Isaiah 28-35

Bible study with Pastor Terry Gray


Below is a brief overview of Isaiah 28-35. Many of the intricate details were not addressed by Pastor Gray, which I hope to address in future Bible studies.


Isaiah 28-33 speaks of 6 woes: 5 woes were given to God's people, the Israelites; 1 woe was given to the wicked, the unbelievers.



WOE 1 (Isaiah 28)
To Ephriam (aka, the Northern Kingdom), who has become a drunkard, overly intoxicated with wine (physically and spiritually), God warned:
1. Don't be a drunkard
2. Don't be obsessed with things of this world.


People were (and still are) overwhelmed with materialism (e.g., money and power).


Solution: Study God's Truth consistently. Study God's word line by line, in a systematic manner. Do not just skim and pick and choose whatever we would prefer to learn. The ENTIRE Bible is the Word of God. If we are to move beyond just “milk,” we need to digest ALL the Word of God.


Romans 12:2
To avoid conforming to this world, we need to study the word. Seek fresh manna every day.


WOE 2 (Isaiah 29:1-14)

Ariel is Jerusalem. It means Lions of God or Altar of God.
Ariel, or Jerusalem, hosted many feasts, meant originally to honor God but in reality no longer do. Instead, those feasts had become overindulgence. The people were immersed in the fun of the feasts. They did not host it with God in their hearts but carried out the rituals in a mechanical, robotic, external, and lifeless way. They were very religious on the outside (for example, following the Law down to the t), but their hearts were not in it. They gave God lip service (Isaiah 29:13). They were just going through the motions.

Solution: Do not let our faith become a religion. Our faith is a living relationship with our living God! Becoming religious was what the Israelites were guilty of! They had just enough religion to think they are “good enough” for God!


WOE 3 (Isaiah 29:15-24)
Self-deception: People no longer took God seriously. They no longer lived as if they were accountable to God. They were (and still are) foolishly enough to believe they could hide their thoughts, motivations, and actions from God. To those who think, "We'll do whatever we want, and God won't see. And if He sees, He won't do anything about it anyway." Clearly that is not the case (Isaiah 29:16).


Isaiah 29:22-24
Judah will be punished, but God will restore Judah. Throughout time, there has been and always will be a faithful remnant of God’s people.


WOE 4 & 5 (Isaiah 30:1-9)
Instead of looking to God for help and support, people looked to forming man-based alliances, such as with Egypt. People wanted to depend on their own planning and thinking, as opposed to receiving guidance from God. They were not interested in listening to God.


Isaiah 31:1
Woe to those who seek worldly help in time need. Blessed are those who seek godly counsel (Psalm 1).

Solutions:
1. Return to the Lord (Isaiah 31:6).
2. Remember that Jesus is and will always be our shade, rock, and counsel (Isaiah 32:1-8).


In sum, Christians, 1) keep our noses in the Book; 2) Fear the Lord; 3) Surrender to Jesus daily.


1 WOE FOR THE WICKED (Isaiah 33)
This woe was uttered to the unbelievers, to the wicked. The wicked will ultimately be thrown into the Lake of Fire, burning for eternity.


Solution: Belong to the Lord and be saved.

JUDGMENT AGAINST THE NATIONS (Isaiah 34)


THE HOPE OF GOD'S PEOPLE (Isaiah 35)