Isaiah 1-12
Historical Setting
Throughout Isaiah’s life Assyria presented a great threat to God’s people. In 853 b.c. Assyria came into direct conflict with Ahab of Israel. In 745 b.c. Menahem of Israel paid tribute money to Tiglath-pileser III. Two kings later, Hoshea rebelled against Assyria. That brought about the destruction and deportation of the northern kingdom of Israel (722 b.c.). Isaiah prophesied before and after the downfall of the northern kingdom of Israel and successfully warned the southern kingdom, Judah, to avoid the same fate by returning to God. Under Hezekiah, the nation repented and was saved from destruction by the Assyrians (701 b.c.). Although the threat of Assyria was diminished, the greater threat of the rising nation of Babylonia loomed in the future. Although Isaiah predicted the Babylonian captivity, he also proclaimed the future restoration of the nation to the glory of God.
The book of Isaiah is centered around three key historical events. The first is the coalition between Syria and Ephraim in the days of Ahaz (Isa. 7–12; cf. 2 Kings 16:5–9). The second is the fall of the northern kingdom of Samaria (722 b.c.; Isa. 28:1ff.). The third is the invasion of Judea by Sennacherib in 701 b.c. (Isa. 36–39).[1]
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Isaiah 1: A Rebellious Nation
Ø What is God’s complaint against Israel?
Ø Why hasn’t Israel been completed wiped out by the Lord? Application for us?
Ø Does God delight in sacrifices? In what does he delight?
Ø Does God give His people a way out of their rebellion? If so, what is it? Any application for us?
Isaiah 2: In The Last Days
Ø What does the term “in the last days” mean? Is there any application for us?
Ø Who will be in reigning on earth in “the last days”?
Ø Will all the wealth of the world be able to help anyone in “the last days”?
Ø How will the fear of the Lord be demonstrated in “the last days”?
Isaiah 3: Judgment
Ø Up to this point in history who has been Israel’s Provider?
Ø What happens when God allows man to rule? Application for us?
Ø Who has brought this mess on Israel? Application for us?
Ø What does this chapter teach us about God’s wrath and judgment?
Isaiah 4:1-5:7: The Branch of the Lord
Ø Who is this Branch of the Lord?
Ø What will differentiate the remnant from the rest of Israel?
Ø Will the Branch be visible and present in Jerusalem during this time?
Ø Who is the vineyard? The keeper of the vineyard?
Ø What does this poem depict?
Isaiah 5:8-30: Woes and Judgments
Ø What does God say about those who seek earthly pleasures? Application?
Ø What does God say about those who doubt Him? Application?
Ø What does God say about those who call evil good? Application?
Isaiah 6: Isaiah’s Commission
Ø What can we learn from Isaiah’s description of God’s throne room?
Ø How did Isaiah respond to being in the presence of God? How does this compare with accounts of people who claim to have been taken into the presence of the Lord?
Ø How did Isaiah respond to God’s call on his life? Application?
Isaiah 7: The Sign of Immanuel
Ø Did God want His people to compromise and align themselves with the pagan nations?
Ø He required that they stand by faith not by sight. Application for us?
Ø God allowed Ahaz to ask for a sign of God’s protection. What was God’s answer?
Isaiah 8: Assyria
Ø What can we learn about God using a pagan country to discipline His people?
Ø What does God think about consulting mediums and spiritists? Application?
Ø What does God want from Isaiah? Does that apply to us also?
Isaiah 9:1-7: The Birth of a Child
Ø Who are “the people walking in darkness”?
Ø Who is “the child” who is given?
Ø How will His rule compare to the other kings?
Isaiah 9:8-10:19: God’s Anger Against Israel
Ø Why was God’s anger about to fall on Israel? Application for us?
Ø List the various complains God has against His people. What can we learn from them?
Ø Why will God punish the instrument He used, the king of Assyria, to humble His people?
Isaiah 10:20-34: A Remnant
Ø What is a remnant?
Ø How are they different form the rest of Israel? Application?
Ø What does the remnant teach us about God’s amazing grace?
Isaiah 11: The Branch from Jesse
Ø Who is the “shoot” who will grow into a “branch”?
Ø How is the “branch” described?
Ø What will life on earth be like when He reigns? Has history ever reported such a time?
Isaiah 12: Songs of Praise
Ø How will the people respond to His reign?
Ø Do you think this is something that happened in Isaiah’s time or any time in history, or is it future? Reasons?
[1] Hughes, R. B., & Laney, J. C. (2001). Tyndale concise Bible commentary. The Tyndale reference library (253). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers.
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