Week 1: Study of Isaiah, Chapter 1
Hello! We met at 9:30 this morning for our first class on Isaiah and had a good discussion on the overall structure and message of the book and the tone, flavor, and message of Chapter 1. I've got to figure out how to attach the study guide we used as the basis for our discussion, and I'll post in the comments below some of the sense of our conversation. We had 10 in attendance today...we hope you'll join us next week! Also, please feel free to weigh in with any comments, reflections, new insights that bubble up as you read and respond to the text. See you next week!eek 1] Hello! We met at 9:30 this morning for our first class on Isaiah and had a good discussion on the overall structure and message of the book and the tone, flavor, and message of Chapter 1. I've got to figure out how to attach the study guide we used as the basis for our discussion, and I'll post in the comments below some of the sense of our conversation. We had 10 in attendance today...we hope you'll join us next week! Also, please feel free to weigh in with any comments, reflections, new insights that bubble up as you read and respond to the text. See you next week!
We began with some history of the book of Isaiah (see study guide), talking about who Isaiah was, the scope of his ministry, and the time in which he lived. Then volunteers read selections from the text.
Our discussion:
- Have you read the book is Isaiah previously?
- How do you feel starting out, tackling such a monumental book?
Listening to God in the text:
- What do you hear in the text?
- Condemnation
- God is asking not just for external obedience but internal connection
- Judgment
- Invitation to awareness
- What do you feel when you read and hear the text?
- Resistance to Isaiah's message
- Wonder whether the people of the day believed he was talking to them
- Confusion
- Denial
- God's annoyance
- What do you see/imagine in relation to the visual descriptions?
- Language is very metaphoric and poetic
- If Isaiah related just what God said, God communicates metaphorically too
- Bringing up the image of Sodom and Gomorrah would be shocking, as "the worst of the worst"
- Compelling image: Scarlet now, but will be like snow
- What do you wonder?
- "Just who does he think he is?" (Isaiah)
- Is this the true or false prophet?
After completing the study guide, we formed discussion groups focusing on these two questions: (1) What do you hear of God in Chapter 1? and (2) How is this chapter relevant to our world today?
- Hear of God
- Frustration
- Tired of empty offerings and festivals, wants personal relationship
- In verse 15, God denounced them and said he's not listening to their prayers
- Offers hope that they'll change
- In verse 14, God says "my soul hates" (referring to the festivals). Interesting idea that God *has* a soul as opposed to God *is* soul
- How is this chapter relevant?
- Same things seem to be happening today
- We hear and experience cycles of condemnation and inclusion--opposing or alternating forces
We hope you'll join us next week! Email Katherine with any questions: noblesvl.friends.kmurray@gmail.com