Today's Bible Study Lesson
“Isaiah: Offering Hope for the Future”
Aim: Consider
how
God’s promise of mercy will triumph over God’s judgement,
Believe
that
an essential characteristic of God’s nature is forgiveness,
and Rejoice
in
the manifestation of God’s love in our own lives.
Background: Isaiah
29
Bible Lesson:
Isaiah
29:13-24
Memory
Verses:
“They
also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that
murmured shall learn doctrine.” Isaiah
29:24 KJV
Some
Highlights:
-
Isaiah
was one of the greatest prophets of his time. His name means
“Yahweh is the source of Salvation.” His time of ministry was
greater
than 60 years and
spanned
the reign of five kings: Uzziah, Jotham,
Ahaz, Hezekiah, and Manasseh. His prophesy consisted of pleas for
the people of Israel to turn from their wicked ways back to their
True,
Living
and Loving
God. He reminded them that God
offered forgiveness and restoration to
those would turn from their wicked ways.
-
Isaiah
Chapter 29 opens with “Woe to you Ariel (Jerusalem) where David
settled! Add year to year and let your cycle of festivals go on.”
This is a warning that God had allowed the people to continue to
drift
further and further from God.
As always there is a day of reckoning and it would be no different
for them. The early portion of the chapter describes their
punishment at the hands of pagan nations and God’s punishment of
the pagan nations that ruthlessly attached Jerusalem.
-
Our
Study begins in verse 13 of Isaiah Chapter 29, where
the prophet speaks the Words of God. He accuses the people of
worshiping Him with their mouth and with their lips, but their
hearts were
far from Him. In other words, their worship of God was not sincere.
They were more interested in man-made rules and rituals than in
worshipping God in Spirit and in Truth. Because of their actions,
God promised to bring
about such
marvelous works and wonders that even those who were considered
wise and intelligent, but actually spiritually blind, would be
confounded and would
be unable to
give an
explanation for what they would
see and experience. These
works and
wonders would
draw some to God
and push some away.
-
Next
there is another Woe, it is to those who go to great measures to
hide their plans of evil from the Lord. They believe that darkness
can keep their evil plans and actions from the sight
of the Living
God. Humans may be fooled, but there is no hiding from God. He is
all knowing, all powerful, and in all places at the same time.
-
It
is clear that the people had
become confused and turned things upside down. Isaiah uses the
metaphor of a potter and clay. The clay which represents the people
are telling the Potter, God that they know more than
God who
made them. It is God, the Creator, who has the say of how the clay,
the people will be shaped and how
the
resulting vessel will
be
used.
-
Next,
Isaiah refers to a future time when
Christ reigns
on earth when spiritually the
deaf
and blind will hear and see God’s Word clearly. Those that are
humble and needy will rejoice in the Lord. Those who are ruthless
and mockers will be removed as well as those who seek to do evil.
Likewise, those who give false witness and ensnare the innocent,
depriving them of true justice will be dealt with according
to their deeds.
-
Finally,
Isaiah brings a message of Hope as he reminds the people of God’s
Covenant with Abraham and God’s faithfulness over the ages.
This points to an
opportunity for
restoration brought about if the people will turn from lip service
worship to true and sincere worship of the True and Living God. Then
the
people will return to giving rightful reverence to God. Even those
wayward in spirit will be convinced of the truth of God’s Word and
will accept Godly Instructions.
Take
Aways:
-
There
is nothing that we can hide from God. Darkness is as noon day light
to Him.
-
We
must be careful to insure
that
our worship of God does not become routine and that we just go
through the motion of giving God praise and thanksgiving for His man
Benefits toward us.
-
We
must remember that there is nothing so terrible
that we can do that God will not forgive, if we come to Him with a
sincere sorrowful spirit and seek His forgiveness.
Bible
Verses to Keep in Mind:
“Search
me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see
if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way
everlasting.” Psalms
139:23-24 KJV
“For
his eyes [are] upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.
[There is] no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of
iniquity may hide themselves.” Job 34:21-22 KJV
“For
as the heaven is high above the earth, [so] great is his mercy toward
them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, [so] far
hath he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalms
103:11-12 KJV
“O
give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good; for his mercy [endureth]
for ever. 1Chronicles
16:34 KJV
“If
we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our]
sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John
1:9 KJV
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