Isaiah Study, Part Two

 

I'm still plugging along with my Isaiah study.  The devotional I'm using is very good at explaining each chapter and how it applies to us today.  Here is a summary of Chapters 6-10. 

CHAPTER 6: Isaiah  is envisioning the Holy Majestic God in this chapter. He confessed his sin, received cleansing from, and responded to, God's call. The death of the king of Israel was a crisis for Israel...and a personal crisis for Isaiah.  He was given a fresh view of God...he saw a future for himself and the nation.  The only observable fruit in Isaiah's ministry was his faithful obedience to the call.  However, he was given the hope of a remnant who would also receive God's promised "holy seed".  

For us today this means that crises often cause us to look to God.  We seek Him through scripture and we get perspective of who we are vs who He is. God is completely separate and pure. When we really encounter Him, we are convicted and cleansed of sin....and then we are equipped to be faithful in a crisis. We need to get a fresh look at God's holiness. 

CHAPTER 7: King Ahaz was challenged to trust God in the threat of war. He chose to trust in a godless nation though.  Isaiah promised deliverance and gave a warning.  He prophesied that Immanuel (God with us) would be arriving. God offered to affirm His promise with visible means, but Ahaz refused.  Ahaz made an alliance with Assyria to get deliverance.  They helped, but Judah then experienced deprivation and humiliation in the future.  This was a consequence.

For us today:  how can we keep from being overwhelmed or defeated in threatening situations? There are two things we can do:  we can make a plan to deal with it or we can turn to God and rely on Him.  Believers have Jesus to lean on.  We can choose to focus on God. We can trust His promises and not get discouraged from the earthly perspective.

CHAPTER 8: God told the Judeans to fear Him instead of their enemies. Isaiah was determined to wait for God and to trust Him. Isaiah's family became a picture of God's warning to the Judeans and their trust in foreign alliances vs God. Isaiah's son was a sign of deliverance for the future. Judah's allies would be destroyed but God's people would have God's Presence and His protection.  The prophecy's implications were: reject the alliances based on fear of a common enemy and instead wait and trust God. Isaiah stood for the Lord Almighty.  He encouraged all the people to seek God and His Word vs consulting with mediums/witches, etc.

For us today this means:  our view of God determines how we respond when trouble and confusion come to our lives.  People who don't have Christ look for things or people to offer answers or give security. What do we turn to when we are fearful?  Psychics, horoscopes, colleagues, therapists?? or do we turn to God??  As we submit to God we will have a growing awareness of His Presence. 

CHAPTER 9: God Almighty promised to send His Son to bring the nations out of spiritual darkness into the Light and to establish His Kingdom on earth. Isaiah prophesies about a Deliverer (Jesus/Messiah) coming to earth who will bring joy, prosperity and freedom. He spoke of the 2 advents of Christ:   the infinite Son of God with a birth (God eternal the Prince of Peace/God with us).  In the first advent, Jesus provided peace with God for all who look to the Cross in faith as payment for their sins. The 2nd Advent will be when Jesus returns to earth.  He will establish His Kingdom and peace, justice, righteousness will characterize the world. God will accomplish all  He has promised.  His word is Truth. 

For us today: God has provided everything we need to live in hope and confidence. Jesus gives us wisdom and His constant Presence to guide those of us who are born again Believers. He has the ability to fulfill His plan in and through us. He accepts and loves us unconditionally. We only have to accept his free gift of salvation, believe He died and rose again, and is coming again.  We only need to confess our sins and repent from them. The promise of His coming again fills us with peace and hope. 

CHAPTER 10: God foretold that He would use Assyria as a means of judgement on the Northern Kingdom.  He promised to keep and deliver the ones who followed and looked for Him (God). God was patient toward His sinful people.  But He is also holy and just.  He warned Israel of the coming judgement but their hearts were arrogant and unresponsive. 

For us today: All of us are accountable before God. he won't let our sin go on indefinitely.  When we refuse to respond to God's discipline it will lead to more judgement.  In every generation, God preserves a remnant who turn to Him and live in repentance and restoration.