Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. – Psalms 119:11

As we come together, another Friday
Seeking Refuge in the Word of God, today
Let us open our hearts, to receive the Seed
And prepare our minds, ready to feed
Pray and come, with the Spirit willing
In the Word of God, is our life fulfilling.

The Book of Isaiah (Hebrew: ספר ישעיה‎, “Sefer Yeshayahu”) is the first of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible and the first of the Major Prophets in English Bibles. The oldest surviving manuscripts of Isaiah are two scrolls found among the Dead Sea Scrolls; dating from about 150 to 100 BCE.

• Chapters 1-35 (Prophecies of Judgement)
• Chapters 36-39 (A brief history of Hezekiah’s salvation, sickness and sin)
• Chapters 40-66 (Prophecies of comfort and hope)

Isaiah Chapter 1

The book of Isaiah begins with a heading that defines the nature of Isaiah’s message as a ‘vision’ concerning Judah and Jerusalem received during the reigns of four kings of Judah: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. This would place the date of Isaiah’s work approximately 739-690 B.C.

The first chapter serves as an introduction to the entire prophecy, especially the first section of the book

• (Prophecies Concerning Judah And Jerusalem, verses 1-12): God wanted Isaiah to deliver. It begins with what has been described as “The Great Arraignment” (finding fault), in which the Lord indicts (formal accusation) Israel for rebellion.
• The corrupt condition of the nation and city is described and their hypocritical worship condemned (verses 2-15).
• Even so, the Lord offers a call to repentance. For those willing to cleanse themselves and replace their evil doings with justice and compassion, they can be forgiven and eat the good of the land. For those who refuse and continue in their rebellion, they will be devoured by the sword (verses 16-20).
• The last half of chapter contains an announcement of the coming judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem. The corrupt condition of Jerusalem is described, for the ‘faithful’ city has become a ‘harlot.’ The city is full of murderers and rebellious princes who care not for the widows and fatherless, but only rewards and bribes. The Lord promises to purge the city of His enemies and restore good judges and counselors, that she might once again be the ‘faithful’ city. Those who repent will see Zion redeemed with justice and righteousness, but those who continue to forsake the Lord will be consumed. The gardens in which they worshiped idols will be burned like dry vegetation (verses 21-31).

Questions:

1. What is the condition of the city of Jerusalem?
2. What does God want them to do?
3. What is promised to the obedient? To the rebellious?
4. What does God promise to do with Zion?, that is, Jerusalem
5. What will happen to the transgressors and sinners?