In Returning You Shall Be Saved

Monday, September 22, 2014
Isaiah 30:9-17 

9 That this [is] a rebellious people, lying children, children [that] will not hear the law of the LORD: 10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: 11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. 12 Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: 13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant. 14 And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water [withal] out of the pit. 15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. 16 But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift. 17 One thousand [shall flee] at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) How did the Lord describe His people? (v.9)
2) What had the people of God done wrong? (v.10-12)
3) How did the Lord say that He would punish His people? (v.13-14)
4) How did the Lord say that His people would be saved? (v.15)
5) What would the people do instead? (v.16-17)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) Have you ever refused to heed the Lord's word of correction, after transgressing His commands, choosing instead to read (hear) pleasant messages from motivational speakers to comfort your soul? If so, briefly describe what happened.
7) Have you ever refused to allow the Lord to comfort you, opting instead to seek comfort in your own way? If so, what was the result?
8) What do you do when you need to hear a word from the Lord directly?

PRINCIPLES
9) When we ignore the Lord's correction, He may allow our enemies to overtake us.
10) It is often easier to listen to comforting words of an enemy, than the corrective words of the Lord.
11) The Lord wants to strengthen us, but can only do so as we turn to Him and listen for His voice, with a desire to obey what we hear.