Sunday School Lesson for March 15 & 22, 2015 Isaiah 1:1-31

Isaiah 1:1-31

Rebels

Isaiah doesn't begin his book with his vision of the Lord calling him to be a prophet (6:1-13). Instead, he leads up to it with 1:1-5:30, prophecies that show the reason for his startling commission. Chapter 1 begins this opening section and in fact summarizes the whole book. Therefore, we've allowed a whole lesson for this one chapter.

Before you begin the questions below, read 1:1-31 carefully. Ask the Lord to guide you as you look for His message to Judah and to you.

Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth! (1:2). The Law of Moses required two witnesses to convict a person of a crime. Therefore, when the Lord established His covenant with Israel, He called the heavens and the earth as the two witnesses who would testify that Israel had promised to love and obey Him (Deut. 19:15; Deut. 30:19; Deut. 31:28; Deut. 32:1). Now the Lord calls His witnesses to review the evidence against Israel, so that they can testify that the people have broken their part of the covenant, while the Lord has kept His part. You will notice a lot of legal language in Isaiah's prophecies.

Daughter of Zion (1:8). Zion is the mountain on which Jerusalem is built. The prophets and psalmists often portray the people of Jerusalem collectively as a young woman.

Sodom... Gomorrah (1:10). Two cities that the Lord utterly destroyed because of their unrepentant wickedness (Genesis 18:20-21; Genesis 19:5, 24-25).

1.  Observe how God described the people of Judah and Jerusalem in 1:1-31. What do these names tell you about their relationship to Him and about how He regarded them?

[my] children (1:2), my people (1:3)

brood of evildoers (1:4), people of Gomorrah (1:10), harlot (1:21)

Sacrifices (1:11-14). God's Law commanded all of the religious acts described in 1:11-14—the burning of animal sacrifices and incense, offerings of agricultural produce, the weekly Sabbath, festivals on the New Moon of each month, and the annual feasts of Passover, Weeks, and Tabernacles.

Fatherless (1:17). These were the most vulnerable members of society, so they became symbolic of anyone powerless to defend himself. Widows and fatherless children were easily defrauded because only males could take legal action, make contracts, and manage property. Also, a family without men to help work the land was often poor.

Sacred oaks... gardens (1:29). God had commanded the Israelites to stamp out the practices of the Canaanites, but instead Israel had adopted those practices alongside the worship of the Lord. The people sought the power of divine (demonic) beings who dwelt in sacred trees and gardens.

2.  How had the people of Judah sinned against their Lord and Father?

1:2-4

1:3

1:15-17, 23

1:29

Desolate (1:7). If this prophecy dates from early in Isaiah's ministry, then he may have foreseen the desolation that came during the next few decades. Aram, the northern kingdom of Israel, Edom, and Philistia all invaded Judah between 740 and 730 bc, Assyria devastated most of the country in 701; Babylon finished the job in 605.

Shelter... hut (1:8). When their fruit was ripe, farmers would set up temporary huts in their fields and vineyards. They would spend the night in the huts, watching for thieving people and animals. After the harvest, such huts were abandoned to decay in the rainy season.

3.  What were the consequences of persistent rebellion (1:5-6, 7-8, 15)?

Eat... be devoured (1:19-20). To emphasize the contrast, these are the same Hebrew verb: "eat... be eaten."

Turn... restore (1:25-26). Again, the same Hebrew word in each case.

 

4.  What two alternatives did the Lord put before the people (1:18-20, 27-28)?

a. the wise thing the people could do

how the Lord would respond

b. the foolish course the people could take

how the Lord would respond

Purge... dross (1:25). Gold or silver ore is melted in fire to remove its impurities, its dross.

 5.  The Lord planned to purge the dross from His people by turning His hand against them (1:25). What was His purpose in doing this (1:26-28)?

6.  What do your observations from chapter 1 tell you about God's character and desires?

Study Skill—Summarizing the Passage

 You will remember more of what you study if you summarize the main teaching of each passage.

7.  How would you summarize the message of chapter 1?

Study Skill—Application

 It can be helpful to plan an application in five steps:

1. Record the verse or passage that contains the truth you want to apply to your life. If the passage is short enough, consider copying it word for word, as an aid to memory.

2. State the truth of the passage that impresses you. For instance: "The Lord hated Judah's worship because the people's professed love of God was false—it didn't move the worshipers to treat others with justice and compassion (1:10-17)."

3. Tell how you fall short in relation to this truth. (Ask God to enable you to see yourself clearly.) For example: "I don't personally cheat anyone, but I don't spend much time seeking justice and encouraging the oppressed either. I'm not even sure I know what that means. I don't know any vulnerable people like widows or orphans—at least, I haven't thought about whether I do."

4. State precisely what you plan to do about having your life changed in this area. (Ask God what, if anything, you can do. Don't forget that transformation depends on His will, power, and timing, not on yours. Diligent prayer should always be part of your application.) For instance: "First, I'm going to pray daily this week to learn who the 'oppressed' are in my community. I don't want to run off championing a cause where the Lord hasn't sent me. I'm going to discuss this with my small group to see if they have any ideas. It occurs to me that Marsha across the street isn't a widow, but she is divorced and her children are effectively 'fatherless.' I wonder how well they are managing? I think my wife and I should drop by with some brownies and find out if Marsha and her family need anything."

5. Plan a way to remind yourself to do what you have decided, such as putting a note on your refrigerator or in your office, or asking a friend or relative to remind you.

6.  Reread your answers to questions 1-7, and read the optional questions in the margins. Then, describe some ways in which you think 1:1-31 applies to Christians in general and you in particular.

7.  What truth from 1:1-31 would you like to apply to your life this week?

8. How do you fall short or want to grow in this area?

9. What steps can you take toward accomplishing this, by God's grace?

10. How can you remind yourself to do this?

11. If you have any questions about 1:1-31 or this lesson, write them here.

(LifeChange Series)