Isaiah
1 Isaiah was the son of Amoz. Many people believe that he was part of the ruling class of Israel. He was a prophet during the last years of the kingdom of Judah. During this time, the people lived very sinful lives. Isaiah became a prophet in the year when King Uzziah died. He was a prophet until Hezekiah became king.
1:13–17
The people took offerings to the temple. They celebrated the feast days and prayed, but the Lord hated what they were doing. Why did the Lord not listen to their prayers? Read verse 15.
What is more important to the Lord than offerings, celebrating feast days, and even prayers? What does he tell us in verse 17?
Talky would like to know something. Do you think people can act like Christians without understanding what the Lord really wants? When is someone’s faith sincere? Read verses 16 and 17 for the answers to these questions.
1:18
Bright red and deep red cloth, also called scarlet and crimson, was very expensive. What made it expensive was that the color didn’t fade in the wash.
The Lord promises us that when he washes away our sins they disappear. We become white as snow. He is the only one who can take away sin. He alone can make a person really clean and new.
5:1–7
In these verses, the Lord tells the people how much he loves them.
The people were like a vineyard. The Lord loved the vineyard and looked after it very carefully. But the vineyard produced bad fruit.
The Lord protected the people against their enemies. But the people refused to obey the Lord and follow his commands. They were like the bad fruit. That made the Lord very sad.
5:1–4
Help Thinky make a list of everything the owner did to care for his vineyard. Isaiah gives us a picture of the Lord’s care for his people.
Think about how the Lord cares for you and protects you every day. Make a list of some of the things he does for you and your family.
The Lord wanted the vineyard to produce good grapes. This means that the Lord wants us to show that we love him. We do this by the way we live. We are grateful as we obey him. And we willingly serve other people. How can you do that today?
6:5–8
Isaiah saw the Lord and realized that he was sinful. But then the Lord forgave his sins. After that experience, there was only one thing that Isaiah wanted to do. He wanted to serve the Lord.
When the Lord looked for someone to deliver his message, Isaiah was there.
What about you? Inny wonders whether you are willing to do special work for the Lord. Are you willing to go where he sends you?
7:14
The name Immanuel means "God is with us." Isaiah used this name to remind the new king, King Ahaz, about something. The Lord was with his people.
Hundreds of years later, Matthew called Jesus Immanuel. He did this when he wanted to tell the people that Jesus was God. Matthew wanted them to know that Jesus had come to live among the people.
9:2–7
When Thinky read verse 6, she knew that it was describing Jesus. Read verse 6 carefully and make a list of all of Jesus’ names. Then read verse 7.
This verse tells us more about Jesus and what he does.
Make a second list about all the things you learn about Jesus in verse 7.
11:1–5
Thinky has often seen new branches growing from a tree that has been cut down. For some time the stump looks dead, but then suddenly new shoots begin to grow.
Isaiah says the Israelites will be punished because of their sins. They will think that the Lord has abandoned them. But then someone from Jesse’s family line will appear.
David was Jesse’s grandson. So this person will also be from David’s family line.
Think about the Branch. What kind of person will he be?
In what ways does he make you think of Jesus?
21:11–12
These verses can be hard to understand. The cities of those days always had watchmen on the walls at night. They had to keep watch in case the enemy attacked during the night. Generally, people feel safe in the daylight.
The people of Edom were sinful. They believed that they were safe in their sin. But Isaiah says that the night was coming. God would punish the people for their sins.
22:8–11
The people of Jerusalem saw that their enemies were going to attack the city. So they prepared for battle. They strengthened the city’s walls and stored water. But they forgot the most important thing of all.
What did they forget? You will find the answer in verse 11.
The people didn’t ask the Lord’s help. They didn’t trust him. They didn’t obey him.
It makes Hearty sad to think about the Israelites who seemed to always forget the Lord.
24:1–3; 25:6–9
We have been reading about the Lord’s punishment from the beginning of Isaiah. In chapter 24, we read that God was going to destroy the whole earth. It looks as if nothing would be left.
But when the Lord works, he doesn’t only destroy. He always brings new life. In chapter 25, he promises to prepare a feast for all the nations. And then everyone will say, "The Lord saved us."
30:18–21
The Lord wanted to show mercy to his people. He only allowed them to
suffer for one reason. The Lord wanted them to learn to trust only him.
Joinme has an idea. She knows the second and third sentences of verse 18 are very
important. So she suggests that you learn them. Here’s how!
Get your group together. Write each word on a separate piece of paper. Arrange the words
in their correct order in a large circle. Walk around the circle while you say the words.
Now begin to remove some words. Do it each time you walk around the circle. Start
removing the small words first. Continue removing words and walking until you can
say the entire verse without the word cards.
35:1–4
Greeny wonders if you have ever seen what happens to very dry fields after the rains. The fields that were dry and dusty, full of sand and rocks, start turning green. Everything begins growing again. There are green plants and colorful flowers as far as the eye can see.
This is how it is when the Lord saves someone. The person is like a field that suddenly turns green after the rain. They are like flowers growing in a desert. It’s like that person has been dead and now is alive again.
38
This chapter tells us that King Hezekiah became ill. But the Lord healed him.
In Isaiah 1 we read that the Lord wanted to punish the people. We also read that
the Lord wanted to show mercy and save his people. Here we read how the
Lord healed Hezekiah. The Lord promised that he would heal the people just as
he had healed Hezekiah. The first part of Isaiah, which is about the people’s sins,
ends with good news.
40:1–5
The second part of the book of Isaiah begins with chapter 40. Isaiah, the
prophet, wrote this part to comfort the people while they were in exile.
He promised them that the Lord would set them free. Read verses 1–5.
Hundreds of years later, Matthew wrote about John the Baptist. John
remembered verses 3–5 in the book of Isaiah. Read Matthew 3:1–3.
He prepared the way for the Lord Jesus.
John the Baptist told the people that Jesus was coming. He told them that Jesus
would forgive them and set them free from their sins.
40:9–11
The people were in a country far from home. But Isaiah brought them good
news. The Lord was going to gather them and take them back to their own country.
He was like a shepherd to his people.
Thinky was thinking about shepherds taking care of their sheep. Read verse 11.
Write down what it says about a shepherd. There are other verses in the Bible that tell
us about shepherds. Many of those verses talk about Jesus as being our good shepherd.
You can also read about the good shepherd in Psalm 23 and John 10:11–16.
See what you find in these passages. Add them to your list.
42:1–4
The prophet Isaiah wrote about the Lord’s chosen servant. Hundreds
of years later Jesus was born. People thought that the servant Isaiah described
was just like Jesus. Jesus told people about God. He was gentle and kind. Jesus
noticed the bent twigs and dimly burning flames. These were people who were
weak and without hope. Jesus helped these people. He brought justice to the
earth. And Jesus is still doing this!
42:1–4, 10, 12
Get your group together and read verses 1–4. When the Lord has
helped you, you always want to sing for joy. Read verses 10 and 12. Share with one
another how the Lord has helped you. Now sing songs of praise together.
Hummy says remember to use your whole body to praise the Lord! How many
different ways can you find to use your hands and feet while you sing?
43:1–4
Even though the people had sinned, the Lord promised that he would always
protect them. Christians have always been comforted by these verses when they are
afraid and discouraged.
Inny loves to read the promises in God’s Word. Carefully read these verses.
Choose your two favorite promises. Then write them down on two cards.
Put the cards in your pocket. Remember to take them out often!
45
Cyrus, the second, was the king of Persia. He conquered the Babylonians
and broke their power. His empire was larger and more powerful than the
Babylonian empire. He allowed all the nations captured by the Babylonians to
return to their countries. This included the Jews. They were allowed to return
home.
The Lord used King Cyrus II to send his people back to their home. God used a
king who didn’t believe in him to fulfill his promise to his people. God can use
anyone to fulfill his plans.
48:12–13
The Lord has all the power. The Greek translation of the Old
Testament says this. The Lord is the Alpha and the Omega. Alpha (α) is the first
letter of the Greek alphabet. And omega (Ω) is the last letter.
The Lord is the first and the last. He was there before anything was created or
formed. And he will be there forever.
49:1–3
Isaiah knew that the Lord had chosen him to be a prophet. He knew his work
was to bring God’s word to the Jews.
The Lord has always chosen ordinary people to do important tasks on earth. He still
does this today. God chooses us to make his plans for the world happen.
Do you know what the special task is that the Lord has for you? Inny would like you to
remember this. God has a task for you when you are an adult. But the Lord wants to use
you now as well. The way you live each day should show that you serve the Lord. Think
about how you will live today. Will your life show that you love and serve the Lord?
49:15–16
Many of us know who the person is who loves us the most. For a lot of us,
it’s our mother. A loving mother is always ready to help, to comfort and to encourage.
She cares for you more than anyone else. How do you feel when you think of your
mother?
Maybe there is someone else you know who loves you most. It could be a grandparent,
an uncle or aunt, or even a brother or sister. Verse 15 tells you that God loves you more
than anyone else could. He loves you even more than your mother. The verse also tells
us that a mother might forget her children. But the Lord will never forget you.
Hearty wants to know how that makes you feel.
52:13 – 53:12
Isaiah spoke about the people and their troubles while they were
in exile. Hundreds of years later, people realized that this passage also described
Jesus’ life on earth. Religious leaders looked down on Jesus.
Read Isaiah 53:3. He suffered. Read verse 4. He was crucified so that our sins
could be forgiven. Read verse 5. Our sins were placed on him. Read verse 6.
He was sacrificed like a lamb for our sins. Read verse 7. He did this so our sins can
be forgiven. This made it possible for us to become God’s children. Read verse 11.
Jesus now sits in a place of honor in heaven. Read verse 12.
55:1–3
Talky likes getting things for free. What about you?
What do people do when they hear they can get something for nothing?
What does the Bible tell us that God gives us for free?
Why do you think people sometimes don’t want the life God gives them for free?
Just because you don’t pay for something doesn’t mean it’s free. The person giving
the gift to you has to pay for it. Godlive with Jesus forever.
Read Revelation 21:1. Talky says you should tell a friend about what you are looking
forward to when you think of heaven.
56:1, 6–7
The third part of the book of Isaiah begins with chapter 56. This part
of the book was written for the people who had gone back to Jerusalem.
They were poor and their country had been destroyed. But the Lord promised
that he would save them and bless them. He promised he would include
everyone who was prepared to serve him.
61:1–3
What does Isaiah say the servant of the Lord does for people? He brings
good news to those who suffer. He comforts the broken-hearted. He sets people
free. He brings joy to everyone. Hundreds of years later, Jesus read this chapter
in the synagogue. He told people that he was the Lord’s servant that Isaiah was
talking about. He told them he had come to do these things. You can read about
it in Luke 4:16–22.
65:17–25
Isaiah writes in the last two chapters that the Lord promises to make
everything new. Jerusalem would be filled with joy. Read verse 18. The people of
Jerusalem would be blessed. Read verse 23. The Lord would give them whatever
they needed. He would answer even before they thought to ask him.
Read verse 24.
The apostle John wrote about the New Jerusalem hundreds of years later.
He thought that heaven would be like Isaiah described here. You can read a
description of heaven in Revelation 21.
66:10–14
The last chapter of the book of Isaiah tells us more about the New Jerusalem.
This is another name for the new heavens and the new earth.
Hearty would like you to describe what it will be like for the people.
Write down the words that describe their feelings.
Do you think you would like to live there? This is what the forever home of God’s
children will be like!
66:22
Isaiah ends with God’s promise.
"I will make new heavens and a new earth. And they will last forever."
The last book of the New Testament, the book of Revelation, ends with a promise from
God. He promises a new heaven and a new earth. This is the place where God’s children
will live with Jesus forever.
Read Revelation 21:1. Talky says you should tell a friend about what you are looking
forward to when you think of heaven.
