Isaiah’s Commission (Isaiah 6)

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Isaiah 6

1. When were you last called into the office of your chief principal or boss’s boss? What for? How did that affect you?

2. What volunteer ministries have you been involved with? How were you recruited?

3. If King Uzziah represents stability to Judah, what does his death mean? Why does God choose this time to reveal Himself to Isaiah?

4. Imagine you are Isaiah. What do you tell a friend about what you saw, heard, felt and smelled in verses 1 – 4?

5. What questions about God’s nature and purpose does this encounter raise for you?

6. What makes Isaiah despair for his life and confess his sin (verse 5; see also Exodus 20:19; 33:20)?

7. Animals were burned on the altar as a substitute for the death of the sinner. What is the significance of Isaiah’s lips being touched with a coal from this altar?

8. Compare Isaiah’s response in verse 8 with verse 5. What is significant about that?

9. What is Isaiah’s new mission (verses 9 and 10). What effect will it have on Judah? Is this what God wants to happen? Or an ironic statement of what God knows will happen?

10. What does “But” (verse 13b) signify? How does the stump in verse 13 relate to the Branch (chapter 4:2 – 6)?

11. How is your experience with God like Isaiah’s? Awestruck? Cleansed? Guilt-ridden? Are you willing to serve anywhere, anytime?

12. God’s holiness and universal reign awed Isaiah. Which of God’s attributes most impresses you? Why?

13. John 12:40, 41 relates this vision to Jesus. How is Jesus’ glory like the suffering and healing Isaiah saw?

14. Why has God sent you to your world?

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Pekah King of Israel; Jotham King of Judah (2 Kings 15:27 – 38)

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2 Kings 15:27 – 38

1. When you’re feeling real low, who can send you even lower: Spouse? Kids? School principal? Boss?

2. What happened the last time Assyria attacked (see chapter 15:19)?

3. With the national treasure empty, the army shoeless and the temple bare, what resource is left to extract (verse 29)?

4. What does Hoshea decide with Assyria advancing on Aram and Philistia (verse 30)?

5. Meanwhile in Judah, what does Jotham have going for him (verses 32 – 34)?

6. Who most likely destroyed the Upper Gate (see chapter 14:13)?

7. If Jotham is good and concerned about God’s temple, why does God send enemies (verse 37)? Is this author too quick to attribute every military maneuver to God?

8. Have you ever met a refugee? Who is responsible for aiding refugees?

9. How does the writer’s view of God’s involvement in human events affect your attitude toward developments on the world scene?

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Menahem and Pekahiah: Kings of Israel (2 Kings 15:17 – 26)

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2 Kings 15:17 – 26

1. What work around the house or on the job could you use 50 good men to do? Is the work mindless? Costly? Legal? Fun?

2. What is the purpose of military conquest (verses 19 and 20)?

3. Why should a desperado like Menahem stoop to such humiliating tactics to get rid of an enemy?

4. Who ends up footing the bill: the government? the wealthy? the little guy?

5. What hints do you see that despite Menahem, the country is enjoying prosperity?

6. Is Pekahiah done in because people are upset with his sinning (verses 23 – 25)?

7. What does the quick turnaround in kings say about life in Israel?

8. Is evil tolerable as long as the economy looks bright? Is it better to be poor and Christlike or comfortable and compromised? What gets you attention most – the bank balance or the word of God?

9. Does the Lord give you some wealth to help fend off evil? What is the purpose of your prosperity?

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