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?
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?
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?
What two things are clearly predicted in Deuteronomy 4:27-30
4. What is the significance of the imagery of 1:5-6, especially in view of chapter 53:5d?
5. 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)?
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.
6. 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?
7. 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?
8. What specific things are 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?
9. What is the point of the Song of the Vineyard in chapter 5:1-7?
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).
10. 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)?
11. What attributes of God are most prominent in chapter 6? Why do you think this chapter is central to Isaiah's message?
12. Compare Isaiah 6:5, 9-10 with John 12:39-41. What do we learn from John's commentary on Isaiah 6? How does John's use of this passage relate to the deity of Christ?
13. Where in chapter 6 is there a prediction of (a) the captivity? (b) the return?
©1998 Peter Wise. Anyone is welcome to reproduce this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold under any circumstances whatsoever without the author's consent.