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 Twenty-five: Justice or Judgment
1) GATHERING and OPENING PRAYER
2) READ / LISTEN to Isaiah 56:1 – 57:21
a) What are your initial impressions? Questions? Notable differences in translations?
3) IN A NUTSHELL:
God calls His people to maintain justice and do right because His salvation is at hand. God will accept the worship and sacrifices of every person who trusts in Him. However, those who are responsible for Israel are blind and greedy. Those who depend on idols will receive no help, but God will provide an inheritance to those who find refuge in Him. The call is to prepare the road home because the high and holy God loves the lowly and contrite people. God’s anger with them will not last forever. God will heal and guide the faithful into His peace. But the wicked will not know peace.
4) A TALE OF TWO TEMPLES (POST-EXILE AND FUTURE):
a) The prophetic sermons of Isaiah 56-66 deal with Israel that is released from captivity and in the time of the rebuilt Temple (about 515 B.C.). But there are also messianic allusions for the ends times worship.
b) Cyrus allowed the exiles to return in 538 B.C. (Ezra 1; 6)
c) Work halted and Haggai & Zechariah encouraged rebuilding project
i) Resumed in 520 B.C. (Haggai 1)
ii) The Temple was finished in 515 B.C.
iii) Herod’s Temple in 1 B.C.
d) Future temple proclaimed (Zechariah 6:12-15)
i) The End Times (Revelation 21:15-27)
5) OPEN TO THE OUTCASTS: (56:1-8)
a) The Blessing of Salvation (chapters 54 - 56:8).
i) To those in exile (chapter 54).
ii) To those who hunger and thirst for Salvation (chapter 55).
iii) To the Gentiles formerly restricted from coming (chapter 56:1-8).
b) (vv. 1-2) Justice and Righteousness go hand in hand with Salvation.
c) (vv. 3-6) A place for all – not always good news.
i) The emphasis is on those who have joined themselves to the Lord (converted).
ii) Ezekiel 44:6-9 and Ezra 4:1-3 refer to unconverted gentiles. Compare Exodus 12:43 with 12:48-49.
iii) No intentional gender change - Deuteronomy 23:1.
d) (vv. 7-8) A House of Prayer (Matthew 21:13)
6) PROPHESY OF DISASTER: (56:9-12)
a) Indictment against religious leaders – called dogs. (Philippians 3:2; Revelation 22:15)
7) THE ILLUSION OF IDOLATRY: (57:1-13)
a) (vv. 1-2) A sign of the rapture? A promise that the righteous enjoy peace after they die.
b) (vv. 3-13) Indictment of the Idolaters. The language suggests pagan worship with sexual practices and even child sacrifices. (Deuteronomy 12:2; 2 Kings 23:10; Jeremiah 2:20; 3:6, 13)
8) HEALING FOR THE HUMBLE: (57:14-21)
a) (vv. 14-19) Promise of Peace for the righteous.
b) (vv. 20-21) No peace, but chaos for the wicked. (Psalm 1:4-6)
9) APPLICATION:
a) Live out justice and righteousness as you work out your salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12-13)
b) Avoid idols and false gods in your life. (Jeremiah 25:6)
c) Know that God desires ALL to come to Him. (2 Peter 3:9)
10) WRAP UP and CLOSE IN PRAYER
NEXT LESSON:
Favored Fasting - Read Isaiah 58:1 – 59:21 to prepare.
