The According to NCAC Adult Sunday School Fall 2010 Week 5/-27: The King of the Whole World

Chapter 13-27. These chapters give a series of divine declarations against the nations surrounding , culminating with a declaration of God’s coming judgment and salvation for all mankind. 13-23. God’s Judgment Against the Nations. 24. God’s Judgment Against the Whole Earth. 25-26. God’s Praise By His People. 27. God’s Purification Of His People.

Chapters 13-23: God’s Judgment Against the Nations. Having established God’s sovereignty over the affairs of and Judah in chapters 1-12, Isaiah now turns to the surrounding nations. Isaiah makes it clear that God is not just the King of Israel—He is the King of the Entire World. God is sovereign over every event of every nation—even those that do not regard Him as God. Isaiah speaks oracles pertaining to a number of nations:

13:1-14:27. Against .

13:9-13. These verses give an example of God’s judgment against these nations. Notice several elements: . Enemies of God will one day face His wrath and anger (v. 9). . God is intent on punishing sin, pride, and mistreatment of others (v. 11). . God’s judgment will result in the humbling of mankind and the exaltation of Himself (v. 12).

14:24-27. These verses give an example of God’s insistence that His plans and purposes will prevail.

14:28-32. Against Philistia. 15:1-16:14. Against . 17:1-14. Against the Syria-Israel Alliance. 18:1-7. Against Cush.

[Isaiah 23-27 . Page 1]

19:1-20:6. Against . 21:1-10. Against Babylon. 21:11-12. Against . 21:13-17. Against Arabia. 22:1-25. Against . 23:1-18. Against Tyre.

Discussion: How do you personally react to these declarations of God’s sovereignty over the affairs of the nations?

Discussion: Should knowledge of God’s sovereignty over the nations make a practical difference in the way we live our lives? If so, how?

Chapter 24. God’s Judgment Against the Whole Earth. God’s judgment against individual nations will eventually lead to God’s judgment against the entire world. There will come a day when all of corrupt mankind will be overthrown in God’s final conflict against evil.

24:1-6. God judges the world’s inhabitants. Human sin has defiled God’s world. God will nearly wipe the earth clean, leaving only a few to experience His new world order.

24:7-13. God judges the world’s pleasures. Joy will turn to sorrow as those who were caught up in worldly pleasures find all these things stripped away.

24:14-17. God’s people give Him praise. Amazingly, in the midst of the devastation comes a cry of praise from many of God’s people who rejoice in His majesty and righteousness. Isaiah, however, finds himself so overwhelmed with his vision that he can only cry out “Woe is me!”

24:18-23. God judges the physical and spiritual worlds. God’s final judgment will be complete—involving both physical creation (v.19-20) and the spiritual realm (v.21-22).

Discussion: What type of portrait of God is painted by Chapter 24?

[Isaiah 23-27 . Page 2]

Discussion: How do you explain why there is a burst of praise in 24:14-16 that is then abruptly silenced by Isaiah’s cry of anguish? How should we feel about these truths?

For Reflection: What feelings do the truths of provoke in you?

“Give the love of your heart to God, even to the contempt of self. Believe that He is worth that much. Earthly-mindedness, to use an old Puritan word, will kill your heart for God, or your heart for God will kill your earthly-mindedness. But you cannot have both. Stop trying to.” (Ray Ortlund)

For Reflection: What pleasures do you live for? What pleasures are you free to let go of?

Chapters 25-26. God’s Praise By His People. Although the Day of the Lord will bring terror to many, it will also bring blessing to the true people of God—both collectively and individually.

25:1-5. Praise will replace fear. God’s people will marvel at His faithfulness to them as He defeats all their enemies.

25:6-12. Joy will replace tears. God’s people will rejoice in the God of their salvation who defeats all hardship and death.

26:1-6. Peace will replace oppression. God’s people will trust in their strong and everlasting God who lays low all who oppressed the poor and needy.

26:7-11. Righteousness will replace wickedness. God’s people will yearn to be with their righteous God who judges the wicked and the corrupt.

26:12-18. Humility will replace pride. God’s people will give credit to God for all of their blessings and accomplishments.

26:19-21. Life will replace death. God’s people shall rise again with joy as they escape the final judgment of God against the guilty.

[Isaiah 23-27 . Page 3]

Discussion: How do you respond to the depictions of the future in -26?

Discussion: Knowing that this future awaits the people of God, what should you change in your life?

Chapter 27. God’s Purification of His People. In the final days, God will completely destroy all evil (27:1) and will bring His people home.

27:2-6. God will bless His people. God’s people will experience blessing like never before.

27:7-11. God will purify His people. God’s judgment against His people has always been measured, restrained, and purposeful.

27:12-13. God will regather His people. Here Isaiah speaks of the Israelites, but one day all of God’s people will gather before His throne to enjoy Him for eternity.

For Reflection: If you get along perfectly with a world that is firmly rooted against the glorification of God, what does that say about the state of your heart?

Additional Discussion Questions:

1. What does this section of Isaiah tell us about God?

2. What questions should we be asking ourselves as result of our study today?

3. What should we do as a result of the things we learned in this study?

[Isaiah 23-27 . Page 4]