Kingdom Divided Lesson 22 – Various Scriptures

 

This study includes various Scriptures about God’s chosen people and His purifying plan for them.

These passages record how and why God’s judgment fell on Israel and Judah.

2 Kings 21:15-15 – God said He would bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle.

2 Kings 17:1-23 – King Hosea of Israel was imprisoned by Assyria because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord.  They worshiped other gods and followed the practices of the nations the Lord had driven out.

2 Kings 25:1-21 – God allowed King Nebuchadnezzar to capture Jerusalem and burn the city.

God’s purposes prevailed, despite the failure of His people.

Isaiah 9:1-7 – God will enlarge their nation, increase their joy, and send His son.  He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince or Peace.  He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom.  Suffering accomplishes God’s purposes.  Isaiah 43:1-9 – “See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

We see God’s grace and sovereignty through the judgment on His people.  He persevered a remnant.  The people were freed from exile returned to Jerusalem.  They were given prophets and hope for the future.  Later they would be given Jesus.  God gave us Jesus and through Him we have hope.

As I study Israel and Judah’s suffering, I ask myself why.  Why were they so stupid, hard headed,  and stubborn?  Why wouldn’t they listen?  When you think about it, people are the same today – prideful, stubborn, and can’t see what is right in front of them.  People are blinded by a sinful, fallen world.

Through these passages we should see truths about God.  God loves us even when we sin.  He is always with us during our sufferings.  This knowledge should give us comfort and peace.

Life in this world involves suffering.  Genesis 3:19 relates to the suffering in the world. – We now have to work for our food and we all will have to die one day.  Adam and Eve brought sin into this world.  Now we all live in a fallen world and with sin and the suffering it brings.  No one escapes suffering.                                                                  

Why is there suffering?  Human suffering tests us and strengthens us growing us closer to God.  There is suffering in this world because through suffering the work of God might be displayed (Job 1:9-12; Joel 2:12-14; John 9:1-3).  Following Christ doesn’t guarantee a pass to an easy life.  Believers and unbelievers alike experience hardships and suffering.

Isaiah 55:8-9 tells us what we should consider before be blame others or give reasons for our suffering. – Our thoughts are not God’s thoughts and His ways are not our ways.  His thoughts and ways are higher than ours.

How does God provide comfort during our suffering?  Isaiah 45:7; 41:10 and 2 Corinthians 11:23-12:10 tell us that God’s truth gives us comfort during times of suffering.  – God is our Creator.  He is in control.  He created everything so He has the right to do what He wants, when He wants.  “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness… For when I am weak, then I am strong.” - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

How does suffering help us long for something better?  2 Corinthians 4:16-18 and Revelation 22:1-5 show us that suffering helps us long for something better.  – Our momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs our suffering.  One day we will be in heaven with the Lord Jesus and there will be no more suffering.

Does personal suffering help us to seek God?  When we are suffering we are more likely to go to God for His help.  Suffering humbles us.  It makes us more aware of our need for Him.  He uses suffering like sickness, death, job loss, divorce, etc. to draw us to Himself.

These verses show us different ways God works to draw us to him through challenges. 

Numbers 32:23 – When we sin, God sees and knows our sin and draws us to Himself.

Psalm 40:7 – God knows when we are weak and needy.  He comes to us with help.  He is our deliverer.

Psalm 118:13-14 – When we are down and out, He gives us strength.

Jeremiah 9:7; Zechariah 13:9 – He draws us to Himself by testing us.

Why do we resist our neediness?  We resist admitting our need for God, because we like to be in control and self-sufficient.  We are taught from childhood to be independent.  There is also pride and shame to admit we have failed.

What good comes from Jesus's suffering?  Jesus accomplished a greater good through His suffering.  Isaiah 53:4-6, 11-13 – He took all our sins and sorrows and died on the cross for us.  “By his wounds we are healed.”   His suffering and death atoned for our sins.  His suffering shows us how to respond to love, humiliation, ridicule, and persecution in this life.  His death accomplished redemption for us from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13-13; Romans 3:24).  He redeemed us from the guilt and power of sin.  He defeated the power of Satan (Colossians 3:15).

We should take great comfort in Psalm 46:1; 11 – “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”  “The Lord almighty is with us…”

Does personal suffering contribute to our spiritual growth?  Romans 5::3-5; James 1:2-4 –  Suffering makes us realize we are not in control.  It helps us depend on God.  Suffering allows us to experience God’s presence and proves He is faithful.   Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  We should consider it pure joy when faced with trials, because testing of faith develops perseverance which matures us. 

There are other benefits that suffering brings beyond personal growth.  Corinthians 1:3-7; 1 Peter 4:12-14 - When we suffer, Jesus is there to comfort us.  Suffering produces patient endurance.  We should not be surprised when we suffer.  Christ suffered so as a suffering Christian we are identifying with Him.  When we suffer, we experience God’s presence and comfort.  Then we are able to share His comfort with others. 

When you are going through some type of trial, remember that through suffering God might be achieving a higher purpose for your life so you should rejoice in your suffering.  “…rejoice in our suffering, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” – Romans 5:3-4

Our earthly pains and sufferings won’t last forever.   Each day we are closer to the end of our lives on this earth or Jesus’ return.  If you are a follower of Jesus, then you will be in heaven with Him forever without pain, tears, and suffering.  If you are not a follower, you will face eternal pain and suffering.  Only God can rescue you from sin’s penalty.

Principle:  God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

This week’s attribute of God is He is Faithful.  God keeps all His promises.  He knows and loves each one of us.  In this life we will face suffering, but God is faithful and we can trust Him.  God accomplishes His purposes even through suffering.

Next time we will continue our study of Kingdom Divided with the book of Micah.  Hope to see you here. – I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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Kingdom Divided Lesson 21 – Isaiah Part 4

 

Isaiah 49-57 – The Suffering Servant

Isaiah wrote four Servant Songs – Isaiah 42:1-9; 49:1-13; 50:4-11; 52:13-53:12.  The first Servant Song introduced the Messiah.  Now the second Servant Song gives His mission.  The Servant Israel here is Jesus the Messiah, because He came from Israel and is the representative of the nation.  Isaiah starts by saying that the Lord called Him by name before He was born and made His mouth a sharp sword meaning His very words have power and authority.  God held Him in His hand; caused Him to be a polished weapon; appointed Him His servant; appointed Him to restore and recover Israel and to be a light for the Gentiles; for Him to give salvation to the end of the world; chose Him, will help him; through him will both deliver the captive and cause joy to break out in heaven and earth.

Israel was God’s servant people, but fell short so God called Jesus to be His servant.  Jesus is the light of the world and we are to be a light to others. “You are the light of the world” – Matthew 5:14a.  The purpose of light in not to draw attention to itself, but to enable people to see.  Our lives should enable people to see the truth of the gospel.  All people are important to God.  He cares about us and He cannot and will not forget us.  He wants us to seek and trust in Him. 

Isaiah as well as Jesus seemed to have labored in vain because the people would not repent.  People who are in ministry sometimes feel this way.  You work long hours; the work is tiring; the results you want don’t always come; very few people are thankful; it often feels like you labor in vain.  Mother Teresa once said, “We are not called to be successful, but faithful.”

Isaiah’s third Servant Song in Isaiah 50 contrasts Israel’s disobedience and the Servant’ obedience.  He said the Messiah will be persecuted and then vindicated.  He said He will be obedient to God which results in His suffering. 

Isaiah 52-53, the fourth Servant Song describes the suffering and triumph of the Servant of the Lord which gives details of the death and resurrection of the Messiah.  He gives His life for ours accomplishing the will of God and our salvation.

God’s Servant is described as:

He will act wise, be raised and lifted up and highly exalted, His appearance will be disfigured and marred beyond human likeness. 

He grew up with no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, His appearance didn’t make us desire Him.  He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.

He took our infirmities and carried our sorrows.

He was pierced for our transgressions He was crushed for our iniquities.

“We all, liked sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all”. – Isaiah 53:6.

Jesus endured suffering that belonged to us.  We must never underestimate what our sin cost Jesus.  He took the pain that we deserved.  He took on the full the guilt and consequences of our sin – past, present, and future.  He brought sinners peace and spiritual healing.  When arrested, Jesus offered no resistance.  He willing went to the cross like a lamb led to slaughter.  Without His suffering that brought atonement, no one could enter the kingdom of heaven.  Now He sits in glory on the right hand of God, reigning in eternal glory.

By God revealing these specifics about Jesus’ sacrifice centuries before He died confirms that God is omniscient (all-knowing) and omnipotent (all-powerful).

We learn more about God and His ways in these verses:

Isaiah 54:7 – He is compassionate.

Isaiah 55:1-7 – He is merciful.

Isaiah 55:8-13 – His thoughts and ways are not our thoughts and ways, because they are higher than ours.

Isaiah 57:15 – He lives in a high and holy place, but also with the contrite and lowly in spirit.

Principle:  Jesus came as a suffering Servant and reigns as eternity’s King.

Isaiah 58-62 – The Final Plea

Isaiah recalls the details of Israel’s sin and offered another call for them to repent.  He said their sin had separated them from God; their hands were stained with blood and fingers with guilt; their lips have spoken lies and their tongue muttered wicked things; they didn’t know the ways of peace; there was no justice in their paths; they had turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks in them would know peace. 

Isaiah 63-66 – Isaiah’s Prayer

In Isaiah 63:7-19 speaks of hope in Christ the Redeemer, the glory of his coming kingdom, and of principles followed by those who hope to enter that new Zion – repentance, faithfulness, justice, mercy, wisdom, and integrity.  The redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins.

Isaiah speaks of God’s love and kindness.  He recalls God’s leading His people in the days of Moses.  He asks why God’s zeal for His people had waned.  He wanted God to come down and do awesome things again.  He confessed the people’s sin.  He acknowledged God as the heavenly Father.  “We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” – Isaiah 64:8. 

We are seeing God do awesome things now with the revival that started at Asbury University and His Spirit is pouring out all over the world.  We have prayed for revival and God listened.  There is a spiritual renewal on college campuses and churches here in America and in many other countries.  People are waking up and demonstrating humility, confession, compassion and surrender to the Lord.

In Isaiah 65-66 God answers Isaiah’s prayer.  God speaks of the rebellious and unworthy nation.  God has destined the sword to destroy the rebellious nation, but He won’t destroy it all.  A remnant will be left to bring forth the offspring to inherit the promises.  The nation will suffer but the remnant will be blessed.  God will create new heavens and a new earth.  He will assert His sovereignty and purpose.  The through the suffering, God will cause a new kingdom to be born.  God spoke of the final things in the distant future; of heaven and of hell.

There are repeated themes from this book which are captured in Isaiah 65 – God judges His people, but He loves them and offers them salvation.  Those who reject Him will face His judgment.

Isaiah 66:2 shows us that God is the Creator of all things.  We can never understand anything until we understand just who God is and that we are under His command.  He wants us to humbly serve Him with a contrite spirit and tremble at His Word.

Do you need to repent of a specific sin?

Do you need hope?

What is keeping you from repenting?

Principle:  Nothing can stop God’s eternal plan.

This week’s attribute of God is He is a Person.  He has an identity and a personality.  He is part of the Trinity – God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  He communicates and speaks to us through His Word, the Bible.  We speak to Him through prayer.

Next time we will continue our study of Kingdom Divided with various Scriptures. Hope to see you here.  – I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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Kingdom Divided Lesson 20 – Isaiah Part 3

 

Isaiah 40

The rest of Isaiah focuses on Israel’s future restoration.  In Isaiah 39 God announced that the Babylonians would someday capture Jerusalem and take the people into exile, but now in Isaiah 40:1-2 God declared comfort, hope and deliverance for His exiled people.  They needed to hear some words of comfort after all they ‘d been through.  He told them that their sin had been paid which is a picture that through the death and resurrection of the Messiah the debt had been fully paid.  The word ‘comfort’ means a state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint.  The one true source of comfort is in Jesus, “because He will save His people from their sins.” - Matthew 1:21.  “Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of comfort, who comfort us in all our troubles….” – 2 Corinthians 1:3-7.

We learn about the person of God in these verses:

Isaiah 40:1-11 –  God is comfort.  His Word stands forever.  He is Sovereign and powerful.

Isaiah 40: 12-26 –  God is Creator.  He is Holy.  He has great power and mighty strength.

Isaiah 40:27-31 – God is everlasting.  He never grows tired or weary.  He gives strength to the weary and power to the weak.

We can find strength in His Word and knowing He is in control.  He gives us strength when we pray, when we have faith, and then we trust in Him.

Isaiah said to prepare the way of the Lord (Isaiah 40:3) which is a direct fulfillment in the New Testament in the person of John the Baptist.  Jesus was the coming Messiah and King.  John the Baptist’s ministry was to be the one crying in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord.  Preparing means to examine your life and see where your choices and actions have not been pleasing to God.  It means to remove all things that prevent you from being right with God.  This leads you to repentance and for the coming of the Lord into your heart. 

We can find strength in God when we feel weak, weary, confused or discouraged because He is the everlasting God.  “The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” – Isaiah  40:28-29. 

In times of distress or uncertainty, what brings you comfort?

What or who do you rely on for strength and energy?

Principle:  God’s amazing forgiveness brings us the deepest comfort.

Isaiah 41-45  

Through Isaiah God encouraged Israel.  “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God;  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” – Isiah 41:10.

Then he condemned the foolishness of idolatry.  He said God Himself is the first and the last; apart from Him there is no God (Isaiah 44;6).  All who make idols are nothing and are worthless.  All who speak up for them are blind, ignorant, and shameful.  Those who craft idols are nothing but men.  Idols cannot save.  Only God can save.  Idols cannot give life.  Only God can.  He is your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb.

Why does God hate idols?  God hates idolatry because He is unwilling to share His glory.  He created us and everything in this world so He alone is worthy of our worship.  There is none above Him and none that can even stand beside Him.

People fashion idols today.  They may not worship a golden statue, but they worship other things.  An idol is when something or someone becomes more important to you than God.  It’s anything that you love, treasure, prioritize, identify with, or look to for needed fulfillment outside of God.  One of the Ten Commandments and found in Exodus 20:3 is against idolatry.  Some idols are money, material things, jobs, status, family, children, entertainment, sex, and even technology like phones and computers.  To identify your idols ask yourself, ‘where do I spend my time, where do I spend my money, where do I get my joy, what’s always on my mind?’

Isaiah 42 is known as the Servant Song.  The Servant here is talking about Jesus the Messiah revealing His servant heart and the very nature of God the Father.  He is marked by gentleness and is a gentle Savior.  He meets us where we are in all our hurt and pain, where we’ve been bent and bruised.

Then he gives Israel and us reasons not to fear – God created us, He formed us, He redeemed us, He called us by name and we are His.  He is always with us, we belong to Him, He is our God.  He alone is God.

God said He is the Lord and there is no other.  He formed the light and created the darkness.  He brings prosperity and creates disaster.  “I, the Lord, do all these things.” – Isaiah 45:7b.  We are to look to Him to be saved.

Principle:  God is Lord and there is no other.

Isaiah 46-47

God continued His message through Isaiah.  He used Babylon as an instrument to judge His people, but He held Babylon accountable for her pride, idolatry, violence and brutality.  Babylon’s gods cannot do anything.  The people had to carry the idols, they were expensive to make and the people were wasting their money.  No idol can ever do anything to help its owner.  Idols are helpless.  God can do everything.  He has a plan and He will save Jerusalem.

False gods have to be carried, but God carries His people.  He carried them from before their birth and He promises to continue to carry them until their hairs are gray.  God watches over our every movement and remains faithful to us.  He is not only interested in our early years, but in every day of our lives.  He’s with us in the womb to the tomb and every day in between.  He’s with us in every season of life.  “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you  I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” - Isaiah 46:4

Principle:  God has plans and a purpose to carry out in each of our lives.

Woe to Babylon!  The people were cruel to their slaves and now they were themselves slaves.  They will suffer the same shame they caused.  They will stand accountable to God.  The final words in chapter 47 are “no one can save you”  This is true for all who will not find salvation in the Lord.

Principle:  Salvation is found through Jesus alone.

Isaiah 48

We learn in Isaiah 48:3-5 that God was not surprised of Israel’s stubbornness and rebellion against Him.  This demonstrates that God is the sovereign Lord of history and He controls its flow.  He knows all things and all possibilities.  He is never caught by surprised.  God said, “Listen to me…. I am he; I am the first and I am the last.” – Isaiah 48:12.

Isaiah 48:16-19 described God’s actions and posture toward His people.  He said to come near to Him and listen.  He is their Redeemer; the Holy One of Israel and He is the Lord their God.  He teaches what is best and directs the way they should go.  If only they had paid attention to His commands, they would have peace like a river, their descendants would have been like the sand, and they would never be destroyed.  Because of their rebellion they forfeited peace, prosperity and well-being.

Judah persisted in stubborn rebellion and idol worship.  They were totally unwilling to change.  He told them to listen and understand.  They were His chosen people but their behavior was evil.  He said the Lord must punish them because they have damaged His name.  He put a limit on their punishment or they would otherwise be totally destroyed.  Isaiah told them if they had only listened.  Instead of happiness, the people became miserable prisoners in a foreign country for many years.  He told them to leave Babylon and to send out a message that the Lord had redeemed them.

In what ways are you rebelling against God?

What idols do you worship?

What is keeping you from changing your stubborn ways?

Are you paying attention when God is speaking to you?

Principle:  God offers peace and wellbeing to those who follow Him.

This week’s Attribute of God is He is Savior.  We have no power to save ourselves because we are dead in our sin.  Death is the punishment for sin, but God sent Jesus to die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.  Jesus saves completely and there is no sin left for God to punish.  He gives us new  desires and a new ability to fight sin through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus is the only way we can be saved!

Key verses:

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” - Isaiah 40:8.

“The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” – Isaiah  40:28-29.

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:31

“I, the Lord, do all these things.” – Isaiah 45:7b.

Next time we will study the final section of Isaiah in our study of Kingdom Divided.  Hope to see you here. – I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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