What was Isaiah’s message?

What was Isaiah’s message?

What Was Isaiah’s message?

Through 66 chapters, Isaiah proclaimed a timeless message of judgment and salvation. Through poetry, prophecy, and history, Isaiah offered hope.

The Holy One is Your Only Hope

by Hollie Roberts | Lessons from Isaiah - Episode 2

This excerpt is from a pre-recorded lecture by BSF Executive Director Hollie Roberts.

Portions of this lecture may be used in part by BSF teaching teams or online groups. 

Transcripts 

English

(Transcript)  Isaiah was God’s timely messenger and he offered God’s timely message. In fact, he really delivered one message and if I could boil it down, you know what I’d say: “The Holy One is your only hope.” Now it might surprise you that a book of 66 chapters is reduced to one message, but Isaiah Chapter 1, verse 1 tells us that this book of Isaiah comes forth from the vision, one vision, that God gave Isaiah. It isn’t multiple visions or multiple experiences. That’s why it’s not a chronological story that we can follow. It’s one vision. 

And that’s why we have stepped back from studying Isaiah verse-by-verse to look at the book with a broader perspective in part, because it’s tempting to read it chronologically and that doesn’t work and could even be frustrating. But what we have in this book is one message presented in Scripture — sometimes poetically, sometimes apocalyptically, sometimes through a historical story — but all accounts are intended to tie back to this one message of judgment and salvation. And in every possible way, Isaiah communicates that the Holy One is the only hope of humanity. 

Now that is a timely message. It is just as needed today as it was in Isaiah’s day. God is the hope of humanity — not political parties, not ideas, not philosophies, not knowledge, not wealth, not influence, not prestige, not an election, not who’s ruling, not if you’re married or single, not if you have children or don’t have children. God is the hope of humanity. 

We’re teaching Isaiah in four weeks to allow you to appreciate the bigger vision, the larger point of view through the vignettes. I encourage you to enjoy your questions over the next few weeks. They’re designed to take you into certain Scriptures within the book while we unpack the themes that support the one vision, God’s timely message — the Holy One is your only hope. 

The Holy One

So, let’s look at the Holy One in the book. You see, God takes center stage in the book of Isaiah. God, the first person of the Trinity; God, the Father, the Holy One. And every chapter in the 66 chapters of Isaiah confronts us with the holiness of God. We are forced to reconcile with the holiness, the Holy One of Israel, the sinlessness, the set-apart nature of God. Pure and perfectly faithful. Always right. Always righteous. 

So, we could start in Chapter 1 and in Chapter 1, we see the holiness of God as God levels the accusation on a sinful nation because of their evil deeds, because of their failure to see justice done, because of their failure to defend the cause of the fatherless and the widow. We see in Chapter 5 the Holy One judges sin. God is going to prove Himself holy by His righteous acts of judgment. In fact, that’s how we’ll understand God is holy — because He judges sin. 

In Chapter 6, the Holy One is boundless. God is presented in the temple and the train of the robe fills the temple, but the declaration is “the whole earth is full of his glory.” In Chapter 8, we’ll see the Holy One is this holy place. He is the one that you should fear. He is the one you should regard as holy.

Chapters 10 through 14 tell us that the Holy One is the sovereign one. He has a plan — not just for a few, but for all. He is reigning over not just Judah and Israel but the entire world. The Holy One declares Himself to be the judge of all nations.  

He warns of judgment on those who try to rely on their own resources and do not rely on Him for their help. He shows Himself; the Holy One shows Himself to have no equal, no counselor, no teacher, no one who showed Him the path of understanding, no one who can compare to Him. He doesn’t grow tired or weary. He forms the light. He creates the darkness. He brings prosperity. He creates disaster. In Chapter 41, the Holy One wins. 

Now I could go on and on. We could look at each and every chapter and see evidence of the holiness, this confrontation with the holiness of God. But let’s pause and stand back for a minute and consider the truth about the Holy One revealed in Scripture because even in this moment, you are finding yourself either believing in Him and worshipping Him and keenly aware of your own sinfulness, or you’re finding yourself in disbelief and opposed to Him. Who does He think He is to say these things? One of those is happening. I invite you to turn in to the Holy One.

Your only hope

If this is all there is to the Holy One though, I could see how it could be frightening. I could see how we would be reduced to ruin. But the message of the book of Isaiah is the Holy One is the only hope, so let’s see why that is the case as we move through the chapters of Isaiah again. 

You know, God promises early on and all the way through the book that there will be a Holy One who makes holy people. We see it evidenced in Isaiah Chapter 6 when the Holy One makes Isaiah holy by atoning for his sin. We see in Chapter 25 how the Holy One gives hope and declares Himself to be a refuge for the poor, a shelter from the storm, the one who will swallow up death, who will wipe away every tear. 

We see in Chapter 26 the Holy One establishes peace and then He keeps those whose minds are steadfast in perfect peace. We see in Chapter 28 the Holy One is also called “the Sovereign Lord,” meaning He can accomplish all things, and the promise is that He is laying down a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation and the one who relies on Him will never be stricken with panic. In fact, the Holy One promises to destroy death. 

The Holy One promises to provide salvation. In repentance and rest, you will find your salvation. In quietness and trust, you will find your strength. He promises to be a sure foundation for our time, a rich store of salvation. He promises that He will save people. He invites our confidence. He invites us to place our confidence in Him even when the world says we should not trust God. 

The Holy One brings comfort to His people by atoning for their sin. He gives strength to the weary who hope in Him. He calls people to righteousness. He opens the eyes of the blind and sets the captives free. He reveals, saves and proclaims. He blots out and remembers our sin no more. In the Lord alone are deliverance and strength. He is bringing righteousness near and will grant salvation to His people. 

Spanish

Isaías fue el mensajero oportuno de Dios y ofreció su mensaje también oportuno. De hecho, realmente entrego un mensaje, y si pudiera resumirlo, sabes lo que diría: que “El Santo es tu única esperanza”. Ahora puede que te sorprenda que un libro de 66 capítulos se reduzca a un mensaje, pero Isaías capitulo 1, versículo 1, nos dice que de este libro surge la visión, una visión que Dios le dio a Isaías. No son múltiples visiones o múltiples experiencias. Es por eso que no es una historia cronológica que podamos seguir, es una visión.

Y es justamente por eso también que hemos dejado de estudiar Isaías versículo por versículo para mirar el libro con una perspectiva mas amplia. En parte porque es tentador leerlo cronológicamente y eso no funciona e incluso podría ser frustrante. Pero lo que tenemos en este libro es un mensaje presentado en las escrituras, a veces poéticamente, a veces apocalípticamente, a veces hay un relato histórico, pero todos los relatos tienen la intención de relacionarse con este mensaje de juicio y salvación. Y de todas las formas posibles, Isaías comunica que el Santo es la única esperanza de la humanidad. 

Ahora, este es un mensaje oportuno es tan necesario hoy como lo fue en los días de Isaías. Dios es la esperanza de la humanidad. Ni partidos políticos, ni ideas, ni filosofías, ni conocimiento, ni riqueza, ni influencia, ni prestigio, ni elecciones, ni gobiernos, si estas casado o soltero, si tienes o no tienes hijos. Dios es la esperanza de la humanidad.

Enseñaremos Isaías en cuatro semanas para permitirte apreciar la visión mas amplia, el punto de vista mas amplio a través de las viñetas. Los animo a disfrutar de sus preguntas durante las próximas semanas, están diseñadas para profundizar en ciertas escrituras dentro del libro mientras analizamos los temas que respaldan la visión única y el mensaje oportuno de Dios. El Santo es nuestra única esperanza.

 

El Santo

Así que miremos al Santo en el libro. Miremos, Dios ocupa un lugar central en el libro de Isaías. Dios, la primera persona de la Trinidad; Dios el Padre, el Santo. Y cada uno de los 66 capítulos de Isaías nos confronta con la santidad de Dios. Nos vemos obligados a reconciliarnos con la santidad, el Único Santo de Israel, la insensatez, la naturaleza apartada de Dios, pura y perfectamente fiel. Siempre recta. Siempre justa.

Así que podríamos empezar en el capitulo 1, y en el capitulo 1, vemos la santidad de Dios cuando Dios lanza la acusación sobre una nación pecadora por sus malas obras. Por no ver que se haga justicia, por no doblegar la causa de los huérfanos y las viudas. Vemos en el versículo 5 y capitulo 5, el Santo que juzga. Dijo que Dios probaría ser Santo por medio de sus justos actos de juicio. De hecho, así entenderemos que Dios es Santo porque juzga lo dicho en el capitulo 6.

El Santo no tiene limites. Dios se presenta en el templo y la cola del manto llena la edificación. Pero la declaración es que “toda la tierra esta llena de su gloria”. En el capitulo 8, ya veremos, Él es el único Santo en este lugar santo. Él es a quien debemos considerar Santo.

Los capítulos del 10 al 14 nos dicen que el Santo es el soberano. Él tiene un plan, no solo para unos pocos sino para todos. Él esta reinando no solo sobre la nación de Israel sino sobre el mundo entero. El Santo se declara juez de todas las naciones.

Advierte del juicio sobre aquellos que intentan confiar en sus propios recursos y no confían en Él para su ayuda. Se muestra así mismo como el Santo que se muestra sin igual, sin consejero, sin maestro, nadie que le mostrara el camino del entendimiento, nadie que pueda compararse con Él. No se cansa ni se fatiga. Él forma la luz. Él crea la oscuridad. Él trae prosperidad. Él crea el desastre. En el capitulo 41 el Santo gana.

Ahora podría seguir y seguir. Podríamos mirar todos y cada uno de los capítulos y ver evidencia de la santidad. De esta confrontación con la santidad de Dios. Pero hagamos una pausa y retrocedamos por un minuto. Considerémos la verdad acerca el Santo revelada en las escrituras. Por que incluso en este momento te encuentras creyendo en Él y adorándolo y muy consiente de tu propia pecaminosidad. Te encuentras incrédulo y opuesto a Él. ¿Quién se cree que es? ¿por qué tiene que decir estas cosas? Seguro algo de esto esta pasando. Te invito a que te enfoques en el único que es Santo.

 

Tu única esperanza

Esto es todo lo que te puede ofrecer el único Santo. Y puedo ver que todo esto puede causarte temor o derrumbarte, pero el mensaje del libro de Isaías es que el Santo es la única esperanza. Así que veamos porque ese es el caso a medida que avanzamos a través de los capítulos del libro.

Una vez mas Dios promete desde el principio y durante todo el contenido del libro, que habrá un Santo que hará personas santas. Lo vemos evidenciado en el capitulo 6 de Isaías cuando el Santo santifica al profeta al expiar a su hijo. Vemos en el capitulo 25 como el Santo da esperanza y se declara refugio de los pobres, es el refugio en medio de la tormenta, aquel que fue arrasado, que enjuagara toda lagrima.

Que vemos en el capitulo 26, el Santo establece la paz y luego mantiene esta perfecta paz en aquellos cuyas mentes están firmes. Vemos en el capitulo 28 que el Santo también es llamado “el Señor soberano”, lo que significa que Él puede lograr todas las cosas y las promesas de que esta poniendo una piedra angular preciosa para un fundamento seguro y el que confía en Él nunca caerá en pánico. De hecho, el Santo promete destruir la muerte.

El Santo promete proveer salvación, arrepentimiento y descanso.  Encontraras tu salvación en la tranquilidad y la confianza. Encontraras tu fuerza. Él promete ser un fundamento seguro para nuestro tiempo, un rico almacén de salvación. Él promete que salvara a la gente. Él nos invita a confiar y a depositar nuestra confianza en Él, incluso cuando el mundo dice que no debemos confiar en Dios.

El Santo trae consuelo a su pueblo al expiar sus dichos. Él da fuerza a los cansados que esperan en Él. Él llama a la gente a la justicia. Él abre los ojos de los ciegos y libera a los cautivos. Él revela, salva y proclama. Él borra y no recuerda mas nuestro pecado. Solo en el Señor nuestra liberación y fortaleza. Vemos de cerca la justicia y la salvación a su pueblo.

Simplified Chinese

以賽亞是上帝及時的使者,他傳遞上帝及時的信息。事實上,如果我可以做歸納總結,他確實在傳遞一個信息,你知道我說的就是:至聖者是你唯一的盼望。也許你會驚訝,這卷書不是有六十六章嗎,怎麼能夠簡化為一個信息呢?但是,以賽亞書第一章第1節告訴我們,這卷書是本於上帝賜給以賽亞的一個異象寫成的,並不是依據多個異象或多重經歷所寫的。這就是為什麼這卷書的敘事不是依照時間的排序,它是一個異象。

這也是為什麼我們沒有用逐節查考的做法,而是從較宏觀的角度來讀這卷書,因為當我們照時間順序去讀的時候,就會發現行不通,甚至感到挫折。其實這卷書是呈現聖經裡的一個信息——有時候是以詩歌的手法、有時以末日預言的手法,有時則透過一則歷史故事來呈現,但是這些手法都緊扣著一個信息,那就是審判與救恩的信息。以賽亞用盡各種方式傳達,至聖者是我們人類唯一的盼望。

這是一個及時的信息,今天我們就像以賽亞那時代一樣需要它。上帝是人類唯一的盼望,不是政黨、思想、哲學、知識、財富、影響力、權勢地位、選舉、誰在統治,不管你是已婚或單身,也不管你有沒有子女,上帝是人類唯一的盼望。

我們將會用四週的時間來教導以賽亞書,透過小故事的介紹,讓你體會更大的異象、更寬廣的視野。我鼓勵你用接下來幾週的時間好好利用研經題,這些研經題的目的是要帶你進入這卷書中的某些經文,同時要解開那些支持這個異象的主題,至聖者是你唯一的盼望,這是上帝及時的信息。

那麼,就讓我們來看這卷書中的至聖者。上帝占據以賽亞書的中心位置。三位一體的第一位格,父上帝、至聖者,我們在以賽書的六十六章中,每一章都將看到這位聖潔的上帝,我們勢必要與聖潔、以色列的聖者、無罪、上帝分別為聖的本質相調和。祂是純潔又絕對信實,永遠是正直,永遠是公義的。

從第一章第一節開始,我們看到上帝的聖潔,上帝指控一個國家有罪,因為他們犯下各種惡行,因為他們不行公道、不伸張正義,因為他們不給孤兒伸冤、不為寡婦辨屈。我們在第五章看到,至聖者審判罪惡。上帝要以祂公義的審判作為來顯明祂是聖潔的主。事實上,我們就是因為上帝審判罪惡,才明白上帝是聖潔的。

在第六章,至聖者至高無上。我們看到上帝在聖殿中,祂的長袍遮滿了整個聖殿,而天使的宣告卻說,全地都充滿祂的榮耀。在第八章我們看到,這位聖者在這聖所中,全地的人都當敬畏祂,唯有祂可稱為聖潔的上帝。從第十到十四章告訴我們,這位聖者也是至高主權者,祂有一個計畫,不是只給少數人,而是給所有人類的計畫。祂不僅統管猶大國和以色列國,更統管全世界。這位聖者宣告,祂是萬國的審判者。

祂警告那些想要靠自己而不願倚靠祂幫助的人,審判將臨到。祂顯明祂自己,這位聖者顯明祂的無與倫比,祂不找誰謀劃、祂不求教於誰,更沒有人為祂指明道路,沒有人可以與祂相比。祂不疲乏也不困倦,光明和黑暗都是祂造的。祂帶來繁榮,祂也製造災禍。在第四十一章,這位聖者得勝。

我可以一直不停地列舉下去。我們查看每一章,都可以看見聖潔的證據,也看到與上帝的聖潔對立。但讓我們稍微停一下,回想一下聖經所揭示有關這位聖者的真理,

因為即使在此時此刻,你會發現,你要麼就是相信祂、敬拜祂,並敏銳地意識到自己是有罪的,要麼就是不信祂、反對祂,認為祂以為自己是誰呀,竟然說這種話?這二者必然有一個正在發生,我要邀請你,歸向這位聖者。

如果這就是至聖者的全部,我可以知道那是如何的恐怖,也可以明白我們會如何淪為滅亡。然而,以賽亞書的信息是,這位至聖者是唯一的盼望,因此當我們再看一遍以賽亞書的各章節時,讓我們來看看為什麼這是確實如此。

其實,上帝從開頭直到整卷書的最後都應許,會有一位使人聖潔的聖者來。第六章讓我們看到證明,那至聖者為以賽亞贖罪、使他成為聖潔。在第二十五章我們又看到,那至聖者賜下盼望,宣告祂是貧窮人的保障、祂是躲暴風雨之處,祂吞滅死亡,祂要擦去一切的眼淚。

我們在第二十六章看到,至聖者建立和平,堅心倚賴祂的人,祂保守他們十分平安。第二十八章,我們看到至聖者也稱為至高的主,意思是祂能成就萬事而且應許說,祂要安放一塊寶貴的房角石,作穩固的根基,信靠祂的人必不著急,會永遠堅定不移。事實上,至聖者應許要消滅死亡。

至聖者也賜下救恩的應許,你們得救在乎歸回安息,得力在乎平靜安穩。祂應許一生一世作我們的穩固根基,在祂那裡有豐盛的救恩。祂應許祂必拯救,即使全世界都說不應該倚靠上帝,祂邀請我們來信靠祂。

這位至聖者為祂的百姓贖罪,帶給祂百姓安慰。祂賜力量給仰望祂的疲乏者,祂呼籲百姓秉公行義,祂使瞎眼的看見,釋放被擄的得自由。祂顯明、祂拯救、祂宣告。祂塗抹我們的罪,不再記念。唯獨上帝那裡有救恩與能力,祂使公義臨近,又廣施救恩給祂的百姓。

Traditional Chinese

以賽亞是上帝及時的使者,他傳遞上帝及時的信息。事實上,如果我可以做歸納總結,他確實在傳遞一個信息,你知道我說的就是:至聖者是你唯一的盼望。也許你會驚訝,這卷書不是有六十六章嗎,怎麼能夠簡化為一個信息呢?但是,以賽亞書第一章第1節告訴我們,這卷書是本於上帝賜給以賽亞的一個異象寫成的,並不是依據多個異象或多重經歷所寫的。這就是為什麼這卷書的敘事不是依照時間的排序,它是一個異象。

這也是為什麼我們沒有用逐節查考的做法,而是從較宏觀的角度來讀這卷書,因為當我們照時間順序去讀的時候,就會發現行不通,甚至感到挫折。其實這卷書是呈現聖經裡的一個信息——有時候是以詩歌的手法、有時以末日預言的手法,有時則透過一則歷史故事來呈現,但是這些手法都緊扣著一個信息,那就是審判與救恩的信息。以賽亞用盡各種方式傳達,至聖者是我們人類唯一的盼望。

這是一個及時的信息,今天我們就像以賽亞那時代一樣需要它。上帝是人類唯一的盼望,不是政黨、思想、哲學、知識、財富、影響力、權勢地位、選舉、誰在統治,不管你是已婚或單身,也不管你有沒有子女,上帝是人類唯一的盼望。

我們將會用四週的時間來教導以賽亞書,透過小故事的介紹,讓你體會更大的異象、更寬廣的視野。我鼓勵你用接下來幾週的時間好好利用研經題,這些研經題的目的是要帶你進入這卷書中的某些經文,同時要解開那些支持這個異象的主題,至聖者是你唯一的盼望,這是上帝及時的信息。

那麼,就讓我們來看這卷書中的至聖者。上帝占據以賽亞書的中心位置。三位一體的第一位格,父上帝、至聖者,我們在以賽書的六十六章中,每一章都將看到這位聖潔的上帝,我們勢必要與聖潔、以色列的聖者、無罪、上帝分別為聖的本質相調和。祂是純潔又絕對信實,永遠是正直,永遠是公義的。

從第一章第一節開始,我們看到上帝的聖潔,上帝指控一個國家有罪,因為他們犯下各種惡行,因為他們不行公道、不伸張正義,因為他們不給孤兒伸冤、不為寡婦辨屈。我們在第五章看到,至聖者審判罪惡。上帝要以祂公義的審判作為來顯明祂是聖潔的主。事實上,我們就是因為上帝審判罪惡,才明白上帝是聖潔的。

在第六章,至聖者至高無上。我們看到上帝在聖殿中,祂的長袍遮滿了整個聖殿,而天使的宣告卻說,全地都充滿祂的榮耀。在第八章我們看到,這位聖者在這聖所中,全地的人都當敬畏祂,唯有祂可稱為聖潔的上帝。從第十到十四章告訴我們,這位聖者也是至高主權者,祂有一個計畫,不是只給少數人,而是給所有人類的計畫。祂不僅統管猶大國和以色列國,更統管全世界。這位聖者宣告,祂是萬國的審判者。

祂警告那些想要靠自己而不願倚靠祂幫助的人,審判將臨到。祂顯明祂自己,這位聖者顯明祂的無與倫比,祂不找誰謀劃、祂不求教於誰,更沒有人為祂指明道路,沒有人可以與祂相比。祂不疲乏也不困倦,光明和黑暗都是祂造的。祂帶來繁榮,祂也製造災禍。在第四十一章,這位聖者得勝。

我可以一直不停地列舉下去。我們查看每一章,都可以看見聖潔的證據,也看到與上帝的聖潔對立。但讓我們稍微停一下,回想一下聖經所揭示有關這位聖者的真理,因為即使在此時此刻,你會發現,你要麼就是相信祂、敬拜祂,並敏銳地意識到自己是有罪的,要麼就是不信祂、反對祂,認為祂以為自己是誰呀,竟然說這種話?這二者必然有一個正在發生,我要邀請你,歸向這位聖者。

如果這就是至聖者的全部,我可以知道那是如何的恐怖,也可以明白我們會如何淪為滅亡。然而,以賽亞書的信息是,這位至聖者是唯一的盼望,因此當我們再看一遍以賽亞書的各章節時,讓我們來看看為什麼這是確實如此。

其實,上帝從開頭直到整卷書的最後都應許,會有一位使人聖潔的聖者來。第六章讓我們看到證明,那至聖者為以賽亞贖罪、使他成為聖潔。在第二十五章我們又看到,那至聖者賜下盼望,宣告祂是貧窮人的保障、祂是躲暴風雨之處,祂吞滅死亡,祂要擦去一切的眼淚。

我們在第二十六章看到,至聖者建立和平,堅心倚賴祂的人,祂保守他們十分平安。第二十八章,我們看到至聖者也稱為至高的主,意思是祂能成就萬事而且應許說,祂要安放一塊寶貴的房角石,作穩固的根基,信靠祂的人必不著急,會永遠堅定不移。事實上,至聖者應許要消滅死亡。

至聖者也賜下救恩的應許,你們得救在乎歸回安息,得力在乎平靜安穩。祂應許一生一世作我們的穩固根基,在祂那裡有豐盛的救恩。祂應許祂必拯救,即使全世界都說不應該倚靠上帝,祂邀請我們來信靠祂。

這位至聖者為祂的百姓贖罪,帶給祂百姓安慰。祂賜力量給仰望祂的疲乏者,祂呼籲百姓秉公行義,祂使瞎眼的看見,釋放被擄的得自由。祂顯明、祂拯救、祂宣告。祂塗抹我們的罪,不再記念。唯獨上帝那裡有救恩與能力,祂使公義臨近,又廣施救恩給祂的百姓。

More in this series: 

Who was Isaiah?

How does Isaiah speak today?

*This lecture may be used in whole or part by BSF classes or online groups.

Hollie Roberts

BSF Executive Director 

Hollie Roberts stepped into the Executive Director role in September 2021 after serving as BSF’s Chief Field Development officer. Hollie and her husband Kevin have two sons, a daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren.

 

Submit a Comment

Our BSF staff approves each comment to maintain privacy and security. It may take 24-48 hours for your comment to be posted. Be sure to check back for replies from the author or other BSF members!

Who was Isaiah?

Who was Isaiah?

Who Was Isaiah?

What caused Isaiah to trade riches and respect for a life of rags and rejection? Surely something extraordinary. We find the answer in Isaiah 6.

From Riches to Rags

by Hollie Roberts | Lessons from Isaiah - Episode 1

This excerpt is from a pre-recorded lecture by BSF Executive Director Hollie Roberts.

Portions of this lecture may be used in part by BSF teaching teams or online groups. 

Transcripts 

English

(Transcript) Isaiah was a man who went from riches to rags. You want to talk about a life-shaping trajectory moment? Isaiah Chapter 1, verse 1, reveals Isaiah to be the son of Amoz. Now that may not ring a bell for us today, but tradition says Amoz was the brother of King Amaziah. So if that is the case, then Isaiah was born into an influential, upper-class family. He would have called the king “uncle” and he would have had access to the king in a way that others outside of the palace would have not. 

We know Isaiah was married with children, we’re told in Chapter 7 and Chapter 8. And an interesting tidbit about Isaiah: God told Isaiah what to name his children. Now the right to name someone denotes authority over that person and if someone came to you and said, “Here is what you must name your children,” you might say, “That is not your right.” But Isaiah accepted God’s authority and right to do that in his life, and Isaiah even understood that God’s purpose for him extended to his children. They were given as signs and symbols in Israel from the Lord God Almighty. 

Later in Isaiah’s life, in Chapter 20, we read about when God has Isaiah go stripped and barefoot for three years as a sign against Egypt and Cush. Isaiah was a man who didn’t just speak his message in nouns and verbs, but he was a man who lived his message. His words and his actions denoted Isaiah’s surrender to God. Tradition says Isaiah was put to death by being sawed in two. Now there’s a brief reference in Hebrews 11 to the death of many of those heroes of the faith from the past and it is believed that Isaiah, this man born in the palace, surrendered his comfort, surrendered his rights, surrendered his clothes and ultimately surrendered his life. He remained faithful to God regardless of the cost. Now that’s not the story we’re writing for ourselves. It’s probably not the story we’re writing for our kids, either, because by human standards, Isaiah was a disappointment. But by God’s standards, the world was not worthy of him. 

From respect to rejection

Isaiah went from riches to rags. He also went from respect to rejection. Isaiah’s position of earthly influence as nephew to the king takes a trajectory-shaping turn as God calls Isaiah to surrender his life and his influence and take up God’s call to speak and be ignored. What is it that will cause a man to shun riches and respect and to take up a call of rags and rejection? Surely something extraordinary. Surely a life-shaping moment. And we find out the answer to that question in Isaiah’s life in Isaiah Chapter 6. 

Isaiah Chapter 6, verse 1, says that, “In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him there were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.’”

Isaiah grew up in a royal family. He likely called his uncle the king. He had seen earthly kings up close. He had likely been in the throne room of the king before. But Isaiah had never seen anything like this. In the year King Uzziah died. Why does that matter? Well, you know from your questions this week and from your study that King Uzziah, near the end of his life, in an act of pride, entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar and God struck him with leprosy. He lived with leprosy the rest of his life — banned from the temple of God. 

And in the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah saw the Lord, the King. God has many ways He reveals Himself through Scripture. When we speak about the first person of the Trinity, we often call Him God, the Father. But there are passages of Scripture that give us this incredible glimpse into the transcendent majesty of the glory of God in His fullness. And Isaiah has a moment where he sees God and gets a glimpse of His glory. 

From ruin to restoration

Now in case you were wondering, “How can Isaiah see God and live?” Jesus will tell us in the book of John that what Isaiah saw was Him. Isaiah’s life-altering vision of God, the high and exalted one on the throne, includes a picture of the train of His robe filling the temple with glory. The vision Isaiah sees humbles him. It isn’t one of satisfied fascination — “Oh, that’s what You look like.” His response is not to run to the Father. Isaiah is actually going to be drawn back in awe in the true essence of the word.

Isaiah realizes, “I don’t belong here. Woe is me.” He is reduced to ruin. Isaiah confessed what is true in that moment, what was true for him and what was true for all people in the presence of God Almighty: “I am ruined. I can’t be in Your presence, God. I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” 

Now what happens next might surprise you because God doesn’t say, “Hey, Isaiah, it’s okay.” Neither does He zap Isaiah with leprosy or death. Instead, God intervenes in Isaiah’s life and extends grace to Isaiah, because God, upon Isaiah’s confession, makes a way for Isaiah to be atoned. He sends His seraphim with a hot coal to touch Isaiah’s mouth with this assurance, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin is atoned for.” God extends forgiveness, not wrath. When King Uzziah pridefully charged into the presence of God, there was really ruin. But when Isaiah humbly confesses in the presence of God, there is agreement and atonement. 

What must it be like to be made fully aware of our sin and to be fully aware that we deserve to be destroyed? I ask it that way because most of us, even if we have confessed Christ as our Savior, are not fully aware of our sin. We have a way of cleaning up just how sinful we really are. We might say, “Well, I came to Christ at an early age — how sinful could I have been?” Or maybe we look at others and we say, “Well, I’m not as bad as so-and-so.” Isaiah was confronted with the depth of his sin and in that moment, he knew he had no defense. He was ruined apart from the intervening grace of God.

So, Isaiah knew what it was to be saved from his sin. He knew what it was to belong to the Lord. He knew that his life was the Lord’s. He knew in that moment God could have ruined him and, instead, forgave him.

To know that will change the trajectory of your life! 

Spanish

(Transcripción) Isaías fue un hombre que paso de la riqueza a la pobreza. Y quiero hablar un momento de la trayectoria de su vida. Isaías capitulo 1, versículo 1, revela que el profeta es hijo de Amós. Ahora, eso puede no ser relevante el día de hoy, pero la tradición dice Amós era el hermano de rey Usías. Entonces si este es el caso, Isaías nació en una influyente familia de clase alta. Habría tenido por tío al rey y habría tenido acceso a él de una manera que otros fuera del palacio no tendrían.

Sabemos que Isaías estaba casado y tenia hijos, esto se nos dice en los capítulos 7 y 8. Y un dato interesante sobre él, es que Dios le dijo a Isaías como llamar a sus hijos. Ahora bien, el derecho a poner el nombre a alguien denota autoridad sobre esa persona. Y si alguien viniera a ti y te dijera: “Así es como debes llamar a tus hijos,” podrías decir, “Ese no es tu derecho.” Pero Isaías acepto la autoridad y el derecho de Dios de hacer eso en su vida. He incluso Isaías entendió que el propósito de Dios para él se extendía a sus hijos. Y que estas fueron dadas como señales y símbolos en Israel por él Señor Dios Todopoderoso.

Mas tarde, en la vida de Isaías en el capitulo 20, leemos acerca de cuando Dios hace que él ande desnudo y descalzo durante tres años como una señal contra Egipto y Cush (Etiopia). Isaías fue un hombre que no solo pronuncio su mensaje y sustantivos, además de verbos, sino que fue un hombre que vivió su mensaje. Sus palabras y sus acciones denotaron la entrega de Isaías a Dios. La tradición dice que Isaías murió acerrado. Ahora hay una breve referencia en Hebreos capitulo 11 a la muerte de muchos de esos héroes de la fe del pasado. Y se cree que Isaías, este hombre nacido en palacio, entrego su comodidad, entrego sus derechos, entrego su ropa y finalmente entrego su vida. Permaneció fiel a Dios sin importar el costo. Ahora esta no es la historia que estamos escribiendo para nosotros mismos. Probablemente tampoco sea la historia que estamos escribiendo para nuestros hijos. Porque según los estándares humanos, Isaías fue una decepción. Según los estándares de Dios el mundo no era digno de el.

 

Del respeto al rechazo

Isaías paso de la riqueza a la pobreza, pero también del respeto al rechazo. La posición de influencia terrenal de Isaías, ser sobrino del rey, da un giro brusco en su trayectoria. Cuando Dios llama a Isaías para entregar su vida y su influencia, acepta el llamado de Dios para hablar y ser ignorado. ¿Qué es lo que hará que un hombre no acepte las riquezas y el respeto y acepte un llamado de pobreza y rechazo? Seguramente algo extraordinario. Seguramente un momento que cambiara completamente tu vida. Y encontramos la respuesta a esa pregunta en la vida Isaías.

En Isaías capitulo 6, versículo 1, dice que “En el año en que murió el rey Uzías, vi al Señor alto y sublime, sentado en un trono; y la orla de su manto llenaba el templo. Por encima de él había serafines, cada uno con seis alas: con dos alas cubrían sus rostros, con dos cubrían sus pies, con dos volaban. Y se decían uno al otro: “Santo, santo, santo es el Señor Dios Todopoderoso; toda la tierra está llena de su gloria”.

Isaías creció en una familia real, probablemente llamo tío al rey. Había visto reyes terrenales de cerca. Quizás había estado antes en la sala del trono del rey, pero Isaías nunca había visto nada como esto. Ese año el rey Uzías había muerto. ¿Por que es tan importante todo esto? Bueno, ya sabes por tus preguntas de esta semana y por tu estudio, que el rey al acercarse el final de su vida comete un acto de soberbia. Entro en el templo del Señor para quemar incienso en el altar y Dios lo hirió de lepra. Vivió con lepra el resto de su vida, excluido del templo de Dios.

Y en el año que murió el rey Uzías, Isaías vio al Señor rey. Dios tiene muchos caminos, Él se revela así mismo a través de las escrituras. Cuando hablamos de la primera persona de la Trinidad a menudo lo llamamos Dios Padre, pero hay pasajes de las escrituras que nos dan este increíble vistazo a la trascendente majestad de la gloria de Dios en su plenitud.  Isaías tiene un momento en el que ve a Dios y vislumbra su gloria.

 

De la ruina a la restauración.

Ahora, en caso de que te estés preguntando, ¿“Como puedo decir que veo a Dios y vivo”? Jesús nos dirá en el libro de Juan que lo que Isaías vio fue a él. La visión de Dios que altera la vida de Isaías, el alto y exaltado en el trono, incluye una imagen de la orla de su manto llenando el templo de gloria. La visión que ve Isaías lo humilla, no es una sensación de satisfacción – “Oh, así es como te ves.” Su respuesta no es correr hacia el Padre. Isaías en realidad va a retroceder con asombro en el verdadero sentido de la palabra.

Isaías se da cuenta de que no pertenece ahí. ¡Ay de mi! Esta reducido a la ruina. Isaías confeso lo que es verdad en ese momento. Lo que era verdad para él, y lo que era verdad para todas las personas, en la presencia del Dios Todopoderoso: “Estoy arruinado, no puedo estar en Tu presencia, Dios. Soy un hombre de labios inmundos, y habito entre un pueblo de labios inmundos, y mis ojos han visto al Rey, al Señor Todopoderoso”.

Ahora, lo que sucede a continuación podría sorprenderte. Porque Dios no dice, “Oye, yo te digo que esta bien” tampoco esta fuera Isaías con la lepra o muerto. En cambio, Dios interviene en la vida del profeta y extiende su gracia. Porque Dios ante la confesión de Isaías abrió un camino para que sea expiado. Envía a sus serafines con el corazón frio para tocar la boca de Isaías con seguridad, “Mira, esto han tocado tus labios, tu culpa es quitada, tu pecado es expiatorio.” Porque Dios extiende el perdón y no la ira. Cuando el orgullo de rey Uzías se lleno de soberbia en la presencia de Dios, realmente hubo ruina. Pero cuando Isaías se confiesa humildemente en la presencia de Dios, hay acuerdo y expiación.

¿Como debemos ser plenamente consientes de nuestro pecado y ser plenamente consientes de que merecemos ser destruidos? Lo pregunto así por que la mayoría de nosotros, incluso si hemos confesado a Cristo como nuestro salvador, no somos plenamente consientes de los incendios provocados. Tenemos una forma de limpiar realmente lo pecadores que somos. Podríamos decir, “Bueno, vine a Cristo a una edad temprana – ¿Cuan pecador pude haber sido?” O tal vez miramos a los demás y decimos, “Bueno, yo no soy tan malo como fulano de tal.” Isaías se enfrento a la muerte de su hijo y en ese momento supo que no tenia defensa. Estaba arruinado a parte de la intervención de la gracia de Dios.

Así que Isaías sabia lo que era ser salvo. Sabia lo que era pertenecer al Señor. Sabia que su vida ahora era de Dios. Él supo en ese momento que Dios podía haberlo arruinado y en su lugar, lo perdono. Saber eso cambiara la trayectoria de tu vida.

Simplified Chinese

以賽亞是一個從富裕落入貧窮的人,講到改變生命軌跡的的時候。從以賽亞書第一章一節我們得知,以賽亞的父親叫亞摩斯,這個名字對今天的我們可能並不是那麼熟悉,但根據傳統的說法,亞摩斯是亞瑪謝王的兄弟。如果真是如此,那麼以賽亞就是出生在一個有影響力的上流家庭,他可以稱國王為「叔父」,所以他應該有機會接觸國王,而宮外其他人則沒有這樣的機會。

我們從第七和第八章得知以賽亞曾經結婚生子。關於以賽亞有趣的傳聞,上帝曾經告訴以賽亞要給他的孩子取什麼名字。一個人有權替這個人命名,就表示他有掌管那人的權柄,如果有人對你說:「你必須給你的小孩取這個名字。」你可能會說:「你沒有這個權利。」但是,以賽亞接受上帝在他生命中做這事的權柄和權利,而且他知道上帝對他的旨意延伸到他的下一代;他的子女是全能的主上帝賜給以色列的預兆和象徵。

第二十章講到以賽亞的後半生時,我們看到上帝吩咐以賽亞露身赤腳,行走三年,作為埃及和古實受懲罰的標記和預兆。以賽亞不僅用言語來傳講他的信息,他更是一個活出他的信息的人,他的言語和行動表明他對上帝的降服。傳統認為他是被鋸子鋸成兩半而死的,在希伯來書第十一章的信心偉人的英雄榜裡,提到有人被鋸鋸死,一般相信那就是指以賽亞。他生於宮廷皇室之家,卻甘願放棄了他安逸的生活、他的權利,他的華貴,最終也交出他的性命。他不計代價的忠於上帝。這不是我們會為自己寫的故事,大概也不會是為子女寫的故事。因為以人的標準來看,以賽亞是令人失望的。但是,以上帝的標準來看,這世界不配有他。

以賽亞從富足到窮乏,從受人尊敬到被人唾棄。以賽亞作為王的姪子,原本位高權重的生活受到重大的轉變,因為上帝呼召以賽亞放棄他的生活和影響力,接受上帝的呼召去傳講,並且受人排斥。是什麼原因竟讓一個人捨棄財富與地位,接受貧窮與被排斥的呼召呢?肯定是不尋常,肯定是一個改變人生的時刻,我們會發現問題的答案就在以賽亞書第六章。

以賽亞書第六章第1節:「當烏西雅王崩的那年,我見主坐在高高的寶座上。他的衣裳垂下,遮滿聖殿。其上有撒拉弗侍立,各有六個翅膀:用兩個翅膀遮臉,兩個翅膀遮腳,兩個翅膀飛翔;彼此呼喊說:聖哉!聖哉!聖哉!萬軍之耶和華;他的榮光充滿全地!」

以賽亞從小在皇室長大,他可能稱他的叔父為國王。他曾近距離見過地上的君王,很可能曾經進到王的寶座前。但是,以賽亞從來沒見過這種景象。「就在烏西雅王崩的那年」,這個很重要嗎?你從本週的研經題和學習當中知道,烏西雅王在晚年的時候,因為驕傲的擅自進入聖殿在祭壇上燒香,上帝擊打他,使他染上痲瘋病, 從此他終生被禁止進入上帝的殿。

當烏西雅王駕崩的那年,以賽亞見到大君王主耶和華。在聖經中,上帝透過很多方式來顯明祂自己,當講到三一上帝的第一位格時,我們往往稱祂為天父上帝。聖經中有些經文使我們瞥見上帝那不可思議、充滿榮光、超越一切的威嚴。以賽亞有一瞬間,他看見了上帝,瞥見到祂的榮耀!

你可能會想,以賽亞怎麼可能看見了上帝居然還能活著呢?耶穌將在約翰福音告訴我們,以賽亞看見的就是祂。以賽亞因看見上帝,那至高者坐在寶座上,還看見祂的長袍覆蓋整個聖殿,充滿了榮光的異象,他的生命全然改變。以賽亞所見的異象使他完全謙卑,這並不是那種滿足的反應:「喔!原來你是這個樣子的!」他的反應並不是奔向天父的寶座,而是經文所看到的滿心存著敬畏。

以賽亞意識到:「我不屬於這裡。」「我有禍了!」他覺得自己慘了、要滅亡了。在那一瞬間,以賽亞承認了一件事實,對他是真實的,對所有在全能上帝面前的人,也是真實的;那就是:「我滅亡了,上帝啊,我不能在祢面前,因為我是嘴唇不潔的人,又住在嘴唇不潔的人中;又因我見大君王─萬軍之耶和華!」

接下來發生的事可能讓你出乎意料,因為上帝沒有說:「嘿,以賽亞,沒關係。」上帝也沒有讓以賽亞染上痲瘋病,更沒讓他當場就死掉。相反的,上帝介入了以賽亞的人生,向以賽亞施恩。因為以賽亞的認罪,上帝就為他打開一條贖罪之路,祂差遣祂的天使撒拉弗,用一塊火熱的炭,沾以賽亞的嘴唇,並保證說:「看哪,這炭沾了你的嘴,你的罪孽便除掉,你的罪惡就赦免了。」上帝賜下饒恕,並沒有降怒於他。當烏西雅王高傲地進到上帝面前時,他確實是慘了。但是當以賽亞在上帝面前謙卑認罪時,他的罪就得到赦免。

當我們完全意識到自己的罪,又完全知道我們滅亡是罪有應得時,會是什麼樣的感覺呢?我這樣問是因為我們大多數的人,即使是已經承認基督為救主的人,其實也沒有完全意識到自己的罪。我們會用自己的辦法來脫罪,不承認自己有多麼罪孽深重。我們可能說:「嗯,我年紀很小的時候就信耶穌了,我能有多大的罪呢?」或著我們看著別人,說:「呃,我不像某某人那麼壞。」以賽亞面對自己深重的罪孽,在那一刻,他知道他沒有辦法為自己做任何辯護。除非上帝向他施恩,否則他就滅亡了。

因此,以賽亞知道罪得拯救的滋味,他知道屬於上帝是什麼滋味,他知道他的生命是屬於上帝的。在那一刻,他知道上帝大可使他滅亡,但上帝反而赦免了他。這個將改變你整個人生的軌跡!

Traditional Chinese

”以賽亞是一個從富裕落入貧窮的人,講到改變生命軌跡的的時候。從以賽亞書第一章一節我們得知,以賽亞的父親叫亞摩斯,這個名字對今天的我們可能並不是那麼熟悉,但根據傳統的說法,亞摩斯是亞瑪謝王的兄弟。如果真是如此,那麼以賽亞就是出生在一個有影響力的上流家庭,他可以稱國王為「叔父」,所以他應該有機會接觸國王,而宮外其他人則沒有這樣的機會。

我們從第七和第八章得知以賽亞曾經結婚生子。關於以賽亞有趣的傳聞,上帝曾經告訴以賽亞要給他的孩子取什麼名字。一個人有權替這個人命名,就表示他有掌管那人的權柄,如果有人對你說:「你必須給你的小孩取這個名字。」你可能會說:「你沒有這個權利。」但是,以賽亞接受上帝在他生命中做這事的權柄和權利,而且他知道上帝對他的旨意延伸到他的下一代;他的子女是全能的主上帝賜給以色列的預兆和象徵。

第二十章講到以賽亞的後半生時,我們看到上帝吩咐以賽亞露身赤腳,行走三年,作為埃及和古實受懲罰的標記和預兆。以賽亞不僅用言語來傳講他的信息,他更是一個活出他的信息的人,他的言語和行動表明他對上帝的降服。傳統認為他是被鋸子鋸成兩半而死的,在希伯來書第十一章的信心偉人的英雄榜裡,提到有人被鋸鋸死,一般相信那就是指以賽亞。他生於宮廷皇室之家,卻甘願放棄了他安逸的生活、他的權利,他的華貴,最終也交出他的性命。他不計代價的忠於上帝。這不是我們會為自己寫的故事,大概也不會是為子女寫的故事。因為以人的標準來看,以賽亞是令人失望的。但是,以上帝的標準來看,這世界不配有他。   

以賽亞從富足到窮乏,從受人尊敬到被人唾棄。以賽亞作為王的姪子,原本位高權重的生活受到重大的轉變,因為上帝呼召以賽亞放棄他的生活和影響力,接受上帝的呼召去傳講,並且受人排斥。是什麼原因竟讓一個人捨棄財富與地位,接受貧窮與被排斥的呼召呢?肯定是不尋常,肯定是一個改變人生的時刻,我們會發現問題的答案就在以賽亞書第六章。

以賽亞書第六章第1節:「當烏西雅王崩的那年,我見主坐在高高的寶座上。他的衣裳垂下,遮滿聖殿。其上有撒拉弗侍立,各有六個翅膀:用兩個翅膀遮臉,兩個翅膀遮腳,兩個翅膀飛翔;彼此呼喊說:聖哉!聖哉!聖哉!萬軍之耶和華;他的榮光充滿全地!」

以賽亞從小在皇室長大,他可能稱他的叔父為國王。他曾近距離見過地上的君王,很可能曾經進到王的寶座前。但是,以賽亞從來沒見過這種景象。「就在烏西雅王崩的那年」,這個很重要嗎?你從本週的研經題和學習當中知道,烏西雅王在晚年的時候,因為驕傲的擅自進入聖殿在祭壇上燒香,上帝擊打他,使他染上痲瘋病, 從此他終生被禁止進入上帝的殿。

當烏西雅王駕崩的那年,以賽亞見到大君王主耶和華。在聖經中,上帝透過很多方式來顯明祂自己,當講到三一上帝的第一位格時,我們往往稱祂為天父上帝。聖經中有些經文使我們瞥見上帝那不可思議、充滿榮光、超越一切的威嚴。以賽亞有一瞬間,他看見了上帝,瞥見到祂的榮耀!

你可能會想,以賽亞怎麼可能看見了上帝居然還能活著呢?耶穌將在約翰福音告訴我們,以賽亞看見的就是祂。以賽亞因看見上帝,那至高者坐在寶座上,還看見祂的長袍覆蓋整個聖殿,充滿了榮光的異象,他的生命全然改變。以賽亞所見的異象使他完全謙卑,這並不是那種滿足的反應:「喔!原來你是這個樣子的!」他的反應並不是奔向天父的寶座,而是經文所看到的滿心存著敬畏。

以賽亞意識到:「我不屬於這裡。」「我有禍了!」他覺得自己慘了、要滅亡了。在那一瞬間,以賽亞承認了一件事實,對他是真實的,對所有在全能上帝面前的人,也是真實的;那就是:「我滅亡了,上帝啊,我不能在祢面前,因為我是嘴唇不潔的人,又住在嘴唇不潔的人中;又因我見大君王─萬軍之耶和華!」

接下來發生的事可能讓你出乎意料,因為上帝沒有說:「嘿,以賽亞,沒關係。」上帝也沒有讓以賽亞染上痲瘋病,更沒讓他當場就死掉。相反的,上帝介入了以賽亞的人生,向以賽亞施恩。因為以賽亞的認罪,上帝就為他打開一條贖罪之路,祂差遣祂的天使撒拉弗,用一塊火熱的炭,沾以賽亞的嘴唇,並保證說:「看哪,這炭沾了你的嘴,你的罪孽便除掉,你的罪惡就赦免了。」上帝賜下饒恕,並沒有降怒於他。當烏西雅王高傲地進到上帝面前時,他確實是慘了。但是當以賽亞在上帝面前謙卑認罪時,他的罪就得到赦免。

當我們完全意識到自己的罪,又完全知道我們滅亡是罪有應得時,會是什麼樣的感覺呢?我這樣問是因為我們大多數的人,即使是已經承認基督為救主的人,其實也沒有完全意識到自己的罪。我們會用自己的辦法來脫罪,不承認自己有多麼罪孽深重。我們可能說:「嗯,我年紀很小的時候就信耶穌了,我能有多大的罪呢?」或著我們看著別人,說:「呃,我不像某某人那麼壞。」以賽亞面對自己深重的罪孽,在那一刻,他知道他沒有辦法為自己做任何辯護。除非上帝向他施恩,否則他就滅亡了。

因此,以賽亞知道罪得拯救的滋味,他知道屬於上帝是什麼滋味,他知道他的生命是屬於上帝的。在那一刻,他知道上帝大可使他滅亡,但上帝反而赦免了他。這個將改變你整個人生的軌跡!

More in this series: 

What was Isaiah’s message?

How does Isaiah speak today?

*This lecture may be used in whole or part by BSF classes or online groups.

Hollie Roberts

BSF Executive Director 

Hollie Roberts stepped into the Executive Director role in September 2021 after serving as BSF’s Chief Field Development officer. Hollie and her husband Kevin have two sons, a daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren.

 

Submit a Comment

Our BSF staff approves each comment to maintain privacy and security. It may take 24-48 hours for your comment to be posted. Be sure to check back for replies from the author or other BSF members!

Three Steps to Understanding Prophecy

Three Steps to Understanding Prophecy

Three Keys to Unlock Prophecy

How to Unpack Difficult Scripture Passages

By Todd Wethall — Study Content Specialist 

I have a confession – I have struggled to read through the Old Testament prophets. Maybe you can relate. 

As a long, long, long-time BSFer, I did my best to swallow the passage whole and glean something close to an answer. I was quick to respond in my group to the simple questions and avoid eye contact with the deeper, more challenging ones.  

But I had to ask: Is this what God intended for me? Is this how God wants me to encounter, understand, and be transformed by Him?   

I don’t think so. 

In the midst of People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided, you may be weary. So much rebellion. So much judgment. Perhaps it even sounds redundant. But God has something deep for us to uncover. He longs for us to understand our utter need for Him and see His glory amid the darkness of fallen humanity.

BSF has taught countless people, like me, not only to read God’s Word but how to unpack His Word. As I encounter God through the Bible, I approach His prophecy much like I approach any part of His Word.

I look at context. I look for meaning. And I look for Jesus. 

The minor prophets may seem cryptic or unrelatable, but I have discovered deep meaning through this approach. As an example, let’s look at the book of Amos.

I look at context. I look for meaning. And I look for Jesus. 

What is the context? 

Ask: How would the original audience have heard this passage? What makes this passage unique?  

Amos spoke to Israel during the height of wealth and prosperity. The people worshipped, they sacrificed, and they declared, “God is with us!” Unsurprisingly, God declared judgment on their neighbors. But in a shocking twist, Amos’ narrative shifted. The same accusations brought against God’s enemies applied to His own people.  

Beneath their pretense of piety, the people were ruled by selfish ambition and decadence. They oppressed the poor and accepted bribes – God declared “the times are evil.” Judgment was coming for those who refused to repent of their false morality. 

What is the meaning? 

Ask: What is the passage saying about God? What does it say about His people? What is God saying to me (Is there something I’m supposed to know or do from this passage)? Why should I care?

Amos’ words are strikingly relevant. If we’re honest, we can admit that people have not changed since 750 BC. With vivid imagery, Amos foretold “wailing in all the streets and cries of anguish in every public square” (Amos 5:16). But God offered hope. At the heart of His warnings, God revealed His character. He is holy, He is judge, He is righteous. And He is love.

God willingly dealt with the people’s sin. He could have counted them as lost. He had every right to let them rot from the inside out. But the One “who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns midnight into dawn and darkens day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land” pursued His people (Amos 5:8). He exposed their false sense of security to offer a new way forward. Speaking into the darkness, God’s Word brought light.

I see myself in Amos’ words. I see my sin and long for hope. The words of Amos lead me to repentance. They bring me to my knees in worship. They soften my heart in gratitude for Jesus. They stir my heart toward joyful obedience.

Speaking into the darkness, God’s Word brought light.  

What does this teach me about Jesus? 

Ask: What does this passage say about the Son of God? 

While the name “Jesus” may not be obvious, the book of Amos (and the rest of God’s prophecy) was not recorded in a vacuum. Each word is part of the grand narrative of God’s story. And we can read Amos with the Savior in mind. Through the prophets, God’s Word entered into humanity’s darkness. Through Jesus, that Word became flesh.

The last six verses of the book of Amos (9:11-15) conclude with the glorious promise of restoration. Repaired shelter, restored ruins, rebuilt cities, and new wine certainly foretold of preserving a remnant of Israel. But it also promises a future restoration of heaven and earth – pointing to the return of Jesus. When life feels hard or overwhelming, this is a promise you can cling to. 

Each word is part of the grand narrative of God’s story.

What if I’m still struggling? 

Reading a book like Amos can feel overwhelming, but in BSF we don’t wander through Scripture alone. Through our BSF groups, we can share our struggles. On a tough week, be honest with your group. In moments of inspiration, celebrate together. God preserved these prophetic books for a reason, and they aren’t just for Bible scholars. When we read these warnings with Jesus as our hope, the gift of eternal salvation becomes more precious with every verse.

Todd Wethall

Study Content Specialist

Todd Wethall serves as a Study Content Specialist at BSF. Having been involved in BSF – as a class member, Group Leader, Teaching Leader, and HQ staff member – since 1993, Todd credits this ministry as having the greatest earthly influence on His life in the growth of His intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Todd and his wife, Holly, are blessed with two children, their spouses, and two new grandchildren.

Submit a Comment

Our BSF staff approves each comment to maintain privacy and security. It may take 24-48 hours for your comment to be posted. Be sure to check back for replies from the author or other BSF members!

“God Knew My Heart”

“God Knew My Heart”

“God Knew My Heart”

Vera Abandoned God, but He Never Forgot Her

By Bethany Lockett — Editorial Assistant 

Vera Xu looked back on her past with amazement. For so long she pursued a lifestyle forsaking the God she knew as a child. But in that brokenness, God had a plan to reveal His amazing grace.  

“I was born into a Christian family,” Vera said. “However, my faith in Jesus was not deeply rooted.” 

When she left her hometown as a teenager, Vera left behind any connection with Christianity. But God never left Vera. For years, He quietly prepared her heart to return to Him.  

Lost years

When Vera met and married her husband, “Christianity” was simply a word from her past.  

“I remember the first time entering his home as newlyweds I joined him in worshiping his ancestors, and from then on began a 25-year-long lifestyle of idol worship.”   

In Vera’s culture, honoring ancestors is an important part of family life. She was taught that caring for dead relatives would bring health, peace, and prosperity to her living family.  

“As the oldest daughter-in-law in the family, it was my responsibility to participate in all the rituals,” Vera explained. “Never ever did I imagine that I would one day turn back to believe in God.”   

Vera’s time away from the Lord led her down a path of anxiety and hopelessness.  

When her son left home to attend high school in a bigger city, she constantly worried. His friends seemed to be “good people,” but there was a problem: they were Christians. Then her son asked to be baptized. The faith Vera left behind years ago now threatened to tear her family apart. 

What would her husband think? Would he accept this newfound faith?  

As she nervously shared the news, Vera was shocked by her husband’s acceptance.  

The God who is near

Although her fears were unspoken, God had known Vera’s heart. In His perfect timing, she recognized His enduring presence. The God she abandoned never left her side.  

Vera gathered the courage to tell her husband she wanted to return to God.   

“Amazingly, my husband was not against it, acknowledging that I had served his family and parents faithfully for the last 25 years. To hear this was truly God’s amazing grace to me!”  

But there were still limits. Her husband did not want their life to change. He was willing to drive her to church, but not to attend with her. And the family idols remained.  

“I didn’t know what to do,” Vera remembered, “except pray without ceasing. I prayed quietly and reverently for him.”  

“I didn’t know what to do except pray without ceasing.”

Vera longed for her home to reflect her renewed faith, and so she prayed.  

Miraculously, Vera’s husband had a complete change of heart. He allowed a pastor to remove the idols from their home, and in the process, he heard the gospel. As the final idol left its pedestal in their house, Vera’s husband accepted Christ.  

“I so vividly remember my heart and my eyes overflowing with tears of joy – rejoicing in God’s amazing and gracious plan to bring us as husband and wife into a new marriage relationship before God!”  

God’s timing for healing

As Vera and her family learned about their new faith, Vera discovered BSF. 

“At first, I found everything very challenging; I was not familiar with the Bible, didn’t know what to write and didn’t have the courage to share during the discussion time,” Vera shared. “Gradually, as I prayed, the Holy Spirit guided me to first set aside 15 minutes, which then became 30 minutes, then one hour.”  

This “quiet time of meditating on God’s Word” showed her the life-changing power of the Bible. She finally healed from the fear and despair that ruled her life. She cried tears of joy every time she worked on her lesson that year.  

“Though my heavy heart issues were not spoken out loud, God, in His faithfulness, knew everything; He knew exactly what I needed, and through the prayers of my faithful fellow BSF sisters, the Holy Spirit continued to work in my heart to lift me up out of my worries, fears and anxieties,” Vera shared. 

“Though my heavy heart issues were not spoken out loud, God, in His faithfulness, knew everything.”

God’s timing for us

In this year’s study, People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided, we wonder about God’s timing. Did God already fulfill his ancient prophecies? When will He fulfill others? Why does He wait so long to deliver His people? 

We are often left with more questions than answers. But Vera’s story reminds us that when His people are lost, God is near. When He seems slow to act, His timing is perfect.  

As humans, we struggle with patience. We long for deliverance and are discouraged when we wait. But we know this: God does not forget His people.  

God does not forget His people.

If you are waiting on God today, know that He cares, He sees, and He is near. 

As Vera saw in her own life, “God absolutely knows what circumstances will develop and mature His servants and He faithfully provides all that is needed. When we fix our eyes upon God and His mighty power, then we are ready to see God at work.”  

Bethany Lockett

Editorial Assistant

Bethany Lockett is an editorial assistant at Bible Study Fellowship Headquarters. She is a third-generation BSF-er and native Texan. She joined BSF after graduating from Wheaton College where she studied spiritual discipleship in a digital world.

Submit a Comment

Our BSF staff approves each comment to maintain privacy and security. It may take 24-48 hours for your comment to be posted. Be sure to check back for replies from the author or other BSF members!

A Simple Invitation

A Simple Invitation

A Simple Invitation

Seeds Planted in Emmy’s Life Grew into a Life Transformed

By Bennett Rolan — Editorial Manager

On her wedding day, Emmy Josefson was given a Bible. Two months later, when she moved with her husband from Texas to Qatar, Emmy left her Bible behind. 

“It just wasn’t something I was interested in,” she said.  

At the time, Emmy would describe herself as “spiritual.” She had served with the Peace Corps in Morocco and practiced meditation and yoga. She had a persistent longing for something more, and the move to Qatar felt like an adventure on the way to seeking a higher purpose. In Qatar, Emmy and her husband were teachers at an English-speaking school. They made friends and started a family. Qatar felt like home.

Five years later, Emmy and her husband returned to the United States. With three boys under the age of 4, Emmy decided to stay home and focus on parenting. She traded her life of adventure for long days of diapers and laundry.  

“It was a huge transition for me,” Emmy said. “When I was teaching, I got to talk about politics and history. As a mom, I felt like I lost that.” 

A friend’s persistence 

During that time, Emmy’s friend invited her to try BSF.  

“I saw her every week at a play date and every single week she asked me to come,” Emmy shared. “She was relentless in inviting people to BSF.”  

Emmy always turned her down until her friend mentioned one important fact: “I realized they had free childcare.” 

Preparing for her first week in BSF, Emmy needed a Bible. The one she abandoned years before was left in a box labeled “donate.” 

“I walked into my garage, pulled it off the top of the box, and brought it in. I got into that BSF chair reluctantly, but it became my favorite day of the week.” 

BSF offered a break from Emmy’s daily routine, but it quickly became much more. 

“I got into that BSF chair reluctantly, but it became my favorite day of the week.” 

“I came with a million questions. The women I met on that journey shepherded me. They became my community. It was a really intimate group. That was what I was yearning for.”  

In God’s Word, Emmy discovered the higher purpose she had been missing. A year after joining BSF, Emmy gave her life to Jesus and got baptized.  

“I wanted the four women there from BSF who shepherded me in my relationship with Jesus. These were the women who would sit and answer my questions. The instant I made the decision to be baptized I felt different. I had been meditating before, but now I was praying, using my Bible. I felt completely different after my baptism. Through BSF, I’m completely changed.”  

Four years ago, Emmy was searching for spirituality. Today, she is filled with the Holy Spirit. Emmy and her family have moved back to Qatar, where they live in an expatriate compound. She still has plenty of questions. To dive deeper into God’s Word, she enrolled in online seminary. 

“I always tell people that God brought me back to America so I could find Jesus, then He sent me back into the world.”  

God’s relentless pursuit

God led Emmy on a path toward salvation and used His people to show her the way.  

“Christians have a light, and I always thought, ‘I want that, how do I get that?’ That is something I’ve been chasing. I can look back now and see that God was always there.”  

The simple gift of a Bible grew into a lifetime love of God’s Word. A friend’s persistent invitation to BSF gave Emmy the courage to ask God her questions. Faithful BSF group members and leaders walked alongside Emmy as she approached the cross and surrendered her life to Jesus.  

“I can look back now and see that God was always there.”  

In our study, People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided, we see God’s relentless pursuit of His people. We meet the prophets He used along the way. We may not know much about their personal lives, but we do know that Amos, Joel, Obadiah, and the rest of the prophets were just ordinary men. They were brothers, sons, and friends. They struggled with sin and longed to serve the Lord. God used their obedience to deliver His extraordinary message. And He still uses His people to do that today.  

We may not be called to deliver prophecy to a nation, but we are clearly called to share the gospel. Through God’s Word and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can light the path toward salvation. But are we willing to take that first step toward leading others to Christ? Where is God calling you to declare His truth? Who will you pursue?  

“I will forever be grateful for BSF,” Emmy shared. “If I could say anything, I would say keep inviting your friends. There is no greater gift that I’ve ever been given. BSF changed my life, it gave me Jesus.”   

“BSF changed my life, it gave me Jesus.”

Bennett Rolan

Editorial Manager

Bennett Rolan joined the BSF staff in 2017 after working for several Christian ministries and non-profits. She loves to combine her passion for God’s Word and her journalism background to share stories of God’s Work in and through BSF. As a wife to a busy college football coach and a mom to four young children, BSF studies keep her relationship with the Lord grounded and focused. She loves to learn from fellow believers as God faithfully grows her each day.

 

Submit a Comment

Our BSF staff approves each comment to maintain privacy and security. It may take 24-48 hours for your comment to be posted. Be sure to check back for replies from the author or other BSF members!

Moving Beyond I’m Sorry

Moving Beyond I’m Sorry

Moving Beyond “I’m Sorry”

Embracing Repentance that Leads to Spiritual Growth

By Debbie Young — Study Content Specialist 

As a young Christian, I constantly strived for perfection. My Sunday school perfect attendance pins and avoiding “the big sins” shaped my definition of success. 

Somewhere along the way, however, I discovered the ugly truth. My perfectionism and performance-based evaluation of myself was rooted in pride. In fact, underneath my selfish ambition lurked a host of sins I could not deny.  

Maybe you can relate. Take a moment to identify your own struggle. What sin just will not go away? Today, 40 years later, that same need to be perfect still surfaces in many ways. I continue to discover new inroads of the sin lodged in my heart. 

This ongoing struggle with sin can be so exhausting that we either ignore it or feel paralyzed by its grip. But in His mercy, God persistently offers a path to freedom from sin. 

The path to spiritual growth 

The People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided study echoes with the consistent sin of God’s people. However, just as perpetually, God offers His path to freedom in a single word — “repent.” 

What comes to mind when you hear that word? We may picture an angry street preacher or an endless string of apologies. But what if I told you repentance is more? 

Repentance is a Holy Spirit-driven response to sin that restores and transforms a whole person – our minds, our emotions, and our wills. Repentance is God’s invitation to return to Him. 

Repentance is God’s invitation to return to Him.

For years, I viewed repentance as a duty. With a few quick words I could cross “repentance” off my spiritual to-do list. The confession and repentance God desires is much more – the heart-wrenching practice of turning away from sin and back toward God. Joel 2:13 gives us a vivid picture:  

“Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.” 

Through the Holy Spirit, God uses repentance to uncover the root of our sin, not just the fruit of our sin. To “rend our hearts” means allowing the Lord to expose the underlying motives that drive our behavior.  

God uses repentance to uncover the root of our sin, not just the fruit of our sin.

Like a surgeon wielding a scalpel, the Holy Spirit’s conviction cuts deep. He slices through our excuses. True repentance involves a God-inflicted wound designed to bring spiritual health and healing. He exposes and extracts our pride, our greed, our selfishness, and our doubt. He lovingly binds our wounds and heals our hearts. 

Repentance represents so much more than a painful duty; repentance paves the pathway to spiritual growth. As we regularly respond to the Holy Spirit’s conviction and turn from our specific sin, we experience fresh doses of God’s redeeming grace. 

The comfort of a guiding hand

This comforting truth helps when we feel discouraged by the magnitude of our sin: God relentlessly pursues our wayward hearts. Instead of running from conviction, we can run into it knowing we will always land in Jesus’s outstretched arms. 

God never exposes all our sin at once. We could not bear that. With intentional grace, He opens our eyes to recognize specific sin, at specific times, and in specific ways. When God does this, how do we respond? Do we rend our hearts, giving Him access to the hidden darkness within us?  

God wounds us to heal us. When His conviction cuts deep, we can lean into the growth He intends through the pain. We confidently lay our sin before the One who bears the scars that purchased our freedom. 

God wounds us to heal us. 

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). 

My battle with sin continues. I long for the day pride and performance no longer dominate my motives and sin’s discouraging remnants are abolished. But until then I will trust my tender Savior to expose and extract my sin as He deems right. The conviction proves His relentless love for me. Repentance is an act of worship.

Debbie Young

Study Content Specialist

Debbie Young currently serves as Study Content Specialist at BSF. As a young mom, Debbie realized that her heart had found a home in studying God’s Word through BSF. Through the years, she has served in various roles in the organization, from leading in a local class to celebrating God’s work in His people around the world. Debbie and her husband Larry have three grown children and six grandchildren. 

Submit a Comment

Our BSF staff approves each comment to maintain privacy and security. It may take 24-48 hours for your comment to be posted. Be sure to check back for replies from the author or other BSF members!

Pin It on Pinterest