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Today's Bible Reading...
August 2 - Isaiah 5-9
Questions:
1. "The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the house of ___, and the men of Judah
are the garden of his delight. And he looked for justice, but saw ___; for
righteousness, but heard cries of distress. (5:7)
2. "They have harps and lyres at their banquets, tambourines and flutes and
wine, but they have no regard for the ___ of the Lord, no respect for the work
of his hands."
(5:12)
3. "Then sheep will graze as in their own pasture; lambs will feed among the
ruins of the __." (5:17)
4. "Woe to those who draw sin along with cords of ___, and wickedness as with __
ropes."
(5:18)
5. "Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and ___ at mixing drinks."
(5:22)
6. Woe to those "who acquit the guilty for a __, but deny justice to the
innocent." (5:23)
7. "In the year that King __ died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and
exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple." (6:1)
8. "Holy, Holy, Holy is the ___ Almighty; the whole earth is full of his __."
(6:3)
9. "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I __? And who will go
for us? And I said, "___ ___ ___. __ ___!" he said, to me "__ and tell this
people." (6:8)
10. "If you do not stand firm in your ___, you will not stand at all."
(7:9)
11. "The people walking in darkness have seen a great __." (9:2)
12. "For to us a child is born, to us a __ is given, and the government will be
on his shoulders. And he will be called ___ Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting
Father, Prince of __. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be
no end." (9-7)
Chapter 5 is like a funeral. God's vineyard, God's chosen nation had been
fruitless. It will now be abandoned. (See the Vineyard parable - Matthew
21:33-45) The people are criticized for their injustice, greed and drunkenness.
Chapter 6 is Isaiah's call to a special mission. He was called to preach a
message of repentance in order to save Jerusalem from destruction.
Chapter 7 speaks of the future- the wonderful child is the future Messiah.
(Matthew 1:23)
Chapter 8 mentions 3 children: Immanuel from the family of David, and 2 children
from Isaiah's own family, Shear jashub (A remanant shall return) and
Mahershalal-hash-baz (the spoil speeds, the prey hastens).
Chapter 9 One day this same region would have the honor of giving the world the
redeemer, the savior of all humankind.
What can we learn from these verses?
1. The song of the vineyard shows that God's chosen nation did not bear the good
fruit that was required. The fruit was bad. (See Matthew 7:20) What kind of
fruit are we bearing?
2. God condemns exploitation, drunkenness, pride in sin, pride in self, low
moral standards, perverted justice.
3. The people would "party hardy" (5:11-12) and had no respect for God's deeds.
When the people left God out of their lives they allowed sin to come into them.
4. "Woe to those who draw sin along with cords of deceit, and wickedness as with
cart ropes." Some people drag their sins around with them as if they were
pulling a cart. Sin become a burden to us. Repent of your sin and be free of the
burden. Replace it with God's joy and peace and a purpose for living.
5. Isaiah had to tell people who believed they were blessed by God that instead
God was not pleased and was going to destroy them because of their disobedience.
We have that mission today.
6. Isaiah realized that he was unclean before God. In response to Isaiah, God
cleansed him. Isaiah submitted himself to God's service. He said, "Here am I.
Send me!" Can you pray this prayer today? Remember, before we can speak for God
we must be cleansed as Isaiah was cleansed. Confess and submit to God.
7. God told Isaiah that the people would listen but not understand. Their hearts
were hardened beyond repentance. Although the nation itself would not repent and
judgment would come, there would be a remnant who would listen and be faithful.
8. Ahaz looked righteous because he said he would not test God with a sign.
Notice that God had told him to ask. Sometimes we use an excuse such as not
wanting to bother God, to keep us from communicating with God. God is interested
in all of your concerns. Nothing is too big or too small to bring before the
throne of God.
9. In a time of great darkness, God sends a light. Jesus is our light. He came
to deliver us from our slavery to sin.
Prayer: God, search me, cleanse me, mold me, make me to be what you need me to
be. I give myself to you. Now lead me and guide me through this day. Empower me
with you Spirit. Anoint me to do your work. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
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