Page 100 - Isaiah Student Worktext

That they showed no mercy to Israel sets the standard for the lack of mercy God will exhibit toward
them. They even forced cruelty upon the elderly.

V. 7-11 ‘I shall be a lady forever’ was referring to Babylon’s belief that the empire would last forever.

Babylon also believed they would never ‘sit as a widow’ or know the loss of children. These two
particular tragedies are the worst thing that could have happened to a woman, anytime, but particularly
back then, as they had no way to make a living after that.

The widowhood refers to the fact that her young men, the soldiers, would fall on the battlefield. The
loss of children points to the destruction of cities that would follow.

V. 9-10 refer once again to the idol worship, the ‘sorceries’ that they depended upon. They believed
that ‘no one could see them’ do their wickedness when in fact God sees and knows all things.

Because of the evil that they have inflicted, evil will rise up around them, in ways that they could never
have expected.

V. 12-15 One of the things that this culture did a lot of was astrology, star-gazing, in an attempt to
discern the future. We know that this is futile, but they depended upon it.

They did all these things despite having seen the power of the Lord. Proverbs 21: 30

When God promises coming wrath, our only option is to run TO Him, to plead for mercy. Without Him,
‘no one shall save you.’

Chapter 48 - Main Idea: For His glory and our benefit, God delays His
anger and refuses to destroy His people, despite their sins.

There are innumerable ways that God demonstrates His glory. I see it in His
creation. I see it in His miracles. I see it in His people. It is literally impossible
to live in this world and not see His glory.

The concept that salvation is for HIS glory and not for the saved is the focus of this chapter.

V. 1-2 This is an invitation, an opportunity for the house of Jacob, Israel, to respond. They are called by
the name of Israel, they swear by the name of the Lord, but not in truth or righteousness.

Many millions of people the world over make the claim to be Christian, but there is no evidence of being
Christian in their lives. Their claim is ‘not in truth or in righteousness’. The occupants of the ‘holy city’
of Jerusalem also make the claim.

V. 3 God’s message is nothing new. What He is declaring in Isaiah’s time is what He has declared from
the beginning and what He continues to declare today.

V. 4-5 The people of Israel were no more ‘obstinate’ or stiff-necked than anyone else, it’s just that they
had less reason to be, considering all that they had witnessed God do throughout their history.

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