ISAIAH CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR PROPHET - DATE JONAH (825-785BC)? JOEL (800BC)? HOSEA (785-725BC)? MICAH (785-710BC)? AMOS (784BC)? ISAIAH (701-681BC)? NAHUM (700BC)? ZEPHANIAH (630BC)? JEREMIAH (629-588BC)? DANIEL (606-534BC)? HABAKKUK (598BC)? EZEKIEL (597-573BC)? OBADIAH (588-562BC)? EZRA (536-456BC)? HAGGAI (532-512BC)? ZECHARIAH (520-475BC)? NEHEMIAH (465-424BC)? MALACHI (420-397BC)? KING / EVENT - DATE TIGLATH-PILESER (745-727BC)? HEZEKIAH (JUDAH) (726-698BC)? SHALMANESER (727-722BC)? ISRAEL TAKEN CAPTIVE (722BC)? SENNACHERIB (705-681BC)? NEBUCHADNEZZAR (605-562BC)? ZEDEKIAH (JUDAH) (597-586BC)? JUDAH TAKEN CAPTIVE (586BC)? BELSHAZZAR (541-523BC)? CYRUS (559-529BC)? BABYLON DESTROYED (536BC)? DARIUS (511-475BC)? OUTLINE ISAIAH CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR GOD'S BLESSING ON ISRAEL V. 1-5 THERE IS NO OTHER GOD V. 6-8 IDOLATRY IS FOOLISHNESS V. 9-20 ISRAEL IS NOT FORGOTTEN V. 21-23 JUDAH WILL BE RESTORED V. 23-28 READ: ISAIAH 44:1-5 GOD'S BLESSING ON ISRAEL 1 "Yet hear me now, O Jacob My servant, And Israel whom I have chosen. 2 Thus says the LORD who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you: 'Fear not, O Jacob My servant; And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. 3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring; 4 They will spring up among the grass Like willows by the watercourses.‘ 5 One will say, 'I am the LORD‘S'; Another will call himself by the name of Jacob; Another will write with his hand, 'The LORD‘S, 'And name himself by the name of Israel. QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:3-5 GOD'S BLESSING ON ISRAEL 1 "Yet hear me now, O Jacob My servant, And Israel whom I have chosen. 2 Thus says the LORD who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you: 'Fear not, O Jacob My servant; And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. 3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring; 4 They will spring up among the grass Like willows by the watercourses.‘ 5 One will say, 'I am the LORD‘S'; Another will call himself by the name of Jacob; Another will write with his hand, 'The LORD‘S, 'And name himself by the name of Israel. QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:3-5 GOD'S BLESSING ON ISRAEL WHAT DID THE LORD SAY TO JACOB & ISRAEL? HOW DID THE LORD MAKE THEM? WHO IS JERSHRUN? WHAT WILL THE LORD DO FOR THE THIRSTY? HOW WILL THIS EFFECT THEM? WHAT WILL THEY SAY? QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:1-2 GOD'S BLESSING ON ISRAEL 1 "Yet hear me now, O Jacob My servant, And Israel whom I have chosen. 2 Thus says the LORD who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you: 'Fear not, O Jacob My servant; And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. HOW DID THE LORD MAKE THEM? READ: GENESIS 2:7 7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. NKJV READ: PSALMS 139:13 13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:1-2 GOD'S BLESSING ON ISRAEL 1 "Yet hear me now, O Jacob My servant, And Israel whom I have chosen. 2 Thus says the LORD who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you: 'Fear not, O Jacob My servant; And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. WHO IS JERSHRUN? READ: DEUTERONOMY 32:15 15 "But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; You grew fat, you grew thick, You are obese! Then he forsook God who made him, And scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation. NKJV READ: DEUTERONOMY 33:26 26 "There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the heavens to help you, And in His excellency on the clouds. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:1-2 GOD'S BLESSING ON ISRAEL 1 "Yet hear me now, O Jacob My servant, And Israel whom I have chosen. 2 Thus says the LORD who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you: 'Fear not, O Jacob My servant; And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. WHAT DID THE LORD SAY TO JACOB & ISRAEL? READ: JEREMIAH 30:10 10 'Therefore do not fear, O My servant Jacob,' says the LORD, 'Nor be dismayed, O Israel; For behold, I will save you from afar, And your seed from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return, have rest and be quiet, And no one shall make him afraid. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:1-2 GOD'S BLESSING ON ISRAEL 1 "Yet hear me now, O Jacob My servant, And Israel whom I have chosen. 2 Thus says the LORD who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you: 'Fear not, O Jacob My servant; And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. WHAT DID THE LORD SAY TO JACOB & ISRAEL? READ: JEREMIAH 46:27 27 'But do not fear, O My servant Jacob, And do not be dismayed, O Israel! For behold, I will save you from afar, And your offspring from the land of their captivity; Jacob shall return, have rest and be at ease; No one shall make him afraid. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:3-5 GOD'S BLESSING ON ISRAEL 3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring; 4 They will spring up among the grass Like willows by the watercourses.‘ WHAT WILL THE LORD DO FOR THE THIRSTY? HOW WILL THIS EFFECT THEM? READ: DEUTERONOMY 32:2 2 Let my teaching drop as the rain, My speech distill as the dew, As raindrops on the tender herb, And as showers on the grass. NKJV READ: PSALMS 72:6 6 He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing, Like showers that water the earth. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:3-5 GOD'S BLESSING ON ISRAEL 3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring; 4 They will spring up among the grass Like willows by the watercourses.‘ WHAT WILL THE LORD DO FOR THE THIRSTY? HOW WILL THIS EFFECT THEM? READ: PROVERBS 9:5-6 5 "Come, eat of my bread And drink of the wine I have mixed. 6 Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of understanding. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:3-5 GOD'S BLESSING ON ISRAEL 3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring; WHAT WILL THE LORD DO FOR THE THIRSTY? HOW WILL THIS EFFECT THEM? READ: EZEKIEL 36:26-28 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. 28 Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:3-5 GOD'S BLESSING ON ISRAEL 3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring; WHAT WILL THE LORD DO FOR THE THIRSTY? HOW WILL THIS EFFECT THEM? READ: MATTHEW 5:6 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. NKJV READ: JOHN 4:10 10 Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:3-5 GOD'S BLESSING ON ISRAEL 3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring; WHAT WILL THE LORD DO FOR THE THIRSTY? HOW WILL THIS EFFECT THEM? READ: MARK 1:6-8 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, "There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. 8 I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:3-5 GOD'S BLESSING ON ISRAEL 3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring; 4 They will spring up among the grass Like willows by the watercourses.‘ HOW WILL THIS EFFECT THEM? READ: JOB 5:25 25 You shall also know that your descendants shall be many, And your offspring like the grass of the earth. READ: PSALMS 1:3 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:3-5 GOD'S BLESSING ON ISRAEL 3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring; 4 They will spring up among the grass Like willows by the watercourses.‘ WHAT WILL THE LORD DO FOR THE THIRSTY? HOW WILL THIS EFFECT THEM? READ: LUKE 11:13 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:3-5 GOD'S BLESSING ON ISRAEL 3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring; 4 They will spring up among the grass Like willows by the watercourses.‘ WHAT WILL THE LORD DO FOR THE THIRSTY? HOW WILL THIS EFFECT THEM? READ: JOHN 7:37-39 37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.“ 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:3-5 GOD'S BLESSING ON ISRAEL 5 One will say, 'I am the LORD‘S'; Another will call himself by the name of Jacob; Another will write with his hand, 'The LORD‘S, 'And name himself by the name of Israel. WHAT WILL THEY SAY? READ: PSALMS 116:16-17 16 O LORD, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have loosed my bonds. 17 I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the LORD. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:3-5 GOD'S BLESSING ON ISRAEL 5 One will say, 'I am the LORD‘S'; Another will call himself by the name of Jacob; Another will write with his hand, 'The LORD‘S, 'And name himself by the name of Israel. WHAT WILL THEY SAY? READ: JEREMIAH 50:4-5 4 "In those days and in that time," says the LORD, "The children of Israel shall come, They and the children of Judah together; With continual weeping they shall come, And seek the LORD their God. 5 They shall ask the way to Zion, With their faces toward it, saying, 'Come and let us join ourselves to the LORD In a perpetual covenant That will not be forgotten.' QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:3-5 WHAT WILL THEY SAY? READ: ZECHARIAH 8:20-23 20 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Peoples shall yet come, Inhabitants of many cities; 21 The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, "Let us continue to go and pray before the LORD, And seek the LORD of hosts. I myself will go also." 22 Yes, many peoples and strong nations Shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, And to pray before the LORD.' 23 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."'" NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:3-5 GOD'S BLESSING ON ISRAEL 5 One will say, 'I am the LORD‘S'; Another will call himself by the name of Jacob; Another will write with his hand, 'The LORD‘S, 'And name himself by the name of Israel. WHAT WILL THEY SAY? READ: ZECHARIAH 13:9 9 I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, 'This is My people'; And each one will say, 'The LORD is my God.'" NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:3-5 5 One will say, 'I am the LORD‘S'; Another will call himself by the name of Jacob; Another will write with his hand, 'The LORD‘S, 'And name himself by the name of Israel. WHAT WILL THEY SAY? READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 6:19-20 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 10 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. READ: GALATIANS 3:16 16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ. NKJV READ: ISAIAH 44:6-8 THERE IS NO OTHER GOD 6 "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:‘ I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God. 7 And who can proclaim as I do? Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me, Since I appointed the ancient people. And the things that are coming and shall come, Let them show these to them. 8 Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.'" QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:6-8 THERE IS NO OTHER GOD 6 "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God. 7 And who can proclaim as I do? Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me, Since I appointed the ancient people. And the things that are coming and shall come, Let them show these to them. 8 Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.'" HOW DID THE LORD INDENTIFY HIMSELF? WHAT DID THE LORD ASK THEM TO PROCLAIM? WHAT IS COMING? IS THIS MESSAGE FOR US? WHAT ARE THEY WITNESS & WHO IS THIS ROCK? QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:6-8 THERE IS NO OTHER GOD 6 "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God. HOW DID THE LORD INDENTIFY HIMSELF? KING OF ISRAEL? REDEEMER? FIRST & LAST? BESIDES ME THERE IS NO GOD READ: DEUTERONOMY 4:35 & 39 35 To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD Himself is God; there is none other besides Him. 39 Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the LORD Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:6-8 6 "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God. HOW DID THE LORD INDENTIFY HIMSELF? KING OF ISRAEL? REDEEMER? FIRST & LAST? BESIDES ME THERE IS NO GOD READ: DEUTERONOMY 6:4 4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! NKJV READ: DEUTERONOMY 32:39 39 'Now see that I, even I, am He, And there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:6-8 THERE IS NO OTHER GOD 6 "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God. HOW DID THE LORD INDENTIFY HIMSELF? KING OF ISRAEL? REDEEMER? FIRST & LAST? BESIDES ME THERE IS NO GOD READ: 1 CHRONICLES 17:20 20 O LORD, there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. NKJV READ: PSALMS 18:31 31 For who is God, except the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:6-8 THERE IS NO OTHER GOD 6 "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God. HOW DID THE LORD INDENTIFY HIMSELF? BESIDES ME THERE IS NO GOD READ: ROMANS 11:36 36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:6-8 THERE IS NO OTHER GOD 6 "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God. HOW DID THE LORD INDENTIFY HIMSELF? BESIDES ME THERE IS NO GOD READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 8:5-6 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:6-8 THERE IS NO OTHER GOD 6 "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God. HOW DID THE LORD INDENTIFY HIMSELF? BESIDES ME THERE IS NO GOD READ: REVELATION 1:8 8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." NKJV READ: REVELATION 4:11 11 "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created." NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:6-8 7 And who can proclaim as I do? Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me, Since I appointed the ancient people. And the things that are coming and shall come, Let them show these to them. WHAT DID THE LORD ASK THEM TO PROCLAIM? READ: DEUTERONOMY 32:7-9 7 "Remember the days of old, Consider the years of many generations. Ask your father, and he will show you; Your elders, and they will tell you: 8 When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations, When He separated the sons of Adam, He set the boundaries of the peoples According to the number of the children of Israel. 9 For the LORD‘S portion is His people; Jacob is the place of His inheritance. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:6-8 7 And who can proclaim as I do? Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me, Since I appointed the ancient people. And the things that are coming and shall come, Let them show these to them. WHAT IS COMING? IS THIS MESSAGE FOR US? READ: EPHESIANS 1:3-6 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:6-8 THERE IS NO OTHER GOD 8 Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.'" WHAT ARE THEY WITNESS TO & WHO IS THIS ROCK? READ: GENESIS 49:24 24 But his bow remained in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong By the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob (From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel), NKJV READ: DEUTERONOMY 32:4 4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:6-8 WHAT ARE THEY WITNESS TO & WHO IS THIS ROCK? READ: DEUTERONOMY 32:30-31 30 How could one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Unless their Rock had sold them, And the LORD had surrendered them? 31 For their rock is not like our Rock, Even our enemies themselves being judges. NKJV READ: PSALMS 31:2-3 2 Bow down Your ear to me, Deliver me speedily; Be my rock of refuge, A fortress of defense to save me. 3 For You are my rock and my fortress; Therefore, for Your name's sake, Lead me and guide me. NKJV READ: ISAIAH 44:9-11 IDOLATRY IS FOOLISHNESS 9 Those who make an image, all of them are useless, And their precious things shall not profit; They are their own witnesses; They neither see nor know, that they may be ashamed. 10 Who would form a god or mold an image That profits him nothing? 11 Surely all his companions would be ashamed; And the workmen, they are mere men. Let them all be gathered together, Let them stand up; Yet they shall fear, They shall be ashamed together. QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:9-11 IDOLATRY IS FOOLISHNESS 9 Those who make an image, all of them are useless, And their precious things shall not profit; They are their own witnesses; They neither see nor know, that they may be ashamed. 10 Who would form a god or mold an image That profits him nothing? 11 Surely all his companions would be ashamed; And the workmen, they are mere men. Let them all be gathered together, Let them stand up; Yet they shall fear, They shall be ashamed together. WHAT DID THE LORD SAY ABOUT IDOLS? WHY SHOULD THEY BE ASHAMED? WHY SHOULD HIS COMPANIONS BE SHAMED? QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:9-11 9 Those who make an image, all of them are useless, And their precious things shall not profit; They are their own witnesses; They neither see nor know, that they may be ashamed. 10 Who would form a god or mold an image That profits him nothing? WHAT DID THE LORD SAY ABOUT IDOLS? READ: EXODUS 20:3-4 3 "You shall have no other gods before Me. 4 "You shall not make for yourself a carved image — any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; NKJV READ: LEVITICUS 19:4 4 'Do not turn to idols, nor make for yourselves molded gods: I am the LORD your God. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:9-11 9 Those who make an image, all of them are useless, And their precious things shall not profit; They are their own witnesses; They neither see nor know, that they may be ashamed. 10 Who would form a god or mold an image That profits him nothing? WHAT DID THE LORD SAY ABOUT IDOLS? READ: DEUTERONOMY 7:25-26 25 You shall burn the carved images of their gods with fire; you shall not covet the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you be snared by it; for it is an abomination to the LORD your God. 26 Nor shall you bring an abomination into your house, lest you be doomed to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest it and utterly abhor it, for it is an accursed thing. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:16-17 IDOLATRY IS FOOLISHNESS READ: JUDGES 17:1-6 1 Now there was a man from the mountains of Ephraim, whose name was Micah. 2 And he said to his mother, "The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from you, and on which you put a curse, even saying it in my ears — here is the silver with me; I took it.“ And his mother said, "May you be blessed by the LORD, my son!“ 3 So when he had returned the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, "I had wholly dedicated the silver from my hand to the LORD for my son, to make a carved image and a molded image; now therefore, I will return it to you.“ QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:16-17 IDOLATRY IS FOOLISHNESS READ: JUDGES 17:1-6 4 Thus he returned the silver to his mother. Then his mother took two hundred shekels of silver and gave them to the silversmith, and he made it into a carved image and a molded image; and they were in the house of Micah. 5 The man Micah had a shrine, and made an ephod and household idols; and he consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest. 6 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:9-11 IDOLATRY IS FOOLISHNESS READ: PSALMS 115:3-8 3 Our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. 4 Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men's hands. 5 They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; 6 They have ears, but they do not hear; Noses they have, but they do not smell; 7 They have hands, but they do not handle; Feet they have, but they do not walk; Nor do they mutter through their throat. 8 Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:9-11 IDOLATRY IS FOOLISHNESS 9 Those who make an image, all of them are useless, And their precious things shall not profit; They are their own witnesses; They neither see nor know, that they may be ashamed. 10 Who would form a god or mold an image That profits him nothing? WHY SHOULD THEY BE ASHAMED? READ: HABAKKUK 2:18-19 18 "What profit is the image, that its maker should carve it, The molded image, a teacher of lies, That the maker of its mold should trust in it, To make mute idols? 19 Woe to him who says to wood, 'Awake!‘ To silent stone, 'Arise! It shall teach!‘ Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, Yet in it there is no breath at all. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:9-11 WHY SHOULD THEY BE ASHAMED? WHAT DOES IT PROFIT HIM? READ: JEREMIAH 10:2-5 2 Thus says the LORD: "Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, For the Gentiles are dismayed at them. 3 For the customs of the peoples are futile; For one cuts a tree from the forest, The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. 4 They decorate it with silver and gold; They fasten it with nails and hammers So that it will not topple. 5 They are upright, like a palm tree, And they cannot speak; They must be carried, Because they cannot go by themselves. Do not be afraid of them, For they cannot do evil, NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:9-11 9 Those who make an image, all of them are useless, And their precious things shall not profit; They are their own witnesses; They neither see nor know, that they may be ashamed. 10 Who would form a god or mold an image That profits him nothing? WHY SHOULD THEY BE ASHAMED? WHAT DOES IT PROFIT HIM? READ: JEREMIAH 22:21-22 21 I spoke to you in your prosperity, But you said, 'I will not hear.‘ This has been your manner from your youth, That you did not obey My voice. 22 The wind shall eat up all your rulers, And your lovers shall go into captivity; Surely then you will be ashamed and humiliated For all your wickedness. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:9-11 IDOLATRY IS FOOLISHNESS 10 Who would form a god or mold an image That profits him nothing? WHAT DOES IT PROFIT HIM? READ: ACTS 17:22-24 22 Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; 23 for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: 24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:9-11 10 Who would form a god or mold an image That profits him nothing? WHAT DOES IT PROFIT HIM? READ: ACTS 19:24-27 24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen. 25 He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: "Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade. 26 Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands. 27 So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship." NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:9-11 10 Who would form a god or mold an image That profits him nothing? WHAT DOES IT PROFIT HIM? READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 8:4-6 4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:9-11 IDOLATRY IS FOOLISHNESS 11 Surely all his companions would be ashamed; And the workmen, they are mere men. Let them all be gathered together, Let them stand up; Yet they shall fear, They shall be ashamed together. WHY SHOULD HIS COMPANIONS BE SHAMED? READ: HOSEA 4:17-19 17 "Ephraim is joined to idols, Let him alone. 18 Their drink is rebellion, They commit harlotry continually. Her rulers dearly love dishonor. 19 The wind has wrapped her up in its wings, And they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:9-11 11 Surely all his companions would be ashamed; And the workmen, they are mere men. Let them all be gathered together, Let them stand up; Yet they shall fear, They shall be ashamed together. WHY SHOULD HIS COMPANIONS BE SHAMED? READ: 2 KINGS 19:16-19 16 Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. 17 Truly, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands, 18 and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were not gods, but the work of men's hands — wood and stone. Therefore they destroyed them. 19 Now therefore, O LORD our God, I pray, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD God, You alone." NKJV READ: ISAIAH 44:12-14 IDOLATRY IS FOOLISHNESS 12 The blacksmith with the tongs works one in the coals, Fashions it with hammers, And works it with the strength of his arms. Even so, he is hungry, and his strength fails; He drinks no water and is faint. 13 The craftsman stretches out his rule, He marks one out with chalk; He fashions it with a plane, He marks it out with the compass, And makes it like the figure of a man, According to the beauty of a man, that it may remain in the house. 14 He cuts down cedars for himself, And takes the cypress and the oak; He secures it for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a pine, and the rain nourishes it. QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:12-14 WHY IS IDOLATRY FOOLISHNESS ? 12 The blacksmith with the tongs works one in the coals, Fashions it with hammers, And works it with the strength of his arms. Even so, he is hungry, and his strength fails; He drinks no water and is faint. 13 The craftsman stretches out his rule, He marks one out with chalk; He fashions it with a plane, He marks it out with the compass, And makes it like the figure of a man, According to the beauty of a man, that it may remain in the house. 14 He cuts down cedars for himself, And takes the cypress and the oak; He secures it for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a pine, and the rain nourishes it. WHAT IS THE BLACKSMITH & CRAFTSMAN DOING? WHY? QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:12-14 WHY IS IDOLATRY FOOLISHNESS ? READ: JEREMIAH 10:2-5 2 "Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, For the Gentiles are dismayed at them. 3 For the customs of the peoples are futile; For one cuts a tree from the forest, The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. 4 They decorate it with silver and gold; They fasten it with nails and hammers So that it will not topple. 5 They are upright, like a palm tree, And they cannot speak; They must be carried, Because they cannot go by themselves. Do not be afraid of them, For they cannot do evil, Nor can they do any good." NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:12-14 WHY IS IDOLATRY FOOLISHNESS ? READ: JEREMIAH 14:22 22 Are there any among the idols of the nations that can cause rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Are You not He, O LORD our God? Therefore we will wait for You, Since You have made all these. NKJV READ: ISAIAH 44:15-17 IDOLATRY IS FOOLISHNESS 15 Then it shall be for a man to burn, For he will take some of it and warm himself; Yes, he kindles it and bakes bread; Indeed he makes a god and worships it; He makes it a carved image, and falls down to it. 16 He burns half of it in the fire; With this half he eats meat; He roasts a roast, and is satisfied. He even warms himself and says, "Ah! I am warm, I have seen the fire.“ 17 And the rest of it he makes into a god, His carved image. He falls down before it and worships it, Prays to it and says, "Deliver me, for you are my god!" QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:15-17 IDOLATRY IS FOOLISHNESS 15 Then it shall be for a man to burn, For he will take some of it and warm himself; Yes, he kindles it and bakes bread; Indeed he makes a god and worships it; He makes it a carved image, and falls down to it. 16 He burns half of it in the fire; With this half he eats meat; He roasts a roast, and is satisfied. He even warms himself and says, "Ah! I am warm, I have seen the fire.“ 17 And the rest of it he makes into a god, His carved image. He falls down before it and worships it, Prays to it and says, "Deliver me, for you are my god!“ WHY IS IDOLATRY FOOLISHNESS ? WHAT WILL THE LORD DO ABOUT THEIR IDOLATRY? QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:15-17 15 Then it shall be for a man to burn, For he will take some of it and warm himself; Yes, he kindles it and bakes bread; Indeed he makes a god and worships it; He makes it a carved image, and falls down to it. WHAT DID THE LORD SAY TO ISRAEL? READ: EXODUS 20:2-5 2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 "You shall have no other gods before Me. 4 "You shall not make for yourself a carved image — any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:15-17 15 Then it shall be for a man to burn, For he will take some of it and warm himself; Yes, he kindles it and bakes bread; Indeed he makes a god and worships it; He makes it a carved image, and falls down to it. WHAT DID THE LORD SAY TO ISRAEL? READ: JUDGES 10:11-14 11 So the LORD said to the children of Israel, "Did I not deliver you from the Egyptians and from the Amorites and from the people of Ammon and from the Philistines? 12 Also the Sidonians and Amalekites and Amonites oppressed you; and you cried out to Me, and I delivered you from their hand. 13 Yet you have forsaken Me and served other gods. Therefore I will deliver you no more. 14 Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in your time of distress." QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:15-17 WHY IS IDOLATRY FOOLISHNESS? READ: 1 KINGS 18:25-29 25 Now Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it." 26 So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, "O Baal, hear us!" But there was no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made. 27 And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, "Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.“ QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:15-17 WHY IS IDOLATRY FOOLISHNESS? READ: 1 KINGS 18:25-29 28 So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. 29 And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:15-17 WHY IS IDOLATRY FOOLISHNESS? WHAT DID AMAZIAH, KING OF JUDAH DO? READ: 2 CHRONICLES 25:14-15 14 Now it was so, after Amaziah came from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the people of Seir, set them up to be his gods, and bowed down before them and burned incense to them. 15 Therefore the anger of the LORD was aroused against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, "Why have you sought the gods of the people, which could not rescue their own people from your hand?" NKJV (2 KINGS 14:1-20) QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:15-17 WHY IS IDOLATRY FOOLISHNESS? READ: PSALMS 115:3-8 3 But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. 4 Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men's hands. 5 They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; 6 They have ears, but they do not hear; Noses they have, but they do not smell; 7 They have hands, but they do not handle; Feet they have, but they do not walk; Nor do they mutter through their throat. 8 Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:15-17 WHY IS IDOLATRY FOOLISHNESS? WHAT WILL THE LORD DO ABOUT THEIR IDOLATRY? READ: JEREMIAH 1:14-16 14 Then the LORD said to me: "Out of the north calamity shall break forth On all the inhabitants of the land. 15 For behold, I am calling All the families of the kingdoms of the north," says the LORD; "They shall come and each one set his throne At the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, Against all its walls all around, And against all the cities of Judah. 16 I will utter My judgments Against them concerning all their wickedness, Because they have forsaken Me, Burned incense to other gods, And worshiped the works of their own hands. NKJV READ: ISAIAH 44:18-20 IDOLATRY IS FOOLISHNESS 18 They do not know nor understand; For He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, And their hearts, so that they cannot understand. 19 And no one considers in his heart, Nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say, "I have burned half of it in the fire, Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals; I have roasted meat and eaten it; And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?“ 20 He feeds on ashes; A deceived heart has turned him aside; And he cannot deliver his soul, Nor say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?" QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:18-20 IDOLATRY IS FOOLISHNESS 18 They do not know nor understand; For He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, And their hearts, so that they cannot understand. 19 And no one considers in his heart, Nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say, "I have burned half of it in the fire, Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals; I have roasted meat and eaten it; And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?“ 20 He feeds on ashes; A deceived heart has turned him aside; And he cannot deliver his soul, Nor say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?“ WHY ARE THEY UNABLE TO SEE & UNDERSTAND? QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:18-20 IDOLATRY IS FOOLISHNESS 18 They do not know nor understand; For He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, And their hearts, so that they cannot understand. WHAT DID THE LORD SAY TO ISRAEL? READ: DEUTERONOMY 4:26-28 26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that you will soon utterly perish from the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess; you will not prolong your days in it, but will be utterly destroyed. 27 And the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD will drive you. 28 And there you will serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:18-20 IDOLATRY IS FOOLISHNESS 18 They do not know nor understand; For He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, And their hearts, so that they cannot understand. WHAT DID THE LEVITES SAY TO ISRAEL? READ: DEUTERONOMY 27:14-15 14 "And the Levites shall speak with a loud voice and say to all the men of Israel: 15 'Cursed is the one who makes a carved or molded image, an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.‘ "And all the people shall answer and say, 'Amen!' NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:18-20 WHAT DID SOLOMON DO? READ: 1 KINGS 11:4-8 4 For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not fully follow the LORD, as did his father David. 7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the hill that is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the people of Ammon. 8 And he did likewise for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:18-20 IDOLATRY IS FOOLISHNESS 18 They do not know nor understand; For He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, And their hearts, so that they cannot understand. WHAT DID JOSIAH DO? READ: 2 KINGS 23:13-14 13 Then the king defiled the high places that were east of Jerusalem, which were on the south of the Mount of Corruption, which Solomon king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the people of Ammon. 14 And he broke in pieces the sacred pillars and cut down the wooden images, and filled their places with the bones of men. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:18-20 18 They do not know nor understand; For He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, And their hearts, so that they cannot understand. WHY ARE THEY UNABLE TO SEE & UNDERSTAND? READ: PROVERBS 13:20 20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed. NKJV READ: PROVERBS 15:14 14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness. QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:18-20 18 They do not know nor understand; For He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, And their hearts, so that they cannot understand. WHY ARE THEY UNABLE TO SEE & UNDERSTAND? READ: PROVERBS 28:7 7 Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son, But a companion of gluttons shames his father. NKJV READ: PROVERBS 29:3 3 Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice, But a companion of harlots wastes his wealth. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:18-20 18 They do not know nor understand; For He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, And their hearts, so that they cannot understand. WHY ARE THEY UNABLE TO SEE & UNDERSTAND? READ: JEREMIAH 4:22 22 "For My people are foolish, They have not known Me. They are silly children, And they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, But to do good they have no knowledge." NKJV READ: JEREMIAH 9:3 3 "And like their bow they have bent their tongues for lies. They are not valiant for the truth on the earth. For they proceed from evil to evil, And they do not know Me," says the LORD. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:18-20 18 They do not know nor understand; For He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, And their hearts, so that they cannot understand. WHY ARE THEY UNABLE TO SEE & UNDERSTAND? READ: JEREMIAH 10:14-15 14 Everyone is dull-hearted, without knowledge; Every metal-smith is put to shame by an image; For his molded image is falsehood, And there is no breath in them. 15 They are futile, a work of errors; In the time of their punishment they shall perish. NKJV (JEREMIAH 51:17-19) QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:18-20 IDOLATRY IS FOOLISHNESS 18 They do not know nor understand; For He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, And their hearts, so that they cannot understand. WHY ARE THEY UNABLE TO SEE & UNDERSTAND? READ: ROMANS 1:18-32 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:18-20 18 They do not know nor understand; For He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, And their hearts, so that they cannot understand. WHY ARE THEY UNABLE TO SEE & UNDERSTAND? READ: ROMANS 1:18-32 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man — and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:18-20 WHY ARE THEY UNABLE TO SEE & UNDERSTAND? READ: ROMANS 1:18-32 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:18-20 WHY ARE THEY UNABLE TO SEE & UNDERSTAND? READ: ROMANS 1:18-32 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:18-20 IDOLATRY IS FOOLISHNESS 18 They do not know nor understand; For He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, And their hearts, so that they cannot understand. WHY ARE THEY UNABLE TO SEE & UNDERSTAND? READ: EPHESIANS 4:17-19 17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:18-20 19 And no one considers in his heart, Nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say, "I have burned half of it in the fire, Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals; I have roasted meat and eaten it; And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?“ WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR HEART? READ: JEREMIAH 12:10-11 10 "Many rulers have destroyed My vineyard, They have trodden My portion underfoot; They have made My pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. 11 They have made it desolate; Desolate, it mourns to Me; The whole land is made desolate, Because no one takes it to heart. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:18-20 19 And no one considers in his heart, Nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say, "I have burned half of it in the fire, Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals; I have roasted meat and eaten it; And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?“ WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR HEART? READ: HOSEA 13:1-2 1 When Ephraim spoke, trembling, He exalted himself in Israel; But when he offended through Baal worship, he died. 2 Now they sin more and more, And have made for themselves molded images, Idols of their silver, according to their skill; All of it is the work of craftsmen. They say of them, "Let the men who sacrifice kiss the calves!" NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:18-20 20 He feeds on ashes; A deceived heart has turned him aside; And he cannot deliver his soul, Nor say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?“ WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR HEART? READ: 2 THESSALONIANS 2:5-12 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:18-20 20 He feeds on ashes; A deceived heart has turned him aside; And he cannot deliver his soul, Nor say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?“ WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR HEART? READ: 2 THESSALONIANS 2:5-12 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. READ: ISAIAH 44:21-23 ISRAEL IS NOT FORGOTTEN 21 "Remember these, O Jacob, And Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me! 22 I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." 23 Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth; Break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, And glorified Himself in Israel. QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:21-23 ISRAEL IS NOT FORGOTTEN 21 "Remember these, O Jacob, And Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me! 22 I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." 23 Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth; Break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, And glorified Himself in Israel. REMEMBER: ISAIAH 44:1-2 WHAT WILL THE LORD DO FOR THEM? WHY WILL THE LORD NOT FORGET THEM? QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:21-23 ISRAEL IS NOT FORGOTTEN 21 "Remember these, O Jacob, And Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me! WHAT WILL THE LORD DO FOR THEM? READ: JEREMIAH 30:10-11 10 'Therefore do not fear, O My servant Jacob,' says the LORD, 'Nor be dismayed, O Israel; For behold, I will save you from afar, And your seed from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return, have rest and be quiet, And no one shall make him afraid. 11 For I am with you,' says the LORD, 'to save you; Though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you, Yet I will not make a complete end of you. But I will correct you in justice, And will not let you go altogether unpunished.' NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:21-23 ISRAEL IS NOT FORGOTTEN 21 "Remember these, O Jacob, And Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me! WHY WILL THE LORD NOT FORGET THEM? READ: JEREMIAH 31:20 20 Is Ephraim My dear son? Is he a pleasant child? For though I spoke against him, I earnestly remember him still; Therefore My heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him, says the LORD. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:21-23 ISRAEL IS NOT FORGOTTEN 21 "Remember these, O Jacob, And Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me! WHAT WILL THE LORD DO FOR THEM? READ: ZECHARIAH 10:9-10 9 "I will sow them among the peoples, And they shall remember Me in far countries; They shall live, together with their children, And they shall return. 10 I will also bring them back from the land of Egypt, And gather them from Assyria. I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon, Until no more room is found for them. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:21-23 ISRAEL IS NOT FORGOTTEN 22 I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." WHAT WILL THE LORD DO FOR THEM? WHAT DID THE LORD SAY TO MOSES? READ: EXODUS 32:31-33 31 Then Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! 32 Yet now, if You will forgive their sin — but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written." 33 And the LORD said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:21-23 ISRAEL IS NOT FORGOTTEN 22 I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." WHAT WILL THE LORD DO FOR THEM? WHAT DID NATHAN SAY TO DAVID? READ: 2 SAMUEL 12:13-14 13 So David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD.“ And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14 However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die." NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:21-23 22 I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." WHAT DID SOLOMON ASK THE LORD TO DO? READ: 2 CHRONICLES 6:19-21 19 Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O LORD my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You: 20 that Your eyes may be open toward this temple day and night, toward the place where You said You would put Your name, that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place. 21 And may You hear the supplications of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and when You hear, forgive. NKJV REVIEW: ISAIAH 44:21-23 22 I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." WHAT ABOUT THE FOREIGNERS? READ: 1 KINGS 8:41-43 41 "Moreover, concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for Your name's sake 42 (for they will hear of Your great name and Your strong hand and Your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this temple, 43 hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:21-23 22 I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." WHAT DID DAVID ASK THE LORD TO DO? READ: PSALMS 51:1 1 Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your loving-kindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. NKJV WHAT DID DAVID SAY ABOUT THE LORD? READ: PSALMS 103:11-12 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:21-23 22 I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." WHAT DID THE LORD TELL JEHOIAKIM TO DO? READ: JEREMIAH 36:1-3 1 Now it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, that this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying: 2 "Take a scroll of a book and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel, against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah even to this day. 3 It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the adversities which I purpose to bring upon them, that everyone may turn from his evil way, that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin." NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:21-23 22 I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." WHAT DID THE LORD WANT THEM TO DO? READ: MALACHI 3:6-7 6 "For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob. 7 Yet from the days of your fathers You have gone away from My ordinances And have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,“ Says the LORD of hosts. "But you said, 'In what way shall we return?' NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:21-23 22 I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." WHAT DOES THE LORD WANT US TO DO? READ: LUKE 24:46-49 46 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:21-23 22 I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." WHAT DOES THE LORD WANT US TO DO? READ: 1 JOHN 1:7-9 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:21-23 22 I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." WHAT DOES THE LORD WANT ALL MEN TO DO? READ: ACTS 3:19-21 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:21-23 22 I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." WHAT DOES THE LORD WANT ALL MEN TO DO? READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 6:19-20 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:21-23 22 I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." WHAT WILL THE LORD DO FOR THE RIGHTEOUS? READ: REVELATION 3:5 5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:21-23 22 I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." WHAT BOOKS WILL BE OPENED ON JUDGMENT DAY? READ: REVELATION 20:12 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:21-23 23 Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth; Break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, And glorified Himself in Israel. WHY SHOULD THEY SING PRAISES TO THE LORD? READ: EXODUS 6:4-7 5 And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant. 6 Therefore say to the children of Israel: 'I am the LORD; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 7 I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:21-23 WHY SHOULD THEY SING PRAISES TO THE LORD? READ: 1 CHRONICLES 16:23-24 23 Sing to the LORD, all the earth; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. 24 Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. NKJV READ: 1 CHRONICLES 16:31-33 31 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; And let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns." 32 Let the sea roar, and all its fullness; Let the field rejoice, and all that is in it. 33 Then the trees of the woods shall rejoice before the LORD, For He is coming to judge the earth. QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:21-23 WHY SHOULD THEY PRAISES TO THE LORD? READ: PSALMS 96:1-3 1 Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. 3 Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. NKJV READ: PSALMS 96:11-13 11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; Let the sea roar, and all its fullness; 12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the LORD. 13 For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:21-23 WHY SHOULD THEY SING PRAISES TO THE LORD? READ: PSALMS 98:1-9 1 Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory. 2 The LORD has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. 3 He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 4 Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:21-23 WHY SHOULD THEY SING PRAISES TO THE LORD? READ: PSALMS 98:1-9 5 Sing to the LORD with the harp, With the harp and the sound of a psalm, 6 With trumpets and the sound of a horn; Shout joyfully before the LORD, the King. 7 Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell in it; 8 Let the rivers clap their hands; Let the hills be joyful together before the LORD, 9 For He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, And the peoples with equity. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:21-23 WHO SHOULD SING PRAISES TO THE LORD? READ: PSALMS 148:7-13 7 Praise the LORD from the earth, You great sea creatures and all the depths; 8 Fire and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, fulfilling His word; 9 Mountains and all hills; Fruitful trees and all cedars; 10 Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and flying fowl; 11 Kings of the earth and all peoples; Princes and all judges of the earth; 12 Both young men and maidens; Old men and children. 13 Let them praise the name of the LORD, For His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:21-23 23 Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth; Break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, And glorified Himself in Israel. WHY SHOULD THEY SING PRAISES TO THE LORD? READ: JEREMIAH 30:18-19 18 "Thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will bring back the captivity of Jacob's tents, And have mercy on his dwelling places; The city shall be built upon its own mound, And the palace shall remain according to its own plan. 19 Then out of them shall proceed thanksgiving And the voice of those who make merry; I will multiply them, and they shall not diminish; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small. NKJV READ: ISAIAH 44:24-25 JUDAH WILL BE RESTORED 24 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, And He who formed you from the womb: "I am the LORD, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself; 25 Who frustrates the signs of the babblers, And drives diviners mad; Who turns wise men backward, And makes their knowledge foolishness; QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:24-25 JUDAH WILL BE RESTORED 24 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, And He who formed you from the womb: "I am the LORD, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself; 25 Who frustrates the signs of the babblers, And drives diviners mad; Who turns wise men backward, And makes their knowledge foolishness; WHEN DID THE LORD FORM MAN? HOW? WHY REMIND MEN OF GOD’S CREATION? WHAT DOES THE LORD DO TO THESE MEN? QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:24-25 WHY REMIND MEN OF GOD’S CREATION? READ: GENESIS 1:1-8 In the beginning God created the heavens and the 1 earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:24-25 WHY REMIND MEN OF GOD’S CREATION? READ: GENESIS 1:1-8 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day. 6 Then God said, "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.“ 7 Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:24-25 WHY REMIND MEN OF GOD’S CREATION? READ: GENESIS 2:1-7 1 Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. 2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:24-25 WHY REMIND MEN OF GOD’S CREATION? READ: GENESIS 2:1-7 4 This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, 5 before any plant of the field was in the earth and before any herb of the field had grown. For the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground; 6 but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground. 7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:24-25 WHY REMIND MEN OF GOD’S CREATION? READ: JOB 38:4-7 4 "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. 5 Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, 7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy? NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:24-25 24 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, And He who formed you from the womb: "I am the LORD, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself; WHEN DID THE LORD FORM MAN? HOW? READ: PSALMS 139:13-16 13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. 14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:24-25 24 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, And He who formed you from the womb: "I am the LORD, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself; WHEN DID THE LORD FORM MAN? READ: PROVERBS 8:22-31 22 "The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old. 23 I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth. 24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was brought forth; 26 While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primal dust of the world. QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:24-25 WHO WAS WITH THE LORD AT THE CREATION? READ: PROVERBS 8:22-31 27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep, 28 When He established the clouds above, When He strengthened the fountains of the deep, 29 When He assigned to the sea its limit, So that the waters would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth, 30 Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him, 31 Rejoicing in His inhabited world, And my delight was with the sons of men. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:24-25 WHY REMIND MEN OF GOD’S CREATION? READ: JOB 19:23-26 23 "Oh, that my words were written! Oh, that they were inscribed in a book! 24 That they were engraved on a rock With an iron pen and lead, forever! 25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; 26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:24-25 JUDAH WILL BE RESTORED 25 Who frustrates the signs of the babblers, And drives diviners mad; Who turns wise men backward, And makes their knowledge foolishness; WHAT DOES THE LORD DO TO THESE MEN? frustrates the signs of the babblers And drives diviners mad turns wise men backward and makes their knowledge foolishness WHAT DID THE LORD SAY TO ISRAEL? READ: LEVITICUS 19:26 26 'You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor shall you practice divination or soothsaying. QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:24-25 25 Who frustrates the signs of the babblers, And drives diviners mad; Who turns wise men backward, And makes their knowledge foolishness; WHO DID THE PHILISTINES CONSULT? the priests and the diviners READ: 1 SAMUEL 6:2-3 2 And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, "What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how we should send it to its place." 3 So they said, "If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty; but by all means return it to Him with a trespass offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why His hand is not removed from you." NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:24-25 WHO DID JOB SEEK? READ: JOB 5:8-14 8 "But as for me, I would seek God, And to God I would commit my cause — 9 Who does great things, and un-searchable, Marvelous things without number. 10 He gives rain on the earth, And sends waters on the fields. 11 He sets on high those who are lowly, And those who mourn are lifted to safety. 12 He frustrates the devices of the crafty, So that their hands cannot carry out their plans. 13 He catches the wise in their own craftiness, And the counsel of the cunning comes quickly upon them. 14 They meet with darkness in the daytime, And grope at noontime as in the night. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:24-25 WHAT DID DAVID SAY THE LORD WOULD DO? bring the counsel of the nations to nothing make the plans of the peoples of no effect READ: PSALMS 33:10-12 10 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. 11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations. 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:24-25 WHO DID THE LORD TELL THEM NOT TO LISTEN TO? your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your soothsayers, or your sorcerers READ: JEREMIAH 27:8-10 8 And it shall be, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and which will not put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation I will punish,' says the LORD, 'with the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand. 9 Therefore do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your soothsayers, or your sorcerers, who speak to you, saying, "You shall not serve the king of Babylon.“ 10 For they prophesy a lie to you, to remove you far from your land; and I will drive you out, and you will perish. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:24-25 WHAT DID THE LORD ABOUT THE SOOTHSAYERS? they will be fools READ: JEREMIAH 50:34-36 34 Their Redeemer is strong; The LORD of hosts is His name. He will thoroughly plead their case, That He may give rest to the land, And disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon. 35 "A sword is against the Chaldeans," says the LORD, "Against the inhabitants of Babylon, And against her princes and her wise men. 36 A sword is against the soothsayers, and they will be fools. A sword is against her mighty men, and they will be dismayed. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:24-25 WHO DID NEBUCHADNEZZAR CONSULT? the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers READ: DANIEL 2:1-4 1 Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him. 2 Then the king gave the command to call the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. 3 And the king said to them, "I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to know the dream." 4 Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic, "O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation." NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:24-25 WHAT DID GOD ABOUT THEIR SEERS & DIVINERS? the seers shall be ashamed And the diviners abashed READ: MICAH 3:5-7 5 Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets Who make my people stray; Who chant "Peace“ While they chew with their teeth, But who prepare war against him Who puts nothing into their mouths: 6 "Therefore you shall have night without vision, And you shall have darkness without divination; The sun shall go down on the prophets, And the day shall be dark for them. 7 So the seers shall be ashamed, And the diviners abashed; Indeed they shall all cover their lips; For there is no answer from God." NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:24-25 WHAT DID THE LORD SAY ABOUT THEIR DIVINERS? The diviners envision lies And tell false dreams READ: ZECHARIAH 10:1-2 1 Ask the LORD for rain In the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, Grass in the field for everyone. 2 For the idols speak delusion; The diviners envision lies, And tell false dreams; They comfort in vain. Therefore the people wend their way like sheep; They are in trouble because there is no shepherd. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:24-25 WHAT ABOUT THE WISDOM OF THE WISE? I will destroy the wisdom of the wise And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-25 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." 20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:24-25 WHAT DID PAUL SAY ABOUT THE WISDOM OF GOD? the foolishness of God is wiser than men READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-25 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:24-25 WHAT DID PAUL SAY ABOUT THE WISDOM OF GOD? God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 1:26-29 26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:24-25 WHAT DID PAUL SAY ABOUT THE WISDOM OF GOD? the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 3:18-20 AVOID WORLDLY WISDOM 18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their own craftiness"; 20 and again, "The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.“ NKJV READ: ISAIAH 44:26-27 JUDAH WILL BE RESTORED 26 Who confirms the word of His servant, And performs the counsel of His messengers; Who says to Jerusalem, 'You shall be inhabited, 'To the cities of Judah, 'You shall be built, 'And I will raise up her waste places; 27 Who says to the deep, 'Be dry! And I will dry up your rivers'; QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:26-27 JUDAH WILL BE RESTORED 26 Who confirms the word of His servant, And performs the counsel of His messengers; Who says to Jerusalem, 'You shall be inhabited, 'To the cities of Judah, 'You shall be built, 'And I will raise up her waste places; 27 Who says to the deep, 'Be dry! And I will dry up your rivers'; WHAT DID THE LORD CONFIRM? confirm the word of His servant WHAT DID THE LORD PERFORM? perform the counsel of His messengers WHO IS HIS SERVANT & WHO ARE HIS MESSENGERS? WHAT DID THE LORD SAY TO JERUSALEM? You shall be built And I will raise up her waste places QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:26-27 WHAT DID THE LORD SAY TO JERUSALEM? You shall be built And I will raise up her waste places READ: PSALMS 51:18-19 18 Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar. NKJV READ: PSALMS 69:35 35 For God will save Zion And build the cities of Judah, That they may dwell there and possess it. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:26-27 WHAT DID THE LORD SAY TO JERUSALEM? You shall be built And I will raise up her waste places WHAT HAPPENED TO JERUSALEM? READ: PSALMS 74:1-8 1 O God, why have You cast us off forever? Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture? 2 Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old, The tribe of Your inheritance, which You have redeemed — This Mount Zion where You have dwelt. 3 Lift up Your feet to the perpetual desolations. The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary. 4 Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place; They set up their banners for signs. QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:26-27 WHAT DID THE LORD SAY TO JERUSALEM? You shall be built And I will raise up her waste places WHAT HAPPENED TO JERUSALEM? READ: PSALMS 74:1-8 5 They seem like men who lift up Axes among the thick trees. 6 And now they break down its carved work, all at once, With axes and hammers. 7 They have set fire to Your sanctuary; They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name to the ground. 8 They said in their hearts, "Let us destroy them altogether.“ They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:26-27 WHO DID THE LORD SEND TO REBUILD THE TEMPLE? You shall be built And I will raise up her waste places READ: ZECHARIAH 4:1-9 1 Now the angel who talked with me came back and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep. 2 And he said to me, "What do you see?“ So I said, "I am looking, and there is a lamp-stand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. 3 Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left.“ 4 So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, "What are these, my lord?" 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, "Do you not know what these are?“ And I said, "No, my lord." QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:26-27 WHO DID THE LORD SEND TO REBUILD THE TEMPLE? You shall be built And I will raise up her waste places READ: ZECHARIAH 4:1-9 6 So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,‘ Says the LORD of hosts. 7 'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of "Grace, grace to it!"'" 8 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 9 "The hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know That the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:26-27 WHAT DID THE LORD CONFIRM? The LORD has done what He purposed He has fulfilled His word Which He commanded in days of old READ: LAMENTATIONS 2:16-17 16 All your enemies have opened their mouth against you; They hiss and gnash their teeth. They say, "We have swallowed her up! Surely this is the day we have waited for; We have found it, we have seen it!" 17 The LORD has done what He purposed; He has fulfilled His word Which He commanded in days of old. He has thrown down and has not pitied, And He has caused an enemy to rejoice over you; He has exalted the horn of your adversaries. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:26-27 WHAT DID THE LORD CONFIRM? He has confirmed His words which He spoke against us and against our judges who judged us READ: DANIEL 9:10-12 10 We have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in His laws, which He set before us by His servants the prophets. 11 Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law, and has departed so as not to obey Your voice; therefore the curse and the oath written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against Him. 12 And He has confirmed His words, which He spoke against us and against our judges who judged us, by bringing upon us a great disaster; for under the whole heaven such has never been done as what has been done to Jerusalem. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:26-27 WHO ARE THESE MESSENGERS OF THE LORD? My servants the prophets READ: ZECHARIAH 1:4-6 4 "Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets preached, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Turn now from your evil ways and your evil deeds."' But they did not hear nor heed Me," says the LORD. 5 "Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? 6 Yet surely My words and My statutes, Which I commanded My servants the prophets, Did they not overtake your fathers? "So they returned and said: 'Just as the LORD of hosts determined to do to us, According to our ways and according to our deeds, So He has dealt with us.'"'" NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:26-27 26 Who confirms the word of His servant, And performs the counsel of His messengers; Who says to Jerusalem, 'You shall be inhabited,‘ To the cities of Judah, 'You shall be built, 'And I will raise up her waste places; WHAT DID THE LORD PERFORM? perform the counsel of His messengers WHO IS THIS MESSSENGER? READ: MALACHI 3:1 1 "Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,“ Says the LORD of hosts. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:26-27 26 Who confirms the word of His servant, And performs the counsel of His messengers; Who says to Jerusalem, 'You shall be inhabited,‘ To the cities of Judah, 'You shall be built, 'And I will raise up her waste places; WHAT DID THE LORD CONFIRM? confirm the word of His servant WHAT DID CHRIST COME TO FULFILL? READ: MATTHEW 5:17-18 17 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:26-27 WHO ARE THESE MESSENGERS OF THE LORD? My servants the prophets READ: MATTHEW 21:33-39 (Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19) 33 "Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. 34 Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. 35 And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:26-27 WHO ARE THESE MESSENGERS OF THE LORD? READ: MATTHEW 21:33-39 (Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19) 37 Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.‘ 38 But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among them selves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.‘ 39 So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:26-27 27 Who says to the deep, 'Be dry! And I will dry up your rivers'; WHAT IS THE LORD ABLE TO DO? WHY? I will dry up your rivers WHAT DID THE LORD DO TO BABYLON? WHY? READ: JEREMIAH 50:38 38 A drought is against her waters, and they will be dried up. For it is the land of carved images, And they are insane with their idols. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:26-27 WHAT DID THE LORD DO TO BABYLON? WHY? I will dry up her sea and make her springs dry READ: JEREMIAH 51:34-36 34 "Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon Has devoured me, he has crushed me; He has made me an empty vessel, He has swallowed me up like a monster; He has filled his stomach with my delicacies, He has spit me out. 35 Let the violence done to me and my flesh be upon Babylon, "The inhabitant of Zion will say; "And my blood be upon the inhabitants of Chaldea! "Jerusalem will say. 36 Therefore thus says the LORD: "Behold, I will plead your case and take vengeance for you. I will dry up her sea and make her springs dry. NKJV READ: ISAIAH 44:28 JUDAH WILL BE RESTORED 28 Who says of Cyrus, 'He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, "You shall be built, "And to the temple, "Your foundation shall be laid."' NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:28 JUDAH WILL BE RESTORED 28 Who says of Cyrus, 'He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, "You shall be built, "And to the temple, "Your foundation shall be laid."' NKJV HOW DID THE LORD REFER TO CYRUS? He is My shepherd WHAT DID THE LORD WANT KING CYRUS TO DO? QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:28 WHAT DID THE LORD WANT KING CYRUS TO DO? READ: EZRA 1:1-3 1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, 2 Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. 3 Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem. NKJV (2 CHRONICLES 36:22-23) QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:28 WHAT DID THE LORD WANT KING CYRUS TO DO? READ: EZRA 1:7-11 7 King Cyrus also brought out the articles of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem and put in the temple of his gods; 8 and Cyrus king of Persia brought them out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah. 9 This is the number of them: thirty gold platters, one thousand silver platters, twenty-nine knives, 10 thirty gold basins, four hundred and ten silver basins of a similar kind, and one thousand other articles. 11 All the articles of gold and silver were five thousand four hundred. All these Sheshbazzar took with the captives who were brought from Babylon to Jerusalem. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:28 WHAT DID THE ADVERSARIES OF JUDAH DO? READ: EZRA 4:1-5 1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the descendants of the captivity were building the temple of the LORD God of Israel, 2 they came to Zerubbabel and the heads of the fathers' houses, and said to them, "Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do; and we have sacrificed to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.“ QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:28 WHAT DID THE ADVERSARIES OF JUDAH DO? READ: EZRA 4:1-5 3 But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the fathers' houses of Israel said to them, "You may do nothing with us to build a house for our God; but we alone will build to the LORD God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.“ 4 Then the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building, 5 and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:28 WHAT DID JUDAH ASK KING DARIUS TO DO? READ: EZRA 5:13-17 13 However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to build this house of God. 14 Also, the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple that was in Jerusalem and carried into the temple of Babylon — those King Cyrus took from the temple of Babylon, and they were given to one named Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor. 15 And he said to him, 'Take these articles; go, carry them to the temple site that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its former site.‘ QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:28 WHAT DID JUDAH ASK KING DARIUS TO DO? READ: EZRA 5:13-17 16 Then the same Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem; but from that time even until now it has been under construction, and it is not finished." 17 Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the king's treasure house, which is there in Babylon, whether it is so that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send us his pleasure concerning this matter. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:28 JUDAH WILL BE RESTORED 28 Who says of Cyrus, 'He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, "You shall be built, "And to the temple, "Your foundation shall be laid."' NKJV WHO DID THE LORD SEND TO REBUILD JERUSALEM? READ: EZRA 9:8-9 8 And now for a little while grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage. 9 For we were slaves. Yet our God did not forsake us in our bondage; but He extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to revive us, to repair the house of our God, to rebuild its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:28 UNDER WHAT KINGS DID DANIEL SERVE? NEBUCHADNEZZAR? BELSHAZZAR? CYRUS? DARIUS? READ: DANIEL 1:18-21 18 Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king. 21 Thus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus. NKJV QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 44:28 UNDER WHAT KINGS DID DANIEL SERVE? NEBUCHADNEZZAR? BELSHAZZAR? CYRUS? DARIUS? READ: DANIEL 5:29-31 29 Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a chain of gold around his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. 30 That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain. 31 And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old. NKJV READ: DANIEL 6:28 28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. NKJV