Excerpt from Lesson 1: “We are reading what many consider not only the pinnacle of spiritual development in the Hebrew scriptures in 2nd Isaiah but we’re reading the most profound writer. And his prophesy came in poetry not in prose. Did you all notice that as you were reading?”

Excerpt from Lesson 3: “So, Isaiah 42 is a big chapter, because now the servant is being introduced very formally. Now, how does God describe this servant?”

“What did we say about when the chapter divisions were made? Not by the author, correct? So, what could we do when reading this text when we see a “but now…”? So its a continuation of a conversation.”

Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen: Thus saith the Lord that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. Isaiah 44: 1,2 King James Version

Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him and strip kings of their robes, to open doors before him— and the gates shall not be closed: Isaiah 45:1 NRSV

Bel crouches down; Nebo cowers. Their idols sit on animals, on beasts. The objects you once carried about are now borne as burdens by the weary animals. They crouch down and cower together. They aren’t able to rescue the burden, but they themselves go into captivity. Isaiah 46: 1,2 CEB

Come down and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon; Sit on the ground without a throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans! For you shall no more be called Tender and delicate. Isaiah 47:1 KJV

Listen to me, O family of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel and born into the family of Judah. Listen, you who take oaths in the name of the Lord and call on the God of Israel. You don’t keep your promises, even though you call yourself the holy city and […]

Listen to this, everyone—near and far: The Eternal One singled me out, even before I was born. He called me and named me when I was still in my mother’s belly. 2 Even then, God was preparing my mouth to speak like a sharp sword. He kept my purpose quiet, kept me safe in the […]

Thus says the Lord: Where is your mother’s bill of divorce with which I put her away? Or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? No, because of your sins you were sold, and for your transgressions your mother was put away. Isaiah 50:1 NRSV

Listen to me, all who hope for deliverance— all who seek the Lord! Consider the rock from which you were cut, the quarry from which you were mined. Yes, think about Abraham, your ancestor, and Sarah, who gave birth to your nation. Abraham was only one man when I called him. But when I blessed […]

Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of […]

Who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm? My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected— a man […]

Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat […]