As You Go

Summary

Continuing the story of King Ahaz, Isaiah anticipates a new king who will rule on the throne. It will be like the sun dawning, bringing in a new day. War will be displaced by joy. Reality again is mixed with God’s ideal future as the rest of the chapter outlines the downward spiral of Israel. The stump is pictured to be sprouting a new branch. The failed kings of Israel will be revived by a new king who deserves to sit on the throne.

God

Life without hope leaves us vulnerable and empty. God wants to give evidence to Ahaz about God’s saving, protective care. God doesn’t need many to bring victory. God brings victory out of hopelessness. So why does God spend so much time communicating the dark and depressing reality of Israel’s story? Speak reality to spark realisation. Trust in God because look how everything else is failing you.

Gospel

It is good news that Jesus sits on the throne. Jesus is the king of justice and righteousness. Jesus is so different to Ahaz. Jesus was willing to empty himself to bring peace and fairness to this world. Those who sat on the throne before Jesus stuffed up and were power hungry. Jesus is the true king who deserves the throne.

Reflection

What might be holding you back from putting your hope in Jesus today?

Summary

World leaders planning evil conspiracies. They plot in the dark the downfall of good people. Isaiah is given special insight to what is coming against God’s people. While everyone is worried, Isaiah warns “not to think like everyone else does.” (Isaiah 8:11). They are not to live in dread like everyone else does. People live in longing and confusion. God is more powerful than any human conspiracy or plan. Instead they must listen to God and they will be secure - knowing that God is with us and above it all.

God

Waters of Shiloh is calm and gentle in comparison to the vicious flooding of the Euphrates. This is a picture of God. God is different from other gods. It is easy to wonder what God is up to and why he is allowing these things to happen. God is not surprised by evil and will bring his plans to fruition. We are called not to rely on ourselves or turn to the darkness, but to continue listening to God’s Word (Isaiah 8:20).

Gospel

It is good news that God doesn’t want us to live in fear. Jesus came to take our fear away and to give us peace. Jesus commands us to not worry. Look to God’s creation to learn how to trust God. We must instead seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you (Matthew 6).

Reflection

What fears might you hand over to Jesus today?

Summary

War is coming. Ahaz, king of Jerusalem is afraid as three different armies have gathered to attack the city. Isaiah arrives to challenge the King to trust in God. Instead Ahaz argues with Isaiah choosing to continue down his path of doing things his own way. Isaiah warns that this “big threat” will be gone in only a few months (by the time a new born baby starts eating baby food). If they don’t trust God, Israel will be wiped out too. Instead of the garden God wants them to be, they will be an infertile field.

God

We can see God inviting Ahaz to try following and believing. Yet he isn’t willing to listen. God tries to reach us and guide us even if we don’t want to go his way. God’s goal is to strengthen us. The sad story is how often we neglect God.

Gospel

It is good news that even with human failure and faithlessness God is still with us. God is with us when we are afraid, when surrounded by troubles, and when we give up. God gives a promise of a child born in a war. God is promising a future peace when things look bleak. While people reject and ignore God - he still wants to be with them. This is the promise that looks forward to Jesus - who is God with us (Matthew 1:23).

Reflection

Read the encounter King Ahaz had with Isaiah. What is God saying to Ahaz that you can apply to yourself?

Reflection

Read Isaiah’s call to ministry. What do you think is important about Isaiah’s experience?

Read Isaiah 6 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+6&version=NLT

Summary

Isaiah steps into the throne room of heaven where worship of God is eternal and God is exalted. Isaiah sees himself clearly (maybe for the first time?) His despair is replaced with joy when an angel cleanses him with burning coal from the altar. Isaiah is excited to serve God. God warns that success is not the goal but faithfulness.

God

God is holy. This means He is not like anything else we’ve encountered. He is different to us. When we encounter God we see ourselves more clearly. We see our world differently. While God is different, he doesn’t want to be distant and so despite our feeling of difference he makes it possible for us to discover him.

Gospel

It is good news that when we feel we can’t do it, God makes it possible. The coal from the altar takes away Isaiah’s guilt and forgives the sins. Jesus is referred to as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). Isaiah was seeing Jesus who takes broken people who realise they are unworthy and works in them to make them new people. Even if you have failed and done bad things - God sees you not as a dead tree deserving fire but as a new sapling starting again (Isa. 6:13).

Reflection

Reflect on the Vineyard Song. What do you think Isaiah is challenging you to do differently?

Read Isaiah 5 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+5&version=NLT

Summary

God intends one thing for us, but we choose our own ways. God planted the vineyard to produce grapes but it produced something different. The entire chapter is a tragic song about how easy it is to taint and twist God’s plan. God’s good intentions can easily become evil human inventions.

God

God makes light, good, and sweetness. The song of the vineyard has God longing for good grapes. It is sad when God’s gifts are twisted to be dark, evil, and sour. The response in this chapter is anger - he tears up the garden, pulls down the walls, and abandons the vineyard. It’s not his desire for his garden to grow wild - but he won’t let it go out of control.

Gospel

It is good news that God still has a plan when the weeds come in. The picture of a garden reminds us of Genesis 3 and looks forward to Revelation 21. While he has to prune back, he will plant new plants and grow a new garden. Just because sin is part of the story, it doesn’t mean it’s the end of the story. The story doesn’t end with a desolate land but with a renewed garden. God prunes the weeds but his plan hasn’t failed - Jesus is still coming and He still has a plan. God takes the initiative to deal with the problem of evil; a problem not of his own making.

Reflection

Read Isaiah’s vision about Jerusalem. What is the difference between God’s future ideal (2:2-5) and Israel’s present reality (2:6-22)?

Read Isaiah 2 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+2&version=NLT

Summary

Isaiah sees the possibility of what God’s people could become. The rest of the chapter highlights what they currently are doing. Israel has asserted themselves with pride and arrogance, but in the end “the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.” (2:17)

God

God’s Law and way of living was intended to be spread across the entire world. All people living in love. A world at peace again. No division or fighting. God’s goal is not pain and suffering but peace and love. God is striving for peace and all his energy is invested towards this goal. The reality of this world is the choices of humanity rejecting God producing brokenness.

Gospel

God begins his salvation of the entire world at Jerusalem. “The arrogance of man will be brought low and human pride humbled” (2:17). God first humbles himself before he humbles others. Jesus humbled himself to the point of death on the cross - showing the world what evil and sin does. Now He is exalted and one day the entire world will worship before him (Philippians 2:5-11). From Jesus’ empty tomb comes the transformation of a broken world.

Reflection

Read Isaiah’s message to the worshippers and leaders. What do you sense God saying that you need to hear too?

Read Isaiah 1:10-31 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+1%3A10-31&version=NLT

Summary

Isaiah watches corrupt worshippers pretending to follow God. He’s annoyed by the disconnection between religious practice and social influence. He sees hands coated in blood lifted up to God in prayer. Now is the time to wash hands and make a change. “Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows” (1:17). Appreciate God’s forgiveness for yourself, then live for God’s justice and righteousness for others.

God

God does not want people pretending they are better than they are - he wants authenticity. That’s why He is so direct here. With a reality check and the truth comes transformation. God is also identifying himself with the vulnerable and disadvantaged. If you want to get close to God then you need to get close to the vulnerable. My cleansing produces my change.

Gospel

It’s good news that forgiveness and justice go hand in hand. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them white as snow.” God promises to wash away the mistakes and evil I have practiced. He may forgive me, but the pain can’t be deleted from the world. So going forward instead of hurting people, I become part of his plan for healing people. God washing my hands deletes possible future evil I would’ve caused and makes me part of the solution.

Reflection

Read Isaiah’s public announcement. What is God saying that you need to hear too?

Read Isaiah 1:1-9 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+1%3A1-9&version=NLT

Summary

“The children I raised and cared for have rebelled against me.” In the introductory lines of Isaiah’s book we are hearing a public announcement made on behalf of God. It is filled with disappointment because of rejection. Even though Israel rejected God and did terrible things, God will not let them go. Isaiah’s messages are evidence of God’s plan to redeem them. 

God

Whenever we read the Bible, we are learning about God’s character and how God relates to us. In these first lines of Isaiah we see that God does not give up on us even when we fail. Bad choices produce bad consequences (mostly). Yet despite the consequences, God gives a future hope. We see God’s persistence to help us grow and move past our current failures. God won’t give up on you easily. You may be giving up on God but He has never given up on you.

Gospel

Isaiah uses a graphic image of sickness and wounds. It’s good news that even though there is an injury, Isaiah sees a medicine. A sick person wants only one thing: to get better. We easily inflict pain on others and we are in pain ourselves. We don’t read with feelings of guilt and despair but hope. Jesus assured us he is the good doctor and he comes for sick people “who know they are sinners.” (Mark 2:17) The good news is that it is not terminal. Isaiah speaking means there is still hope of healing.

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