Weekly Guide：Week 73
June 16, 2019
Forward
We continue to read the Book of Isaiah this week.
May you all be renewed in God’s word each day!
Question
Why did the prophet praise in the Lord’s name?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore, a curse consumes the earth.
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They shout for joy to acclaim the Lord’s majesty. From the ends of the earth we hear singing: “Glory to the Righteous One.”
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The Lord Almighty will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before its elders-with great glory.
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The prophet praise in the name of the Lord for His righteousness, grace, and salvation.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - The prophet praised in the name of the Lord because people await Him and He will rescue them. The people will shout for joy. Do I often shout for joy in God’s salvation?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How does God gather the remnant of Israel?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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They will sing in the land of Judah: “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.”
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People will enter their rooms and shut the doors behind them; hide themselves for a little while until His wrath has passed by.
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The Lord will watch over the vineyard, water it continually, guard it day and night so that no one may harm it.
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In that day, the Lord will gather up Israel, one by one.
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In that day, the trumpet will sound. Those who were in exile will come and worship the Lord on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - The Lord will establish peace for us, so we must lean on His name. Where does my peace come from? If I have fear, where does that come from?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
What comes to those who are humble and those who mock?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The pride of Ephraim is like the fading flower.
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In that day, the Lord Almighty will be a glorious crown, a beautiful wreath for the remnant of His people.
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The Lord lays a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.
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The prophet reminds people to not mock, or their chains will become heavier.
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These people come near to the Lord with their mouth and honor Him with their lips, but their hearts are far from the Lord. Their worship of the Lord is based on merely human rules they have been taught.
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The humble will rejoice in the Lord; the needy will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
Meditation: My Story
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Identity - In the last days, woe will come to those who hide their plans from the Lord. Am I walking in the light?
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Identity - In the last days, those who laugh and mock at the prophets will be rebuked by the Lord. Do I fear the Lord in my action and speech?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
What wrong did the Israelites who went down to Egypt do?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The Lord rebukes those obstinate children who went down to Egypt to seek for Pharaoh’s protection.
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The Lord rebukes the people for not willing to listen to the Lord’s instruction.
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Those who look up to the Lord and wait for Him will be blessed.
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The voice of the Lord will shatter Assyria; with His rod He will strike them down.
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The Israelites shall return to the Lord.
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Assyria will fall by sword; they will flee before the sword and their young men will be put to forced labor.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - The Lord says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.” Am I willing to rest in quietness and stay in the Lord’s peace?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How is God’s promise to renew like?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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A king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice.
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A prophecy of Judah’s ruin, till the Spirit is poured on us from on high.
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Those who destroy will be destroyed, those who betray will be betrayed.
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Those who walk righteously and speak what is right are the ones who will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain fortress.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - Pray to the Lord to be my strength every morning, my salvation in time of distress. Prayer to God is not only a cry for help, it is also a path to know Him better. How is my prayer life? How often do I pray?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How is the joy brought about by God’s vengeance?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The Lord is angry with all nations. He will totally destroy them, for the Lord has a day of vengeance.
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The desert and the parched land will be glad; people will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God.
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Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
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Those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - On the day of the Lord’s vengeance, the Israelites will look in the scroll of the Lord and read. Do I place God’s word in highest priority not just in time of desperation, but in time of peace and when all things are going smoothly, so that His word may be my strength every day?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Scripture Reading
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What did the prophet ask for from the Lord?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The Lord has a case against His people: My people, what have I done to you?
+ The Lord has shown you what is good. To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
+ Your tongues speak deceitfully, therefore, I have begun to destroy you. You will plant but not harvest.
+ The prophet laments the righteous have been swept from the land, all hands are skilled in doing evil.
+ The prophet watches in hope for the Lord, waits for God.
+ Plead to God to shepherd His people. There's no one like God, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance and does not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.
+ The Lord will again have compassion on us, will tread our sins underfoot, will be faithful to Jacob, and show love to Abraham.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Fidelity** - He has shown us what is good. To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with God. How shall I know God's will from His mercy and righteousness? How am I being humble in my service?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What similarities and differences are there between king Jotham and Ahaz?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jotham reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but he did not enter the temple of the Lord. The people, however, continued their corrupt practices.
+ Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord.
+ The Lord his God delivered Ahaz into the hands of the king of Aram. The Arameans defeated him. He was also given into the hands of the king of Israel, who inflicted heavy casualties on him.
+ King Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria for help. Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came to him, but he gave him trouble instead of help.
+ In his time of trouble King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the Lord. He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus, who had defeated him.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Jotham's strength grew because he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. What attitude should I hold toward the blessings and riches of my life? Let me count my blessings.
+ **Identity** - In his time of trouble King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the Lord. He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus, who had defeated him. Why is it that we call on God when facing difficulties, but stray away from Him in other times?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What was the Lord’s plan for Babylon?
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### Meditation: God’s Story
+ A prophecy against Babylon that Isaiah son of Amoz saw.
+ The day of the Lord is near, all the land of Babylon will be destroyed.
+ The Medes will come up against the Babylon, they will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.
+ The Lord once again will choose Israel and will settle them in their own land, foreigners will join them and unite with the descendants of Jacob.
+ The Israelites will take up a taunt against the king of Babylon.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** – A bright star falls because of his pride to put himself above all the stars of God so he may be equal to God. Is my pride in control of my thoughts and deed?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What was the fate of the nations?
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### Meditation: God’s Story
+ The prophecy came in the year King Ahaz died.
+ Disaster will come to the Philistines. It will be destroyed by famine and survivors slayed.
+ Moab is ruined and destroyed in a night.
+ Advise the Moabites to give tribute to the king of Zion. The Moabites will wail together for Moab. Lament and grieve.
+ Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins.
+ The remnant of Israel will return to the Lord.
+ The Lord will rebuke the people, for this is the portion of those who loot, the lot of those who plunder.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** – The Israelites forgot the Lord, His salvation, the rock, and therefore without harvest. Have I forgotten the source of my strength? How may I be strengthened by the Lord?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What were the outcomes for Cush and Egypt?
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### Meditation: God’s Story
+ The people of Cush are feared far and wide. The gifts will be brought to Mount Zion, the place of the Name of the Lord Almighty.
+ The Lord is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt tremble before him, the officials of Zoan are nothing but fools, the wise counselors of Pharaoh give senseless advice.
+ There will be an altar to the Lord in the heart of Egypt. When they cry out to the Lord because of their oppressors, He will send them a savior and defender, and He will rescue them.
+ The king of Assyria will lead away stripped and barefoot the Egyptian captives and Cushite exiles.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Fidelity** – When the Egyptians cry out to the Lord, He sends them a savior. How am I following God’s love of all people to love those who are different from me?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What were the horrors of Babylon’s destruction?
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### Meditation: God’s Story
+ A prophecy against Babylon. Babylon has fallen! All the images of its gods lie shattered on the ground!
+ A prophecy against Dumah. A prophecy against Arabia.
+ Weep bitterly for Jerusalem will be destroyed. Till your dying day this sin will not be atoned for.
+ Tyre will be forgotten. The Lord will deal with Tyre at the end of seventy years and her profit and her earnings will be set apart for the Lord.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** – When the Lord makes the men cry, they rejoiced instead, and therefore their sins will not be atoned for. The Lord values our repentant heart. Is there anything I need to repent to the Lord?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
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Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What did Jesus encounter on the way to Jerusalem?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jesus led the disciples on their important journey to Jerusalem which would climax in crucifixion, burial, and resurrection.
+ Continue the theme on persecution by religious leaders and the question of discipleship.
+ Personal reward and fame are wrong motivations for serving the Lord.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Fidelity** - Am I looking for recognition and fame when serving God? If so, let me turn to God humbly and ask Him to lead me in my life of service.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did Jesus go into Jerusalem?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jesus proclaimed Himself as King and cleansed His temple.
+ Most of the narrative is a series of parables on depiction of conflict.
+ The conflicts between Jesus and religious leaders eventually led to His crucifixion.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Community** - What does the story of Jesus cleansing the temple teach me how to treat the place of worship? How do I face my own anger and others' sins?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What was Jesus' purpose in Jerusalem?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jesus announced the woes against the hypocritical Pharisees and the teachers of the law.
+ Jesus left the temple and declared the judgement against Jerusalem, the destruction of temple, and the signs of the end times.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Bible warned repeatedly against false prophets. Am I being vigilant to the ignorance of the world and its teaching? Am I able to distinguish the heresy from the truth?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What do Jesus' disciples need to prepare for the end of times?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The need to serve and to be alert as the end of times is near. The parable of the Ten Virgins teaches us the importance of being alert and be prepared because no one knows when Jesus will come again.
+ The parable of the Bags of Gold tells us to serve faithfully while waiting for the second coming of the Christ.
+ When Jesus comes again, those who are in His kingdom will take the inheritance while the others will be judged.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Am I waiting alertly for Jesus' second coming? If He comes today, do I have the assurance in getting the inheritance?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How was Jesus betrayed and taken?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ In His last hours on earth, Jesus told His disciples: "As you know, the Passover is two days away-and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified." (26:2)
+ The Holy Communion was established and took place on the Passover Supper.
+ Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, was betrayed by Judas, got arrested, and was denied three times by Peter.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Walking with God** - How does Jesus' sorrow in Gethsemane help me during my time of sorrow? Do I understand He knows the difficulties and challenges I face and He can carry for me all my burdens?
+ **Identity** - Do I understand the meaning of the cup and bread in the Holy Communion that Jesus has established for His disciples?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How was Jesus tried and crucified?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The Jews would rather release Barabbas but not Jesus while He was being tried before Pilate.
+ Jesus died of crucifixion. The curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Tearing of the curtain in the temple signifies the gap between God and mankind had been cleansed with Jesus' blood. Can I come willingly and fearlessly in front of Jesus to off load all my worries and burdens to Him?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
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Prayer
Notes and Responses