Isaiah: Study Questions with Answers
Chapters 1-6

1. The possibility of God's covenant people being delivered into Captivity is given in Deuteronomy 28. What are the essential points of this chapter?

Obedience will bring the blessings of victory, peace, fruitfulness, and prosperity. Disobedience will result in disease, famine, defeat, submission, and ultimately exile, loss of homeland, and all the joys of life.

2. (a) What is significant about 28:47 as to why Israel would be chastised by the Lord? (b) What is predicted in vv. 49-52 and 64-65?

(a) because they did not serve God with a glad and joyful heart; (b) The Jews will be forced off their land

3. (a) Read through Leviticus 26. Where does God threaten to scatter Israel among the nations if they disobey? (b) Where is the possibility of repentance mentioned?

(a) God threatened to scatter Israel in Lev. 26:33; (b) the possibility of repentance is mentioned in Lev. 26:40-45

What two things are clearly predicted in Deuteronomy 4:27-30?

In Deut. 4:27-30 there is a prediction of the exile and the eschatological regrafting of ethnic Israel.

2. What is the significance of the imagery of 1:5-6, especially in view of chapter 53:5d?

Isaiah describes Israel's sinful condition as sickness. In 53:5d he describes One who will atone for this sin-sickness.

3. What timeless principle can be gleaned from Isaiah's denunciation in 1:12-15? Is Isaiah opposed to the Levitical system (as liberals sometimes assert)?

God opposes the kind of worship that is external only without the inner reality of the heart. Christ similarly denounced the hypocritical worship of the Scribes and Pharisees. No system of external rituals will please God

Note Isaiah 29:13, quoted by Jesus in Matthew 15:8-9. See also Amos 5:21; 1 Sam. 15:22; Pro. 15:8; Pro. 21:27.

4. Summarize 2:2-4 in general terms. At what time period would you put this? Why can't it refer to the present age? The eternal state? What is the problem in verse 4? What is the parallel thought in Isaiah 9:5?

Isaiah 2:2-4 describes a "semi-perfect" age that is characteristic of the millennial period. It is better than today (no war; Christ directly adjudicating political disputes) but is worse than the eternal state (nations unable to get along in perfect peace, requiring Christ to settle their disuputes). The prominence of Jerusalem and its global attraction in this passage (Isaiah 2:2) is far beyond anything we can point to literal or figurative, in this age.

The problem in verse 4 is an example sinful behavior that requires Christ to render judgment and to give a rebuke. This language is altogether incompatible with either the present world, or the eternal state where all evil is eliminated.

The parallel thought in Isaiah 9:5 is the elimination of warefare at the time of the Messiah's reign.

5. Note the description of the Messiah as a "branch." What do you think is the significance of this? What analogy is there for this figure of speech?

• Isaiah 11:1 - Different word for branch; connection with David
• Jer. 23:5 - Righteous branch; connection with David
• Jer. 33:15 - Branch of righteousness; connection with David
• Zech. 3:8 - "My servant, the Branch"
• Zech. 6:12 - The branch is to be a "man" who will come from Israel

6. What are the specifics predicted in 4:5-6? Do you think this is figurative or literal language? What period of Israel's history does this bring to mind?

God will bring about a cleansing of Israel (through conversion, Zechariah 12:10-13:1). As a way of displaying His glory, God will cause a cloud and smoke to appear over all the dwelling plaes of Mt. Zion during the day, and flaming fire by night. This "covering" will provide protection from the elements. This is literal language. This passage is reminiscent of the time when Israel finished the Ark.

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• 5 then the LORD will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there [will be] a covering.
  6 And there will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain.

7. What is the point of the Song of the Vineyard in chapter 5:1-7

To whom much is given much is required.

1. 5:2-4 God did much to cultivate fruit in Israel
2. 5:2, 4 Israel's lack of fruitfulness
3. 5:5-6 Israel to be punished (the land to be ruined)

The paronomasia, or play of words, is very remarkable here: he looked for "judgment" (mishpat) but behold "oppression" (mispach) for "justice," (tzedakah) but behold "a cry" (tza'akah).

8. How does this song relate to (a) the Babylonian Captivity, (b) the imagery Christ used in the New Testament (in the following New Testament parables: Matthew 21:33-41 and Luke 13:6-9)?

(a) The Babylonian Captivity is predicted through a parable in 5:5-6, and in a direct manner in 5:13.

Where is there a hint of the coming captivity? (5:5-6)

9. What attributes of God are most prominent in chapter 6? Why do you think this chapter is central to Isaiah's message?

ATTRIBUTES; Holiness, Sovereignty, Kingship, Majesty, Wrath, Graciousness, Faithfulness, Forgiveness.

IMPORTANCE OF ISAIAH 6:

10. Compare Isaiah 6:5, 9-10 with John 12:39-41. What do we learn from John's commentary on Isaiah 6? How does this verse relate to the deity of Christ?

11. Where in chapter 6 is there a prediction of (a) the captivity? (b) the return?

 Copyright ©2000 Peter Wise.
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