Bible

In the Bible room today, we conclude reading the summary of the book of Isaiah.  Here is the final session, chapters 56 through 66.

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Isaiah – Session 6 of 6

Chapter 56. Everyone

The Lord declares, through Isaiah, that everyone is welcome to join Him:

• Blessed are all those who keep themselves from doing evil;
• Including people who are not part of Israel;
• Foreigners are welcome to join with the Lord;
• All those who keep the commandments and serve the Lord;
• The Lord’s house will be a house of prayer for all nations;
• And the Lord welcomes all to come to Him;
• The Lord has some harsh words for the leaders of Israel;
• He calls them ignorant, dumb, and greedy dogs.

Chapter 57. Forgiveness

In spite of Israel worshipping idols, the Lord still forgives:

• Too often, evil people are allowed to do evil things;
• They are allowed to ridicule good people;
• In Israel idol worship has become normal;
• There is no shame or remorse for constant evil deeds;
• The Lord says “Let your idols deliver you;”
• But the Lord says those who trust in Him will prosper;
• He welcomes those who have a humble, contrite spirit;
• The Lord has seen His people backsliding;
• Yet He will forgive them, and restore them;
• The Lord offers healing to everyone who will accept it.

Chapter 58. Spoken

The mouth of the Lord has spoken:

• Isaiah is told to proclaim Israel’s sins;
• Israel has observed the ordinances of the Lord;
• But it is all just for show;
• They use fasting to show how pious they are;
• And they use their ‘righteousness’ to argue with people;
• God is not pleased with their public display of fasting;
• The Lord says ‘fasting’ should be used for genuine piety;
• The Lord will honor those who do good things through fasting;
• The Lord will honor those who keep the Sabbath holy.

Chapter 59. Preaching

Isaiah continues preaching the word of the Lord to Israel:

• The Lord is ever faithful to Israel despite their sins;
• They have separated themselves from God;
• Their ungodly behavior is displeasing to the Lord;
• They are always devising ways to fall into sinful habits;
• They live in a world of darkness with no light at all;
• They are burdened with all kinds of sins;
• Perpetual lying and deceit has driven them away from God;
• But the Lord will save them with His own righteousness;
• The Redeemer will come to save His people;
• The Lord will never abandon His covenant with His people;
• He will continue to honor His covenant forever.

Chapter 60. Light

The light of Israel will draw Gentiles to the Lord:

• Israel will be blessed with great prosperity by the Gentiles;
• People will come from all over to bring gifts to Israel;
• The glory of the Lord will be shining everywhere;
• Gates will never close so that Gentiles can bring great wealth;
• Nations who despised Israel will fall before them in honor;
• Everyone will know that the Lord is the Redeemer of Israel;
• The Lord will be their light forever;
• They shall own their land forever;
• This will happen according to the Lord’s timing.

Chapter 61. Anointed

The Lord speaks as One who is anointed by God:

• To deliver good news to the needy, and the brokenhearted;
• To set captives free, and to comfort those in mourning;
• To turn ashes into beauty, turn sadness into praise;
• To make His people the glory of the Lord;
• To enable them to rebuild their former cities;
• To turn foreigners into Israel’s servants;
• And you will be called God’s Priests, Servants of the Lord;
• Gentiles shall bring you great riches and honor;
• And you will live joyfully forever;
• The Gentiles shall know that you are blessed by the Lord;
• You are clothed in salvation and righteousness;
• Adorned as a bride and groom at their wedding;
• You will be an example before all the nations.

Chapter 62. Beulah

Zion will be saved and the Lord will give her a new name:

• Her land will be called The Land of Beulah;
• Gentiles will see the glory of the Lord;
• As a bridegroom rejoices, so the Lord will rejoice over Judah;
• The Lord will place watchmen on Jerusalem’s walls;
• They shall be vigilant day and night, never sleep;
• Judah will no longer surrender her crops to foreigners;
• And His people shall be called The Holy People;
• The Redeemed of the Lord.

Chapter 63. Goodness

The Lord God has blessed Israel with His goodness:

• He has trampled their enemies in His fury;
• He has brought salvation to His people;
• In His love and mercy, He has blessed them with goodness;
• He declares them to be His People, and He is their savior;
• But in their rebellion, He became their enemy;
• And He hardened His heart toward them;
• Their adversaries have defeated them, destroyed many;
• Israel has become like those who never knew the Lord.

Chapter 64. Prayer

In their despair, Israel offers a heartfelt prayer to the Lord:

• There earnest prayer is that the Lord God would come down;
• And that He would do awesome things as He did in the past;
• Israel persists in sinful ways; they know they need to be saved;
• They say their good deeds are like filthy rags;
• So, they continue in their prayer;
• They recognize God as their Father;
• Like clay, they have been formed by His hands;
• They plead with God to look kindly on His people;
• They ask the Lord if He plans to punish them more severely.

Chapter 65. Chosen

Isaiah hears the voice of the Lord speaking:

• The Lord says the people He has chosen did not seek Him;
• He chose them to be His people;
• But they have been a rebellious people;
• However, the Lord has seen something good in His chosen;
• His chosen will not lack for food or drink;
• And He will forget all their past sins;
• His future plans for them include a new heaven and a new earth;
• It will be a place of joy, blessings, and prosperity;
• The Lord says He will be there for them and their descendants;
• He says “Before they call, I will answer;”
• Even while they are still speaking, “I will hear;”
• In that new place, the wolf and the lamb will feed together;
• It will be a place of total tranquility for all His people.

Chapter 66. Promise

The Lord declares His judgement and His promise:

• The Lord created and has all power to control everything;
• And He will look with favor upon all those who are humble;
• And upon those who respect and obey Him;
• He will not tolerate those who have chosen to be self-serving;
• He will not accept phony burnt sacrifices;
• He will reject those who have rejected Him;
• But He has chosen Zion, a people who have accepted the Lord;
• He says He will give them “peace like a river;”
• And they will receive the prosperity of the Gentiles;
• But the Lord will bring fire down on His enemies;
• His people will extoll the glory of the Lord to the Gentiles;
• The Lord promises a bright future for His people;
• Their descendants will enjoy the new heaven and new earth;
• And worship the Lord forever;
• But those who reject Him will be forever suffering.

End of Session 6 of 6 of the book of Isaiah