Isaiah faced a difficult assignment—prophesying to a people whom God said would not listen to him. Isaiah reminds us that success in serving the Lord is not measured by how people respond to our ministry but by how faithfully we follow the Lord’s will for us. 

The feeble hopes of the desperate people of Isaiah’s day stand in marked contrast to the glorious assurance found in their coming, virgin-born Messiah. The one who entered this world by way of a miraculous work can surely direct and care for all His people in this world.

Isaiah’s prophecy not only tells us of the power and work of the coming Messiah, Jesus; it describes His very nature. He is the eternal God in the flesh who brings peace with God and ultimately peace to the world. What a blessing it is to have Him as our faithful Counselor.

Even in times of trouble when evil seems to prevail, we can sing the Lord’s praises. He is our strength and our salvation, and we can rejoice that there are glorious days ahead when Jesus will reign in righteousness. This is the message of Isaiah and the promise of God.

In Isaiah’s oracles announcing the Lord’s judgment against the various nations, we find a wonderful truth: God is, and always has been, in sovereign control over all His creation. And yet He cares for and gives sure hope to each one of us. Why would we put our trust in anyone else?

Isaiah speaks at length about the judgment of God, as well as the kingdom of Christ. These prophetic topics are both sobering and encouraging. The prophecies assure us that God is in control, He is just, and He is faithful to His promises and to His own people. 

When we refuse to trust the Lord despite His gracious promises, we are left with trusting our own wisdom and relying on others. Such an approach to life guarantees disaster in the long run, for it abandons the only sure hope we have.

The prophet Isaiah reminds us that beyond the struggles, threats, and injustices of this world is the promise of peace and justice under the sovereign Lord in His kingdom. We need not fear anything but rather take courage as we look in faith to the fulfillment of His promises.

The greatness of God is evident from His words, His works, and His character. But we gain a fuller appreciation of His greatness when we learn to trust Him in the midst of our trials and see our circumstances from His perspective.

While Jesus is much more than a good example—He is God, Lord, and Savior—Isaiah reminds us He is also our example, our perfect example of true servanthood. He is focused on the needs of people, He is compassionate and loving, and He is submissive and obedient to God the Father. 

The prophecy of Christ’s suffering and death for our sins humbles us with the revelation of His love and commitment to His Father and to us. It calls us to live our lives as His servants in humble, faithful submission to Him in gratitude for His sacrifice.

Biblical prophecy can be perplexing at times, but there is one thing it makes abundantly clear: Our God is a gracious God. His grace is consistent and unending. It overcomes our sins and gives us the sure hope of eternal blessing. Indeed, His ways are infinitely higher than ours.

The last chapters of Isaiah point us to the future, particularly in relation to Israel. To understand God’s plan for the ages, we must understand Israel’s unique role in it. This in turn will cause us to grow closer to Israel’s Messiah, our Lord Jesus.

Neither our inabilities nor the negative responses of sinners can hinder God’s work. He chooses us, directs us, and equips us to serve him, and as we do so faithfully, we can be sure that His work is being accomplished.

It is very easy to become comfortable with sin and to ignore its consequences. God’s warnings of coming judgment and appeals for repentance through Jeremiah emphasize the Lord’s mercy but also stress how critical it is that we are quick to confess our sin and turn from it.

If our faith is not fully in the Lord, it will be in something else. Misplaced trust, Jeremiah reminds us—whether in our knowledge, abilities, riches, or religious acts—will never lead us to repentance and a relationship with God. Only humble faith in Him alone can do that.

Jeremiah had the unpleasant experience of being rejected for speaking the truth. It would happen many times in his prophetic ministry. There is always a cost to following the Lord, and we can learn much from Jeremiah’s life, trials, and struggles about dealing with that reality.

How satisfying it is to serve our purpose on earth by serving God. And what a joy it is to know, as Jeremiah did, that when we experience rejection and confusion, we can take our concerns honestly to God.

Nobody escapes the scrutiny of our all-knowing God. Kings, prophets, leaders, and all people must answer to Him. At the same time, there is mercy and grace available to all who will come to Him in faith.

When the truth is spoken, it makes liars of all who stand against it. This guarantees that, like Jeremiah, when we commit ourselves to teaching the truth of God, we are going to have enemies. But we also are going to be on God’s side, and that is always the winning side.

If we know and follow the Lord, there is never a reason to give up hope. No matter how dark and foreboding our situation, God has not changed. He is still God, He still loves us, He is still faithful to His promises to us, and He is still in control of all things.

We must beware of the sometimes-subtle temptations to disregard what God says and demands. God’s Word is truth. Our responsibility is not to make it conform to our desires but to bring our lives into conformity to it. This is the message for us in Jeremiah 34–36.

The fall of Jerusalem was a tragic event made even worse by the knowledge that it could have been avoided—or at least softened once it was inevitable—by simply listening and responding to God’s persistent warnings. Listening to God means living without regrets.

When we start expecting God to put His stamp of approval on our self-centered decisions, we are on the fast track to disaster. Just a glance at Israel’s history shows that it is God’s word, not man’s, that is true and enduring and offers a satisfying and God-honoring way forward.

The last chapters of Jeremiah, like most of his ministry, focus on the wrath of God being poured out on ungodly people. We too must bring unpleasant news to people, but let us remember that unless people understand the bad news, they will never embrace the good news of Christ.

It is not easy to look beyond circumstances that bring us great sorrow and suffering. But Jeremiah reminds us here in the first half of the book of Lamentations that the key to enduring such times of grief is to look to the enduring hope we have in a faithful God.

It may be painful to recount our suffering, but it can reveal the cause of the suffering and lead to healing. When the cause is our own sin, the road to spiritual healing and restoration is clear; and it is illustrated for us in the final chapters of the book of Lamentations.

Our service to the Lord will vary greatly from one person to another, but one quality that should characterize all of God’s servants is faithfulness. God’s call of Ezekiel reminds us that faithfulness in service is tied closely to our understanding of who God is.

God’s discipline of His people for their sin is demanded by His holiness, but it is also for the good of His children. It reminds them that He is the Lord and their lives find fulfillment only in ordering their lives according to His Word.

To elevate anything or anyone to a place in our lives that is equal to God is really to abandon Him as the one worthy of our sole worship. And this invites disaster. Ezekiel saw this all very plainly, and so should we.

Once we turn away from God’s revelation, we can convince ourselves of just about anything. But this does not change reality in any way, and it certainly does not change God. Only when we submit to the truth of His Word can we find peace, assurance, and hope.

Those who do not grasp the justice of God think they can get away with their sin. They see no reason to repent. We can rejoice in God’s mercy and grace, but we should never ignore or downplay His justice. This is the lesson of Ezekiel chapters 15–17.

As much as we might wish otherwise, we cannot escape responsibility for our sins. Denials and blame-shifting do no good because God knows our every thought, attitude, and action. Our responsibility is to accept responsibility, turn away from sin, and turn to the Lord.

Being faithful to God means being faithful to declare an unpopular message. Ezekiel was faithful to do just that, even when it meant the loss of his wife. How faithful are we to follow the Lord and deliver His message?

It is evil to rejoice in the downfall of another, and it is foolish to think it can never happen to us. Let us praise God for His righteous justice and for the great truth it points us to—that He is the Lord, a just God and a gracious Savior.

No matter how good they might be, human leaders and governments will eventually fail us. While they are to be respected and honored, our faith must be in Christ alone. Only He is sufficient to provide all that we will ever need.

Israel’s persistent rebellion against God brought great harm on the nation, but it did not derail God’s ultimate plan for them. In accordance with His promises, Israel will yet turn to Him in faith. God’s plan is always on schedule, because He is always faithful to His promises.

For God’s people, present sufferings are only that—present. They may test our faith now, but they do not in any way call into doubt the promises of God for a glorious future in His presence. Those promises are assured by our all-powerful God.

For God’s people, present sufferings are only that—present. They may test our faith now, but they do not in any way call into doubt the promises of God for a glorious future in His presence. Those promises are assured by our all-powerful GodGod rightly condemns sin and consistently warns of its consequences. And so should we. God also offers hope, again and again—the assurance of eternal life and the joy of eternal blessing that comes through faith in Jesus Christ. And so should we.

God honors those who honor Him. We need to be resolved to act in faith on this truth because the pressure to compromise, take the easy route, and justify ungodly actions is always present and sometimes very strong. Four Jewish exiles give us a wonderful example in Daniel 1.

God has a plan for history, and Daniel 2 gives a broad picture of what that plan looks like. This chapter also shows that His plan includes each of us serving where He has placed us and offering answers to the challenges and mysteries of life that only God’s Word can provide.

The trials we face in life provide unique opportunities to live out our faith in God before a watching world. Three young men in Babylon present us with a lesson in courage and trust in the midst of a severe trial.

Those in positions of power can have a great impact on us—for better or worse. Such people might think they can control others, but in fact, they are under God’s sovereign control. This is a comforting truth, and we find a prime example of it in the fourth chapter of Daniel.

Pride is a deadly sin. It causes people to focus on their own abilities and achievements. Persistent pride dismisses the need for God or confession and repentance and ultimately leads to eternal judgment. Pride is especially tempting for those who wield great power.

Life does not become easier as we grow older. However, years of spiritual growth will produce a greater level of maturity and wisdom. Daniel provides an example of how godly wisdom can meet the spiritual challenges we face, whether young or old.

Daniel gives us not only a powerful personal example but also key prophecies concerning God’s plan for the ages. In chapters 7–8 we find a prophetic preview of history from Daniel’s time to the end time, reminding us of the sure hope we have in a faithful and sovereign God.

Daniel was greatly concerned about his people—both in the short-term and the long-term. His prayers for them reflect the heart of our compassionate God and remind us to pray diligently for our families, friends, and neighbors, both those present and those who will follow us.

Biblical prophecy is not easy to grasp, but the Bible assures us that as we continue to study it, we will gain understanding. As a result, we also will grow more confident in and faithful to the God who has revealed His eternal plan to us.

Some lessons are best taught through life experiences, whether good or bad. God gave His prophet Hosea a difficult task, but his faithful pursuit of his unfaithful wife gives us powerful insight into the heart of God, who longs to be joined in fellowship with His people.

Hosea’s message to Israel was simple: The nation’s persistence in sin guaranteed punishment from God. No amount of denial, trust in kings and idols, or self-reliance could alter that. Israel serves as a warning that knowing about God is no substitute for knowing God.

We should be eternally grateful that God is merciful, compassionate, and loving. But we must never take Him or His blessings for granted. To ignore His Word and His appeals for repentance and excuse our sin is to guarantee spiritual disaster.

The disasters we witness or personally experience point us to our need to turn to the Lord, to trust in Him, and to examine our relationship with Him. The prophet Joel emphasizes this by means of both a current disaster and an approaching one.

The prophecy of Joel highlights the unique plan God has for the nation of Israel in the future. It also reminds us of the hope all God’s people have for a coming day when our just God sets all things right.

God is gracious and merciful, but He is also just. Neither individuals nor nations should think that because of His mercy and grace He will not punish those who continue in unrepentant sin. This is the message—and the warning—delivered by the prophet Amos.

Wealth and ease are more commonly obstacles to faith rather than aids to it. When we are comfortable in life, we should be especially alert to the subtle development of an attitude of self-sufficiency that sees no need for God.

The righteous judgment of a holy God is a major theme of the Bible and one we dare not ignore. But the God who is Judge also is a merciful and gracious Savior, who offers to all who trust Him sure hope for the future. In the dark prophecies of Amos, we find the light of hope.

Obadiah’s short prophecy against the nation of Edom offers us a valuable but perhaps uncomfortable lesson. It is not just treacherous actions that invite God’s judgment but also attitudes of pride and hatred and delight in the downfall of others.

Our emotions and personal desires must always be kept in submission to God’s will, as Jonah’s experience warns us. He knew exactly what God expected of him, but he was moved to disobedience because he allowed his feelings toward the Assyrians to override God’s command.

Jonah’s experience reveals God’s love for us, God’s pursuit of us when we go astray, and God’s desire for us to enjoy the blessings of obedience. It also teaches us the utter foolishness of seeking our own will and way in defiance of the sovereign Lord.

Sometimes it takes drastic measures to turn us around and set us back on the right path. Praise God, He loves us enough to do what is necessary to bring us to repentance and restoration and to remind us, as He did Jonah, that He never abandons us.

Jonah needed to learn what we all do: that we must never put limits on God’s mercy and grace, presuming that some people are beyond His reach and concern. If we simply and faithfully communicate His Word, He will accomplish His purposes and may surprise us.

Jonah reminds us that while it is essential to know the truth and profess correct theology, that is not enough. What we actually do, as well as the attitude with which we do it, also must conform to God’s Word and God’s character.

When there is no confession and repentance, divine judgment is the inevitable outcome of sin. We must never take for granted God’s merciful delays. They are opportunities to consider the hope we have when we turn to the Lord.

Micah reminds us that biblical prophecy is not designed to entertain or fascinate us. It is given to glorify the God of prophecy, alert us to the truly important things in life, and move us to greater faithfulness in serving Him.

It is comforting to know God as the all-powerful, merciful, gracious, loving God that He is. It is foolish to know His power and character and yet ignore His demands for righteousness and justice. The people of Nineveh serve as both an example and a warning of this.

Rather than being troubled and discouraged by the evils we see in this world, we should be encouraged to search God’s Word and seek His answers. As Habakkuk learns, God has infinite knowledge and an eternal perspective that ensures His justice will be done.

God’s justice does not contradict His grace; in fact, it highlights His grace. Zephaniah reminds us that even when His warnings are ignored and righteous judgment is imminent, He graciously offers hope, both now and for the future to all who will turn to Him.

Those who are leaders among God’s people need to be examples of faithfulness in their personal walk with the Lord. They also need to be faithful in encouraging fellow believers and even rebuking them when necessary. The prophet Haggai exemplifies these qualities.

Zechariah’s comforting visions remind us that whatever our current situation might be, we should always be looking ahead to the glorious future God has in store for us. This gives us perspective on, and encouragement for, the present.

God’s prophetic message for Zechariah and his people offers an encouraging word for us as well. The world may never notice or even care about us, but if what we do is done for the Lord and in His power, we can be sure He will notice and approve of our efforts.

It is important to remember the lessons of the past; and traditions, if kept in proper perspective, can help us do that. It is equally important to embrace the future God has promised us. The past and the future revealed in the Bible are keys in motivating us to live for the Lord right now.

Biblical prophecy reminds us of the comforting truth that God is in sovereign control of all things, including the future. It also reminds us of the need to trust Him daily and to be faithful to Him to the end.

God will never abandon His people or His promises. That great and certain truth assures us that there will come a day of peace and justice in this world, when holiness will reign.

Our worship tells us a lot about our view of God. Malachi’s prophecy teaches us there is no place for half-hearted or superficial worship of God if we understand that He loves us unceasingly and unconditionally.

The book of Malachi gives us some good guidelines for living for the Lord in this world. We need to judge our attitudes and actions in light of God’s character, commit ourselves to obeying His Word, and look forward to the return of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

The Wisdom Journey study guides for the book of Isaiah

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The Wisdom Journey study guides for the book of Jeremiah

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The Wisdom Journey study guides for the book of Lamentations

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The Wisdom Journey study guides for the book of Ezekiel

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The Wisdom Journey study guides for the book of Daniel.

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The Wisdom Journey study guides for the book of Hosea.

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The Wisdom Journey study guides for the book of Joel.

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The Wisdom Journey study guides for the book of Amos.

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The Wisdom Journey study guides for the book of Obadiah.

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The Wisdom Journey study guides for the book of Jonah.

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The Wisdom Journey study guides for the book of Micah.

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The Wisdom Journey study guides for the book of Nahum.

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The Wisdom Journey study guides for the book of Habakkuk.

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The Wisdom Journey study guides for the book of Zephaniah.

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The Wisdom Journey study guides for the book of Haggai.

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The Wisdom Journey study guides for the book of Zechariah.

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The Wisdom Journey study guides for the book of Malachi.

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