Isaiah 5:8-30

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Six Woes Pronounced upon Israel and Judah

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. God promises woes upon His wayward people.
    a) Woe to those who are materialists.
    b) Woe to those who are drunkards.
    c) Woe to those who are skeptics.
    d) Woe to those who call evil, good.
    e) Woe to those who are conceited.
    f) Woe to those who are unjust.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Let’s not cause God to whistle!

QUESTIONS

  1. Review the parable in the first section of Isaiah 5.

  2. How were the people of Isaiah’s day being materialistic?

  3. Explain the meaning of verses 15 and 16.

  4. How were the people of Isaiah’s day being conceited?

  5. What ultimate consequence did the Lord bring for Israel’s sin?

ANSWERS

  1. The Lord had planted a vineyard and expected it to produce good grapes, but instead it produced wild grapes. The vineyard represents Israel, both the northern and southern kingdoms

  2. They were buying up all the real estate with no concern for the housing needs of the less fortunate.

  3. The exile would be a time of humiliation for every person, but it would be a time of exaltation for the Lord. As the land became empty of its wealthy inhabitants and only a place for sheep and Bedouin shepherds, it would prove that God was holy and righteous and He judges according to what He has declared in His law.

  4. There were those in Israel who would not listen to the prophets and the Word of God. They thought that they could solve all the nation’s problems with diplomacy and treaties and that they did not have to rely on God.

  5. The Assyrians and later the Babylonians would come with well-trained armies and overtake the land. The invasion by these foreign nations would be God’s discipline upon His people.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. We know that unbelievers are skeptics of God and His Word, but do you also know some believers who are skeptics? Why do people have a hard time accepting the Bible as God’s inspired Word, free from human error? What is the consequence for such skepticism (verses 18-19)?

  2. It is extremely common in our society today to call evil, good and good, evil. Think of some examples you have seen this week. As a believer, how can you stand against this cultural trend?

CHALLENGE

  1. God whistled to call the foreign nations to come discipline His people. Must God bring discipline into your life because you’ve deliberately disobeyed Him or rebelled against Him in some way? Let’s not cause God to whistle!

KEY VERSES

  • “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20

  • “He will lift up a banner to the nations from afar, and will whistle to them from the end of the earth.” Isaiah 5:26




Isaiah, Old Testament, TalksRon ReidIsaiah 5:8-30