10/10/2026 – Day 006 – Isaiah – Chapters 1 -6
Search on “06/08/2024” – date of the last post on this reading. It is a good introduction to the book of Isaiah by Halley’s Bible Handbook.
Here is an excerpt from the Introduction in the “Apologetics Study Bible”:
“Numerous important theological themes in Isaiah’s preaching set his messages apart from those of other prophets. One of the key themes in Isaiah is the call for people to trust God. … The theme stands in tension with its opposite: the tendency of Israel and the nations to rebel against God and not trust Him. For the first chapter, God’s people are pictures as rebellious sons (1: 2-4) who sinned against God, did not offer sacrifices that please Him (1: 11-15) , were unfaithful, were murderers, oppressed the weak, and worshiped pagan gods (1: 21-23, 29-31). Isaiah taught that everything proud and exalted will be humbled and brought low and that God alone will be exalted (2:9-17). Pride will lead to divine judgment, so Isaiah exhorted his readers to humble themselves.”
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“1:11-15… There was a profound disparity between the people’s professed loyalty to the covenant and the “iniquity” (v. 13) and injustice (v.15) they tolerated in violation of that very covenant’s precepts. Under such conditions, it is hardly surprising that the Lord found their offerings “useless” (v.13) and was disgusted by their prayer, incense, festivals, and other religious practices. God does not condemn the practices of worship He, Himself, has instituted, only the false motivation that distorts them. He welcomes worship from those who repent of their sins and come to His house to glorify His name.”
The Saturday theme of “The prophets” will follow with Jeremiah and Ezekiel, finishing up with the minor prophets, leaving four weeks of Revelation the last month.
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Whoa! – A prophecy of “Zion’s Future Glory” – Isaiah 4: 2-6 , Christ’s 2nd coming and the 1000 year Kingdom:
“4:2. Some interpreters view the phrase “branch (tsemach) of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious” as a sign of the land’s fertility. They view it as a parallel to the next phrase, “the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of Israel’s survivors.” Others (that would include me!) take the “branch of the Lord” as a messianic title based on other occurrences of the word, used in the sense of the springing forth of salvation (2 Samuel 23:5) or a “horn” (Psalm 132:17 for David. These passage, because they speak of the continuing line of David carry a messianic implication. Isaiah, a prophet of Jerusalem close to the royal court, likely knew these songs. Later he called the Messiah “a shoot” (chatter) that will come up from the stump of Jesse, even a “branch” (nether” that will bear fruit (Isaiah 11:1). Jeremiah referred to the “righteous Branch” or “Branch of righteousness” from David (Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15) and Zechariah (Zechariah 3:8; 6:12) used the term “Branch” with a messianic meaning.”
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“6:9-10 The Lord summoned Isaiah to preach to the people so that they could not hear and see the truth and repent. Negating the possibility of their repentance seems to contradict Isaiah’s call for the people to repent in 1:18-20, or his appeal to Ahaz to trust God in 7:9. The prophetic summons to repent had a double function; it invited people to return to the Lord, but also exposed those who having hardened their hearts to God’s appeal, were destined for judgment. Moses, similarly, was told to deliver his message to Pharaoh (Exodus 3:1-10) although he would not listen to it (Exodus 3:19). The Lord, through Isaiah, gave Ahaz the opportunity to follow His will (Isaiah 7: 3-9), but like Pharaoh, Ahaz hardened his heart and refused to follow the Lord’s instructions (Isaiah 7:10-13). The Lord is glorified not only by the response of those who heed his call to repent, but also by the consequences that follow for those who ignore His appeal. The NT writers saw the same principle at work in the response to the gospel of Jesus Christ (Mark 4: 11-12); John 12: 37-40; Acts 28: 25-28).”
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So…, can we not draw a strong similarity and parallel in our day to the hardening of the hearts of the people of Israel during Isaiah’s day?
Our prayers and fellowship off our study is open but here are some possible fellowship generator questions throughout our year:
- What does the text reveal about God’s character?
- How has this reading generated prayer for you and/or us?
- What themes stand out to you in this bible study?
- How does our reading fit into the bigger picture (creation, the fall, restoration, etc.)?
- What verse(s) jumped out at you like never before? Is it explainable at this point?
- Do you have any questions you would like to put before the group as to how to interpret any particular verse(s) in our reading. Let scripture testify to scripture: Share with us where you sense contradiction between passages elsewhere.
- What did you find convicting and inspiring at the same time? Share with us how the Spirit of God is working within you as a messenger, both within and outside of our fellowship group.
- Share with the group how our study is calling or confirming to you a new mission to glorify God in our times.
Thoughts? / Reflections?
Soli Deo Gloria!