Harbinger's Lamp

Isaiah 36–66 · ASV · Lesson 13 of 13

Review: Isaiah 36–66

A closing review of Isaiah 36–66 in six categories — the Servant Songs, God’s sovereignty over the nations, comfort and restoration, true worship and false religion, judgment and salvation, and God’s glory — where the class picks a topic and works through it together.

Series
Isaiah, Part II
Date
October 20, 2026
Length
45 min
Parts
6
Questions
56
1

Part 1 · Isaiah 42; 49; 50; 52–53

The Servant Songs

These categories are not so much simple categories as key lessons I appreciated from the study. In the Servant Songs, we see the characteristics Isaiah noted of the coming Messiah.

Across the four songs the Servant is chosen, Spirit-filled, obedient, suffering, atoning, and finally exalted. Taken together, they culminate in one figure: the Messiah, fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

  1. Question 1. What characteristics of the Servant are revealed across all four songs (Isaiah 42, 49, 50, 52–53)? How do these compare with the Messiah described earlier in Isaiah (chapters 9 and 11)?

  2. Question 2. What assurances does God provide to His Servant, and where do we see these fulfilled in Scripture?

  3. Question 3. What is the significance of the Servant’s calling from the womb (Isaiah 49)? What does this reveal about God’s purpose and timing?

  4. Question 4. How does the Servant’s obedience and reliance on God (Isaiah 50:4–7) contrast with Israel’s historical response to God?

  5. Question 5. How does the Servant endure suffering without retaliation, and what sustains Him through it (Isaiah 50, 53)?

  6. Question 6. Why might people have assumed the Servant’s suffering was God’s judgment (Isaiah 53:4)? How does this shape how we interpret suffering in others and ourselves?

  7. Question 7. What does the imagery of the lamb (Isaiah 53:7, Exodus 12) teach about sacrifice, redemption, and God’s desired relationship with His people?

  8. Question 8. What does the promise of “seeing His seed” and “prolonging His days” (Isaiah 53:10) reveal about the outcome of the Servant’s mission?

  9. Question 9. How do those outside Christianity (e.g., Judaism) interpret these passages? Who is the Servant to them? What are the problems with those interpretations?

  10. Question 10. Taken together, who do these four songs ultimately describe, and how do they shape our understanding of God’s plan of salvation?

2

Part 2 · Isaiah 36–37; 44–45; 47

God’s Sovereignty Over the Nations

Here we see God’s ability to work His will with what are, from our standpoint, unwilling and unpredictable people: Assyria at the gates of Jerusalem, Cyrus named before he was born, and Babylon used and then judged.

  1. Question 11. (Isaiah 36–37) What tactics did the Assyrians use to erode the people’s trust in both Hezekiah and God? How do similar strategies work in our world today?

  2. Question 12. (Isaiah 36–37) How does Hezekiah’s initial response to the Assyrian threat contrast with his later response to the threat of death? What should we learn from his responses?

  3. Question 13. (Isaiah 37) Why did God emphasize that He would save Jerusalem “for His own sake and for the sake of David”? What comfort would this have given His people then as well as today?

  4. Question 14. (Isaiah 44:24–28) Who is introduced here and how does naming them show God’s sovereignty?

  5. Question 15. (Isaiah 45) How does God’s use of Cyrus show His control over nations, even through unbelievers?

  6. Question 16. (Isaiah 45) How does verse 7 (“create darkness”) reflect God’s sovereignty without making Him the author of evil?

  7. Question 17. (Isaiah 47) What phrases underline Babylon’s downfall?

  8. Question 18. (Isaiah 47) God allowed Babylon to be His instrument, but what did they fail to recognize? In whom had Babylon placed its trust? Are we tempted to do the same?

3

Part 3 · Isaiah 40; 43; 51; 54; 60–62

Comfort and Restoration

Comfort and restoration are very familiar concepts, but in Isaiah they rest on who God is: the Creator who sits above the circle of the earth is the same God who walks with His people through the waters and the fire, and whose covenant rests on His lovingkindness rather than their faithfulness.

  1. Question 19. (Isaiah 40) How does God’s creative power comfort and sustain His people?

  2. Question 20. (Isaiah 40) What does “wait upon the Lord” mean for our daily walk?Personal

  3. Question 21. (Isaiah 43) What imagery shows God’s protection? How does it relate to our challenges?

  4. Question 22. (Isaiah 43) How was Israel to be His witnesses? What makes us faithful witnesses today?

  5. Question 23. (Isaiah 51) Is the focus on Abraham’s greatness or God’s grace?

  6. Question 24. (Isaiah 54) What does the image of a barren woman becoming fruitful show about God’s restorative covenant?

  7. Question 25. (Isaiah 54) Is His covenant rooted in compassion rather than human faithfulness?

  8. Question 26. (Isaiah 60) “Arise, shine”—what is the true meaning of this?

  9. Question 27. (Isaiah 60) What draws Gentiles and kings to Israel?

  10. Question 28. (Isaiah 61) How do we live as “oaks of righteousness”?Personal

  11. Question 29. (Isaiah 62) What is the meaning of being called by a new name?

4

Part 4 · Isaiah 41; 43–44; 48; 56–58

True Worship vs. False Religion

True worship is of the heart, not the rituals we elevate so highly. Isaiah exposes idols of every kind, a people who carried God’s name without truth or righteousness, and fasting that God never asked for — and he shows what God does want.

  1. Question 30. (Isaiah 41 & 44) How does God challenge man-made idols? Are idols only statues?

  2. Question 31. (Isaiah 43:22–24) What behaviors show distant worship? How can we be guilty of the same?

  3. Question 32. (Isaiah 48) What criticism is made of Israel’s empty identity?

  4. Question 33. (Isaiah 48) How should God’s concern for His glory shape our obedience?Personal

  5. Question 34. (Isaiah 56) “Keep justice, do righteousness”—why repeated?

  6. Question 35. (Isaiah 56) What failure is seen in Israel’s spiritual leaders?

  7. Question 36. (Isaiah 56) Why was Sabbath so important?

  8. Question 37. (Isaiah 57) What picture of peace is promised to the contrite?

  9. Question 38. (Isaiah 58) How does God define true fasting and worship?

  10. Question 39. (Isaiah 58) What blessings follow genuine worship?

5

Part 5 · Isaiah 41; 47; 55; 59; 64–65

Judgment and Salvation

Judgment and salvation are very familiar concepts. Isaiah keeps them together: God’s justice exposes sin, but His mercy restores the contrite.

  1. Question 40. (Isaiah 41:1–7) What is the nations’ response when God calls to judgment?

  2. Question 41. (Isaiah 47) Who can stop God’s judgment when it comes?

  3. Question 42. (Isaiah 55) God’s free invitation—how does it challenge entitlement?

  4. Question 43. (Isaiah 55) “Seek the Lord while He may be found”—why urgent?

  5. Question 44. (Isaiah 59) “He who departs from evil makes himself a prey”—what does that mean?

  6. Question 45. (Isaiah 59:16–21) What did God see was lacking and then provide?

  7. Question 46. (Isaiah 64:6–8) What do these verses teach about sin and dependence on God?

  8. Question 47. (Isaiah 65:13–16) What contrast is drawn between servants and rebels?

  9. Question 48. (Isaiah 65:17–25) What is the meaning of the “new heavens and new earth”?

  10. Question 49. (Common Theme) What happens when we overemphasize either judgment or grace?

6

Part 6 · Isaiah 40–41; 44–46; 48

God’s Glory

God’s plans are not as simple as “let’s get people to heaven.” Having His people love Him and serve Him brings Him glory — the respect and honor He is due. He is the Lord God Almighty, and rather than robots that can do nothing but what they are programmed to do, He wants a people who desire to serve Him, for His glory, showing all how truly great He is. Not that He needs to prove it; He desires their love. “I don’t need your sacrifices; I simply want your love, your loyalty, your respect.”

  1. Question 50. (Isaiah 40) How does humanity’s weakness contrast with God’s eternal strength?

  2. Question 51. (Isaiah 41:8–10) What does God’s personal call to Israel as His chosen show?

  3. Question 52. (Isaiah 44) How are idols shown as foolish creations?

  4. Question 53. (Isaiah 44) How is God revealed as Creator and Redeemer?

  5. Question 54. (Isaiah 46) What contrast is drawn between idols and the living God?

  6. Question 55. (Isaiah 48:18–19) What blessings were missed because of disobedience?

  7. Question 56. (Isaiah 45:16, 20) Why is God’s invitation to seek Him unique among other “gods” or idols?