Victory Fellowship Bible Study
273 23rd St. S.W., Barberton, OH 44203
Wednesdays at 7pm - Roderick D. Grabski (330) 858-0223
WEBPAGE: victoryfellowshipministries.com
Session Thirteen: Mandate Against Military Might
1) GATHERING and OPENING PRAYER
2) READ / LISTEN to Isaiah 28:1 – 29:24
a) What are your initial impressions? Are there notable differences in various translations?
3) THE WOE ORACLES
a) Chapters 28-33 present six Woe oracles to various nations or individuals.
i) 28:1; 29:1, 15; 30:1; 31:1; and 33:1
4) DISASTER FOR INTOXICATED EPHRIAM (28:1-13):
a) Focused toward the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Perhaps the majestic Crown is the capital city of Samaria. God will subdue and defeat leaders who are drunk with power or wine.
b) (vv. 2-4) God often uses the weather to bring judgement. (Joshua 10:11; Genesis 6-9; Exodus 14-15)
c) (vv. 5-6) A remnant will survive.
d) (vv. 7-13) the first six verses focused on the nobility, now Isaiah focuses on the priests and prophets.
i) They stumble and are muddled – covered with vomit
ii) They teach as if teaching babies – and they mumble meaningless repetitions.
iii) The Lord will speak to them with the unintelligible language of the invading Assyrians.
5) A CORNERSTONE LAID IN ZION (28:14-22):
a) Now the focus shifts to the Southern Kingdom and Jerusalem. Political Alliances are not strong enough to overcome God’s judgment.
b) (vv. 14-15) Trusting foreign allies instead of God is making a deal with death.
c) (vs. 16) The Lord God has laid a Stone in Zion.
d) (vv. 17-20) Their alliances will not hold – they will be short-sheeted.
e) (vv. 21-22) The Lord helped David defeat the Philistines at Perazim (2 Sam. 5:19-21). The Lord helped Joshua defeat Gibeon with hailstones (Joshua 10:8-11).
6) GOD’S WISDOM REVEALED DOWN ON THE FARM (28:23-29):
a) The Farmer’s analogy: God’s ways are beyond understanding, yet profoundly simple in application.
7) ARIEL’S AGONY (29:1-8):
a) The second Woe – to Jerusalem.
b) Ariel can mean “lion of God” or “altar hearth” (from Ezekiel 43:15).
c) Verse 2 suggests that Jerusalem would be burned like a sacrifice on the altar.
d) (vv. 3-4) God’s agent against Jerusalem will be Assyria.
e) (vv. 5-8) The focus shifts to the restoration of the city. When all hope is gone, God is in control
8) POWERLESS RELIGIOUS ROTE (29:9-14):
a) The focus shifts again to the spiritual hardness and punishment of the people of God.
b) God wants our heart – not just our religious practices
9) SEEING EYES AND HEARING EARS (29:15-24):
a) The third Woe oracle. Arrogance against God will not go unpunished.
b) (vv. 17-24) The focus shifts from judgement and God gives hope to those who turn and trust in Him.
c) (vv. 22-24) God will fulfill His promise to Abraham and Jacob by transforming His people.
10) READ / LISTEN to Isaiah 30:1-33
a) What are your initial impressions? Are there notable differences in various translations?
11) EGYPT – THE POWERLESS DRAGON (30:1-7):
a) The fourth Woe oracle. Human alliances cannot replace trusting God.
b) (vv. 3-5) Zoan (Tanis) is a former capital of Egypt and resident of Egypt’s wisest advisors. Hanes is only mentioned here in the bible. It is also called Heracleopolis.
c) (vv. 6-7) Egypt is compared to Rahab, the chaos monster God defeated at the creation of the world. (Job 9:13; 26:12-13; Psalm 87:4; Isaiah 51:9)
12) A BOOK OF WITNESS (30:8-17):
a) Disaster awaits those who insult or ignore God’s Word.
13) WIPING AWAY THE TEARS (30:18-26):
a) God promises Salvation.
14) THE FIERY BREATH OF THE LORD (30:27-33):
a) The burning judgment of God. Topheth is Gehenna in Greek and is associated with Hell.
i) See Jeremiah 7:30-34.
15) APPLICATION
a) We should trust only in God for our salvation. (1st Timothy 2:5-6)
b) We cry out to God with our troubles - with the expectation that He will hear and act. (2nd Corinthians 1:3-5)
c) We must study God’s word and commit ourselves to walk in His ways. (2nd Timothy 2:15)
16) WRAP UP and CLOSE IN PRAYER
NEXT LESSON: The Lord Rises Up - Read Isaiah 31:1 – 33:24 to prepare.
