BSF Study Questions Isaiah Lesson 25, Day 5 Isaiah 56:9-57:21

Summary of passage:  Israel’s watchmen (leaders) are blind, ignorant, mute, lazy, gluttonous, drunks, and self-satifying.  They seek their own way for his own gain.  The righteous suffer at their hands but God will bring them peace.  The watchmen mock the righteous when they themselves have turned to idols, lusting after them, human sacrifices, and pagan symbols.  They have forsaken God and even though abandoning God has wearied them, still they turn to idols.  The watchmen no longer fear God nor remembered Him instead relying on their own works.  When they cry for help, let your idols whom a mere breath of the wind will blow away save them!

But he who makes God his refuge will inherit the land and possess God’s holy mountain.  For God lives in a high and holy place but he also lives with those who are contrite and lowly in spirit.  He will revive such people.  God will not accuse nor be angry forever for He knows the spirit of man will grow faint before Him.  Therefore, God will comfort, guide, heal man, creating praise on man’s lips.  God offers man peace.  But for the wicked there shall be no rest.

Questions:

10a)  Israel’s watchmen are the leaders of God’s people.  They have disregarded God’s people in favor of drink and gluttony.  They turn their own way and seek their personal gain instead of God’s way.  What’s worse is they are supposed to be looking out for the people whom they have abandoned spiritually.  The watchmen ignored the righteous people but God says they will enter into peace.  The watchmen sneered at the righteous and persecuted them, thinking them better when the watchmen have turned to idol worship and would sacrifice their own children.  They have embraced pagan symbols behind closed doors and worshipped Molech.  Despite receiving nothing in return from these foreign gods, the watchmen do not turn to the One True God.  In essence, the watchmen have committed spiritual adultery.

b)  God says when those with false hearts cry for help, their idols will save them–these same idols that the wind will carry off!  They do not fear God nor remember Him.  They trust in themselves.  No peace will be granted for the wicked.  Yet those who make God their refuge will inherit the land and possess His holy mountain.

11)  Contrite means grieving and penitent for sin or shortcoming.  Lowly in spirit is humble.  Constantly ask God for forgiveness for our sins, to be constantly striving to be better and do better.  To be humble before God and others.  To appreciate God’s great works in our lives.

12)  Personal Question.  My answer:  God will live with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit and revive those person’s spirits.  I think I feel God’s presence more in my life.  I strive to be better more and be like Jesus.  I think I’ve been revived by God shining through me and in His purpose for my life.

Conclusions:  I love how God calls out those who disobey Him and who persecute the righteous.  He rakes His supposed watchmen vehemently; yet, at the same time, He assures his people He will not accuse forever nor be angry.  He understands “for then the spirit of man would grow faint before me–the breath of man that I have created.”  The fact that God himself would love man enough to consider how the human spirit can only take so much blows my mind!

God is multi-dimensional.  He condemns and judges yet always in love and not relentlessly.  He will comfort us, heal us, and offer us peace–things man desperately needs.

The first part of Isaiah was tough for me at least.  It’s hard to hear over and over again how man fails and God judges.  And God knows this!  Yet these last two lessons have been such a breath of fresh air to my soul.  To fully grasp Jesus’s suffering for me.  To have God declare He will be my husband.  To have God promise not to be angry at me.  To read Romans 1:16-17 and know I am righteous through no ability of my own but just because God made me so.  Amazing!

At least for me who has been consumed by the book of Isaiah, it’s good to be reminded that Isaiah is just one book of the Bible.  Just one.  There are many, many more that speak of God’s love for me as well as Isaiah.  And God planned that on purpose.  To know repercussions and consequences; yet, also how everything is from His extreme love for me.

BSF Study Questions Isaiah Lesson 25, Day 4 Isaiah 56:1-8; Exodus 31:12-17; Deuteronomy 23:1-8

Summary of passages:  Isaiah 56:1-8:  The Lord says to maintain justice and do what is right for salvation and righteousness are close.  Blessed is he who does this, keeps the Sabbath, and does not do evil.  No foreigner can say the Lord excludes them from His people for foreigners and eunuchs who keep the Sabbaths, pleases the Lord, and keeps the covenant, the Lord will give them everlasting life.  If foreigners serve, love, worship the Lord, keep the Sabbaths and the covenant, then the Lord will bring those to his holy mountain and give them joy in the temple.  Their sacrifices will be accepted and the Lord’s house will be a house of prayer for all nations.  Others will be gathered besides Israel.

Exodus 31: 12-17:  The Lord says to observe the Sabbaths because it is His holy day and so it extends to His people as a holy day.  Anyone who desecrates the Sabbath must be put to death and anyone who does work on that day must be cut off from his people.  The Sabbath shall be a sign between the Lord and the Israelites forever as a symbol of the six days God worked and the one day He rested.

Deuteronomy 23:1-8:  No one emasculated by crushing or cutting (made a eunuch) may enter the assembly of the Lord.  No one born of a forbidden marriage (would be foreign blood if an Israelite married a foreigner) nor any of his descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord.  No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the Lord as punishment when they did not help as the Lord led His people to the promised land.  Do not be friends with them as long as you live (harsh punishment, huh?).  An Edomite is your brother (Edom being founded by Esau, Jacob’s twin brother) as is Egypt since you abided in his country.  After three generations have passed, they may enter the assembly of the Lord.

Questions:

8a)  ”In the gospel, a righteousness goes forth–a righteousness that God delights to see and accept.  This righteousness is the provision of a right relationship with himself through the saving work of Jesus.”  The salvation is the salvation Jesus brought us when he died on the cross.  The righteousness is the gift of righteousness Jesus gave us when he died on the cross.  Through his death we were made righteous (a right relationship with God) through Jesus.  This righteousness is by faith alone from the first to the last (essentially from the beginning of time to eternity).  If you believe in Jesus and accept he died for you then you are made righteous in God’s eyes, which is an act of faith.  To be righteous is to have a right relationship to God.  Essentially, through Jesus’s death, we can have a relationship with God.

“To receive this gift of righteousness is to be justified by faith.  And those who receive the gift then are to live as righteous people, devoted to the service of what God declares to be right.”

All quotes are from Zondervan’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary by Douglas and Tenney.

b)  Verse 7.  The outer courts were the only place the Gentiles could come and pray. They were not allowed inside the inner courts of the temple.  It was not holy ground and non-Jews were not permitted there.  Buying and selling were permitted as well but mainly for sacrificial animals and money exchanges for tithes.  Jesus got mad because the outer court had become more of a market motivated by profit than for religious purposes.  Also, the market had grown so big that the merchants were pushing out those who had just come to pray.  The religious intentions had turned into a bazaar of exchanging goods and services; whereas God’s expectations had been for worship only.  (Some phrases summarized from Zondervan’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary).

9a)  All foreigners and eunuchs–all nations.  Traditionally, foreigners and eunuchs were excluded from worshiping God (Exodus 12:43, Deuteronomy 23:1, 3, 7-8, Leviticus 21:18-20).  Israel had come to be arrogant as God’s chosen people during their exile, thinking only of themselves and how God was only for them.  But here God says no–I love all people.

b)  In John 10:14-16, Jesus explains He has other sheep (the Gentiles) whom He will bring also.  They listen to Him and shall be one flock (shall be as equal as the Jews on the same footing).  Acts 8:26-40 tells how an angel of the Lord sent Philip to explain the Bible and baptize an Ethiopian eunuch (so both a foreigner and a eunuch).  The Spirit of the Lord was present.  In Acts 10:34-38 Peter realizes Jesus’s death was for all.  Jesus himself never discriminated while on earth.  While Peter was talking the Holy Spirit came on all circumcised believers and he baptized them all.

c) Personal Question.  My answer:  Unbelieving family members

Conclusions:  I LOVED Acts 8: 30-31 “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.  ”How can I,” he said (the Ethiopian eunuch), “unless someone explains it to me?”  Awesome!  I am so excited BSF has embraced such a goal.  I wish other churches and bible studies would be as effective.  Explaining the Bible so we can understand and when we understand we can do better, be better, and share the gospel as Jesus instructed.  Great stuff!  Sometimes I wonder if my church has this at its heart when it’s mission statement is to bring others into a growing relationship with Jesus.  I think they forget the growing part of it and just focus on accepting Jesus and then you’re on your own.

This was a rough lesson for me in many ways.  Question 8a once again challenged my thinking on what is righteousness (something I’m still trying to get a grasp of in my mind).  Romans is such a key passage in all the Bible that I’m still struggling to get.  I had to read about the inner and outer courts to make sure I understood why Jesus was so upset and make sure I had it straight who eunuchs were in the Bible.  It took me two days to do this lesson.

I’m not for sure how Exodus ties in here (since no question points to it) besides to make the point of keeping the Sabbath holy and how Isaiah repeatedly stated if foreigners keep the Sabbath holy, then they are accepted by God.  I’m assuming this is for emphasis and to show its importance to God.  Therefore, it is a requirement to be accepted by God in the Old Covenant as Isaiah records in Isaiah 56.

End Note:  Traditionally, eunuchs are castrated males, usually slaves turned into servants who serve for a king and tend his harem of women so no adultery can occur.  They also attend the king as well.  Castration was also a form of punishment for rape in ancient China.  It was also used for religious purposes.

Biblically speaking, the term eunuch could have referred not only to castrated men but also to a male official or confidant.  The Hebrew word had both meanings.  The context must be taken into account to get the full picture.  Here, I’m thinking Isaiah is referring to the castrated male since no one with imperfections could enter the inner courts (which included those cut–Deuteronomy 23:1).

BSF Study Questions Isaiah Lesson 25, Day 3 Isaiah 55

Summary of passage:  Come, all who are thirsty.  You will need no money just come, buy, and eat!  There is no cost.  Why waste money and labor on what does not satisfy?  Listen and eat of what is good and your soul will delight in the richest of fares.  Listen and come so your soul may live.  God will make an everlasting covenant with you just like He did with David who was a witness, leader, and commander of peoples.  God has endowed you with splendor so surely nations will come and hasten to you just like for King David.

Seek the Lord and call on Him while you can (before it’s too late).  Turn from your wicked ways towards the Lord who will have mercy on you and will forgive you.  God’s thoughts and ways are not our thoughts and ways.  His are as far away as the heavens are from the Earth.

God’s word will accomplish what He desires and achieve His purposes as surely as the rain and snow water the earth and make it flourish.  You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace as the mountains sing before you–all because you listened to His word.  An everlasting sign for God’s renown will be the flourishing of the pine tree instead of the thornbush and the myrtle instead of the briers (His restoration of the earth and ultimately us).

Questions:

6a)  Personal Question.  My answer:  Through faith, God will fill up every hole inside of you.  You will never thirst nor hunger again.  Living waters will flow through you and your soul will live if you will but come, listen, eat, and be satisfied.  You will find rest in God’s everlasting covenant with you.

b)  God promises He will keep giving gifts of leaders and commanders to the people like David was.  Nations will flock to David/Israel/leaders because the Lord has endowed you (David/Israel/leaders) with splendor.

7a)  Seek the Lord while He may be found (now.  When our hearts yearn for Him) and call on Him while He is near (ask to receive Jesus and God into your hearts to receive His blessings now-death could be tomorrow).  Repent, turn to the Lord, and receive His forgiveness.

b)  God’s thoughts and ways are higher over our thoughts as ways as the heavens is from the Earth.  God does not think nor act like us.  He is pure.  We simply aren’t.  This should keep us humble and challenge us to be as Christ-like as possible.  To seek Him.

c)  Isaiah 53:5  Jesus’s punishment has brought us peace and His wounds have healed us.  Isaiah 49:6  Be a light for Israel and the Gentiles and bring salvation to all nations on earth.  Isaiah 42:1-4  He will bring justice to the nations and everyone will hope in Him.

d)  Personal Question.  My answer:  I now have the utmost confidence Jesus is the only way to God, Heaven and eternal life.  Otherwise, the alternative is Hell.  I knew this before but it wasn’t firmly in my heart.  Jesus was but the conviction of Hell wasn’t.  So now I am more determined to spread the Good News before it’s too late to those around me or whom I come in contact with.

Conclusions:  Another great passage.  Packed full of nuggets we all need to remember.  So uplifting and demonstrative of God’s love.  When people say God is judgmental or exclusive or what have you, this is the passage to point them to.  God is for everyone if you will but drink.  Does it get any more simpler?

My favorite verse is verse 2:  ”Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?”  I apply this literally in my life.  It reminds me of what is important.  We all have limited resources and I’d rather spend mine on God’s work and what He wants me to spend money on and not on things that ultimately does not satisfy–things void of any worth.

I also like Verse 8:  ”For my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways.”  I always try to remember this when bad things occur in my life.

I wish BSF would have done a question on Verses 10-13 which are so beautiful and shows the power of God’s word.  God’s words are never empty and He achieves His set purposes even though we don’t know what that is.  ”You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace” and the mountains and hills will sing before you when you turn to God, His word, and His purpose for your life.

A recurring theme this year for me is the importance of God’s word.

The everlasting sign, His renown will be through His restoration (here of the pine tree and myrtle) but I see this as our restoration as well through Jesus.

BSF Study Questions Isaiah Lesson 25, Day 2 Isaiah 54

Summary of passage:  Sing, O barren woman (those who have never borne a child) because there are more children of desolate woman than otherwise  (you are not alone in your shame).  Enlarge your tent for you will spread out (God will prosper you) and your descendants will dispossess nations and settle desolate cities.

Do not be afraid nor fear disgrace for you will not suffer nor be humiliated.  You will forget the shame of your youth (exile) and remember no more the reproach of widowhood (shameful back then).  The Maker is your husband, the Lord Almighty, Holy One, Redeemer.  He will be there when you are rejected, deserted, or distressed in spirit.

God says in anger I hid my face from you but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you.  I have sworn not to be angry with you nor rebuke you again.  His unfailing love for us will not be shaken nor will his covenant of peace be removed.

The Lord will build you (Israel) with precious stones and strength your walls and battlements.  He will teach all of our sons and they will have peace.  He will establish us in righteousness and remove terror and tyranny.  Those who attack you will surrender to you.

I created you and the destroyer.  Therefore, no weapon will prevail nor any tongue will accuse you.  This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord.

Questions:

3)  A barren woman (one who has never borne a child) who can now sing because now there are more children of desolate woman than of married woman (those who are unfortunate and shamed from the exile), a deserted wife or a young married one who has been rejected (God will rescue Israel from shame as widowhood brought back then and be as a husband–a greater husband than an earthly husband can be), and an afflicted city lashed by storms and not comforted (to those who feel beaten, afflicted, and uncomforted God promises riches and strength).

4)  54:1-3:  Israel will be released from the shame, embarrassment, and humiliation of captivity and exile (like a barren woman felt in Isaiah’s time) because there are more desolate children than happy children.  God will prosper Israel–they will have to enlarge their tents and spread out–both in number of descendants and in prosperity.  The descendants will dispossess nations and settle in desolate cities.

54:4-10:  Do not be afraid nor fear disgrace; Israel will not suffer shame or humiliation like a widow felt. For God is Israel’s husband, the Holy One, the Redeemer and He will call Israel back to their lands and be all things to His people.  The people felt abandoned and angry but God will bring them back with kindness and compassion.  God swears not to be angry with them or rebuke them again.  His unfailing love for Israel will not be shaken nor his covenant of peace be removed.

54:11-17:  God will build His people with riches (those who feel afflicted, lashed, and uncomforted).  All Israel’s sons will be taught by the Lord and will have peace.  Israel will be established in righteousness, tyranny will be far away, terror be removed, and fear vanquished.  Those who attack you will surrender to you.  No weapon forged against the Lord’s servants nor any tongue that accuses them shall prevail as God made both man and the destroyer.  Nothing will defeat His people.

Revelation 21:10, 18-21:  In the New Jerusalem the city will be built of pure gold and precious stones.  It will be made new and be indestructible to the Devil.

5a)  God will never be angry nor rebuke Israel again.  He will never remove his unfailing love nor his covenant of peace.  He will remove the people’s shame, embarrassment and humiliation and replace it with strength and riches.  He is our husband, the Holy One, the Redeemer.  God is all things to us and for us.  He will establish us in righteousness.  No weapon nor tongue forged will come against His people.  He will defeat all enemies (including the Devil) since He created all things.  He showers us with compassion, prosperity, and everlasting kindness.  God is faithful to His promises and to His people.  This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord.

What does God not reveal in this passage?  Does it get any better than His words here?

b) I see a change in attitude from the previous chapters of Isaiah where God was so angry at His people He sent them into exile.  But given the fact He plans to reconcile all of His people (this is looking at it from God’s point of view before He sent Jesus), how can He remain mad at His people?  It’s like a parent when after their kid accidentally burned the house down (extreme example of misbehavior), the parent forgives and his or her love does not vanish for the child.

In Isaiah 52:13-53:12, God is describing His servant whom He sent to save man from his sins.  This is the greatest act God has and ever will done for man (by sacrificing His son for our sins so we can be with God).  This is the greatest act of love for all of mankind.  In Isaiah 54, God is outpouring His love and compassion on His people, promising to be as a husband to them, to prosper them, and to vanquish those who come against His people.

So, considering how God was so angry for disobedience He exiled His people to Him revealing His biggest act of love yet (Jesus’s death for His people) only shows to me how much God loved Israel at the time and now and how He can’t stay angry at them long (just like I can’t with my kids and their puppy-dog eyes).

c)  Personal Question.  My answer:  God’s promise to never be angry nor rebuke His people again gives me great hope, especially when I fail as a human in the course of my life.  That no matter what I do God is there and He loves me even if I sin over and over again.  God will protect me against all things (human and the Devil) and no tongue nor weapon will prevail.  God will be my husband.  As a woman, this one is profound for me.  I usually think of God as a father, not as a husband, which is completely different.  I loved this.  God will be with me as one as my husband is.  Profound and requires deeper pondering.

Conclusions:  Does BSF get any better than this?  Powerful lesson.  Great words from God through Isaiah.

Many times in my earthly marriage (past and occasionally in the present) I do feel distressed in spirit.  Now, I have comfort that God can fill those voids that my husband can’t.  I can see God in a new way that I just didn’t before.

I initially misunderstood question 5b.  The question is not as clear as it should be.  I think BSF is asking this, “Considering God’s reconciliation through His son Jesus (Isaiah 52:13-53:12), why would God have such a drastic change in attitude toward His people in light of the previous chapters where God warned and warned His people and in the end had to resort to punishment and judgment? This is how I’m interpreting the question.

But the underlying message is the same regardless:  God loves us so much He sent His son and promises to protect us always.  God punished his people and exiled them out of His incredible love.  He sent His son our of the same love.

After all the gloom and doom of the many months we endured of Isaiah telling us how horrible we all are, this passage was a breath of fresh air.  Despite all the bad man does and will do, God still loves us.  Always has.  Always will.  Even if we don’t feel that love or we think He had hidden his face from us.

I am grateful for Enduring Word for explaining this passage so I can understand it:

http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/2354.htm