SURREY CHAPEL – Fellowship Group Notes for the 15th/16th September 2010
ISAIAH – A Son is given

Chapter 1	-	Come now!

The prophet Isaiah had much to say about the events of his day- and it is a message from which we may learn. However, he sets his message in a much wider context of the vision of God’s future. He has a message of good news for our troubled world. The prophet’s name, which is given to the book –means ‘the Lord is salvation’.

v1 –Sets the scene. Uzziah’s reign had been a long one, and it had been stable and prosperous. Following his death –which we read of in Chapter 6 – things take quite a change.

WICKED NATION   - v2-9
v2	Why should we listen? (2 reasons given) 
The nation has rejected God and rebelled against Him. Pick out the 4 pictures Isaiah gives of this.
See v2 (children), v3 (ox and donkey) , v4 ((turned backs), v5-7 (persistent self harm) – discus each of these. How do we fall into similar positions?
v8	‘like a city under siege’ –what does this tell us?
v9	‘unless’ –God is gracious - - even in the midst of stern judgement.

WORTHLESS OFFERINGS   -v10-17
The prophet applied the names of Sodom and Gomorrah – those sinful cities –to those of Judah and Jerusalem to show their empty formalism in worship (Dr John MacArthur). How is this a warning to us, today?
v10	Calls us to heed God’s warnings. What does He say?
v11-15	The people are full of ‘religious devotion’. God says that is meaningless. In other words it gives Him no pleasure. The people were living split lives. They worship God with their ritual on the Sabbath – then ignored His ways the rest of the week.
Do you have different values on a Sunday than you have during the week?
Are you a different person at Church – than you are at work or in leisure activity during the week?
v16-17	Refer to v10 –‘Hear . .’ –‘Listen . .’ What are God’s commands in these verses?
Notice –the negative in v16 and the positive in v17.

WORTHY INVITATION  -v18-31
v18-20	Notice the descriptions – scarlet/crimson – white/wool. What is he saying here?
‘Come now. .’ a favourite phrase in Isaiah. What does this teach us about God and His way with us? 
If the people repent, then the Lord promises to cleanse and restore them.
v21-23	The purity of God’s people has become contaminated like silver with dross in it, like wine diluted with water. 
v24-25	So –how is God going to act? (to refine and purge)
v26-31	What will this mean for the penitent? What will it mean for those who continue in rebellion?
Restoration promised v26 - -what do you make of ‘City of Righteousness’/ ‘Faithful City’ –see also Zechariah 8:3
What part of this Chapter challenges you most? How do you need to bring that to the Lord in prayer?
In closing –reflect on v18 and read how this has been accomplished in Jesus –Matthew 1v21 & Hebrews 10v12
												D.J.
PRAYER POINTS: 
25th/26th September - - Gathering Weekend. Saturday prayer day and harvest supper.
Maranata Orphanage – Harvest Offering towards their food bill.
James Paton –as he settles in being Pastor at Zoar Baptist, Ipswich
Young People’s work –especially AIM