​**ISAIAH (ESAIAS) part 1
 
>Meaning
<Jehovah is Helper <Salvation is of the Lord
<synonymous with Joshua or Jesus
  >symbolic of his message
  >”Gospel” prophet >”Evangelical” prophet
 
>Man
                <Son of Amoz (not Amos) (Isa. 1)
                  >Amoz may have been uncle of King Uzziah
                    <thus Isaiah’s cousin
                 >Manasseh may have been Isaiah’s grandson                  
<Wife was a “prophetess” (Isa. 8)
                <Two sons with “prophetic” names
                  >”the remnant shall return” (Isa. 7)
                  >”speed to the spoil” (Isa. 8)
                <Lived and labored in Jerusalem, Judah
                 >Time and of death unknown
                     <not specified in Bible
                    <legend and tradition suggest martyrdom
                        >sawn in two
>Prophet
                <First and chief of Israel’s prophets and poets
                  >first of the “Latter” Prophets (Hebrew Bible)
                  >first of the “Major” prophets (Christian O.T.)
                 >Ministered during four (4) kings of Judah
                   <Uzziah, Jotham, Ahab and Hezekiah
 
                <Muti-faceted, gifted and called
                  >Writer
                    <wrote Uzziah and Ahab histories
                      >II Chronicles 26, 32
                   <poetic illustrations
                      >Isa. 1, 5, 12, 13
                     >66 chapters
                   >Statesman
                    <”national” patriot
                      >denounced foreign alliances
                         <Isa. 7, 37
                      <visionary
                        >world-wide peace
                          <Isa. 2       
                   >Reformer
                     <exposed spiritual-less religious formalism
                       >Isa. 36-39
                    <remained optimistic amid great evil
 
Page 2
                   
 
                  >Prophet / Evangelist
                    <foretold the future of Israel/Judah
                   <predicted fall of ancient Gentile nations
                   <prophesied the “mystery” coming of
                     > m(Messianic) k(King) (Christ) and Church
                       >Suffering Savior and Redeemer
                      >The “Fifth” Gospel
                         <influence extends beyond Christianity
                         >to English literature
                         >to Western culture
                   >Teacher
                     <perpetuated his message during declining influence
                    <impacted as an instructor and counselor through training
                   >Theologian
                     <emphasized sovereignty and holiness of God
                    <pointed to the cleansing forgiveness of God
 
  
-Wikipedia: Isaiah, Book of Isaiah
--Herbert Lockyer: All the Men of the Bible (Isaiah)                         

Song of Solomon, a book of romantic expression. 

(NKJV)

Read, review and respond to the following:

Ch.  1  v.  1
>Titled the "Song of Songs" or, "Solomon's Most Beautiful Song", "Best of All Solomon's Songs".

Ch.  1  vv.5-6
>The Shulamite self-describes as d__________ but l_______________!
>How does she explain her darkened skin?___________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Ch.  1  v.  8
>Solomon's describes his engaged as the "fairest" meaning de_______________, lo_______________,
and be_______________.

Ch.  1  v.16
>The Shulamite describes her engaged as h____________________.
​
Ch.  2  v.  1
>As a "country girl"...
  <I am the ________ of ____________.
  <I am the ________ of the ______________.
 
Ch.  3 
>"Sleepless" in ________________________.
>Sleeplessness resulting from ________________________________.

Ch.  4  vv. 1-8
>Bridegroom describes his bride's "beauty":
 <eyes like ____________________
 <hair like _____________________
 <teeth like ____________________
 <lips like______________________
 <mouth like ____________________
 <temples like ___________________
 <neck like ______________________
 <breasts like _____________________

Ch.  4  vv. 9-10
(Context)
>"My sister, my spouse", my f _______________ d.
 <"Sister was a common term in ancient love poetry;
    it doesn't imply blood relation.

Ch.  5  vv.  10-16
>Bride describes her "beloved" bridegroom:
 <head like _____________________
 <locks (hair) like ________________________
 <eyes like______________________________    ​
 <cheeks like ____________________________
 <lips like _______________________________
 <hands like _____________________________
 <body like ______________________________
 <legs like _______________________________
 <countenance like ________________________
 <mouth like ______________________________

Ch.  6  vv. 8-9
>"I only have ____________ for you!"

Ch.  7  
>Bridegroom further describes his bride:
 <feet like ___________________________
 <thighs like _________________________
 <navel like __________________________
 <waist like __________________________
 <nose like __________________________

Ch.  8  v.  6
>Love is as strong as ___________________.
>Jealousy is as cruel as the ___________________.

Ecclesiastes 12 advises, seek God early in life because troubling days will come soon enough. And bitterness will set in later in life. Stick with God!

(NKJV)

Read, review and respond to the following:

v.  1
>What to "remember"?

>When?

>Why?



vv. 2-5
>Life declines as humans a______. 
>Circumstances likely become da______________ and di___. 

v.  5
>Humans are all headed to their ______________ destiny.

v.  6
>Eventually life can be characterized as b___________ and s__________________.

v.  7
>The human ________ returns to the earth.
>The human ____________ returns to Creator God.

v.  8
>Ecclesiastes says "All (life) is vanity", that is, nothing makes __________!

v.  9 
>Words of the wise are like a "Shepherd" who g___________ and n_____________.

v. 13
>What is life all about?

v. 14
>What happens at eternal judgment?



​

Life is shorter than we realize.

Please read, review and respond to the following:

>>Which verse speaks to "generosity"?


>>Which verse speaks to "investing"?


>>Which verse speaks to "ambiguity"?


>>Which verse speaks to "accountability"?


​>>What verse speaks personally to you?

​

Wise thinking leads to right living.

Read, review and respond to the following:

v.  2
Describe the symbolism of the right hand contrasted with the left hand.


v.  8
"The trap you set, just may be for y__________!"
Explain:


v. 10
"Work smarter, not h_____________________!"
Explain:


v. 14
What does this verse mean?



v. 16
Are there current examples of this verse?



v. 17
Noble > Mature > Dignified 
Maturity seeds p____________________



​v. 19
What does this verse mean?
 

Ecclesiastes 9 puts forth the idea that human experience can be both good and bad for every human.

v.  1
The works of the ____________________ are in God's hand.

vv.  2-3
Why does the notion that all of life leads to death seem unfair?
 


v.  10
Why work hard in this life?


vv. 15-16
What happens with the wisdom (discretion) of the poor in this life? 


v.  18
What can one sinner do in this life?


>Should we desire wisdom in this life? Why or why not?

Ecclesiastes 8 states that there is much in this world that even the wise cannot comprehend.  

v.  1
What can the practical use of sound wisdom do for am individual?


vv. 2-3-4-5
What does v. 2 seem to assume about the character of a "king" (leader)?


v.  8
The spirit = w__________ d = _________________________________.


v.  9
Humans, especially "rulers" tend to ________________________________________________.


vv. 10-11
How do the wicked (unfaithful) appear to fare in this world?


vv. 12-13
How do the faithful fare in life?


v.  15
What does God give humans?


vv. 16-17
Even the wise cannot figure what God _______________________________________________. 


Additional:
What verses speak to our political people of these contemporary times?

Ecclesiastes 7 emphasizes the value of wisdom and the practice of common sense in human thought process. Wisdom before wealth is better!

Please read, review and respond to the following:

v.  3
Why is mourning better for the heart?

v.  5 
How should one feel about the correction of the wise?

v.  7
Vanity = emp _________________________ ness (pointless, meaningless, senseless).

v.  8
Why is it better to be patient better than to be proud?

v.  10
What is unwise, and why?

v.  12
What good is wisdom and wealth?

v.  14
Compare prosperity and adversity regarding our relationship to God.

v.  15
Whose life may perish and whose life may be prolonged, and why?

v.  18
What does one who fears (respects) God attempt?

v.  19 
How is practicing wisdom (discernment, discretion, discussion, discourse, discovery) beneficial?

v.  21
The conversation of others might just be about whom?

v.  25
Why search for wisdom?

v.  29 
What happened to God's original creation?

Ecclesiastes 6 continues to address human goals in life.

Read, review and respond to the following:

1)   Who is speaking in chapter 6?


2)   What is his mood?


3)   Why is he feeling this way?


4)   Where is his mindset?


​5)   When is his mood and mindset likely to change?

Ecclesiastes 5 instructs us to listen more, talk less; pay what you pledge respecting God. And also identifies two (2) elements of evil tragedy.

(NKJV)

Read, review and respond to the following:

v.  1
Why "draw near to hear...."?


v.  2
Why "let your words be few"?


v.  4
Why "pay what you vowed"?


v.  9
Why is "the profit of the land...for all..."?


v.  13, 16
Describe two (2) elements of "severe evil".


v.  18, 19
What is "good and fitting"? (Two (2) responses) ​


​