Lesson 7: The Requirements for Blessing
Scripture to Read: Isaiah 63:166:24
The last chapters are worthy of this book from the
pen of Israel’s greatest writing prophet. It is fitting
these chapters should deal with those things
required of God’s people in anticipation of the
blessings to come. The picture of the Lord riding
in judgment again affirms that Messiah’s coming to
fully restore Israel involves judgment on the
nation’s enemies—who were also the enemies of
God. Instead of judgment, Israel enters into prayer
and confession, and a plea for the Lord to come
and show Himself strong for His people.
In many ways, God’s response to the prayer of His
people forms a summary of the message of Isaiah.
God said that although He had constantly held
out His love to Israel, they had rejected Him and
made judgment necessary. But even in that
judgment, a faithful remnant of Israel would be
preserved and live to experience God’s glorious
restoration of the nation. Appropriately, Isaiah’s
prophecy ends with the mention of the “new
heavens and the new earth” that God will make—a
promise of future blessing and delight that all of
His people in every age hold dear.
Study Questions
- How did the remembrance of Israel's
deliverance under Moses (63:1114) serve to
encourage Israel in the time spoken of by Isaiah?
- What imagery did the prophet use (Isaiah
64:8) to describe God's relationship to His
people?
- Why would the words of Isaiah 65:17 be
especially comforting to the Israelites?
- What do you see as an overarching lesson we
can take away from our study of Isaiah?
Something to Think About
This lesson is also a fitting reminder to us that there are always requirements God makes of us if
we would enjoy the smile of His favor. A few extra moments’ reflection on this important
principle are in order for us as we contemplate what God would require of us.
|
