A Sign, and a Messianic Hope, Isaiah 9-11 (lesson for May 24, 2006)
  1. What two tribes are mentioned in Isaiah 9:1?
     
  2. Locate these two tribes on a map. Were these two tribes in the northern kingdom or in the southern kingdom?
     
  3. The text says "He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt." In what way was the Lord treating these tribes with contempt even at the time Isaiah prophesied?
     
  4. According to Matthew, in what way were these tribes made glorious?
     
  5. In what village did Jesus grow up, and in what tribe was that village?
     
  6. What was the name of the town on the shore of Galilee, the town where Jesus spent much time (Mt. 4:13, Mk. 1:21, etc.)? In what tribe was that town?
     
  7. What specific prediction is made in Isaiah 9:6-7 that accounts for the future glory that is to come to Galilee?
     
  8. Notice how consciously Isaiah could talk about his sons as signs (8:18) of a future son that would come (9:6). The Old Testament prophets didn't understand all that they said, but do you think Isaiah understood that Immanuel foreshadowed the Messiah, Immanuel?
     
  9. In 9:6, what names are given for the future child?
     
  10. On whose throne would this future child sit?
     
  11. Isaiah 9:8-19 describe the sinfulness of Israel and the judgment God will bring on Israel. According to Is. 10:5-11, God was going to bring whom against Israel?
     
  12. And yet after all the description of Israel's sin and the coming judgment, what is the message of Is. 10:20-22?
     
  13. The remnant would not need to fear whom? (Is. 10:24)                  Why not? (Is. 10:26-27)
     
  14. After that, Is. 11:1ff describes a shoot, that is, a small branch, coming out from "Jesse". The imagery is that of a brand new branch sprouting, but who was Jesse?
     
  15. What is the connection between what is said in 11:1 and 9:7, and who is this branch? Examine the use of a sprouting branch as a messianic figure in Is. 6:13 and Zech. 6:12-13. Be prepared to tell what we learn about the Messiah from each of those passages.
     
  16. Several themes are being communicated in Isaiah. For each set of passages listed below, identify a theme:
  1. 4:2, 9:7, 11:1, 11:10            theme: __________________
     
  2. 2:4, 9:7, 11:6-8             theme: __________________
     
  3. 2:2-3, 9:2, 11:10             theme: __________________
     
  4. 4:3, 7:3, 10:20-22, 11:11, 11:16             theme: __________________