LIVE with Doug Goodin

Isaiah predicts: The King is coming and righteousness with Him. Corrupt, abusive rulers will be replaced with just, noble men. Trust the Lord and wait on Him.

Trusting the government (one's own or foreign) for protection, security, guidance, etc., is always a pitfall God's people must avoid. The Jews didn't and the consequences were disastrous. They also told the prophets to tell them only good and pleasant things, and to stay away from those depressing topics like sin, wrath, and judgment. Again, the consequences were dire. Christians must be better th...

As occurs frequently in Isaiah, predictions of God's judgment are followed with hope.

In Matthew 15, Jesus quoted Isaiah 29 as a prophecy about the Pharisees. As we examine the entire sections of both passages, it appears that even more is revealed about the first century Jews, even their coming destruction at the hands of the Romans in AD70.

Throughout the Old Testament, God speaks to two different groups of people: those who can hear His words and those who can't. It's not that the latter group is physically deaf, but still they can't hear Him. Why? And what does the other group hear?

In Isaiah's day, Jewish leaders were arrogant, self-sufficient, idolatrous drunks. They regarded the prophet's repeated calls for repentance and faith as baby talk. So God determined to conquer them with a nation whose language would sound like baby talk to them.

Contrary to the coming translations, Isaiah 27 is not describing forgiveness for the Jews, but their slaughter at the hand of God. The Apostle Paul verifies this as he interprets this passage in light of the coming of Christ. Jesus also spoke of the fall of Jerusalem and the sounding of the great trumpet to follow. Did that trumpet already sound?

We tend to use 'atonement' and 'forgiveness' synonymously, but we shouldn't. The atoning work of Christ provides forgiveness for believers, but there is another way for sins to be atoned. "Jacob" experienced the other way - which is the opposite of forgiveness.

In Isaiah 5, God's fury was unleashed on His fruitless vineyard. In chapter 17, His vineyard grows so large that it covers the earth. What changed?

God is the ultimate dragon slayer. But who is the dragon? Isaiah sees a vision similar to what John saw in Revelation. In today's study, we compare the two visions and look at what happens "on that day."

As God's judgment loomed over Judah, Isaiah "sees" His people singing a song of hope. They will hide a little while, during His wrath, and then come out of their rooms again. Their corpses will live again. Is this where Paul learned of the coming resurrection he speaks of in 1 Corinthians 15? Does this explain the fascinating passage in Matthew 27 where dead Jews awaken and meet with people in Jer...

God gave Isaiah an encouraging vision of what His people would be like in the "city of strength," after the chaos of destruction and devastation. For the Jews, this would spur hope and perseverance as they awaited the Messiah. For the "true Jews" of the New Covenant, we must have greater hope and perseverance because we know the fulfillment of these promises.

Isaiah records several visions of God's wrath against the holy city - Jerusalem. Yet he describes the survivors as occupying a "city of strength," protected by walls and ramparts built by God Himself. Is this what the NT refers to as the "New Jerusalem"? If so, what are the implications for the rest of Isaiah 26-27? We begin that discussion in today's study.

In this vision, Isaiah sees the Lord protect His people from "ruthless" nations, and even from His own judgment. The last enemy, as the apostle Paul reveals, is death itself, a victory which Isaiah also sees. It's fascinating to read Isaiah and then to see how the New Testament interprets it through the lens of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah response to God's judgment on Judah was praise and gratitude. Moreover, he rejoiced that God was executing a plan of vengeance predicted centuries earlier. Does this seem inconsistent with the God you know?

When the apostle Paul quoted Isaiah 25 ("He will swallow up death for all time"), he connected an ancient prophecy with the future coming of Christ. It's important to understand the original context of the property in order to accurately understand what Paul was revealing.  If you're interested in taking courses at New Covenant School of Theology, apply here: https://www.newcovenantschoolofth...

Peter and Jude wrote about spirits being imprisoned and awaiting judgment. Turns out, they weren't the first to do it. In fact, they probably got some of their information from Isaiah, as we see in today's study.

God is slow to anger, but when He finally reaches the boiling point, He describes it in metaphor (as I just did with "boiling point"). Isaiah saw many vivid, sobering images of God's coming judgment. The question is, was he foreseeing actual earthquakes? Do the heavens have a foundation that can tremble? Or was he watching something else? That is the topic of today's study.

It's easy to say, "Context is king," but hard to let it reign. Today's text is a perfect example. We read "the earth is laid waste" and think the world is going to end. We read "everlasting covenant" and think New Covenant or Covenant of Grace. But if we let context determine the meaning of words, we see that none of that fits well. Join us and see what I mean.

In some ways, Tyre was the U.S.A. of antiquity. Her wealth, productivity, and ingenuity were legendary. And her arrogance provoked the wrath of God. Yet, unlike Babylon (for example), God had a future plan for Tyre, a plan to use her great prosperity to bless His people. We know this was fulfilled during the rebuilding of the city/temple in Ezra's day, but does it point to a future prosperity for...

In Revelation 3, Jesus describes Himself as having the keys to the Kingdom - opening doors that no one can shut, shutting doors that no one can open. He used similar language to describe the authority given to Peter in Matt. 16. Where does this imagery come from and what does it mean? Find out in today's study.

If disaster was coming, would you want to know about it ahead of time? Isaiah saw God's wrath poured out on Jerusalem, wrath provoked by self-reliance and self-sufficiency, decades before it happened. He wept; they partied.   Here is the link to New Covenant School of Theology I mentioned. (Click "apply" if interested in taking classes).

These two brief visions capture the experience of nations under judgment more than specific judgments. They also form a transition to the extended oracles concerning Jerusalem and Tyre. In today's study, we review Isaiah from beginning to end and prepare for the familiar passages in later chapters.

As Babylon fought to become "Babylon the Great," it encountered a fierce opponent in Assyria. Hoping to find an ally in Judah, it reached out to Hezekiah. But God, who declares the end from the beginning, shows Isaiah what it coming for Babylon. It would not be a wise move for Judah's king.

You don't want to be around when the Lord rides on a cloud, it usually means disaster and devastation. That's certainly what it meant for Egypt. Yet as with other visions Isaiah saw of pagan nations, God had (has?) a plan for their redemption. This oracle is illuminating, sobering, and hopeful for modern nations.