Lessons from Isaiah The God Who Speaks May 7, 2017 Prophets insist that we deal with God as God reveals Himself, not as we imagine Him to be. – Peterson

Isaiah - Malachi Major and Minor Prophets Isaiah is the second most quoted OT book in the NT (Guess the first?) Dead Sea Scrolls 1947 Ministry – 735-681 BC

Background Isaiah – Yahweh Saves We know little about Isaiah – married to a prophetess, had two sons, probably served as an official to King Uzziah, preached mainly to Jerusalem, might have been sawn in two by Manasseh.

Major Themes The Holy One of Israel Sin Judgment – How can God be sovereign when wicked nations rule? Salvation Servanthood The coming Messiah

Peterson Quote “Hanging around with the Holy is risky business. Holy ground is dangerous ground.”

National Backdrop Israel was in major decline as a world power from the Golden Age of David Assyria and then Babylon were taking over the known world Israel was destroyed in 722 BC and Judah would follow in 586 BC Both broke the Covenant via idolatry

Isaiah 1:1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

Isaiah 1:2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against Me.

Isaiah 1:3 The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib, but Israel does not know, My people do not understand.”

Isaiah 1:4 Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged.

Isaiah 1:5-9 Struck down No soundness in your body Raw, unattended wounds of your own making Country/cities burned, devoured by foreigners Heading to the same fate as Sodom

Isaiah 1:10-15 Enough of your burnt offerings No more vain offerings I can’t endure your assemblies My soul hates your feasts I am weary and will hide My eyes from you I will not listen to your prayers

Isaiah 1:16-17 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.

Isaiah 1:16-17 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.

Isaiah 1:18 Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Isaiah 1:19-20 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

For Our Consideration Isaiah had a vision from the God Who speaks – how do we hear the voice of God today? How would thinking through our actions before they are taken help us? What does God think of hypocrisy based on the verses we covered today? What color dominates our life today crimson or white?

Prayer Focus Thank You Father for the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all sin Thank You for new life in Christ Thank You for Your Holy Word that still speaks to us today Thank You for a new day and opportunity to change