Introduction:

Though all the prophets are different, there are a few things they all have in common. In this study, we’re going to talk about sin (specifically disobeying God’s Law), The Day of the Lord (the day when God will bring justice to the world), Repentance, and the Messiah. The following verses from Isaiah and related questions cover these topics.

Isaiah 24:5-6

The earth is defiled by its people;
    they have disobeyed the laws,
violated the statutes
    and broken the everlasting covenant.
6 Therefore a curse consumes the earth;
    its people must bear their guilt.
Therefore earth’s inhabitants are burned up,
    and very few are left.

Question 1:

All of the prophets boldly and bluntly tell us the truth about our sin. What does this verse tell you about the seriousness and scope of our sin?

Isaiah 13:6-13

Wail, for the day of the Lord is near;
    it will come like destruction from the Almighty.
7 Because of this, all hands will go limp,
    every heart will melt with fear.
8 Terror will seize them,
    pain and anguish will grip them;
    they will writhe like a woman in labor.
They will look aghast at each other,
    their faces aflame.

9 See, the day of the Lord is coming
    —a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger—
to make the land desolate
    and destroy the sinners within it.
10 The stars of heaven and their constellations
    will not show their light.
The rising sun will be darkened
    and the moon will not give its light.
11 I will punish the world for its evil,
    the wicked for their sins.
I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty
    and will humble the pride of the ruthless.
12 I will make people scarcer than pure gold,
    more rare than the gold of Ophir.
13 Therefore I will make the heavens tremble;
    and the earth will shake from its place
at the wrath of the Lord Almighty,
    in the day of his burning anger.

Questions 2:

A common theme in the prophetic books is “The Day of the Lord”. This can describe a few different things depending on context, but it always ultimately stands for the ultimate day when God will come and bring justice to his creation and do away with sin. The harsh reality is that this doing away with sin include the destruction of sinners.

Why is the topic of God’s justice and wrath against sin so difficult to swallow? On the other hand, why is it so important and ultimately good news?

Isaiah 55:6-7

“Seek the Lord while he may be found;
    call upon him while he is near;
7 let the wicked forsake his way,
    and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
    and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Question 3:

According to this verse, what is the appropriate response to the realization that we have violated God’s law and deserve destruction? What does it mean to repent?

Isaiah 53:5

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.

Question 4:

Isaiah describes the coming Messiah with the above description of Jesus crucified as the payment for our sin. Jesus’ death offers us life. He was punished for our sin so that we could escape punishment and experience the reward that Christ earned. What does this mean for repentance, following Jesus, and telling others about him?