment? (Exod. 34:6)

(9) To whom will the Lord show mercy and to whom will He judge? (vv. 16-17)

42:18-25—Israel, the Blind Servant

(10) Why does the Lord call Israel the blind and deaf servant? (v. 20)

(11) What is God's desire which this servant has failed to honor? (v. 21, 24)

(12) How dull is the heart of this servant? (v. 25)

(13) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?

Note:

According to Keil and Delitzsch, Sela is the rock-city of Edom, and Kedar are Arabs of a fixed abode (rather than the “bedu”, i.e. the nomadic Bedouins). (See K&D, 419)

Scriptural Reflection
Isaiah 43:1–28

After the introduction of the Messiah who shall bring forth justice, the oracle returns to the “fear not” motif of the previous chapter:

43:1-7—Fear Not

(1) V. 1 and v. 7 serve as an “inclusio”. What is being repeated by the two verses and what is its significance?

(2) In assuring Israel that they should not fear, the first reason given is that they have been redeemed:

a. What does the word “redeemed” mean?

b. What is the historical event cited for their redemption in the past in v. 3?

c. Ultimately, what does God use as ransom for Israel (and for the world)? (Matt. 20:28)

(3) The second reason given is that He has summoned them by name: What does it mean?

(4) And God further promises them that He will be with them. Does it mean that they do not have to go through severe trials? What then is the crux of these promises?

(5) The Lord then grounds all these promises basing them  on two very important truths:

a. Who He is—What does He remind Israel of concerning Who He is? (v. 3) How significant is it?

b. Who they are—Who are they according to v. 4? How may you apply it to yourself?

(6) Then lastly, the Lord gives them assurance about the future in vv. 5-6:

a. How is this promise fulfilled literally for Israel?

b. However, as Young puts it, “In a far deeper sense it is addressed to all those who are afar off, who can be brought to the true Mount Zion only by the gracious working of the Lord…The reference is to the spiritual gathering of lost sinners in Jesus Christ."(Young, Vol. 3, 144-5):

1. Have you then been called to Christ?
2. What does it mean to you that you have been created for His glory?

43:8-13—Israel Called to be His Witness

(7) How does God’s past dealing with Israel distinguish Him from the gods of the nations?

(8) In what sense is Israel His witness?

43:14-24—Israel, the Unfaithful Witness

(9) Israel obviously failed as God’s witness in the past (vv. 16-17), and is now asked to “forget the former things” (v. 18) and look to the new:

a. What is the new thing mentioned in vv. 14-15 and vv. 19-20?

b. How should they bear witness to God? (v. 21)

(10) Vv. 22-24 are prophecies, which are likely based on their coming exile in Babylon. There, they would not have the opportunity to worship the Lord with the presenting of animal or grain sacrifices to the Lord, or with the burning of incense (see K&D. 430):

a. Are they burdened or wearied by not being able to worship the Lord in a foreign land? Why or why not?

b. While they are not burdened or wearied, what have they done to burden and weary the Lord?

43:25-28—To Forget or Not to Forget?

(11) While v. 18 asks them to forget the former things, v. 26 asks them to review the past for God: What then should they forget, and what should they remember?

(12) In recounting the past, their judgment is reiterated in v. 28, but why is such a pronouncement preceded by the promise of v. 25?

(13) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Isaiah 44:1–28

As the last message ends with words of judgment, the message of comfort continues as the Lord again gives reasons to encourage Israel no to be afraid:

44:1-8—The Promise to Pour out His Spirit

(1) Again, the comfort begins with a reminder of the special relationship between Israel and their God:

a. Apart from repeating that Jacob is His servant and that He has chosen and formed them, what is being added to remind them of how special they are to God? (vv. 1-2)

(2) This time, God promises to pour out His Spirit.

a. On whom will His Spirit be poured out? (v. 3)

b. What will be the result of this blessing? (vv. 4-5)

c. What is the certainty of this promise grounded on? (v. 6)

d. Why then should they not be afraid? (v. 8)

44:9-20—The Futility of the Idolatrous Nations

(3) As the Lord reminds Israel of His incomparability, He mocks the futility of those who put their trust in idols:

a. Why will those who put their trust in idols be put to shame? (vv. 9-11)

b. How does the Lord ridicule those who make idols out of metal? (v. 12)

c. The Lord uses more illustrations to ridicule those who make idols out of wood for these reasons:

1. The carpenter uses a lot of time and thought to make idols (vv. 13-14).
2. The same wood used for burning (as fuel for cooking) is used to fashion idols to which he bows down and worship (vv. 15-17).

Why then would people be so blind to worship what their hands fashion? (vv. 18-20)

44:21-28—Call to Return

(4) In calling them to return to Him, what is being added here to remind them of how special they are to God?

(5) The Lord declares, “I have redeemed you” and calls them to return to Him:

a. How could He have redeemed them without them even presenting any sacrifices to redeem themselves? (53:10)

b. What is the result of Christ’s atoning sacrifice? (v. 22)

c. What should the response to this amazing redemption be? (vv. 22-23)

(6) In assuring them of the certainty of redemption, the Lord bursts into a song of Who He is and what He has done for Israel. Which of the following might mean the most to Israel (vv. 24-28) ?

a. He is the Creator

b. He foils the false prophets and spiritists

c. He frustrates the wise

d. He vindicates His servants and messengers

e. He will restore Jerusalem

f. He dries up the sea

g. He raises up the Persian king, Cyrus, to rebuild His temple (He speaks of this event here, more than 150 years before it happens in Ezr. 1:1-4.)

(7) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Isaiah 45:1–25

The Gentile king, Cyrus, raised up by God, was one of the most powerful kings in ancient times and was said to have “created the largest empire the world had yet seen”, but before he came to power (or more correctly put, before he was even born), Isaiah prophesied about him.

45:1-6—The Anointing of Cyrus

(1) Why would God choose a gentile king to accomplish His will, especially one that did not acknowledge Him?

(2) How powerful would he become? (vv. 1-3)

(3) Why does the Lord say that Cyrus is chosen for the sake of Jacob (i.e. Israel)? (44:28)

(4) Another purpose of choosing Cyrus is also explained in vv. 3 and 6. Read Ezra 1:1-4 and see if such a purpose had been accomplished?

45:7-13—Dispute Over the Raising of Cyrus — As the raising of Cyrus is sandwiched inside the argument from vv. 7-13, it appears that God is answering some challenges against His plan or His choice:

(5) In answer to the challenge, God iterates that He creates both light and darkness and creates both prosperity and disaster (vv. 7-8):

a. What is He trying to say?

b. What is the ultimate purpose as God does “all these things”?

c. Over what do people tend to challenge God about — light or darkness? What is their challenge when He creates prosperity or disaster?

(6) How inappropriate is it for us to challenge God and why? (vv. 9-10)

(7) The challenge here apparently concerns “things to come” (v. 11), i.e. God’s plan for the future for Israel and the world:

a. Why would Israel object to God raising Cyrus to rebuild their city and to set the exiles free?

b. What would be the motive for Cyrus to do so? (v. 13)

45:14-19—The Everlasting Salvation

(8) It appears that the raising of Cyrus is a sign for the salvation brought forth by the future Messiah in that the former master of Israel (Egypt together with its trading partners or allies along the Nile) will come and bow down before the God of Israel:

a. How does this future deliverance differ from their past deliverances by the Lord? (v. 17)

b. What will happen to the enemies of God? (v. 16)

c. Why would the Egyptians and others who now come to worship God together with Israel say that God is “a God who has been hiding”?

(9) How does the Lord answer the Egyptians? (vv. 18-19)

a. What does His comparison of His creating the earth “not to be empty” to His speaking not in “a land of darkness” serve to illustrate?

b. K&D translates “Seek me in vain” (NIV) as “Seek me in the desert”. What is the point the Lord trying to make with His answer?

(10) What does the Lord call upon people to the ends of the earth to do? (v. 22)

(11) From what should they turn? (vv. 20-21)

(12) Is this everlasting salvation confined to Israel, or does this extend to the world? (vv. 22-25; see also Phil. 2:10-11)

(13) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Isaiah 46:1–47:15

Isaiah explains in the last chapter that the anointing of Cyrus is for the sake of Jacob, and also for the sake of those who rage against the Lord (45:24) and they will be put to shame. Now, the focus is on what will happen to Babylon which will be put to shame:

46:1-2—The Fall of the gods of Babylon

(1) How does the Lord describe the fate of “the two most prominent gods” of Babylon?

(2) In a very sarcastic way, instead of being able to rescue their worshippers, what have these two gods become?

46:3-7—Trust in God, not Idols — As much as Israel will suffer destruction in the hands of Babylon, a remnant will be preserved (v. 3) and these are the words spoken to them:

(3) What promise does the Lord make to the remnant and how does He assure them of His faithfulness? (vv. 3-4)

(4) How does the Lord appeal to them not to trust in idols anymore? (vv. 5-7)

46:8-13—A Warning to the More Immediate Audience of Isaiah — While He encourages the remnant in exile (future), the Lord now rebukes the immediate audience of Isaiah and calls them rebels (v. 8) and stubborn-hearted (v. 12):

(5) What should they remember and keep in mind? (v. 9)

(6) What should they have learnt from the past? (see especially v. 10)

(7) Since God’s purpose will stand, He affirms that the summoning of Cyrus from the East will take place (v. 11). Echoing what has been said in 45:14-19, what is God’s ultimate purpose in all these?

47:1-15—The Fall of Babylon

(8) The Lord addresses Babylon as a “virgin” and a “queen city”, perhaps referring to its admiration by the world for its beauty and its charm. Using the same imagery, what fate will befall her? (vv. 2-3)

(9) The utter destruction of Babylon is depicted by these words: “go down, sit in dust” (v. 1) and “Sit in silence, go into darkness” (v. 5). According to the verses below, what are the reasons given for God’s vengeance?

a. V. 6

b. V. 7

c. V. 8

(10) Where has Babylon put her trust in according to these verses?

a. V. 9

b. V. 10

(11) What will happen to her, as a result? (vv. 9 and 11)

(12) The Lord ridicules her futility in trusting astrologers, stargazers and their counsel, implying that they will not be able to be saved from “what is coming” (vv. 12-13). How does this come to pass according to Daniel 5:5-9?

(13) What does the Lord liken these magicians and sorcerers to in v.14?

(14) What then is the message to those who pursue astrology these days?

(15) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?