This week we are focusing on Isaiah 38:1-39:8. The following are some study suggestions to help you get started. Note: Isaiah 36-39 is paralleled in 2 Kings 18:13-20:19.
LIMITED TIME:
- Read through Isaiah 38:1-39:8.
- 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:
Whereas Isaiah 36-37 looked at God’s divine deliverance of a nation, Isaiah 38 looks at God’s divine deliverance of an individual.
- Read Isaiah 38 (cf. 2 Kings 20:1-11).
- Hezekiah is sick and informed that he will never recover. How does he respond? What does he pray? (v.1-3)
- How does God reply to Hezekiah’s prayer? (v.4-8)
- As Hezekiah faces death, what words and images does he use to describe his thoughts and feelings? (v.9-20)
- How does this chapter inform your thoughts of God? What do you learn about Him?
- Read Isaiah 39. Babylon is under Assyrian rule at this time in history, and seeking Israel as an ally. (If you like, check out study Bible notes if you’re not familiar with the history.)
- How does Hezekiah respond to the Babylonian visit ? Is he acting wisely? (v.1-2)
- What message does God have for Hezekiah? What does Isaiah foretell will happen in the future? (v.3-7)
- What do you think about how Hezekiah responds to Isaiah’s news? (v.8)
GOING DEEPER (optional): For further teaching and application, do one or more of the following:
- Read chapter 25, “Peace and Security in Our Days? (38:1-39:8)” 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.
“And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” ~ Hebrews 9:27-28~