January 11, 2016 Bible Study – Isaiah 36:1-22

Today’s Bible study is Isaiah 36:1-22.  This passage is a restatement of 2 Kings 18:13-37 and 2 Chronicles 32:1-19.

1. What is the main point of this passage?  Isaiah has the privilege of seeing his earlier prophetic warnings come to pass.  I do not think I’d want that privilege.  Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, has come to conquer and destroy Judah and the fortified city of Jerusalem.  The reason for God allowing, if not commanding, this invasion is because the king of Judah, Hezekiah, has tried to make deals of appeasement with Sennacherib.  Then, he looked to Egypt for allied assistance.  Also, he has depended on his own military strength and the fortifications of Jerusalem for protection.  He failed to lead his people into national repentance of their cultural sins.  He has allowed the people to openly reject the LORD.  The people of Judah have placed their trust in other things, peoples, and idols rather than God.  Sounds like the American culture, today.
2. What does God reveal about Himself?  He shows His people what He is going to do before He does it.  He offers multiple opportunities for people to repent and turn back to Him.  He will use our enemies to get our attention.  If we turn from our wicked ways and repent, He may restore our nation.  However, people who have no intention of assimilating into our culture have invaded America.  They intend to conquer us from within.
3. What insights can I apply to my life?  I will continue to warn of God’s pending judgment.  I wonder if I will live long enough to witness it.  America is following the same pattern, as did ancient Israel.  Americans have placed their trust elsewhere rather than in God: our military might, the Washington, DC circus, or worse the United Nations.  If America does not repent soon, it does not matter who occupies the Whitehouse come inauguration day on January 20, 2017, who are our allies, or the strength and talent of our warfighters.  Once God removes His protection from a nation that nation cannot stand.
4. How can I use this passage to honor God?  Like many other believers throughout our nation, I will continue to warn of the coming calamity while begging people to repent.  The world scoffs, but when the judgment falls, many will ask, “What must I do to be saved?”  Only true followers of Jesus will provide the correct answer.
5. Where is God working in my life today?  Father, in the precious name of Jesus I ask You to lead Americans to elect godly leadership.  I pray our new leaders will lead our nation in national repentance and WE THE PEOPLE will turn from our wicked ways and once again put our trust in God.

Thanks for reading.