This week we are focusing on Isaiah 7:1-8:8. The following are some study suggestions to help you get started:
LIMITED TIME:
- Read through Isaiah 7:1-8:8.
- Meditate on and/or journal the answers to the following questions.
- What does this passage teach me about God and His character?
- How does this aspect of God’s character change my view of myself?
- What should I do in response?
MORE TIME:
- Read through Isaiah 7:1-8:8 and study it on your own. Check out 2 Kings 15-17 and 2 Chronicles 28 for more historical background as to what is happening in this passage. Note the people involved. Use a map to locate the places mentioned. As you read, keep in mind the promise God made to King David approximately 250 years prior to this event taking place in Isaiah 7-8 (see 2 Samuel 7:12-17). Here are some possible questions to get started.
- What is happening?
- Why did Isaiah go to meet Ahaz, and what did Isaiah tell Ahaz to do?
- What did the Lord say would happen to Ahaz’s enemies?
- The first Messianic prophecy is given in Isaiah 7:14. God gives a sign to Ahaz that what He says will come to pass. God can be trusted! Prophecies can have both an immediate and future fulfillment.
- What is the immediate fulfillment of this sign? (see Isaiah 7:15-16; 8:3-4)
- What is the future fulfillment? (see Matthew 1:18-23)
- Ahaz was told to not fear man, but rather have faith in God to deliver him from his enemies. What or whom do you fear? What or whom do you put your trust in? Why?
- Meditate on or journal the answers to the following questions.
- What does this passage teach me about God and His character?
- How does this aspect of God’s character change my view of myself?
- What should I do in response?
GOING DEEPER (optional): For further teaching and application, do one or more of the following:
- Read chapter 9, “The Triumph of Grace Over Our Failure: Judah I (7:1-8:8) in Isaiah: God Saves Sinners or listen to Ray Ortlund’s sermon series on line. (Most of the sermons correspond to the chapters in his book.)
- Listen to the sermon(s) from Pastor Liam Goligher’s sermon series on Isaiah that go along with this week’s reading.
Share what the Lord is teaching you with someone else! Feel free to use the discussion board to post questions or thoughts and interact with others.