Fellowship Group Notes – 29/30 Sept 2010		   		                                           Isaiah 2 – Big vision
Read Isaiah 2 

The glimpse of a glorious future 
Read Isaiah 2v1-5 – God gave Isaiah the gift of seeing into the future, at this time God showed Isaiah what would happen to Jerusalem in the last days. 

- List what will happen in these last days? Who will be there? What will God do?  What will people do?

NOTE: Revelation 21 shows us the fulfilment of this prophecy in The New Jerusalem.

- Should we relegate this promise of world peace v4, to the future, when Christ returns to reign? (ie. the attitude “Well there’s never going to be world peace until Christ returns, so why bother doing anything now?”) Or should we be actively seeking to see the promise of world peace fulfilled in a real way now? And if so, in what ways can we go about helping with this? (See if there are any New Testament verses to back up your thoughts!)

... but whatever good the future may hold, the present for Israel is very dark indeed ...

The present reality
Read Isaiah 2v6-9 – these verses show us that the nation of Israel had become just like the nations around them, trading goods with them (v6 “clasping hands with pagans” – NIV), growing in materialism v7, worshipping false god’s v8, and so Isaiah asks God not to forgive them for their sin v9.

- In Israel’s case increased materialism had caused the people to become less dependent on the Lord and more confident in their own resources. This led to arrogance v17, and self-sufficiency v22, therefore their tendency to worship idols made by their own hands is not surprising v8 ... 

- Isn’t this the same today, in our materialistic western world; that people have become arrogant and self-sufficient, what do you think? Can you think of any ‘real life’ examples of this?

- Indeed idolatry can be a problem for us today ... (Look at: Gal 5:20; Col 3:5; 1 Peter 4:3; 1 John 5:21). What things do people turn to rather than God? 

- What things do you turn to rather than God?

NOTE: v9 Forgiveness requires repentance: Isaiah could see no signs of Israel’s repentance to their rampant sin and so he asks God not to forgive them, so that they might be humbled. However forgiveness is always freely available through Jesus, for those who do repent – 1 John 1v9.

The future Day of the Lord 
Read Isaiah 2v10-21 – these verses show us how the Lord God (Yahweh) will be exalted on “the Day of the Lord” (that day when God’s goal for this world will be fulfilled through his intervention in history in a special way) and proud men will be bought low and humbled. On that day those who are proud and arrogant will be fearful and terrified of the Lord, when they realise just who He is.

- Isaiah pictures many different objects in v13-16. What are they? (list them perhaps) 

- These objects are all things that people in those days looked up too and very often worshipped ... therefore what is Isaiah’s point in v17, as he compares these objects with the Lord God?

- Looking back at v6-9 and v12-18 what would you say is the essence of Israel’s sin?

Isaiah’s plea to all
Read Isaiah 2v22 
 
- What is Isaiah, urging people to do in this final verse? Why?

Prayer Points
- ACC Pastoral care Foundation Course begins – Wednesday 6th Oct
- Open Air Mission – In Norwich this week!! (Monday 27th Sept – Friday 1st Oct) Gentleman’s Walk, daily from 12noon-4pm
 gmr