Hunter / Ortlund Isaiah

A 12-Week Study
1. Auflage 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4335-3437-9
Verlag: Crossway
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 0 - No protection

E-Book, Englisch, 96 Seiten

Reihe: Knowing the Bible

The Knowing the Bible series is a new resource designed to help Bible readers better understand and apply God's Word. Each 12-week study leads participants through one book of the Bible and is made up of four basic components: (1) Reflection questions designed to help readers engage the text at a deeper level; (2) 'Gospel Glimpses' highlighting the gospel of grace throughout the book; (3) 'Whole-Bible Connections' showing how any given passage connects to the Bible's overarching story of redemption culminating in Christ; and (4) 'Theological Soundings' identifying how historic orthodox doctrines are taught or reinforced throughout Scripture. With contributions from a wide array of influential pastors and church leaders, these gospel-centered studies will help Christians see and cherish the message of God's grace on each and every page of the Bible. Pastor Drew Hunter helps readers understand and apply the challenging words of the prophet Isaiah in this 12-week study. Isaiah's prophecy, which alternates between promises of judgment and restoration, reminds God's people of the magnitude of humanity's sin, the judgment that we all deserve, and how God displays his glory by saving sinners. Throughout the study, Hunter continually shows how Isaiah's promise of cosmic renewal ultimately anticipates the work of Jesus Christ, the servant-king whose death would result in new life for all who trust in him.

Drew Hunter (MA, Wheaton College) is the teaching pastor at Zionsville Fellowship in Zionsville, Indiana. He is the author of Made for Friendship and the Isaiah and Matthew volumes in the Knowing the Bible series. Drew and his wife, Christina, live in Zionsville, Indiana, and have four children.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Hunter, Drew

Ortlund, Dane

Leseproben

WEEK 2: CONFRONTATION AND HOPE FOR GOD’S PEOPLE

Isaiah 1:1–5:30

  

The Place of the Passage

This first section introduces the book and, in doing so, introduces the problem God addresses through the prophet Isaiah. “Children have I reared and brought up,” God says, “but they have rebelled against me” (Isa. 1:2). The people who were supposed to be a holy nation are a “sinful nation” (1:4). Even as Judah’s sin is thoroughly confronted, this first section also gives us a glimpse of God’s purposes to bring grace for his people and, indeed, for the whole world.

The Big Picture

Isaiah 1–5 shows us the depth of Judah’s sinfulness, the judgment they deserve, and the grace that God promises to bring to them and the rest of the world.

Reflection and Discussion

Read through the complete passage for this study, Isaiah 1–5. Then review the questions below and write your notes on them concerning this introductory section to Isaiah’s prophecy. (For further background, see the , pages 1240–1250; also available online at www.esvbible.org.)

1. God’s Confrontation of Judah’s Sin (1:1–30)

As the heavens and earth are called into the courtroom as witnesses, God announces the charge against his people (Isa. 1:2–6). What are they accused of? Referring to Judah as “children” or “sons” of God highlights their great privilege (v. 2). It also points to God’s patience, for he graciously endured their rebellion from the time he first called them his “son” at the exodus1 (Ex. 4:22–23; Deut. 14:1). How does this help us to see the great offense of Israel’s ongoing problem?

“What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? . . . I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats” (Isa. 1:11). At first glance, it appears God is rejecting the very acts of worship he previously required of his people in Leviticus. Yet 1:10–20 shows it is hypocrisy, not worship, that God opposes. The ordinances were always intended to foster true godliness, which would be demonstrated in humble purity of heart and energetic promotion of others’ well-being. According to verses 13–17, how did Israel divorce these worship practices from their original purposes? In what ways is religious hypocrisy seen today?

“How the faithful city has become a whore” (Isa. 1:21). The covenant God made with Israel after the exodus was viewed as a marriage covenant (54:5). Why does Isaiah use such shocking language here? What does this tell us about the way God views sin?

2. God’s Promises of Judgment and Grace (2:1–4:6)

From their first appearance in Genesis 49:1 onward, phrases such as “in the latter days” (Isa. 2:2) are often used in contexts charged with end-time expectations, typically connected to the establishment of God’s kingdom and the redemption of his people (Gen. 49:1, 10; Num. 24:14–19; Deut. 4:30–31; Dan. 2:28–35; Hos. 3:5). The focus here is on a future exaltation of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Since gods in the ancient Near East were thought to dwell at the heights of mountains, what is Isaiah communicating by insisting on the exaltation of God’s dwelling place over all? What results of this exaltation appear in Isaiah 2:1–5?

“For you have rejected your people . . . ” This begins the lengthy section announcing God’s approaching judgment against his people’s rebellion (Isa. 2:6–4:1). Review 2:8, 17–18; 3:8, 14–16 (note also 1:21–23). What has Israel done to deserve judgment? Since we can learn what God is by hearing what he is , what does this section teach us about God?

How is Isaiah 2:22 a fitting command in light of the promise of a day when “the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and the LORD alone will be exalted” (v. 17)?

We saw the numerous reasons for Israel’s condemnation in Isaiah 2–3. Yet in a surprising entrance of grace, God promises to provide “the branch of the LORD,” the Messiah2 (4:2). Read Jeremiah 23:5–6; 33:15; Zechariah 3:8–9; 6:12–13. Who is “the Branch,” and what else will he do?

3. God’s Condemnation of Judah’s Sin (5:1–30)

Israel was God’s “pleasant planting” and carefully cultivated vineyard (Isa. 5:7). Yet as Isaiah sings about this vineyard in 5:1–7, we learn that they failed to produce the fruit of righteousness that God expected. They brought forth only unwanted “wild grapes” (v. 4). In 5:8–30 a cycle of six “woes” shows us some of these bitter fruits of Israel’s degenerate character. What are they?

This section ends with a terrifying scene (Isa. 5:26–30). The sovereign God will summon nations, including Assyria, to carry out his judgment against his people. There only remains a picture of “de-creation,”3 darkness, and chaos (v. 30). What have we already seen about God’s character and promises in chapters 1–4 that gives assurance that there is still hope?

Read through the following three sections on , , and . Then take time to consider the these sections may have for you.

Gospel Glimpses

INVITATION. When Adam and Eve rebelled against God in Eden, they were sent away from his presence. As their descendants, we’re all born outside of God’s presence and continue to rebel against him. Yet God invites us back. Even after Israel provoked God with their many sins, he still extended an invitation of grace: “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isa. 1:18). It is ultimately the blood of Jesus that cleanses us in this way (1 John 1:7). He invites us to “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).

SURPRISING GRACE. Throughout Isaiah 2:6–4:1, we hear what God will do “in that day”—a day of utter terror for sinners (2:20–21). In 4:2 Isaiah once again says, “in that day,” only this time it is followed by an unexpected, surging wave of grace. Isaiah often introduces grace as a surprise. In this instance, God promises to provide “the branch of the LORD,” the Messiah (4:2). His people will be washed of their filth (4:3–4) and the presence of the God they defied will become their refuge (4:5–6; note 3:8). God’s surprising grace to sinners should never get old. The New Testament words, “But God,” should always awaken fresh wonder. “And you were dead in the trespasses . . . . . . made us alive together with Christ—by you have been saved” (Eph. 2:1, 4–5).

Whole-Bible Connections

GOD’S FAITHFUL CITY AND BRIDE. Because Israel rejected God, “the faithful city has become a whore” (Isa. 1:21). They are like a faithful city that has become faithless, and a bride who abandoned her marriage covenant. Yet Isaiah looks to the future and sees restoration: “Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city” (1:26). She will be a faithful city and bride because of Jesus Christ, who loved her and gave himself up for her on the cross (Eph. 5:25). Revelation describes the ultimate fulfillment of Isaiah’s promise: “I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Rev. 21:2; note also vv. 10–11).

THE TRUE VINE. “Let me sing for my beloved my love song concerning his vineyard” (Isa. 5:1). Using the metaphor of a vineyard, Isaiah’s song retells Israel’s history from their initial “planting” in Canaan to their continual failure to bear righteous fruit (5:1–7). While Isaiah sees destruction coming in the future (5:5–6), the psalmist later writes from the midst of it and pleads for God to “have regard for this vine” (Ps. 80:14). This is the background to Jesus’ announcement, “I am the...