6/12 Isaiah 1 - Repent & Return

Today we begin our study of Isaiah! Isaiah is an incredibly important book in the Bible and today we'll give a quick overview of the book of Isaiah and his message to us repentance and faithfulness to our faithful God. Join us!

DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS:

1.    The name “Isaiah” means “The Lord is salvation”. According to the podcast, why is that a great summary of the Book of Isaiah? How does God’s covenant relate to the theme that the Lord is our salvation?
2.    Based on the podcast, what is a prophet? Likewise, what is the “office” of a prophet? Do you remember what the podcast said was the difference between “foretelling” and “forthtelling”? What are those differences? What were these differences for? 
3.    Verse 1 tells us that Isaiah prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Generally speaking, what was going on during this time? 
4.    Read over verse 2. What does this verse mean? Why do you think that the Lord has Isaiah begin on this point here? 
5.    In verse 3, who is the “Israel” that is being spoken about? What do we learn about them from this verse? 
6.    Read over verses 4 to 6. In verse 4, how were the people weighed down in iniquity? In verses 5 & 6, what was the result of their sin? 
7.    Verse 9 & 10 makes the amazing comparison between Israel and Sodom and Gomorrah. From what you know about Genesis 19, what happened in Sodom and Gomorrah? Why is verses 7 to 9 warning the people that they are at risk of the same judgment as those infamous cities? 
8.    In verses 11 to 15, what religious acts were rejected by the Lord? Why did He reject them? In our world today, how might a person have a similar mindset in their religion and likewise be rejected by the Lord? 
9.    Clearly Israel has been rebelling against the Lord and they are about to face His judgment. Yet the Lord gives them a path of repentance in verses 16 & 17. What does He tell them to do? Why? What would it take for them to carry out this kind of righteous pursuit from now on? 
10.    Verse 18 is a heartwarming verse reflecting God’s heart for His people. What does He tell them? In verse 19, what does He promise them? 
11.    Verses 21 to 23 return to the theme of Israel’s sin. What sinful things were the people doing? What righteous things were they not doing? 
12.    In verse 25 & 26, what is the relationship between God’s judgment and their purification? Why would we want to submit to this kind of “refining fire” in our own life? 
13.    In verse 27, when God redeems His people, by what means will He redeem them? 
14.    In verses 28 to 31, what will be the fate of those who are not redeemed? In light of their sins, why is this fate “just” and deserved? 

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