Isaiah 41:1-29 In Isaiah 41:8 God speaks of “Israel, my servant,” (NRSV) and in 42:1 he introduces “my servant.” Who is this servant? Is it Israel/Jacob, the ancestor of the Israelites? The nation of Israel? The Messiah/Christ, identified in the New Testament as Jesus? There are two kinds of references to servants of God woven through Isaiah 41-53. … Continue reading –>
Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week’s Study: Isa: 41:1-29, Isa: 42:1-7, Isa: 44:26-45:6, Isa: 49:1-12. Memory Text: “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles” (Isaiah 42:1). “Many feel that it would be a great privilege to visit the scenes … Continue reading –>
Seven Little Fishers of Men By Andrew Mcchesney, Adventist Mission What is the power of a small group? The pastor of a Seventh-day Adventist church in northeastern Mexico announced to its 60 members that they should form small groups to meet during the week. Each group should have a name, a motto, a goal, and … Continue reading –>
Further Study: Read Ellen G. White, “Behold Your God!” in Prophets and Kings, pages 311-321. “In Isaiah’s day the spiritual understanding of mankind was dark through misapprehension of God. Long had Satan sought to lead men to look upon their Creator as the author of sin and suffering and death. Those whom he had thus deceived, … Continue reading –>
Isa: 40:19-20 Idolatry destroys a unique, intimate relationship with God by replacing Him with something else ( Exodus 20.4-5; Isa: 42:8). So, prophets refer to idolatry as spiritual “adultery” (Jer: 3:6-9, Ezek: 16:15-19). Read Isaiah 41:29. How does Isaiah characterize idols? How do you understand what he is saying there about them? Why is that so accurate a depiction of … Continue reading –>
Isa: 40:12-31 How does Isaiah 40 develop the themes of God’s mercy and power? Throughout this chapter,a God’s mercy and power are interwoven (see below) and even blended together, because they are both necessary in order for God to save His people. He wants to save them, because He is merciful; He is able to save … Continue reading –>
Isaiah 40:9-11 What kind of event is described in Isaiah 40:9-11? Later in Isaiah there appears a male herald of good news for Jerusalem (Isa: 41:27, Isa: 52:7). But in Isaiah 40:9 the herald to proclaim “Here is your God!” (NRSV) from a mountain is feminine, a fact brought out in the Hebrew. In Psalm 68, David praises God because He … Continue reading –>
Isa: 40:3-8 How do God’s people receive comfort? Isa: 40:1-8. An unnamed herald announces that God is coming to reveal His glory (Isa: 40:3-5). Another voice proclaims that although humans are transient like foliage, “the word of our God will stand forever” (Isa: 40:8, NRSV). After the exile, God’s people gain back what they had received at Mount Sinai … Continue reading –>
Isaiah 40.1-2 In Isaiah 40.1-2, God comforts His people. Their time of punishment has finally ended. What punishment is that? Is this punishment administered by Assyria, the rod of God’s anger (Isaiah 10), from which God delivered Judah by destroying Sennacherib’s army in 701 B.C. (Isaiah 37)? Or is it the punishment administered by Babylon, which would … Continue reading –>
Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week’s Study: Isaiah 40.1-2; Isaiah 40.3-8; Isaiah 40.9-11; Isa: 40:12-31. Memory Text: “Get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, you who bring good tidings, lift up your voice with strength, lift it up, be not afraid; say to the cities of Judah, ‘Behold your God!’ ” (Isaiah 40:9). World War II … Continue reading –>
