Lesson 21: Finding God in Failure (33)

This week we are focusing on Isaiah 33. The following are some study suggestions to help you get started.

LIMITED TIME:

1. Read through Isaiah 33.
2. Meditate on and/or journal the answers to the following questions.
   1. What does this passage teach me about God and His character?
   2. How does this aspect of God’s character change my view of myself?
   3. What should I do in response?

MORE TIME:

Over the past weeks we have looked at five “Ah’s”, or woe’s, that were directed at Judah for her unfaithfulness to God (Isaiah 28:1; 29:1, 15; 30:1;  and 31:1). We now come to the final woe in this section of scripture. It is directed toward Assyria, the destroyer (33:1)! The Assyrian army has Jerusalem under siege. Hezekiah attempts to buy them off, only to be tricked (see 2 Kings 18:13-16)!

1. How do the people respond, finally, to the Assyrian threat (v. 2)?
2. Read Ps. 51:17 and Matt. 9:12-13. How do these passages relate to Judah’s situation? What does God desire of all His people? How do these verses give you hope?
3. What does Isaiah declare to Judah about their God (vv. 5-6)?
4. How does God respond to the cry for mercy from His people (v 10…)?
5. Verses 1-12 are rooted in the history of Assyria during the time of Hezekiah. Verse 13 and following become more eschatological in scope. Keep this in mind as you study these verses.
   1. Who can stand before a holy God (vv. 14-16)? (See Romans 4:3; 2 Cor. 5:16-21)
   2. Who will they behold (v. 17)? (See Isaiah 32:1; 33:21-22; 2 Cor. 3:18.)
   3. Describe the place they will behold (vv. 22-24). What will life be like there?
   4. What things can we experience here on this earth as followers of Christ? What things won’t we experience until God calls us to our heavenly home?
6. Have you ever felt that your life is so full of sin that you are beyond God’s forgiveness? How has the study of Isaiah 33 affected the way you look at yourself and sin?

GOING DEEPER (optional): For further teaching and application, do one or more of the following:

• Read chapter 21, “Finding God in Failure (33)” 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.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”   ~Matthew 11:28~