Daily Devotional

Sunday: Startled at the Servant: Isaiah 52:13-15

In our human thinking, we expect the hero of the story to be pleasant looking, have an appearance of strength and burst into the scene with a dynamic entrance. But God doesn’t approach things in the way we might anticipate. The hero of the salvation story was born in an unassuming way. He had no beauty that would attract people to Him. He was humble and ordinary—not at all what we would expect!

Monday: A Servant of Sorrows: Isaiah 53:1-3

It is hard to imagine how a man like Jesus, who

Scripture Text: Isaiah 52:13-54:17

Memory Verse: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” —Isaiah 53:5-6

Introduction:

Isaiah 52:13-53:12 is a poem about the triumph of God. The first verse (Isaiah 52:13) expresses that the “servant” will be honored and esteemed. Then the poet turns the tables on us.

The next

Daily Devotional

Sunday: Light in the Darkness: Isaiah 49:1-6; John 1:1-9

God uses King Cyrus to deliver His people from Babylon. But who will God use to restore them back to God? God’s special Servant. In these opening verses we find (1) the surety of the Servant’s call (Isaiah 49:1), (2) His divine enablement (Isaiah 49:2-3), and (3) His ultimate vindication (Isaiah 49:4). He will “save” the world, including the Gentiles. “Salvation” here corresponds to “justice” in Isaiah 42:1. For God to “save the world” means He will bring it into the order He intended from creation.

Monday: Liberty to

Scripture Text: Isaiah 49:1-52:12

Memory Verse: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!” —Isaiah 52:7

Introduction:

Even though God’s remnant was delivered from Babylonian exile long ago, the world today is still being “spiritually” delivered from Babylon (the humanistic, paganistic, world system). These chapters in Isaiah present God’s Servant, the Messiah, in three important ways:

• The Servant and the Gentiles (Isaiah 49:1-50:3)
• The Servant and the Lord God (Isaiah 50:4-11)
• The Servant and

Daily Devotional

Sunday: Be Comforted: Isaiah 40:1-31

“Circumstances” can be defined as “those nasty things you see when you get your eyes off of God.” God is greater than our circumstances! When the remnant in Babylon looked behind them, it was filled with failure. God gives them four hope-filled voices: (1) pardon (Isaiah 40:1-2), (2) providence (Isaiah 40:3-5), promise (Isaiah 40:6-8), (4) peace (Isaiah 40:9-11). The difficulties ahead were overwhelming, but God reminds them He is greater than anything on earth (Isaiah 40:12-20) or in heaven (Isaiah 40:21-26). In response to their fears, God addressed the circumstances within them (Isaiah

Scripture Text: Isaiah 40:1-48:22

Memory Verse: “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” —Isaiah 40:31

Introduction:

Isaiah now focuses upon the greatness of our Father God in contrast to the uselessness of heathen idols. This section also opens what Jewish rabbis have called “The Book of Consolation” (all of Isaiah 40-66). Isaiah is attempting to comfort the Jewish remnant in Babylon after their hard years in captivity, assuring them that God was present

Daily Devotional

Sunday: The Field Commander Speaks: Isaiah 36:1-22

The Field Commander is the third highest-ranking officer in the Assyrian army, so the move against Jerusalem is a serious one. The Assyrians were currently engaged in the siege of Lachish, about 30 miles to the southwest of Jerusalem. All other Judean cities had fallen. The real conflict is found in Isaiah 36:14-20, a contest between the Lord and the king of Assyria. Foolishly, the commander exalts the Assyrian king above the God of heaven, blatantly stating that God will not deliver them.

Monday: Hezekiah Turns to God: Isaiah 37:1-7

Hezekiah’s

Scripture Text: Isaiah 36:1-39:8

Memory Verse: “For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the Lord of hosts shall do this.” —Isaiah 37:32

Introduction:

Next to David and Solomon, Hezekiah receives the most focus of all the kings of Judah. Eleven chapters are devoted to him (2 Kings 18-20; 2 Chronicles 29-32; and Isaiah 36-39). It is said of him: “He trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before

Daily Devotional

Sunday: The Nature of True Leadership: Isaiah 32:1-8

Isaiah 28-29 spoke of false leaders, and Isaiah 30-31 spoke of their false counsel. But here we find the characteristics of true leadership—a God-sent “king” who will reign in righteousness and justice. Leaders governing under this King are characterized as a “hiding place,” as a “covert” (a shelter), as “rivers of water” in dryness, and as “the shadow of a great rock” in a weary land” (shade in the desert).

Monday: Consequences of Complacency: Isaiah 32:9-20

Behind the scenes of Judah’s selfish rulers were the “at ease” (aristocratic) women of

Scripture Text: Isaiah 32:1-35:10

Memory Verse: “Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.” —Isaiah 35:3-4

Introduction:

Our study this week concludes the first section of Isaiah’s prophecy, and focuses on four future events that reveal God’s plan for His people and the world:

• The King who will reign (Isaiah 32:1-20)
• Jerusalem’s deliverance (Isaiah 33:1-24)
• God’s judgment upon this sinful world (Isaiah 34:1-17)
• God’s glorious kingdom