1. What attracts you to the book of Isaiah
What first attracts me to this study is to get to know Jesus better, since Isaiah was one of the main books that he poured over and was formed by. It’s like the prequel to the gospel and the man, like the fifth gospel. As I’ve been starting to read for this course, I’ve had thoughts similar to when we began Sermon on the Mount, “How come I haven’t studied this before? Why am I so unfamiliar with it?” I am familiar with isolated famous verses (and songs based on those verses), but am less familiar with how it all fits into the bigger picture and how it’s connected to Jesus and the themes of the suffering servant etc. During another lifetime as a student at college, I must have studied it in an Old Testament course, but I’ve largely forgotten.
Other aspects attracting me - the majestic poetry. Also, the theme of homecoming after exile is one I’m hoping will hit home for us during the winter when covid continues to place its restrictions on us. Renewal, liberation and hope are gifts we need when many of us are perhaps feeling more lonely, or isolated, or stressed. In a way I think the pandemic has deconstructed us. Speaking for myself, I’ve been reworking what it means to be the body of Christ at Watershed in the age of zoom. Are we at reorientation, or still in a time of disorientation? How will Isaiah form us as we head to another covenant service in November What is our new song? These are some of the questions I bring to the study.
- Lydia
2. If you have read in Isaiah before what were your first impressions?
I confess I know very little about the book of Isaiah but somehow it keeps coming up at Watershed discussions and studies. I seem to recall mentioning that to Paul, and wondering why Isaiah is quoted so often. Now I hope to learn why. I have always found the following quote inspiring from Isaiah 4 and hope he was right.
“And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”
Looking forward to the learning.
- Arthur
3. What is your favourite verse or chapter in Isaiah?
I read through Isaiah when we studied it years ago. Other than that, and the lectionary readings or the quoting of Isaiah in the New Testament I haven’t read it a lot. But the verse that sticks out for me is “I’ll renew your strength as eagles.” Actually the verse in context (from The Voice) reads like this:
God strengthens the weary and gives vitality to those worn down by age and care. Young people will get tired; strapping young men will stumble and fall. But those who trust in the Eternal One will regain their strength. They will soar on wings as eagles. They will run— never winded, never weary. They will walk— never tired, never faint.
Isaiah 40:29-31
Sometimes I am uncertain about how the vision of Watershed will evolve as the group changes. As differing understandings of discipleship emerge, will we be sustained by a deeper unity? “God strengthens the weary and gives vitality to those worn down by age and care” these words are a balm on the days when I feel most discouraged. And on better days these 3 verses remind me God walks before and behind us. When I rest in that, I’m not dependent on enthusiasm but am buoyed up by hope.
- Linda
"God is always for us. Even when He must be against us, He is for us." - George MacDonald