Isaiah 1 (Isaiah 1-34)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Study Guide:

1. Read the Bible Dictionary entry, "Isaiah." What does the name "Isaiah" mean? From the third paragraph, list major themes addressed by the prophet Isaiah in his writings.

 

 

2. Read 2 Nephi 25:1-8. After quoting Isaiah extensively, Nephi admitted that the prophecies of Isaiah might be hard to understand. He gave his people keys to understanding Isaiah. List as many keys as you can find in 2 Nephi 25:1-8.

 

 

3. One way of looking at the structure of the Book of Isaiah is to divide it into four themes: Apostasy (chapters 1-9); Judgment (10-34); Restoration (35-59); and Salvation (60-66). Since we are looking at the first half of Isaiah this week, find scriptures in Isaiah, chapters 1-34, that reflect these first two themes: apostasy and judgment. What had caused such dramatic apostasy in Israel and Judah?

 

 

EXTRA CREDIT: If you are fluent enough to read Isaiah in another language, read some of your favorite passages in that language, looking for new insights (eg: In German, the phrase from Isaiah 32:8, which is rendered "by liberal things shall he stand" in the KJV, is more clearly rendered "he will hold to honorable thoughts and actions."). If you are not fluent in another language, read favorite verses from Isaiah in an alternate translation of the Bible, such as the New International Version, the New Revised Standard Version, or a study Bible of your choice (or see Abraham Gileadi's translation by clicking here). What can you learn about Isaiah's message or the King James Version from reading other translations?

 

 

4. Read Isaiah 6 (with footnotes 1e, 4a, 5a, 6a, 11a, 13b), which includes Isaiah's mission call. Give examples from this chapter of Isaiah's obedience and sacrifice.

 

 

5. Another way to study Isaiah is to look for the four "C"s - Christ, Covenants, Current events, and Coming events. Read Isaiah 9:1-21 (with footnotes 1b, 2a, 3c, 4d, 5a,b, 8a, 12a,b,d, 15a). Find and list examples of the 4 "C"s in this chapter.

 

 

6. Read Isaiah 18:1-7 (with chapter heading, footnotes 1a,c, 2a,b) and Isaiah 25:1-12 (with footnotes 5a, 6a, 8c). Seemingly, there is a disconnect between the chapter heading and the warning voice of Isaiah 18. After checking footnotes, look for messages of hope in these verses. The message of chapter 25 is "It is worth it to be righteous." Why?

 

 

7. Read Isaiah 28:1-28 (with footntotes 1b,c, 4a, 5a, 7a, 9b, 13b, 18a, 29a). How would a person become "drunken" with wickedness? In Isaiah 28:15 and 18, the Lord talks about a "covenant with death." On one level, Isaiah may have been referring to Judah's alliance with Egypt instead of reliance on the Lord. How might we make a "covenant with death"? How easy will we "rest" (see vv. 12, 20) when we do?

 

 

BONUS: Read Isaiah 32, just for fun. Look for evidences of the four themes and four "C"s of Isaiah in this chapter (see questions 3 and 5 above).