Who Was Isaiah?
What caused Isaiah to trade riches and respect for a life of rags and rejection? Surely something extraordinary. We find the answer in Isaiah 6.
From Riches to Rags
This excerpt is from a pre-recorded lecture by BSF Executive Director Hollie Roberts.
Portions of this lecture may be used in part by BSF teaching teams or online groups.
Transcripts
English
(Transcript) Isaiah was a man who went from riches to rags. You want to talk about a life-shaping trajectory moment? Isaiah Chapter 1, verse 1, reveals Isaiah to be the son of Amoz. Now that may not ring a bell for us today, but tradition says Amoz was the brother of King Amaziah. So if that is the case, then Isaiah was born into an influential, upper-class family. He would have called the king “uncle” and he would have had access to the king in a way that others outside of the palace would have not.
We know Isaiah was married with children, we’re told in Chapter 7 and Chapter 8. And an interesting tidbit about Isaiah: God told Isaiah what to name his children. Now the right to name someone denotes authority over that person and if someone came to you and said, “Here is what you must name your children,” you might say, “That is not your right.” But Isaiah accepted God’s authority and right to do that in his life, and Isaiah even understood that God’s purpose for him extended to his children. They were given as signs and symbols in Israel from the Lord God Almighty.
Later in Isaiah’s life, in Chapter 20, we read about when God has Isaiah go stripped and barefoot for three years as a sign against Egypt and Cush. Isaiah was a man who didn’t just speak his message in nouns and verbs, but he was a man who lived his message. His words and his actions denoted Isaiah’s surrender to God. Tradition says Isaiah was put to death by being sawed in two. Now there’s a brief reference in Hebrews 11 to the death of many of those heroes of the faith from the past and it is believed that Isaiah, this man born in the palace, surrendered his comfort, surrendered his rights, surrendered his clothes and ultimately surrendered his life. He remained faithful to God regardless of the cost. Now that’s not the story we’re writing for ourselves. It’s probably not the story we’re writing for our kids, either, because by human standards, Isaiah was a disappointment. But by God’s standards, the world was not worthy of him.
From respect to rejection
Isaiah went from riches to rags. He also went from respect to rejection. Isaiah’s position of earthly influence as nephew to the king takes a trajectory-shaping turn as God calls Isaiah to surrender his life and his influence and take up God’s call to speak and be ignored. What is it that will cause a man to shun riches and respect and to take up a call of rags and rejection? Surely something extraordinary. Surely a life-shaping moment. And we find out the answer to that question in Isaiah’s life in Isaiah Chapter 6.
Isaiah Chapter 6, verse 1, says that, “In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him there were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.’”
Isaiah grew up in a royal family. He likely called his uncle the king. He had seen earthly kings up close. He had likely been in the throne room of the king before. But Isaiah had never seen anything like this. In the year King Uzziah died. Why does that matter? Well, you know from your questions this week and from your study that King Uzziah, near the end of his life, in an act of pride, entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar and God struck him with leprosy. He lived with leprosy the rest of his life — banned from the temple of God.
And in the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah saw the Lord, the King. God has many ways He reveals Himself through Scripture. When we speak about the first person of the Trinity, we often call Him God, the Father. But there are passages of Scripture that give us this incredible glimpse into the transcendent majesty of the glory of God in His fullness. And Isaiah has a moment where he sees God and gets a glimpse of His glory.
From ruin to restoration
Now in case you were wondering, “How can Isaiah see God and live?” Jesus will tell us in the book of John that what Isaiah saw was Him. Isaiah’s life-altering vision of God, the high and exalted one on the throne, includes a picture of the train of His robe filling the temple with glory. The vision Isaiah sees humbles him. It isn’t one of satisfied fascination — “Oh, that’s what You look like.” His response is not to run to the Father. Isaiah is actually going to be drawn back in awe in the true essence of the word.
Isaiah realizes, “I don’t belong here. Woe is me.” He is reduced to ruin. Isaiah confessed what is true in that moment, what was true for him and what was true for all people in the presence of God Almighty: “I am ruined. I can’t be in Your presence, God. I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”
Now what happens next might surprise you because God doesn’t say, “Hey, Isaiah, it’s okay.” Neither does He zap Isaiah with leprosy or death. Instead, God intervenes in Isaiah’s life and extends grace to Isaiah, because God, upon Isaiah’s confession, makes a way for Isaiah to be atoned. He sends His seraphim with a hot coal to touch Isaiah’s mouth with this assurance, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin is atoned for.” God extends forgiveness, not wrath. When King Uzziah pridefully charged into the presence of God, there was really ruin. But when Isaiah humbly confesses in the presence of God, there is agreement and atonement.
What must it be like to be made fully aware of our sin and to be fully aware that we deserve to be destroyed? I ask it that way because most of us, even if we have confessed Christ as our Savior, are not fully aware of our sin. We have a way of cleaning up just how sinful we really are. We might say, “Well, I came to Christ at an early age — how sinful could I have been?” Or maybe we look at others and we say, “Well, I’m not as bad as so-and-so.” Isaiah was confronted with the depth of his sin and in that moment, he knew he had no defense. He was ruined apart from the intervening grace of God.
So, Isaiah knew what it was to be saved from his sin. He knew what it was to belong to the Lord. He knew that his life was the Lord’s. He knew in that moment God could have ruined him and, instead, forgave him.
To know that will change the trajectory of your life!
Spanish
(Transcripción) Isaías fue un hombre que paso de la riqueza a la pobreza. Y quiero hablar un momento de la trayectoria de su vida. Isaías capitulo 1, versículo 1, revela que el profeta es hijo de Amós. Ahora, eso puede no ser relevante el día de hoy, pero la tradición dice Amós era el hermano de rey Usías. Entonces si este es el caso, Isaías nació en una influyente familia de clase alta. Habría tenido por tío al rey y habría tenido acceso a él de una manera que otros fuera del palacio no tendrían.
Sabemos que Isaías estaba casado y tenia hijos, esto se nos dice en los capítulos 7 y 8. Y un dato interesante sobre él, es que Dios le dijo a Isaías como llamar a sus hijos. Ahora bien, el derecho a poner el nombre a alguien denota autoridad sobre esa persona. Y si alguien viniera a ti y te dijera: “Así es como debes llamar a tus hijos,” podrías decir, “Ese no es tu derecho.” Pero Isaías acepto la autoridad y el derecho de Dios de hacer eso en su vida. He incluso Isaías entendió que el propósito de Dios para él se extendía a sus hijos. Y que estas fueron dadas como señales y símbolos en Israel por él Señor Dios Todopoderoso.
Mas tarde, en la vida de Isaías en el capitulo 20, leemos acerca de cuando Dios hace que él ande desnudo y descalzo durante tres años como una señal contra Egipto y Cush (Etiopia). Isaías fue un hombre que no solo pronuncio su mensaje y sustantivos, además de verbos, sino que fue un hombre que vivió su mensaje. Sus palabras y sus acciones denotaron la entrega de Isaías a Dios. La tradición dice que Isaías murió acerrado. Ahora hay una breve referencia en Hebreos capitulo 11 a la muerte de muchos de esos héroes de la fe del pasado. Y se cree que Isaías, este hombre nacido en palacio, entrego su comodidad, entrego sus derechos, entrego su ropa y finalmente entrego su vida. Permaneció fiel a Dios sin importar el costo. Ahora esta no es la historia que estamos escribiendo para nosotros mismos. Probablemente tampoco sea la historia que estamos escribiendo para nuestros hijos. Porque según los estándares humanos, Isaías fue una decepción. Según los estándares de Dios el mundo no era digno de el.
Del respeto al rechazo
Isaías paso de la riqueza a la pobreza, pero también del respeto al rechazo. La posición de influencia terrenal de Isaías, ser sobrino del rey, da un giro brusco en su trayectoria. Cuando Dios llama a Isaías para entregar su vida y su influencia, acepta el llamado de Dios para hablar y ser ignorado. ¿Qué es lo que hará que un hombre no acepte las riquezas y el respeto y acepte un llamado de pobreza y rechazo? Seguramente algo extraordinario. Seguramente un momento que cambiara completamente tu vida. Y encontramos la respuesta a esa pregunta en la vida Isaías.
En Isaías capitulo 6, versículo 1, dice que “En el año en que murió el rey Uzías, vi al Señor alto y sublime, sentado en un trono; y la orla de su manto llenaba el templo. Por encima de él había serafines, cada uno con seis alas: con dos alas cubrían sus rostros, con dos cubrían sus pies, con dos volaban. Y se decían uno al otro: “Santo, santo, santo es el Señor Dios Todopoderoso; toda la tierra está llena de su gloria”.
Isaías creció en una familia real, probablemente llamo tío al rey. Había visto reyes terrenales de cerca. Quizás había estado antes en la sala del trono del rey, pero Isaías nunca había visto nada como esto. Ese año el rey Uzías había muerto. ¿Por que es tan importante todo esto? Bueno, ya sabes por tus preguntas de esta semana y por tu estudio, que el rey al acercarse el final de su vida comete un acto de soberbia. Entro en el templo del Señor para quemar incienso en el altar y Dios lo hirió de lepra. Vivió con lepra el resto de su vida, excluido del templo de Dios.
Y en el año que murió el rey Uzías, Isaías vio al Señor rey. Dios tiene muchos caminos, Él se revela así mismo a través de las escrituras. Cuando hablamos de la primera persona de la Trinidad a menudo lo llamamos Dios Padre, pero hay pasajes de las escrituras que nos dan este increíble vistazo a la trascendente majestad de la gloria de Dios en su plenitud. Isaías tiene un momento en el que ve a Dios y vislumbra su gloria.
De la ruina a la restauración.
Ahora, en caso de que te estés preguntando, ¿“Como puedo decir que veo a Dios y vivo”? Jesús nos dirá en el libro de Juan que lo que Isaías vio fue a él. La visión de Dios que altera la vida de Isaías, el alto y exaltado en el trono, incluye una imagen de la orla de su manto llenando el templo de gloria. La visión que ve Isaías lo humilla, no es una sensación de satisfacción – “Oh, así es como te ves.” Su respuesta no es correr hacia el Padre. Isaías en realidad va a retroceder con asombro en el verdadero sentido de la palabra.
Isaías se da cuenta de que no pertenece ahí. ¡Ay de mi! Esta reducido a la ruina. Isaías confeso lo que es verdad en ese momento. Lo que era verdad para él, y lo que era verdad para todas las personas, en la presencia del Dios Todopoderoso: “Estoy arruinado, no puedo estar en Tu presencia, Dios. Soy un hombre de labios inmundos, y habito entre un pueblo de labios inmundos, y mis ojos han visto al Rey, al Señor Todopoderoso”.
Ahora, lo que sucede a continuación podría sorprenderte. Porque Dios no dice, “Oye, yo te digo que esta bien” tampoco esta fuera Isaías con la lepra o muerto. En cambio, Dios interviene en la vida del profeta y extiende su gracia. Porque Dios ante la confesión de Isaías abrió un camino para que sea expiado. Envía a sus serafines con el corazón frio para tocar la boca de Isaías con seguridad, “Mira, esto han tocado tus labios, tu culpa es quitada, tu pecado es expiatorio.” Porque Dios extiende el perdón y no la ira. Cuando el orgullo de rey Uzías se lleno de soberbia en la presencia de Dios, realmente hubo ruina. Pero cuando Isaías se confiesa humildemente en la presencia de Dios, hay acuerdo y expiación.
¿Como debemos ser plenamente consientes de nuestro pecado y ser plenamente consientes de que merecemos ser destruidos? Lo pregunto así por que la mayoría de nosotros, incluso si hemos confesado a Cristo como nuestro salvador, no somos plenamente consientes de los incendios provocados. Tenemos una forma de limpiar realmente lo pecadores que somos. Podríamos decir, “Bueno, vine a Cristo a una edad temprana – ¿Cuan pecador pude haber sido?” O tal vez miramos a los demás y decimos, “Bueno, yo no soy tan malo como fulano de tal.” Isaías se enfrento a la muerte de su hijo y en ese momento supo que no tenia defensa. Estaba arruinado a parte de la intervención de la gracia de Dios.
Así que Isaías sabia lo que era ser salvo. Sabia lo que era pertenecer al Señor. Sabia que su vida ahora era de Dios. Él supo en ese momento que Dios podía haberlo arruinado y en su lugar, lo perdono. Saber eso cambiara la trayectoria de tu vida.
Simplified Chinese
以賽亞是一個從富裕落入貧窮的人,講到改變生命軌跡的的時候。從以賽亞書第一章一節我們得知,以賽亞的父親叫亞摩斯,這個名字對今天的我們可能並不是那麼熟悉,但根據傳統的說法,亞摩斯是亞瑪謝王的兄弟。如果真是如此,那麼以賽亞就是出生在一個有影響力的上流家庭,他可以稱國王為「叔父」,所以他應該有機會接觸國王,而宮外其他人則沒有這樣的機會。
我們從第七和第八章得知以賽亞曾經結婚生子。關於以賽亞有趣的傳聞,上帝曾經告訴以賽亞要給他的孩子取什麼名字。一個人有權替這個人命名,就表示他有掌管那人的權柄,如果有人對你說:「你必須給你的小孩取這個名字。」你可能會說:「你沒有這個權利。」但是,以賽亞接受上帝在他生命中做這事的權柄和權利,而且他知道上帝對他的旨意延伸到他的下一代;他的子女是全能的主上帝賜給以色列的預兆和象徵。
第二十章講到以賽亞的後半生時,我們看到上帝吩咐以賽亞露身赤腳,行走三年,作為埃及和古實受懲罰的標記和預兆。以賽亞不僅用言語來傳講他的信息,他更是一個活出他的信息的人,他的言語和行動表明他對上帝的降服。傳統認為他是被鋸子鋸成兩半而死的,在希伯來書第十一章的信心偉人的英雄榜裡,提到有人被鋸鋸死,一般相信那就是指以賽亞。他生於宮廷皇室之家,卻甘願放棄了他安逸的生活、他的權利,他的華貴,最終也交出他的性命。他不計代價的忠於上帝。這不是我們會為自己寫的故事,大概也不會是為子女寫的故事。因為以人的標準來看,以賽亞是令人失望的。但是,以上帝的標準來看,這世界不配有他。
以賽亞從富足到窮乏,從受人尊敬到被人唾棄。以賽亞作為王的姪子,原本位高權重的生活受到重大的轉變,因為上帝呼召以賽亞放棄他的生活和影響力,接受上帝的呼召去傳講,並且受人排斥。是什麼原因竟讓一個人捨棄財富與地位,接受貧窮與被排斥的呼召呢?肯定是不尋常,肯定是一個改變人生的時刻,我們會發現問題的答案就在以賽亞書第六章。
以賽亞書第六章第1節:「當烏西雅王崩的那年,我見主坐在高高的寶座上。他的衣裳垂下,遮滿聖殿。其上有撒拉弗侍立,各有六個翅膀:用兩個翅膀遮臉,兩個翅膀遮腳,兩個翅膀飛翔;彼此呼喊說:聖哉!聖哉!聖哉!萬軍之耶和華;他的榮光充滿全地!」
以賽亞從小在皇室長大,他可能稱他的叔父為國王。他曾近距離見過地上的君王,很可能曾經進到王的寶座前。但是,以賽亞從來沒見過這種景象。「就在烏西雅王崩的那年」,這個很重要嗎?你從本週的研經題和學習當中知道,烏西雅王在晚年的時候,因為驕傲的擅自進入聖殿在祭壇上燒香,上帝擊打他,使他染上痲瘋病, 從此他終生被禁止進入上帝的殿。
當烏西雅王駕崩的那年,以賽亞見到大君王主耶和華。在聖經中,上帝透過很多方式來顯明祂自己,當講到三一上帝的第一位格時,我們往往稱祂為天父上帝。聖經中有些經文使我們瞥見上帝那不可思議、充滿榮光、超越一切的威嚴。以賽亞有一瞬間,他看見了上帝,瞥見到祂的榮耀!
你可能會想,以賽亞怎麼可能看見了上帝居然還能活著呢?耶穌將在約翰福音告訴我們,以賽亞看見的就是祂。以賽亞因看見上帝,那至高者坐在寶座上,還看見祂的長袍覆蓋整個聖殿,充滿了榮光的異象,他的生命全然改變。以賽亞所見的異象使他完全謙卑,這並不是那種滿足的反應:「喔!原來你是這個樣子的!」他的反應並不是奔向天父的寶座,而是經文所看到的滿心存著敬畏。
以賽亞意識到:「我不屬於這裡。」「我有禍了!」他覺得自己慘了、要滅亡了。在那一瞬間,以賽亞承認了一件事實,對他是真實的,對所有在全能上帝面前的人,也是真實的;那就是:「我滅亡了,上帝啊,我不能在祢面前,因為我是嘴唇不潔的人,又住在嘴唇不潔的人中;又因我見大君王─萬軍之耶和華!」
接下來發生的事可能讓你出乎意料,因為上帝沒有說:「嘿,以賽亞,沒關係。」上帝也沒有讓以賽亞染上痲瘋病,更沒讓他當場就死掉。相反的,上帝介入了以賽亞的人生,向以賽亞施恩。因為以賽亞的認罪,上帝就為他打開一條贖罪之路,祂差遣祂的天使撒拉弗,用一塊火熱的炭,沾以賽亞的嘴唇,並保證說:「看哪,這炭沾了你的嘴,你的罪孽便除掉,你的罪惡就赦免了。」上帝賜下饒恕,並沒有降怒於他。當烏西雅王高傲地進到上帝面前時,他確實是慘了。但是當以賽亞在上帝面前謙卑認罪時,他的罪就得到赦免。
當我們完全意識到自己的罪,又完全知道我們滅亡是罪有應得時,會是什麼樣的感覺呢?我這樣問是因為我們大多數的人,即使是已經承認基督為救主的人,其實也沒有完全意識到自己的罪。我們會用自己的辦法來脫罪,不承認自己有多麼罪孽深重。我們可能說:「嗯,我年紀很小的時候就信耶穌了,我能有多大的罪呢?」或著我們看著別人,說:「呃,我不像某某人那麼壞。」以賽亞面對自己深重的罪孽,在那一刻,他知道他沒有辦法為自己做任何辯護。除非上帝向他施恩,否則他就滅亡了。
因此,以賽亞知道罪得拯救的滋味,他知道屬於上帝是什麼滋味,他知道他的生命是屬於上帝的。在那一刻,他知道上帝大可使他滅亡,但上帝反而赦免了他。這個將改變你整個人生的軌跡!
Traditional Chinese
”以賽亞是一個從富裕落入貧窮的人,講到改變生命軌跡的的時候。從以賽亞書第一章一節我們得知,以賽亞的父親叫亞摩斯,這個名字對今天的我們可能並不是那麼熟悉,但根據傳統的說法,亞摩斯是亞瑪謝王的兄弟。如果真是如此,那麼以賽亞就是出生在一個有影響力的上流家庭,他可以稱國王為「叔父」,所以他應該有機會接觸國王,而宮外其他人則沒有這樣的機會。
我們從第七和第八章得知以賽亞曾經結婚生子。關於以賽亞有趣的傳聞,上帝曾經告訴以賽亞要給他的孩子取什麼名字。一個人有權替這個人命名,就表示他有掌管那人的權柄,如果有人對你說:「你必須給你的小孩取這個名字。」你可能會說:「你沒有這個權利。」但是,以賽亞接受上帝在他生命中做這事的權柄和權利,而且他知道上帝對他的旨意延伸到他的下一代;他的子女是全能的主上帝賜給以色列的預兆和象徵。
第二十章講到以賽亞的後半生時,我們看到上帝吩咐以賽亞露身赤腳,行走三年,作為埃及和古實受懲罰的標記和預兆。以賽亞不僅用言語來傳講他的信息,他更是一個活出他的信息的人,他的言語和行動表明他對上帝的降服。傳統認為他是被鋸子鋸成兩半而死的,在希伯來書第十一章的信心偉人的英雄榜裡,提到有人被鋸鋸死,一般相信那就是指以賽亞。他生於宮廷皇室之家,卻甘願放棄了他安逸的生活、他的權利,他的華貴,最終也交出他的性命。他不計代價的忠於上帝。這不是我們會為自己寫的故事,大概也不會是為子女寫的故事。因為以人的標準來看,以賽亞是令人失望的。但是,以上帝的標準來看,這世界不配有他。
以賽亞從富足到窮乏,從受人尊敬到被人唾棄。以賽亞作為王的姪子,原本位高權重的生活受到重大的轉變,因為上帝呼召以賽亞放棄他的生活和影響力,接受上帝的呼召去傳講,並且受人排斥。是什麼原因竟讓一個人捨棄財富與地位,接受貧窮與被排斥的呼召呢?肯定是不尋常,肯定是一個改變人生的時刻,我們會發現問題的答案就在以賽亞書第六章。
以賽亞書第六章第1節:「當烏西雅王崩的那年,我見主坐在高高的寶座上。他的衣裳垂下,遮滿聖殿。其上有撒拉弗侍立,各有六個翅膀:用兩個翅膀遮臉,兩個翅膀遮腳,兩個翅膀飛翔;彼此呼喊說:聖哉!聖哉!聖哉!萬軍之耶和華;他的榮光充滿全地!」
以賽亞從小在皇室長大,他可能稱他的叔父為國王。他曾近距離見過地上的君王,很可能曾經進到王的寶座前。但是,以賽亞從來沒見過這種景象。「就在烏西雅王崩的那年」,這個很重要嗎?你從本週的研經題和學習當中知道,烏西雅王在晚年的時候,因為驕傲的擅自進入聖殿在祭壇上燒香,上帝擊打他,使他染上痲瘋病, 從此他終生被禁止進入上帝的殿。
當烏西雅王駕崩的那年,以賽亞見到大君王主耶和華。在聖經中,上帝透過很多方式來顯明祂自己,當講到三一上帝的第一位格時,我們往往稱祂為天父上帝。聖經中有些經文使我們瞥見上帝那不可思議、充滿榮光、超越一切的威嚴。以賽亞有一瞬間,他看見了上帝,瞥見到祂的榮耀!
你可能會想,以賽亞怎麼可能看見了上帝居然還能活著呢?耶穌將在約翰福音告訴我們,以賽亞看見的就是祂。以賽亞因看見上帝,那至高者坐在寶座上,還看見祂的長袍覆蓋整個聖殿,充滿了榮光的異象,他的生命全然改變。以賽亞所見的異象使他完全謙卑,這並不是那種滿足的反應:「喔!原來你是這個樣子的!」他的反應並不是奔向天父的寶座,而是經文所看到的滿心存著敬畏。
以賽亞意識到:「我不屬於這裡。」「我有禍了!」他覺得自己慘了、要滅亡了。在那一瞬間,以賽亞承認了一件事實,對他是真實的,對所有在全能上帝面前的人,也是真實的;那就是:「我滅亡了,上帝啊,我不能在祢面前,因為我是嘴唇不潔的人,又住在嘴唇不潔的人中;又因我見大君王─萬軍之耶和華!」
接下來發生的事可能讓你出乎意料,因為上帝沒有說:「嘿,以賽亞,沒關係。」上帝也沒有讓以賽亞染上痲瘋病,更沒讓他當場就死掉。相反的,上帝介入了以賽亞的人生,向以賽亞施恩。因為以賽亞的認罪,上帝就為他打開一條贖罪之路,祂差遣祂的天使撒拉弗,用一塊火熱的炭,沾以賽亞的嘴唇,並保證說:「看哪,這炭沾了你的嘴,你的罪孽便除掉,你的罪惡就赦免了。」上帝賜下饒恕,並沒有降怒於他。當烏西雅王高傲地進到上帝面前時,他確實是慘了。但是當以賽亞在上帝面前謙卑認罪時,他的罪就得到赦免。
當我們完全意識到自己的罪,又完全知道我們滅亡是罪有應得時,會是什麼樣的感覺呢?我這樣問是因為我們大多數的人,即使是已經承認基督為救主的人,其實也沒有完全意識到自己的罪。我們會用自己的辦法來脫罪,不承認自己有多麼罪孽深重。我們可能說:「嗯,我年紀很小的時候就信耶穌了,我能有多大的罪呢?」或著我們看著別人,說:「呃,我不像某某人那麼壞。」以賽亞面對自己深重的罪孽,在那一刻,他知道他沒有辦法為自己做任何辯護。除非上帝向他施恩,否則他就滅亡了。
因此,以賽亞知道罪得拯救的滋味,他知道屬於上帝是什麼滋味,他知道他的生命是屬於上帝的。在那一刻,他知道上帝大可使他滅亡,但上帝反而赦免了他。這個將改變你整個人生的軌跡!
More in this series:
*This lecture may be used in whole or part by BSF classes or online groups.
Hollie Roberts
BSF Executive Director
Hollie Roberts stepped into the Executive Director role in September 2021 after serving as BSF’s Chief Field Development officer. Hollie and her husband Kevin have two sons, a daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren.
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Is it possible to order the book on the study of Isaiah? I have heard so many great comments on that study …I just joined last year.
Hi Mitsy! BSF classes all study the same books at the same time. Our only year-long study available at the time is John’s Gospel. However, you can visit https://www.wordgo.org/small-group-bible-studies to see previous BSF studies that have been converted into shorter studies. You can see that Isaiah is still listed on our studies, so it will come around again! https://www.bsfinternational.org/our-studies/
I love this!
These study are great love them
I am very disappointed that Isaiah was included in this study. Isaiah is a beloved book and cannot be merely skimmed. There are many of us that have full responsibilities and even with skillful time management we are unable to “sit with this whole book in front of us” I hope you will reconsider making it a study of its own. Thank you
Darlene – thank you for sharing! I am passing this feedback to our teams
It is challenging to learn about the complete surrender of Isaiah to God’s will and purpose for his life. May the Lord Himself help me to surrender my life to Him, so completely that I would be prepared to do whatever He requires of me without being affected by the cultural norms and expectations in my environment.
Oh, my Gosh Holly what a broad and profound perspective on Isaiah 1-39, and your testimony on hard moments. Thank you for bringing out the focus and purpose of these passages, for diverting our thinking away from the judgements to the promise of Messiah!!
Took so many notes but hope you will post this transcript as you did in the 3 blog episodes. Our groups were blown away. Thank you so much for your wisdom and insight.
What profound lesson about Isaiah’s surrender to God, willingly going from riches to rags and respect to rejection. May God help us to reach this level of surrender 🙏🏽
Why has BSF done away with the year long study of Isaiah? I’m glad we have this opportunity to study Isaiah in the context of the kings and divided kingdom but there is so much in Isaiah and so relevant for what we are seeing today that even in 30 weeks we couldn’t dive deep enough. Those lessons were so good! Please bring it back since the whole study is already written. This lesson, 19, is overwhelming for many new class members that they are not doing the whole lesson and missing out on all the richness of GOD’s Hope infused in all the warnings to Israel and Judah, hope for us in our world desperately needed today!
Anne- we agree! We love the study of Isaiah and are considering when a deeper dive will fit into the BSF calendar. Thank you for helping those new BSFers through these weeks. You are gift to those women in your group!
Love to hear these things about Isaiah and the Holiness Of God. Thank u r giving us these truths
The questions posed helps me to understand more exhaustively the WORD of God
I was wondering if I could purchase back lessons. I cant find where to buy them? I have been attending your classes since revelations. We moved and we lost a box that had revelations and John in it and I am so sad I dont have those lessons and notes.
Hi Christy, there are some past lessons/notes available on the BSF App. If you can’t find a study there, do not lose hope! We will come back to that study again soon.
Thank you so much for the three series on Isaiah. I was enlighten and touched by each on, reviewing them over again and receiving a different perspective each time. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you very much for your effort in composing your lecture. Very helpful. and well done.
Thanks Holly for the message
Got to learn about Prophet Isaiah in another new perspective
God bless you
Thank you so much, I just love the interaction between all the ladies and hear the different perspectives from each one as GOD gives revelation.
GOD IS truly inexhaustible as we get to know HIM through HIS Word and develop our spiritual maturity
This class has been a blessing to me. Isaiah introduces the TRINITY..! and HIS attributes. Amen
This helped me to better understand the difference in reading and studying 📖
I really enjoyed this message it helped me to see so much that I didn’t get out of reading
Thanks for taking the time and effort to do this. I needed to hear it. It is insightful and full of hope.
This really helped me I hope everybody does this
Thank you,that was eye opening!
Thank you Holly for the introduction of the book of Isaiah the information was new to me though I had read this book especially chapter 6 helped me in my Christian life
So powerful and a sign of humility
These talks are wonderful but I was listening to the 2nd episode and it skipped like crazy- heard some words and not others. The first episode was perfect. Someone suggested I switch browsers. I haven’t tried that yet, but wanted to let you know. Thanks!
Debbie – thank you for the feedback! Made a site adjustment, hopefully that will help.
Thank you. These little messages helped me understand SO much more about Isaiah, and God’s love and mercy upon us all.
God be with you!
beautiful, deep, meaningful insights – thank you 🙂
thank you for sharing this
Dear Hollie
what a great introductory insight to the book of Isaiah . Yes iam studying the book of Isaiah , to be honest second time now but hadn’t gotten some of these facts . Thank you so much , I intend to continue getting the insights / summery of the book of Isaiah.
Rgards
Phoebe
The additional biographical information on Isaiah and his lineage is speculative. Inferring he is royalty is not center to Isaiah’s message. We should ask if this can be supported or substantiated in God’s Word? Our notes do not address this either. We need to handle the Word of God carefully by not adding or taking away from it. We do not want to wander down garden paths where we distort scripture for any reason.
Helen, this is a good question. We can test or put Biblical information into context through other Scriptures and through other verified texts. So, where does one find Isaiah’s lineage? Perhaps in temple scrolls? Other writing from the same period by witnesses of those times would be reliable sources.
Helen, I am also wondering about the sources for this information. From Scripture alone we cannot confirm a royal background. Amoz likely was a common Hebrew name. It would also be helpful to have some reaching on the Hebrew language meaning of Isaiah’s declaration, “Woe is me for I am a man of unclean lips.”. We read about the hot coal touching his lips, resulting in forgiveness.
What is the contextual, historical, Hebrew understanding of this imagery? This was a vision, not a physical event. Interpreting the meaning of visions can be complex.
In doing the first Isaiah lesson, I am a bit troubled by the assumptions that people all come to faith through an awareness of personal sin. This puts God in a box and limits the work of the Holy Spirit to meet individuals where they are. Many come through the message of love, the beauty of creation, friendship, being seen and comforted, the body of believers in service and kindness. Others come through deep awareness of how their actions have hurt others, the natural consequences of their actions and choices. This was not my story. The Lordship of Jesus in our lives, the transformation into his holy likeness is the lifelong journey of faith. God is not a binary sovereign, He is both and. Our faith stories will reflect that characteristic. Faith is a continuum and it is God”s work, not human overcoming. “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.”.
Thank you, Thank you! Hollie. So helpful. I am loving this study so much and God is opening my eyes and giving me a much clearer understanding of His attributes.
Holy, Holy, Holy is our Lord God Almighty!!! I am so thankful to belong to Him.
What a gift this is! Just after reading/listening to the first episode, it has brought Isaiah to life as a REAL person, with Real feelings, and yet one who saw God (Jesus). His boldness to speak out the Truth against so many deterrents, to humbly confess his sin and to receive atonement, is the beautiful gift we all can choose, or lose! Thank you, for bringing this great prophet out of the pages of the Word and into my heart! I am convicted and want more Jesus and less me! Blessings to you and prayers for your protection, Mrs. Roberts!
Thank you for insights from the book of Isaiah. I have been waiting to study Isaiah again. Your explanation on Isaiah’s vision is powerful and encouraging. These truths from Issiah is desperately needed in our lives for such a time as this.
Very use full this article to me to understand very easy about God’s will and love towards his people in theform of question and answers. In my life also God brought me from ruin to restoration when I listen to God words.