Bible

Today, in the Bible room, we’re reading Session 5 in Isaiah. Here are the summaries of chapters 45 through 55.

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Isaiah – Session 5 of 6

Chapter 45. Control

The Lord will use King Cyrus, the Mede, to release Judah from captivity:

• The Lord is in charge of everything on Earth;
• He says “I control nature, the weather, and people”;
• He says “It is I, and I alone,” who made Heaven and Earth;
• And He can use a foreign leader to accomplish His purpose;
• Cyrus, who does not know God, is anointed by God;
• The Lord says He’s choosing Cyrus, but “I will direct his ways”;
• Egypt will become a friend of Judah after the captivity;
• But it will be the Lord who saves Israel;
• “I am the Lord, and there is no other”;
• The Lord says “Every knee shall bow to Me”.

Chapter 46. Stubborn

The Lord loves His people, Israel, but He says they are ‘stubborn’:

• All the nations are worshipping dead idols;
• Israel must avoid bowing down to these images;
• The Lord says He alone will deliver Israel;
• The Lord says He is bringing salvation to Judah.

Chapter 47. Redeemer

Isaiah writes that the name of Israel’s redeemer is the Lord of Hosts:

• He is The Holy One of Israel;
• The Lord tells Babylon she has trusted in her evil ways;
• Therefore, she will have evil falling down on her;
• She will be uncovered, shamed by her nakedness;
• Babylon will suddenly know desolation and trouble;
• And there will be no one to save her.

Chapter 48. Planned

The Lord says He has planned Israel’s future from the beginning of time:

• He declared it, and it came to pass;
• He says they were stubborn, but He chose Israel as His people;
• From this point on, He will show them many new things;
• Things they did not know, even if they claim to know;
• He loves His people, and He will save them from Babylon;
• He will bring them out of Babylon, and they will prosper;
• If they had obeyed, they would have had peace like a river;
• But now, leave Babylon singing the Lord has redeemed us.

Chapter 49. Servant

Israel shall be the servant of the Lord, in whom He is glorified:

• Judah shall restore the entire nation of Israel;
• The Lord is giving Judah as a light to the Gentiles;
• To be the Lord’s salvation for all the world;
• The Lord, the Holy One of Israel, has chosen you;
• The Lord will be the Savior and Redeemer of Israel;
• All nations will gather around Judah to help her.

Chapter 50. Trust

Isaiah can be confident of Judah’s trust in the Lord; He will not fail them:

• Israel has brought trouble upon themselves;
• By their sins they have sold their nation to their enemies;
• They should have trusted solely in the Lord;
• Why has Israel lost trust in the Lord?
• Israel should trust in the Name of the Lord;
• And rely upon God’s help to be free from captivity.

Chapter 51. Salvation

The Lord promises His salvation of Israel shall be forever:

• The Lord tells Judah He will bring law and justice;
• He tells His people to not fear their enemies;
• He tells them to be strong, remember their heritage;
• They will again be joyful, without sorrow, or sighing;
• They have lived in fear of men for too long;
• The Lord of Hosts is, and will be, their Savior;
• He says to Judah: “You are My people;”
• He says they have faced too much death and destruction;
• But now the Lord is there to save them.

Chapter 52. Prepared

The Lord tells Israel to get ready to be set free:

• They are to be prepared to be redeemed;
• The Lord says He has had enough of the pagan captors;
• They will know it is the Lord when He shows up;
• He says to Judah, “Your God reigns;”
• There will be joy and singing when He delivers them;
• Israel will not need to run away from their captors;
• The Lord will protect them as they leave in peace.

Chapter 53. Revealed

Isaiah says he has a new, very special message:

• He says the “arm of the Lord” has been revealed to him;
• He says there is One who will grow up among them;
• He will be of ordinary appearance, nothing special;
• But this One will not be accepted by His people;
• He will be despised and rejected by them;
• His people will try to avoid even looking at Him;
• It will appear that God has given Him a serious illness;
• But, in fact, He will endure extreme sorrow for our sins;
• His people have strayed from God, followed their own way;
• And He will bear the pain and suffering of the consequences;
• He will not complain or refuse his judgement;
• He will not be guilty of doing anything wrong;
• But He will be treated like a criminal;
• And by His suffering, He will save many;

Chapter 54. Peace

Isaiah sees a future when Israel will be a nation at peace:

• Israel has endured times of distress as a barren woman;
• But you will soon break out in rejoicing;
• You will expand in all directions, have many descendants;
• The Lord of hosts will be your redeemer;
• He left you for a short while in a former time;
• But He will have mercy on you, and restore you;
• The Lord will not abandon His promise of peace for you;
• Your children shall dwell in the peace of the Lord;
• No weapon coming against you will succeed;
• This is the word of the Lord.

Chapter 55. Welcome

Isaiah says everyone is welcome to join with the Holy One of Israel:

• Everyone who is thirsty or hungry can come without money;
• Everyone is welcome to the good life;
• Everyone who does not know God can come;
• But everyone must come to Him soon;
• All evil deeds must be forsaken;
• And God will extend His mercy and pardon everyone;
• The Lord says He thinks differently than people think;
• His ways are higher than people’s ways;
• When God sends out His Word, it prospers;
• His people will go forth in joy and peace;
• Even the mountains and the trees shall rejoice.

End of Session 5 of 6 of the book of Isaiah