A STUDY OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH BY HAROLD HARSTVEDT SOUTH WALTON CHURCH OF CHRIST

A STUDY OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH

BYHAROLD HARSTVEDT

SOUTH WALTON CHURCH OF CHRISTWALTON COUNTY FLORIDA, 32459

THE FOLLOWING CHARTS MAY BE HELPFULIN STUDYING THE PROPHETS

NAMES & DATES IN BLUE ARE APPROXIMATE AND CORRELATED WITH HISTORY

ASSYRIAN EMPIRETIGLATH-PILESER (745-727BC)?SHALMANESER (727-722BC)?

SAMARIA DESTROYED - ISRAEL TAKEN CAPTIVE (722BC)?SENNACHERIB (705-681BC)?NINEVEH DESTROYED (606BC)?

BABYLONIAN EMPIRENEBUCHADNEZZAR (605-562BC)?

TEMPLE DESTROYED - JUDAH TAKEN CAPTIVE (586BC)?BELSHAZZAR (562-539BC)?

MEDO-PERSIAN EMPIRECYRUS (539-530BC)?

BABYLON DESTROYED (536BC)?ZERUBBABEL REBUILDS THE TEMPLE (538-520BC)?

DARIUS (521-486BC)?AHASUERUS (486-464BC)?ARTAXERXES (464-424BC)?

NEHEMIAH REBUILDS WALLS OF JERUSALEM (444BC)?

PROPHET - DATEJONAH (800-750BC)?AMOS (786-746BC)?JOEL (770BC)?MICAH (750-686BC)?HOSEA (748-690BC)?ISAIAH (701-681BC)?NAHUM (663-612BC)?ZEPHANIAH (640-609BC)?HABAKKUK (627BC)?JEREMIAH (626-586BC)?OBADIAH (605BC)?DANIEL (604-555BC)?EZEKIEL (597-573BC)?MALACHI (542-516BC)?HAGGAI (538-520BC)?ZECHARIAH (520-480BC)?

KING / EVENT - DATE

TIGLATH-PILESER (745-727BC)? SHALMANESER (727-722BC)?ISRAEL TAKEN CAPTIVE (722BC)?

NEBUCHADNEZZAR (605-562BC)?BELSHAZZAR (562-539BC)?JUDAH TAKEN CAPTIVE (586BC)?

CYRUS (539-530BC)?BABYLON DESTROYED (536BC)?DARIUS (521-486BC)?

CHRONOLOGY OF BOOKS - PROPHETS - KINGS

JONAH (825-785BC)? JEROBOAM (ISRAEL)

JOEL (800BC)? UZZIAH (JUDAH)AMOS (784BC)? UZZIAH (JUDAH)ISAIAH (760-681BC)? UZZIAH (JUDAH)

HOSEA (785-725BC)? HEZEKIAH (JUDAH)MICAH (785-710BC)? HEZEKIAH (JUDAH)NAHUM (700BC)? HEZEKIAH (JUDAH)

ZEPHANIAH (630BC)? JOSIAH (JUDAH)JEREMIAH (629-588BC)? JOSIAH (JUDAH)HABAKKUK (598BC)? ZEDEKIAH (JUDAH)

CHRONOLOGY OF BOOKS - PROPHETS - KINGS

EZEKIEL (597-573BC)? NEBUCHADNEZZAROBADIAH (588-562BC)? NEBUCHADNEZZAR

DANIEL (606-534BC)? NEBUCAHDNEZZARCYRUS - DARIUS

EZRA (536-456BC)? CYRUS - DARIUSARTAXERXES

HAGGAI (532-512BC)? DARIUSZECHARIAH (532-512BC)? DARIUS

ESTHER (468-456BC)? ARTAXERXESNEHEMIAH (445-433BC)? ARTAXERXESMALACHI (420-397BC)? ARTAXERXES

KINGS OF JUDAH AND ISRAELUNITED KINGDOM

SAUL (1050-1010BC)DAVID (1010-970BC)

SOLOMON (970-931BC)DIVIDED KINGDOM

JUDAH ISRAELREHOBOAM (931-914BC)? JEROBOAM I (931-910BC)?ABIJAM (914-911BC)? NADAB (910-909BC)?ASA (911-871BC)? BAASHA (909-886BC)?

ELAH (886BC)?ZIMRI (885BC)?OMRI (885-874BC)?AHAB (874-853BC)?

JEHOSHAPHAT (871-849BC)? AHAZIAH (853-852BC)?JEHORAM (849-842BC)? JEHORAM (852-841BC)?AHAZIAH (842-836BC)? JEHU (841-813BC)?

JEHOAHAZ (814-798BC)?JOASH (836-796BC)? JOASH (798-793BC)?

KINGS OF JUDAH AND ISRAELDIVIDED KINGDOM

JUDAH ISRAELAMAZIAH (796-767BC)? JEROBOAM II (793-753BC)?UZZIAH (767-742BC)? ZACHARIAH (753BC)?

SHALLUM (752BC)?MENAHEM (752-742BC)?

JOTHAM (742-732BC)? PEKAIAH (742-740BC)?AHAZ (732-727BC)? PEKAH (740-732BC)?HEZEKIAH (727-686BC)? HOSHEA (732-722BC)?MANASSEH (685-642BC)? CAPTIVITY (722BC)?AMON (642-640BC)?JOSIAH (640-609BC)?JEHOAHAZ (609BC)?JEHOIAKIM (609-598BC)?JEHOIACHIN (597-597BC)?ZEDEKIAH (597-586BC)?

CAPTIVITY (586BC)?

WHO WAS ISAIAH?

ISAIAH - MEANS - JEHOVAH HAS SAVED

ISAIAH WAS SON OF AMOS OF THE HOUSE JUDAH

ISAIAH MARRIED A PROPHETESS

ISAIAH HAD TWO SONS

ISAIAH PROPHESIED WITH JEREMIAH AND EZEKIEL

ISAIAH PROPHESIED DURING THESE KINGS OF JUDAHUZZIAH JOTHAM AHAZ HEZEKIAH

ISAIAH DIED DURING THE REIGN OF MANASSEH KING OF JUDAH

OUTLINE BOOK OF ISAIAH

PROPHECIES OF CONDEMNATION 1:1 - 35:10PROPHECIES AGAINST JUDAH 1:1 - 12:6 PROPHECIES AGAINST OTHER NATIONS 13:1 - 23:18 PROPHECIES OF THE DAY OF THE LORD 24:1 - 27:13 PROPHECIES OF JUDGMENT AND BLESSING 28:1 - 35:10 HISTORICAL EVENTS 36:1 - 39:8HEZEKIAH'S DELIVERANCE FROM ASSYRIA 36:1 - 37:38 HEZEKIAH'S DELIVERANCE FROM SICKNESS 38 HEZEKIAH'S SIN 39 PROPHECIES OF COMFORT 40:1 - 66:24PROPHECIES OF ISRAEL'S DELIVERANCE 40:1 - 48:22 PROPHECY OF ISRAEL'S DELIVERER 49:1 - 57:21 PROPHECIES OF ISRAEL'S GLORIOUS FUTURE 58:1 - 66:24

ISAIAH CHAPTER ONE

OUTLINE ISAIAH CHAPTER ONE

CHARGES AGAINST ISRAEL AND JUDAH: V. 1-6INGRATITUDE - INCORRIGIBLENESS - CORRUPTION

JUDGMENT BECAUSE OF THEIR SINS: V. 7-9WHICH BROUGHT ALMOST TO UTTER RUIN

REJECTION OF THEIR SHOW OF RELIGION: V. 10-15GENERAL DEFECTION AND APOSTASY

CALL TO REPENTANCE AND REFORMATION: V. 16-20CHOICE OF LIFE AND DEATH

RUIN TO THOSE THAT WOULD NOT REFORM V. 24

PROMISE OF A HAPPY REFORMATION V. 25-27

READ: ISAIAH 1:1-3

1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the LORD has spoken: "I have nourished and brought up children, And they have rebelled against Me;

3 The ox knows its owner And the donkey its master's crib; But Israel does not know, My people do not consider."

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 1:1-3

1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. 2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the LORD has spoken: “I have nourished and brought up children, And they have rebelled against Me; 3 The ox knows its owner And the donkey its master's crib; But Israel does not know, My people do not consider.”

WHO WAS ISAIAH?WHO DOES THIS VISION CONCERN?

WHO WERE THE KINGS OF JUDAH WHEN ISAIAH PROPHESIED?WHO IS THE LORD CALLING TO WITNESS?

WHAT CHILDREN DID THE LORD BRING UP?WHAT HAVE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL DONE?

WHAT DO THESE ANIMALS KNOW?WHAT DOES ISRAEL NOT KNOW?WHAT DID THEY NOT CONSIDER?


1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

WHO WAS ISAIAH? THE SON OF AMOZISAIAH - MEANS: JEHOVAH SAVES

WHO DOES THIS VISION CONCERN? JUDAH AND JERUSALEM

WHEN DID ISAIAH PROPHESY?KINGS OF JUDAH

UZZIAH - JEHOVAH IS STRENGTH (809-741 BC)?JOTHAM - JEHOVAH IS PERFECT (740-732 BC)?AHAZ - POSSESSOR (740-724 BC?HEZEKIAH - JEHOVAH HAS STRENGTHENED (715-686 BC)?

HOW LONG DID ISAIAH PROPHESY? (754-699 BC)?


2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the LORD has spoken: “I have nourished and brought up children, And they have rebelled against Me;

WHO IS THE LORD CALLING TO WITNESS?READ: DEUTERONOMY 4:26

26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that you will soon utterly perish from the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess. You will not prolong your days in it, but will be utterly destroyed.

READ: DEUTERONOMY 31:2828 Gather to me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, that I may speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth to witness against them.



WHO IS THE LORD CALLING TO WITNESS?READ: EZEKIEL 6:3

3 O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD! Thus says the Lord GOD to the mountains, to the hills, to the ravines and to the valleys: Indeed I, even I, will bring a sword against you and I will destroy your high places.

READ: EZEKIEL 36:11 Son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD!

READ: JEREMIAH 22:2929 O earth, earth, earth, Hear the word of the LORD!



WHO IS THE LORD CALLING TO WITNESS?READ: MICAH 1:2

2 Hear, all you peoples! Listen, O earth and all that is in it!Let the Lord GOD be a witness against you, the Lord from His holy temple.

READ: MICAH 6:22 Hear, O you mountains, the LORD‘S complaint and you strong foundations of the earth. For the LORD has a complaint against His people and He will contend with Israel.



WHAT CHILDREN DID THE LORD BRING UP?READ: EXODUS 4:22-23

22 You shall say to Pharaoh, Thus says the LORD: Israel is My son, My firstborn.

READ: HOSEA 11:44 I drew them with gentle cords with bands of love. I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and I fed them.

READ: HOSEA 11:11 When Israel was a child, I loved him; and out of Egypt I called My son.



WHAT HAD THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL DONE?READ: JEREMIAH 2:7-8

7 I brought you into a bountiful country, to eat its fruit and its goodness. But when you entered, you defiled My land and made My heritage an abomination.

8 The priests did not say, Where is the LORD? And those who handle the law did not know Me. The rulers also transgressed against Me. The prophets prophesied by Baal and walked after things that do not profit.


3 The ox knows its owner And the donkey its master's crib; But Israel does not know, My people do not consider.”

WHAT DO THESE ANIMALS KNOW?READ: JOB 35:11

11 Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of heaven?

READ: JEREMIAH 8:77 Even the stork in the heavens knows her appointed times.And the turtledove, the swift, and the swallow observe the time of their coming. But My people do not know the judgment of the LORD.

READ: JEREMIAH 4:2222 My people are foolish, they have not known Me. They are silly children and they have no understanding.They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.



WHAT DOES ISRAEL NOT KNOW?READ: JEREMIAH 4:22

22 My people are foolish, they have not known Me. They are silly children and they have no understanding.

They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

READ: JEREMIAH 8:77 Even the stork in the heavens knows her appointed times.

And the turtledove, the swift, and the swallow observe the time of their coming. But My people do not know the judgment of the LORD.



WHAT DOES ISRAEL NOT KNOW?READ: MALACHI 1:6

6 A son honors his father and a servant his master. If then I am the Father, where is My honor? If I am a Master, where is My reverence? Says the LORD of hosts to you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, In what way have we despised Your name?



WHAT DID THEY FAIL TO CONSIDER?READ: EXODUS 19:5-6

5 If you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.

READ: ISAIAH 49:77 Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One,to Him whom man despises, to Him whom the nation abhors, to the Servant of rulers: Kings shall see and arise, Princes also shall worship, Because of the LORD who is faithful, The Holy One of Israel. And He has chosen You.



WHAT DID THEY FAIL TO CONSIDER?READ: MALACHI 1:6

6 A son honors his father and a servant his master. If then I am the Father, where is My honor? If I am a Master, where is My reverence? Says the LORD of hosts to you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, In what way have we despised Your name?

READ: ISAIAH 1:4

4 Alas, sinful nation, A people laden with iniquity, A brood of evildoers, Children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the LORD, They have provoked to anger The Holy One of Israel, They have turned away backward.

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 1:4

4 Alas, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity,a brood of evildoers, children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the LORD. They have provoked to anger The Holy One of Israel. They have turned away backward.

HOW DOES ISAIAH DESCRIBE ISRAEL?WHO HAVE THEY FORSAKEN?

WHO DID THEY PROVOKE TO ANGER?WHO IS THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL?



HOW DOES ISAIAH DESCRIBE ISRAEL?REMEMBER THE WOMAN IN THE BASKET

ZECHARIAH 5:7-87 Here is a lead disc lifted up and this is a woman sitting inside the basket.8 He said, This is Wickedness! He thrust her down into the basket and threw the lead cover over its mouth.



WHAT HAPPENED TO ISRAEL?READ DEUTERONOMY 31:29

29 I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you. Evil will befall you in the latter days, because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands.

READ: JUDGES 2:1919 It came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they reverted and behaved more corruptly than their fathers, by following other gods, to serve them and bow down to them. They did not cease from their own doings nor from their stubborn way.



WHO HAVE THEY FORSAKEN?READ: PROVERBS 1:30

30 They would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke.

READ: JEREMIAH 7:2424 They did not obey or incline their ear. They followed the counsels and the dictates of their evil hearts and went backward and not forward.



WHO DID THEY PROVOKE TO ANGER?READ: DEUTERONOMY 31:20-21

20 When I have brought them to the land flowing with milk and honey, of which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and filled themselves and grown fat, then they will turn to other gods and serve them. And they will provoke Me and break My covenant.

WHO IS THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL?



WHO IS THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL?READ: EXODUS 3:5-6

5 He said, Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet for the place where you stand is holy ground.

READ: LEVITICUS 11:4444 I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves and you shall be holy. For I am Holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth.



WHAT DID THEY DO?READ: NUMBERS 14:11

11 The LORD said to Moses: How long will these people reject Me? How long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them?

READ: DEUTERONOMY 31:2020 When I have brought them to the land flowing with milk and honey, of which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and filled themselves and grown fat, Then they will turn to other gods and serve them and they will provoke Me and break My covenant.



WHAT DID THEY DO?READ: PROVERBS 1:30

30 They would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke.

READ: JEREMIAH 7:2424 They did not obey or incline their ear. They followed the counsels and the dictates of their evil hearts and went backward and not forward.

READ: HOSEA 4:1616 Israel is stubborn: Like a stubborn calf. The LORD will let them forage Like a lamb in open country.

READ: ISAIAH 1:5-7

5 Why should you be stricken again? You will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick, And the whole heart faints.

6 From the sole of the foot even to the head, There is no soundness in it, But wounds and bruises and putrefying sores; They have not been closed or bound up, Or soothed with ointment.

7 Your country is desolate, Your cities are burned with fire; Strangers devour your land in your presence;And it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.


5 Why should you be stricken again? You will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick and the whole heart faints. 6 From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, But wounds and bruises and putrefying sores. They have not been closed or bound up or soothed with ointment. 7 Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire. Strangers devour your land in your presence and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.

WHAT DOES THE LORD ASK THEM?WHY DO THEY REVOLT MORE AND MORE?

HOW COMPLETE IS THEIR SICKNESS?WHY ARE THEIR WOUNDS UN-ATTENDED?WHAT IS THE CONDITION OF THEIR CITIES?


5 Why should you be stricken again? You will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick and the whole heart faints.

WHAT DOES THE LORD ASK THEM? WHY CHASTISE THEM?READ: PROVERBS 20:30

30 Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, as do stripes the inner depths of the heart.

READ: JEREMIAH 2:3030 In vain I have chastened your children. They received no correction. Your sword has devoured your prophets like a destroying lion.

READ: JEREMIAH 5:33 O LORD, are not Your eyes on the truth? You have stricken them, but they have not grieved. You have consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction. They have made their faces harder than rock. They have refused to return.


5 Why should you be stricken again? You will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick and the whole heart faints.

WHY DO THEY REVOLT MORE AND MORE?READ: JEREMIAH 8:5

5 Why has this people slidden back, Jerusalem, in a perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit; They refuse to return.

READ: JEREMIAH 44:16-1716 As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you!17 But we will certainly do whatever has gone out of our own mouth, to burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her, as we have done, we and our fathers, our kings and our princes, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had plenty of food, were well-off, and saw no trouble.


5 Why should you be stricken again? You will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick and the whole heart faints. 6 From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, But wounds and bruises and putrefying sores. They have not been closed or bound up or soothed with ointment.

HOW COMPLETE IS THEIR SICKNESS? READ: PSALMS 38:3

3 There is no soundness in my flesh Because of Your anger,Nor any health in my bones Because of my sin.

READ: HOSEA 5:1313 When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah saw his wound,Then Ephraim went to Assyria and sent to King Jareb. Yet he cannot cure you, Nor heal you of your wound.



WHY ARE THEIR WOUNDS UN-ATTENDED?READ: DEUTERONOMY 28:35

35 The LORD will strike you in the knees and on the legs with severe boils which cannot be healed: from the sole of your foot to the top of your head.

READ: JEREMIAH 8:2222 Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why is there no recovery for the health of the daughter of my people?



WHY ARE THEIR WOUNDS UN-ATTENDED?READ: JEREMIAH 14:19

19 Have You utterly rejected Judah? Has Your soul loathed Zion? Why have You stricken us so that there is no healing for us?We looked for peace, but there was no good; and for the time of healing and there was trouble.

READ: EZEKIEL 34:44 The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them.



WHO IS ABLE TO HEAL THEM? WHY?READ: PSALMS 23:5-6

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.

READ: PSALMS 45:77 You love righteousness and hate wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness more than your companions.



WHO IS ABLE TO HEAL THEM? WHY?READ: PSALMS 147:3

3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

READ: JEREMIAH 30:1717 I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds, says the LORD, Because they called you an outcast saying: This is Zion; No one seeks her.


7 Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire. Strangers devour your land in your presence and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.

WHAT IS THE CONDITION OF THEIR CITIES? WHY?WHO ARE THESE STRANGERS?

WHAT DID THE LORD SAY HE WOULD DO? WHY?READ: LEVITICUS 26:31-33

31 I will lay your cities waste and bring your sanctuaries to desolation. I will not smell the fragrance of your sweet aromas. 32 I will bring the land to desolation. And your enemies who dwell in it shall be astonished at it. 33 I will scatter you among the nations and draw out a sword after you. Your land shall be desolate and your cities waste.



WHAT DID THE LORD SAY HE WOULD DO? WHY?READ: DEUTERONOMY 28:49-52

49 The LORD will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand,

50 A nation of fierce countenance, which does not respect the elderly nor show favor to the young.

51 They shall eat the increase of your livestock and the produce of your land, until you are destroyed. They shall not leave you grain or new wine or oil, or the increase of your cattle or the offspring of your flocks, until they have destroyed you.

52 They shall besiege you at all your gates until your high and fortified walls, in which you trust, come down throughout all your land. They shall besiege you at all your gates throughout all your land which the LORD your God has given you.



WHO DID THE LORD SEND AGAINST THEM?READ: 2 KINGS 15:37

37 In those days the LORD began to send Rezin king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah against (Ahaz king of Judah).



WHO DID THE LORD SEND AGAINST THEM?READ: 2 CHRONICLES 28:5-8

5 The LORD God delivered Ahaz into the hand of the king of Syria. They defeated him and carried away a great multitude of them as captives and brought them to Damascus. He was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who defeated him with a great slaughter.

6 Pekah the son of Remaliah killed one hundred and twenty thousand in Judah in one day, all valiant men, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.

7 Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king's son, Azrikam the officer over the house and Elkanah who was second to the king.

8 The children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand women, sons and daughters. They also took away much spoil from them and brought the spoil to Samaria.



WHAT DID EZEKIEL PROPHESY CONCERNING THIS?READ: EZEKIEL 11:8-9

9 I will bring you out of its midst and deliver you into the hands of strangers and execute judgments on you.

READ: EZEKIEL 28:1010 You shall die the death of the uncircumcised by the hand of

aliens. For I have spoken, says the Lord GOD.

READ: EZEKIEL 30:122 I will make the rivers dry and sell the land into the hand of the

wicked. I will make the land waste and all that is in it, by the hand of aliens. I, the LORD, have spoken.

READ: ISAIAH 1:8-10

8 So the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard, As a hut in a garden of cucumbers, As a besieged city.

9 Unless the LORD of hosts Had left to us a very small remnant, We would have become like Sodom, We would have been made like Gomorrah.

10 Hear the word of the LORD, You rulers of Sodom;Give ear to the law of our God, You people of Gomorrah:


8 So the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard, as a hut in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. 9 Unless the LORD of hosts had left to us a very small remnant. We would have become like Sodom. We would have been made like Gomorrah. 10 Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom.Give ear to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah.

WHO IS THE DAUGHTER OF ZION?WHAT WAS LEFT OF HER?

WHO IS THE LORD OF HOSTS?WHO LEFT A VERY SMALL REMNANT?

WHAT HAPPENED TO SODOM AND GOMORRAH?


8 So the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard, as a hut in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.

WHO IS THE DAUGHTER OF ZION?READ: 2 KINGS 19:21

21 This is the word which the LORD has spoken concerning him: The virgin, the daughter of Zion, has despised you, laughed you to scorn. The daughter of Jerusalem has shaken her head behind your back!

READ: PSALMS 9:144 I may tell of all Your praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion. I will rejoice in Your salvation.

READ: JEREMIAH 14:1717 You shall say this word to them: Let my eyes flow with tears night and day, and let them not cease. For the virgin daughter of my people has been broken with a mighty stroke, with a very severe blow.


8 So the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard, as a hut in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.

WHAT WAS LEFT OF HER?WHY A GARDEN OF CUCUMBERS?

READ: NUMBERS 11:5-65 We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic.6 But now our whole being is dried up. There is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!


9 Unless the LORD of hosts had left to us a very small remnant. We would have become like Sodom. We would have been made like Gomorrah. 10 Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom.Give ear to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah.

WHO IS THE LORD OF HOSTS?READ: PSALMS 103:21

21 Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, you ministers of His, who do His pleasure.

READ: PSALMS 59:55 O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, Awake to punish all the nations. Do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors.

READ: PSALMS 148:2-42 Praise Him, all His angels. Praise Him, all His hosts! 3 Praise Him, sun and moon. Praise Him, all you stars of light! 4 Praise Him, you heavens of heavens and you waters above the heavens!


9 Unless the LORD of hosts had left to us a very small remnant. We would have become like Sodom. We would have been made like Gomorrah. 10 Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom.Give ear to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah.

WHO LEFT A VERY SMALL REMNANT?WHAT HAPPENED TO SODOM AND GOMORRAH?

READ: GENESIS 19:24-2524 The LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens.25 He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities and what grew on the ground.


10 Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom.Give ear to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah.

WHO IS THE LORD TALKING TO? READ: JEREMIAH 23:14

14 I have seen a horrible thing in the prophets of Jerusalem. They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, So that no one turns back from his wickedness. All of them are like Sodom to Me. And her inhabitants like Gomorrah.

READ: EZEKIEL 16:4646 Your elder sister is Samaria, who dwells with her daughters to the north of you. And your younger sister, who dwells to the south of you, is Sodom and her daughters.

READ: REVELATION 11:88 Their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where our Lord was crucified.

READ: ISAIAH 1:11-12

11 "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?“ Says the LORD. "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, Or of lambs or goats.

12 "When you come to appear before Me, Who has required this from your hand, To trample My courts?


11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me? says the LORD. I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls or of lambs or goats. 12 When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts?

WHAT DOES THE LORD ASK THEM?WHAT DID THE LORD COMMAND THEM TO OFFER?

WHY DOES THE LORD HATE THEIR BURNT OFFERINGS?WHAT DOES THE LORD MEAN YOU TRAMPLE MY COURTS?


11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me? says the LORD. I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls or of lambs or goats.

WHAT DOES THE LORD ASK THEM?WHAT DID THE LORD COMMAND THEM TO OFFER?

READ: LEVITICUS 3:9-119 The fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails,10 The two kidneys and the fat that is on them by the flanks, and the fatty lobe attached to the liver above the kidneys, he shall remove; 11 The priest shall burn them on the altar as food, an offering made by fire to the LORD.

READ: LEVITICUS 3:1717 This shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings: you shall eat neither fat nor blood.



WHY DOES THE LORD HATE THEIR BURNT OFFERINGS?READ: JEREMIAH 6:20

20 What purpose to Me comes frankincense from Sheba and sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable Nor your sacrifices sweet to Me.



WHY DOES THE LORD HATE THEIR BURNT OFFERINGS?READ: AMOS 5:21-24

21 I hate, I despise your feast days. I do not savor your sacred assemblies. 22 Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, Nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings. 23 Take away from Me the noise of your songs. For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. 24 But let justice run down like water And righteousness like a mighty stream.



WHAT DOES THE LORD DESIRE?READ: 1 SAMUEL 15:22

22 Samuel said to Saul: Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD?Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice And to heed than the fat of rams.

READ: PSALMS 51:16-1716 You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it. You do not delight in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and a contrite heart. These, O God, You will not despise.



WHAT DOES THE LORD DESIRE?READ: PSALMS 40:6

6 Sacrifice and offering You did not desire. My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.

READ: HOSEA 6:66 I desire mercy and not sacrifice And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.


12 When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts?

WHAT FEASTS DID THE LORD COMMAND THEM TO KEEP?READ: EXODUS 23:14-17

14 Three times you shall keep a feast to Me in the year.15 You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread . You shall eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. None shall appear before Me empty.16 And the Feast of Harvest, the first fruits of your labors which you have sown in the field. And the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you have gathered in the fruit of your labors from the field. 17 Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord GOD.



WHAT FEASTS DID THE LORD COMMAND THEM TO KEEP?READ: EXODUS 34:23-24

23 Three times in the year all your men shall appear before the Lord, the LORD God of Israel.24 For I will cast out the nations before you and enlarge your borders; Neither will any man covet your land when you go up to appear before the LORD your God three times in the year.

READ: DEUTERONOMY 16:16-1716 Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles. And they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed.17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.



WHAT DOES THE LORD MEAN YOU TRAMPLE MY COURTS?HOW SHOULD ONE COME BEFORE THE LORD?

READ: MICAH 6:6-86 With what shall I come before the LORD and bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings,with calves a year old? 7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?


13 Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies — I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting.

14 Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them.

15 When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers,I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.


13 Bring no more futile sacrifices. Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths and the calling of assemblies. I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting.14 Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates. They are a trouble to Me. I am weary of bearing them.15 When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you. Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. your hands are full of blood.

WHAT IS AN ABOMINATION TO THE LORD?WHAT ARE THESE NEW MOONS, SABBATHS & ASSEMBLIES?

WHO APPOINTED THESE FEASTS?WHY DOES THE LORD HATE THEM?

WHY WOULD THEY SPREAD THEIR HANDS?WHAT HAPPENED THEY SPREAD THEIR HANDS?

WHY WILL THE LORD NOT HEAR THEIR PRAYERS?



WHAT IS ABOMINATION TO THE LORD?



WHAT ARE THESE NEW MOONS, SABBATHS & ASSEMBLIES?WHAT SABBATHS DID THE LORD PROCLAIM?

READ: GENESIS 2:2-32 On the seventh day God ended His work which He had done. He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.

3 God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.


13 Bring no more futile sacrifices. Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths and the calling of assemblies. I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting.14 Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates. They are a trouble to Me. I am weary of bearing them.

WHAT SABBATHS DID THE LORD PROCLAIM?READ: LEVITICUS 23:24-25

Speak to the children of Israel, saying: In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a Sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.25 You shall do no customary work on it and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD.

READ: LEVITICUS 23:3636 Seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. It is a sacred assembly and you shall do no customary work on it.



WHAT WERE THESE OTHER FEASTS?READ: NUMBERS 10:10

10 In the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings. They shall be a memorial for you before your God: I am the LORD your God.



WHAT WERE THESE OTHER FEASTS?READ: NUMBERS 28:11-14

11 At the beginnings of your months you shall present a burnt offering to the LORD: two young bulls, one ram, and seven lambs in their first year, without blemish;12 Three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with oil, for each bull; two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with oil, for the one ram;13 And one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour, mixed with oil, as a grain offering for each lamb, as a burnt offering of sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD.14 Their drink offering shall be half a hin of wine for a bull, one-third of a hin for a ram, and one-fourth of a hin for a lamb. This is the burnt offering for each month throughout the months of the year.



WHY IS THE LORD TROUBLED?WHO CALLED FOR THESE FASTS?

READ: JOEL 1:1414 Consecrate a fast. Call a sacred assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God and cry out to the LORD.

READ: JOEL 2:1515 Blow the trumpet in Zion. Consecrate a fast. Call a sacred assembly.


15 When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you. Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. your hands are full of blood.

WHAT HAPPENED THEY SPREAD THEIR HANDS?READ: EXODUS 9:29

29 Moses said to him, As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the LORD; the thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, that you may know that the earth is the LORD‘S.

READ: EXODUS 17:11-1211 When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.12 But Moses' hands became heavy. So they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. And his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.



DID THE LORD HEAR SOLOMON WHEN HE SPREAD HIS HANDS?READ: 1 KINGS 8:22-23

22 Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven.23 He said: LORD God of Israel, there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.

WHAT WILL THE LORD DO CONCERNING THEIR PRAYERS?WHY WILL THE LORD NOT HEAR THEIR PRAYERS?

READ: PSALMS 66:1818 If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.



WHY WILL THE LORD NOT HEAR THEIR PRAYERS?READ: PROVERBS 28:9

9 One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.

READ: PROVERBS 1:28-2928 They will call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD,

READ: MICAH 3:44 They will cry to the LORD But He will not hear them. He will even hide His face from them at that time Because they have been evil in their deeds.


16 "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil,

17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.

18 "Come now, and let us reason together, "Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.


16 Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean. Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil,17 Learn to do good. Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor. Defend the fatherless. Plead for the widow. 18 Come now and let us reason together, says the LORD. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson; they shall be as wool.

WHAT DOES THE LORD WANT THEM TO DO?WHY SHOULD THEY WASH THEMSELVES?

HOW WILL THE LORD CLEANSE THEM?


16 Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean. Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil,

WHY SHOULD THEY WASH THEMSELVES?READ: JOB 9:30-31

30 If I wash myself with snow water And cleanse my hands with soap, 31 Yet You will plunge me into the pit And my own clothes will abhor me.

READ: PSALMS 51:22 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin.

READ: PSALMS 51:9-109 Hide Your face from my sins And blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart O God And renew a steadfast spirit within me.



WHY SHOULD THEY WAS THEMSELVES?READ: JOB 9:30-31

30 If I wash myself with snow water And cleanse my hands with soap, 31 Yet You will plunge me into the pit And my own clothes will abhor me.

HOW WILL THE LORD CLEANSE THEM?READ: PSALMS 51:2

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin.

READ: PSALMS 51:77 Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean. Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.



WHAT DOES THE LORD WANT THEM TO DO?READ: JEREMIAH 4:14

14 O Jerusalem wash your heart from wickedness That you may be saved. How long shall your evil thoughts lodge within you?

READ: EZEKIEL 18:31-3231 Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel?32 For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies, says the Lord GOD. Therefore turn and live!



WHAT DOES THE LORD WANT THEM TO DO?READ: EZEKIEL 20:31

31 When you offer your gifts and make your sons pass through the fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols, even to this day. So shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you

READ: EZEKIEL 23:29-31 30 I will do these things to you because you have gone as a harlot after the Gentiles, because you have become defiled by their idols.

READ: HOSEA 9:44 They shall not offer wine offerings to the LORD Nor shall their sacrifices be pleasing to Him. It shall be like bread of mourners to them. All who eat it shall be defiled. For their bread shall be for their own life. It shall not come into the house of the LORD.


17 Learn to do good. Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor. Defend the fatherless. Plead for the widow.

WHAT DOES THE LORD WANT THEM TO LEARN?READ: PROVERBS 23:19

19 Hear, my son, be wise And guide your heart in the way.

READ: DEUTERONOMY 24:17-1817 You shall not pervert justice due the stranger or the fatherless nor take a widow's garment as a pledge.18 But you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt And the LORD your God redeemed you from there Therefore I command you to do this thing.



WHAT DOES THE LORD WANT THEM TO LEARN?READ: DEUTERONOMY 14:29

29 The Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you. The stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates, may come and eat and be satisfied, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.

READ: EXODUS 22:2222 You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child.



WHAT DOES THE LORD WANT THEM TO LEARN?READ: JOB 29:11-13

11 When the ear heard then it blessed me. And when the eye saw then it approved me. 12 Because I delivered the poor who cried out And the fatherless and the one who had no helper. 13 The blessing of a perishing man came upon me And I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.



WILL THE LORD HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE?READ: JEREMIAH 7:6-7

6 If you do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless and the widow, And you do not shed innocent blood in this place, or walk after other gods to your hurt,7 Then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever.

READ: MALACHI 3:55 I will come near you for judgment. I will be a swift witness Against sorcerers, Against adulterers, Against perjurers, Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, And against those who turn away an alien. Because they do not fear Me,Says the LORD of hosts.


18 Come now and let us reason together, says the LORD. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson; they shall be as wool.

WHAT WILL THE LORD DO FOR THEM?READ: PSALMS 68:5-6

5 A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation. 6 God sets the solitary in families. He brings out those who are bound into prosperity But the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

READ: JEREMIAH 49:1111 Leave your fatherless children, I will preserve them alive.And let your widows trust in Me.



WHAT DOES THE LORD WANT THEM TO DO?READ: JOB 6:25

25 How forceful are right words! But what does your arguing prove?

READ: JOB 5:1717 Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects. Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.

READ: JOB 13:33 I would speak to the Almighty And I desire to reason with God.



WHY DOES THE LORD WANT TO REASON WITH THEM?READ: JOB 13:15

15 Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.

READ: JOB 16:2121 Oh, that one might plead for a man with God, As a man pleads for his neighbor!

READ: JOB 22:44 Is it because of your fear of Him that He corrects you And enters into judgment with you?

READ: PROVERBS 3:1212 For whom the LORD loves He corrects. Just as a father the son in whom he delights.



HOW WILL THE LORD CLEANSE THEM?READ: PSALMS 51:7

7 Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean. Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.

READ: ECCLESIASTES 9:88 Let your garments always be white. And let your head lack no oil.

READ: DANIEL 7:99 I watched till thrones were put in place And the Ancient of Days was seated. His garment was white as snow And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire.


19 If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land;

20 But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword"; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.


19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.20 But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THEY OBEY?WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THE REFUSE (REBEL)?


19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.

WHAT WILL THE LORD DO IF THEY OBEY?READ: EXODUS 3:8

8 I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites.

READ: EXODUS 13:5 5 It shall be, when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep this service in this month.



WHAT WILL THE LORD DO IF THEY OBEY?READ: DEUTERONOMY 28:1-9

1 It shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.2 All these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God: 3 Blessed shall you be in the city and blessed shall you be in the country. 4 Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. 5 Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. 6 Blessed shall you be when you come in and blessed shall you be when you go out.



WHAT WILL THE LORD DO IF THEY OBEY?7 The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. 8 The LORD will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand. He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you. 9 The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you. If you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways.


20 But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THE REFUSE (REBEL)?READ: LEVITICUS 26:33

33 I will scatter you among the nations and draw out a sword after you. Your land shall be desolate and your cities waste.

READ: LAMENTATIONS 2:33 He has cut off in fierce anger every horn of Israel. He has drawn back His right hand from before the enemy. He has blazed against Jacob like a flaming fire devouring all around.


21 How the faithful city has become a harlot! It was full of justice; Righteousness lodged in it, But now murderers.

22 Your silver has become dross, Your wine mixed with water.

23 Your princes are rebellious, And companions of thieves; Everyone loves bribes, And follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, Nor does the cause of the widow come before them.


21 How the faithful city has become a harlot! It was full of justice; Righteousness lodged in it, But now murderers.22 Your silver has become dross, your wine mixed with water.23 Your princes are rebellious and companions of thieves. Everyone loves bribes and follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, Nor does the cause of the widow come before them.

WAS JERUSALEM EVER FAITHFUL?IS A HARLOT FAITHFUL?

WHAT HAPPENED TO JERUSALEM?WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR LEADERS?

WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR SPIRITUAL LEADERS?


21 How the faithful city has become a harlot! It was full of justice; Righteousness lodged in it, But now murderers.22 Your silver has become dross, your wine mixed with water.

WAS JERUSALEM EVER A FAITHFUL CITY? WHEN?READ: HOSEA 2:19-20

19 I will betroth you to Me forever. Yes, I will betroth you to Me In righteousness and justice, In loving kindness and mercy. 20 I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness And you shall know the LORD.

READ: REVELATION 21:99 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.



WHAT HAPPENED TO JERUSALEM?READ: JEREMIAH 3:8-9

8 I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce. Yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also.

9 It came to pass through her casual harlotry that she defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees.



WHAT HAPPENED TO JERUSALEM?READ: JEREMIAH 5:7

7 How shall I pardon you for this? Your children have forsaken Me and sworn by those that are not gods. When I had fed them to the full, then they committed adultery and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses.

READ: JEREMIAH 13:2727 I have seen your adulteries and your lustful neighings, the lewdness of your harlotry, your abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe to you, O Jerusalem! Will you still not be made clean?



WHAT HAPPENED TO JERUSALEM?READ: EZEKIEL 16:28-34

28 You played the harlot with the Assyrians because you were insatiable. Indeed you played the harlot with them and still were not satisfied.

29 Moreover you multiplied your acts of harlotry as far as the land of the trader, Chaldea and even then you were not satisfied.

30 How degenerate is your heart! says the Lord GOD, seeing you do all these things, the deeds of a brazen harlot.

31 You erected your shrine at the head of every road, and built your high place in every street. Yet you were not like a harlot, because you scorned payment.



WHAT HAPPENED TO JERUSALEM?READ: EZEKIEL 16:28-34

32 You are an adulterous wife, who takes strangers instead of her husband.

33 Men make payment to all harlots, but you made your payments to all your lovers, and hired them to come to you from all around for your harlotry.

34 You are the opposite of other women in your harlotry, because no one solicited you to be a harlot. In that you gave payment but no payment was given you, therefore you are the opposite.


23 Your princes are rebellious and companions of thieves. Everyone loves bribes and follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, Nor does the cause of the widow come before them.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR LEADERS?READ: PROVERBS 29:24

24 Whoever is a partner with a thief hates his own life. He swears to tell the truth, but reveals nothing.

READ: EZEKIEL 22:1212 In you they take bribes to shed blood: you take usury and increase. You have made profit from your neighbors by extortion, and have forgotten Me, says the Lord GOD


23 Your princes are rebellious and companions of thieves. Everyone loves bribes and follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, Nor does the cause of the widow come before them.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR SPIRITUAL LEADERS?READ: JEREMIAH 23:14

14 I have seen a horrible thing in the prophets of Jerusalem.They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns back from his wickedness. All of them are like Sodom to Me and her inhabitants like Gomorrah.

READ: EZEKIEL 23:37 37 They have committed adultery and blood is on their hands. They have committed adultery with their idols and even sacrificed their sons whom they bore to Me, passing them through the fire, to devour them.


24 Therefore the Lord says, The LORD of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, "Ah, I will rid Myself of My adversaries, And take vengeance on My enemies.

25 I will turn My hand against you, And thoroughly purge away your dross, And take away all your alloy.

26 I will restore your judges as at the first, And your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city."


24 Therefore the Lord says, The LORD of hosts, The Mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will rid Myself of My adversaries and take vengeance on My enemies.25 I will turn My hand against you and thoroughly purge away your dross, and take away all your alloy.26 I will restore your judges as at the first and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city ofrighteousness, the faithful city.

HOW DOES THE LORD REFER TO HIMSELF?WHAT WILL THE LORD DO TO HIS ENEMIES?

WHAT WILL THE LORD RESTORE TO JERUSALEM?


24 Therefore the Lord says, The LORD of hosts, The Mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will rid Myself of My adversaries and take vengeance on My enemies.

HOW DOES THE LORD REFER TO HIMSELF?THE LORD OF HOSTS

READ: 1 SAMUEL 17:4545 David said to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword, with a spear and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts , the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

READ: 2 SAMUEL 6:22 David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the Name, the LORD of Hosts , who dwells between the cherubim.



HOW DOES THE LORD REFER TO HIMSELF?GOD MIGHTY

READ: GENESIS 28:33 May God Almighty bless you And make you fruitful and multiply you That you may be an assembly of peoples.

READ: EXODUS 6:2-32 God spoke to Moses and said to him: I am the LORD.3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name LORD I was not known to them.



WHAT WILL THE LORD DO TO HIS ENEMIES?READ: DEUTERONOMY 28:63

63 It shall be, that just as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good and multiply you, so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you and bring you to nothing. You shall be plucked from off the land which you go to possess.

READ: EZEKIEL 5:1313 Thus shall My anger be spent: I will cause My fury to rest upon them and I will be avenged. They shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it in My zeal, when I have spent My fury upon them.


25 I will turn My hand against you and thoroughly purge away your dross, and take away all your alloy.

WHAT WILL THE LORD DO TO HIS ENEMIES?READ: JEREMIAH 6:29

29 The bellows blow fiercely. The lead is consumed by the fire.The smelter refines in vain For the wicked are not drawn off.

READ: EZEKIEL 22:18-2018 Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to Me. They are all bronze, tin, iron and lead, in the midst of a furnace.They have become dross from silver.19 Thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have all become dross, therefore behold, I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem.20 As men gather silver, bronze, iron, lead and tin into the midst of a furnace, to blow fire on it, to melt it. So I will gather you in My anger and in My fury, and I will leave you there and melt you.


26 I will restore your judges as at the first and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city ofrighteousness, the faithful city.

WHAT WILL THE LORD RESTORE TO JERUSALEM?READ: JEREMIAH 33:7-9

7 I will cause the captives of Judah and the captives of Israel to return. I will rebuild those places as at the first.8 I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me. I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me.9 Then it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise and an honor before all nations of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I do to them. They shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it.


27 Zion shall be redeemed with justice, And her penitents with righteousness.

28 The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together, And those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed.


27 Zion shall be redeemed with justice and her penitents with righteousness.28 The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together. And those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed.

HOW WILL ZION BE REDEEMED?WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE TRANSGRESSORS AND SINNERS?


27 Zion shall be redeemed with justice and her penitents with righteousness.

HOW WILL ZION BE REDEEMED?READ: DEUTERONOMY 7:8

8 Because the LORD loves you and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers. The LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt

READ: JEREMIAH 15:2121 I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked. And I will redeem you from the grip of the terrible.

READ: JEREMIAH 31:1111 The LORD has redeemed Jacob And ransomed him from the hand of one stronger than he.


27 Zion shall be redeemed with justice and her penitents with righteousness.

WHAT MUST BE REDEEMED? HOW?READ: NUMBERS 18:15-17

15 Everything that first opens the womb of all flesh, which they bring to the LORD, whether man or beast, shall be yours. Nevertheless the firstborn of man you shall surely redeem and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem.16 Those redeemed of the devoted things you shall redeem when one month old, according to your valuation, for five shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs.17 But the firstborn of a cow, the firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat you shall not redeem; they are holy. You shall sprinkle their blood on the altar, and burn their fat as an offering made by fire for a sweet aroma to the LORD.


HOW ARE WE REDEEMED? WHY?READ: MATTHEW 20:28

28 The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many.

READ: 1 TIMOTHY 2:66 He gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,

READ: 1 PETER 1:18-1918 ….You were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.


HOW ARE WE REDEEMED? WHY?READ: ROMANS 3:26

26 To demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

READ: ROMANS 8:3-43 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,4 That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.


28 The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together. And those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO TRANSGRESSORS, SINNERSAND THOSE WHO FORSAKE THE LORD?

READ: PSALMS 37:2020 The wicked shall perish and the enemies of the LORD, like the splendor of the meadows shall vanish: into smoke they shall vanish away.

READ: JEREMIAH 16:4 4 They shall die gruesome deaths. They shall not be lamented nor shall they be buried, but they shall be like refuse on the face of the earth. They shall be consumed by the sword and by famine. Their corpses shall be meat for the birds of heaven and for the beasts of the earth.

READ: EZEKIEL 5:1313 Thus shall My anger be spent. I will cause My fury to rest upon them and I will be avenged. They shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it in My zeal, when I have spent My fury upon them.


28 The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together. And those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO TRANSGRESSORS, SINNERSAND THOSE WHO FORSAKE THE LORD?

READ: LAMENTATIONS 2:1111 My eyes fail with tears, my heart is troubled, my bile is poured on the ground Because of the destruction of the daughter of my people, Because the children and the infants faint in the streets of the city.

READ: REVELATION 19:20 20 The beast was captured and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.

READ: REVELATION 20:1515 Anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.


29 For they shall be ashamed of the terebinth trees Which you have desired; And you shall be embarrassed because of the gardens Which you have chosen.

30 For you shall be as a terebinth whose leaf fades,And as a garden that has no water.

31 The strong shall be as tinder, And the work of it as a spark; Both will burn together, And no one shall quench them. NKJV


29 They shall be ashamed of the terebinth trees which you have desired and you shall be embarrassed because of the gardens which you have chosen.30 You shall be as a terebinth whose leaf fades and as a garden that has no water.31 The strong shall be as tinder and the work of it as a spark. Both will burn together and no one shall quench them.

WHAT WILL THEY BE ASHAMED OF?WHAT DID THEY DESIRE? CHOOSE?

WHAT IS THE TEREBINTH TREE? OAK?WHAT HAPPENED TO THE TREE? WHY?

WHAT DID THE LORD TELL THEM ABOUT IDOL WORSHIP?


WHAT DID THE LORD TELL ISRAEL ABOUT IDOL WORSHIP?

READ: DEUTERONOMY 16:21-2221 You shall not plant for yourself any tree, as a wooden image, near the altar which you build for yourself to the LORD your God.22 You shall not set up a sacred pillar, which the LORD your God hates.

READ: JUDGES 3:77 The children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD. They forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and Asherahs.

READ: 2 KINGS 16:44 Ahaz sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills and under every green tree.


HOW DID THEY RESPOND TO THE LORD’S ADMONITION?READ: EZEKIEL 16:16-17

16 You took some of your garments and adorned multicolored high places for yourself, and played the harlot on them. Such things should not happen, nor be.

READ: EZEKIEL 20:2828 I brought them into the land concerning which I had raised My hand in an oath to give them and they saw all the high hills and all the thick trees. There they offered their sacrifices and provoked Me with their offerings. There they also sent up their sweet aroma and poured out their drink offerings.

READ: HOSEA 4:1313 They offer sacrifices on the mountaintops. They burned incense on the hills, under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, Because their shade is good. Therefore your daughters commit harlotry and your brides commit adultery.


WHAT DID THE LORD DO ABOUT THEIR IDOL WORSHIP?READ: EZEKIEL 6:12-14

13 You shall know that I am the LORD, when their slain are among their idols all around their altars, on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, under every green tree, and under every thick oak, wherever they offered sweet incense to all their idols.

READ: EZEKIEL 16:16-1716 You took some of your garments and adorned multicolored high places for yourself, and played the harlot on them. Such things should not happen, nor be.

READ: EZEKIEL 16:38-39 39 I will give you into their hand, and they shall throw down your shrines and break down your high places. They shall also strip you of your clothes, take your beautiful jewelry and leave you naked and bare.


WHAT DID THE LORD DO ABOUT THEIR IDOL WORSHIP?READ: MICAH 5:14-15

14 I will pluck your wooden images from your midst. Thus I will destroy your cities. 15 I will execute vengeance in anger and fury on the nations that have not heard.

READ: ROMANS 6:21 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.


30 You shall be as a terebinth whose leaf fades and as a garden that has no water.

THEY WERE LIKE THE TEREBINTH TREEWHAT HAPPENED TO THE TREE? WHY?

READ: GENESIS 2:1010 A river went out of Eden to water the garden and from there it parted and became four riverheads.

READ: GENESIS 13:1010 Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar.


30 You shall be as a terebinth whose leaf fades and as a garden that has no water.

WHAT ABOUT THE RIGHTEOUS?READ: PSALMS 1:3

3 He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not witherAnd whatever he does shall prosper.

READ: JEREMIAH 17:7-87 Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose hope is the LORD. 8 He shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river and will not fear when heat comes. Its leaf will be green and will not be anxious in the year of drought Nor will cease from yielding fruit.


31 The strong shall be as tinder and the work of it as a spark. Both will burn together and no one shall quench them.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE STRONG AND THEIR WORKS?READ: AMOS 2:9

9 It was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars. And he was as strong as the oaks. Yet I destroyed his fruit above and his roots beneath.

Documents

A STUDY OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH BY HAROLD HARSTVEDT SOUTH WALTON CHURCH OF CHRIST