Page 120 - Isaiah Student Worktext

Study Section 17: Chapters 58 - 61

17.1 Connect.

In the United States, one of the biggest criticisms of the church by people who are either no
longer in the church or have never been in the church is that Christians are a ‘bunch of
hypocrites.’

Although there are 10 Commandments in the book of Exodus, Jesus summarized them all like
this: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, your soul, your mind and your strength; and
love your neighbor as yourself. These two are not meant to be used independently, but in tandem with
each other.

The world hears those words and then they see the actions of Christians, and thereby declare hypocrisy.
One of the most obvious areas of Christian failure to follow these two greatest commandments is in our
treatment of those less fortunate than us. Christians often claim a religious high road, while living lives
that ignore at least or crush at worst the poor and needy.

James 1: 27 tells us that pure and undefiled religion ministers to the orphan and the widow. The
opposite declares that religion that does not do that is defiled. As Christians, we represent Jesus Christ
to the world. The only “Bible” the lost world can see and read is our lives. Today Isaiah focuses on living
what you believe….

17.2 Objectives.

1. The student should be able to explain that God exposes hypocritical fasting, calling His people
to a genuine fast of loving the poor and delighting in Him.

2. The student should be able to discover that the Lord looks on our wickedness and works His
own salvation and vengeance on the earth.

3. The student should be able to see the stunning glory of Zion, the heavenly City of God, is revealed in
words that soar beyond any earthly fulfillment in the physical city of Jerusalem.

4. The student should be able to understand that the Messiah announces the good news of His mission
to bring salvation to the poor, brokenhearted captives of the earth.

17.3 Chapter 58 - Main Idea: God exposes hypocritical fasting, calling His people to a
genuine fast of loving the poor and delighting in Him.

V. 1-3 The people of Isaiah’s time, the people of our time, need to be reminded of their sin. Tell
them of their transgression. Even in our transgressions, we tend to continue asking God to
hear our prayers, and then, as in V. 3, we say ‘Why aren’t you answering me the way I want you
to?’

Do we ever feel like God isn’t listening, isn’t answering? What might make us feel that way?

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