Week 23: Isaiah 66

LIFE 

• Do you agree with the phrase “it's the thought that counts”? Does this phrase apply to gifts given out of obligation? 

• What are some characteristics you think of when you hear the word mother? What comes to mind when you think of a newborn child? 

• How well do you feel like you understand God’s plan for humanity? 

Read Isaiah 66

TRUTH 

• In verses 1-4 we see a comparison between the actions of man and the heart of those actions. The temple had become an idol, sacrifices had become a means to an end. These ritualistic acts are compared to horrible scenes. What description does God use for the “one to whom I will look”? What description does He give for those He “will choose harsh treatment for”? 

• In verse 5-14 God speaks a reassuring word to those “who tremble at his word”. The imagery used here is that of a mother and her young child, with the entirety of who God calls his own being the mother and those who make up that chosen nation being the child. What does this journey from birth to infancy show us about God’s relationship with his people? 

• God then lays out a stern judgement in verses 15-24. This passage talks about the remnant of Jerusalem and other different nations being brought together before the Lord. These ideas culminate in verses 22-24. How does this passage reflect and sum up the entire chapter? 

ACTION 

• Spend time in prayer thanking God saving us from sin and bringing us into his family.