S –  But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: 

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. ²  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; 

when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.  For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior

Isaiah 43:1–3 ESV

O – Isaiah is prophesying some major principles in this verse about Israel:

God created you.

God formed you.
Fear not.

I have redeemed you.

I have called you by name.

I call you mine.

I will be with you.

You will not be overwhelmed.
You will not be burned.

You will not be consumed.

I am your Savior.

A – This is not just a promise for Israel but a promise for us today.  Each one of those promises are true in our personal relationship with God.  We can live from a place of victory today.

R- Heavenly Father, you are all powerful.  We want to live from a place of victory, even when facing all of life’s challenges.  We claim each one of these promises as true and for us today as we walk in relationship with you.

S – Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. ²  He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, 

or make it heard in the street; ³  a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice

Isaiah 42:1–3 ESV

O – Commentary:

Some Bible students say My Servant here refers to Israel, which is clearly the case in verse 19. True, Israel was upheld and chosen by the Lord, and was His delight. However, the statements in verses 1b–4 suggest that here the Servant is the Messiah. This One has the Spirit of God on Him (cf. 11:2), and He will bring justice to the nations (cf. 9:7; 11:3–4; 16:5). He will be gentle (42:2–3a)—most people would break a weak, useless reed, but He will not do so-and He will be faithful (v. 3b) and not … discouraged (v. 4). He gave the Law in which the islands (i.e., people in remote parts; cf. 41:1) will … hope. Matthew 12:18–21 quotes Isaiah 42:1–4 with some minor variations, relating it to Jesus and His ministry in Israel. As God’s Servant, Jesus did what Israel could never do. He perfectly carried out the will of the father so that people everywhere may believe in the Holy One of Israel.

 John A. Martin, “Isaiah,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1095.

A – This is the “gentle” Messiah that will bring care and his presence to the nations.  Jesus fulfilled this by bringing value and compassion while he walked the earth.  He brought justice to those who were neglected and cast away by culture.  In his second coming, he comes as a conquering king and his judgement is more absolute.

R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you.  Jesus came inviting us into a relationship with you. He exposed injustice while forgiving us of sins that we couldn’t eliminate on our own.  Thank you for loving us through kindness and the power of the invitation to you.

S – Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or who gave him counsel? ¹⁴ Who did he consult? Who gave him understanding and taught him the paths of justice? Who taught him knowledge and showed him the way of understanding? 

Isaiah 40:13–14 CSB

O – Commentary:

Against the backdrop of Israel’s questions (spoken by the prophet), the Lord affirmed that he is the incomparable God, a wise and sovereign creator who rules over the nations.

40:12–13 These rhetorical questions evoke the answer “No one!” God alone created all that exists. He will judge creation (24:17), and he alone can and will restore creation through his salvation. • Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord? Greek version reads Who can know the Lord’s thoughts?

 New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), Is 40:12–13.

A – It is hard for us to comprehend the unlimited power and scope of who God is.  Everything in our world has some “limited” number or measurement.  How do you apply that to a God who has none.  Asking the question who would “teach, instruct or help him understand” seems absurd. It should create in us a healthy fear and reverence for Him.

R – Heavenly Father, you alone are God.  Thank you that in all that you are, you invite us into an intimate relationship with you.  We worship you alone.  

S – ³ He said, “Please, Lord, remember how I have walked before you faithfully and wholeheartedly, and have done what pleases you.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 

⁴ Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah: ⁵ “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘This is what the Lord God of your ancestor David says: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Look, I am going to add fifteen years to your life.

Isaiah 38:3–5 CSB

O – Commentary:

Hezekiah’s prayer does not explicitly state a request to live longer, but it is implied. Many have criticized Hezekiah for this request. However, self-preservation characterizes nearly everyone. Hezekiah asked the Lord to remember the good things he had done as king (cf. 2 Kings 18:5–8).

(3) God’s answer to Hezekiah.

38:4–6. In response to the king’s prayer God said through Isaiah that He would grant the king 15 more years. Since Hezekiah died in 686 b.c. this illness would have been in 701 (see the chart “Kings of Judah and Israel and the Preexilic Prophets,” near 1 Kings 12:25–33). In addition, God would not allow the Assyrians to take Jerusalem. These facts would have been a great comfort to Hezekiah.

 John A. Martin, “Isaiah,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1089.

A – What an amazing answer to Hezekiah’s request!  It is a mystery why God answered this request and not the millions of others who have asked for more time.  Foundationally, his faithfulness and obedience coupled with God hearing and seeing him.  No matter what we face, as we approach God the same way, we have the opportunity for God to do the impossible.

R – Heavenly Father, you are all powerful and have no limitations.  We lay all of our desires and dreams down at your feet and surrender them to you.  We invite you to do the impossible and show your unlimited power in each of these.  

S – A road will be there and a way; it will be called the Holy Way. The unclean will not travel on it, but it will be for the one who walks the path. Fools will not wander on it. 
Isaiah 35:8 CSB

O – Commentary:
The imagery of the great road recalls Israel’s crossing through the Red Sea (51:10). • Only holy and undefiled people will share the Highway of Holiness. God’s goal in salvation is that humans will share in his character and act as he does.
 New Living Translation Study Bible (https://ref.ly/logosres/nltsb?ref=Bible.Is35.8&off=5&ctx=%3b+Acts+3%3a7%E2%80%938).%0a35%3a8+~The+imagery+of+the+g) (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), Is 35:8.

A – The road analogy is solid because everyone understands the concept of following a path.  As we stay on this path, we grow in our alignment and reflection of his heart and character.

R – Heavenly Father, you are God.  We worship you today.  We choose to stay on the path you have laid out for us that will draw us closer to you, aligning us with your heart and character.

S – There will be times of security for you—a storehouse of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the Lord is Zion’s treasure.

Isaiah 33:6 CSB

O – Commentary:

But in order to have these things, including salvation … wisdom, and knowledge they must fear … the Lord (cf. Prov. 1:7; 15:33). Fearing God does not mean being terrified of Him (except for those who are being or will be judged). It means to recognize and respect Him and His authority and righteous demands, which in turn results in godly living, worshiping, trusting, serving, and obeying Him. Those who fear Him find Him to be their sure Foundation, their Source of inner security and peace

 John A. Martin, “Isaiah,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1083.

A – A healthy fear of God draws us closer to him because it recognizes his greatness and goodness.  It causes us to want to life a life that emulates the one we worship.  When we have this healthy “fear” and then realize that God wants to be in relationship with us, it is a solid foundation of reverence, awe and honor back to God.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the one, true God.  We desire to walk in the fear of the Lord today.  Help us to see you in reverence and awe.  You alone are worthy of all honor and worship.  Empower us to grow in our relationship with you as we approach you with this attitude.

S – But a noble person plans noble things; he stands up for noble causes. 

Isaiah 32:8 CSB

O – The noble ( generous, free, liberal) person is known by those actions and he cares for others.

A – In all that Isaiah about judgement, this verse illustrates one who pleases God.  We must continue to grow in our generosity and care for others.  When we see people and the value they have in God’s eyes, we can slow down and do things that allow them to see how valuable they are to God.

 R- Heavenly Father, you are the Lord of all.  Empower us today to see people through your eyes.  Each of us are created by you with gifts, talents, a message and a purpose.  We want to value others like you do.

S – Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him

Isaiah 30:18 CSB

O – Commentary:

A faithful God would restore righteous order to the world by punishing the wicked and rescuing his people from them (see 1:27; see Ps 96:10–12). • God blesses those who wait; faithful people do not rush ahead of him to solve their own problems but instead rely on his power and goodness.

 New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), Is 30:18.

A – We continue to learn the principle of waiting on God.  That requires patience, perseverance and faith.  When we get ahead of God’s will, we are saying we have a better plan than Him.  It may even look good for a season.  In the end, we will be glad we allowed God to work in his timing.

R – Heavenly Father, you are outside all the boundaries of time and hold it for us.  Empower our faith today to be patient and invite you into the process.  We can trust in your perfect will and timing.

S – therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, 

a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: 

Isaiah 28:16 ESV

O – Commentary:

The Lord himself is the reliable foundation stone in Jerusalem (Hebrew in Zion), a precious cornerstone of the true city of God. There would be real hope in Jerusalem if the leaders and the people would only turn to him. If they would trust in God, they would be secure in the most terrible storm or the most devastating earthquake

 New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), Is 28:16.

A – The  cornerstone is part of the foundation that is important to the strength and support of the rest of the building.  Jesus is the foundation and part of the building of God’s people.  He was tested as a man and victorious over death while remaining to be God.  

R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you today.  Thank you for Jesus who is foundational to our relationship with you.  He is our Savior and cornerstone today.

S – You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. 

Isaiah 26:3 CSV

O – Word break down:

“Keep” – guard, protect, hidden thing

“Perfect peace” – “safe, well, prosperity” – Hebrew word “Shalom” said twice – great emphasis.

“Mind” – mind, imagination – Our “reality” thoughts and “creative” thoughts

“Stayed ” – lean on, take hold of

“trusts” – to trust, be confident, sure of, bold

A – When we put our whole mind and trust in God, he protects us and gives us safety.  The responsibility is on us to put our minds in a place of surrender and faith in Him.

R – Heavenly Father, you are faithful and true.  Empower us today to put our whole mind in your protection.  We can trust you to lead and direct us.