Sermon Outline:
1. The Word of Zion’s Redeemer is sure: She shall be redeemed
2. The Lord’s plans are specific and confirm that He alone is God, He is Zion’s Redeemer, and He is sovereign over lovely and terrible events
3. We are to humbly and patiently entrust ourselves to His plans to use all nations to graciously build and redeem His Holy City.
4. It is not vanity for God to reveal Himself and invite us to seek Him
5. All nations will bow before the Redeemer of Israel, and those who turn to Him will be justified, glorified and grafted in.
Family Discussion Questions:
1. How long before Cyrus was this prophecy given?
2. Why is it humbling and comforting that the Lord calls Himself our “Redeemer”?
3. Why would the prophecy of Jerusalem’s rebuilding have been difficult when it was delivered? How about 100 years later?
4. Why would the exiles have needed to hear that the Lord had taken Cyrus by the hand?
5. What truths did God confirm by revealing Cyrus’ role and then using him?
6. For whose sake does God exercise sovereignty over the world and the nations?
7. What illustrations does Isaiah use to describe those who complain or disagree with God’s long and sure plan to form and redeem a people?
8. How does the “free-ness” of this redemption help to quiet our questions?
9. What does it mean to “seek” God?
10. What reasons does God give to correct any thought that seeking Him would be useless?
11. Why is the rebuilding of Zion at Cyrus’ decree and using the nations to do so - a proof and foreshadowing of the end times temple/city of God?
12. Who are the offspring of Israel, and how can they be justified even though they have sinned?
13. What makes God’s redemption of those who turn to Him a righteous or just response?
