Come Bible Study with me (Isaiah Chapter 1)

Welcome back to the "Come Bible Study with Me" Blog. Before we begin our Bible study for 2026. Please take a minute to read the reminders from the previous post below: 

• Don't try to consume too much at once.
• Read/listen carefully and take in the text.
• Read the word in CONTEXT. 
• Gather background information about the people and locations in the text. 
• Understand the structure of the text (For example: Is it poetic, prophetic, narrative, or in letter format). This will help with your comprehension of the scripture as well. If it is poetic, there may be some figurative language used. These phrases have literal meanings that we have to slow down and determine. 
• Pay attention to key words that are emphasized in the scripture. 
• Finally, understand the original audience the books were written to and why. 

We will begin the year in the book of Isaiah. God has taken me back to this book, and it has been speaking to my heart. I believe it is relevant for our time. The theme he has given me for this year is "wholeness." This word is the foundation of my ministry and my writing, and the Lord has brought me back to it.

According to the Webster's Dictionary, wholeness means to be mentally or emotionally sound; free of defect. Other synonyms for wholeness are well, restored, free from wounds, free from injury, recovered, and healed. 

The opposite of "whole" is barren. This means that one is "lacking, infertile, desolate, devastated, destroyed, or shattered." 

I know what you are probably thinking, "This is going to be deep." I agree, and I believe that is exactly where God wants us to go, deeper. He wants us to slow down in the word and identify our own areas of "barrenness," allow Him to make us whole, so we can move in purpose and help others out of their barren places. 

Let's begin. To start this study, we will be using a strategy titled What S.T.U.C.K. as one of our main strategies while we read. I will walk you through the steps below. We begin with a summary of the text. After reading Isaiah chapter 1, here is my short summary:

 Prophet Isaiah was speaking to the leaders and the people of Israel about their rebellion and iniquity. They had "forsaken  and despised" the LORD, resulting in them only practicing religion, oppressing, and even murdering. God would purge the evil from among them and restore them as before, and those who didn't repent would be consumed. 

In chapter 1, the verses that stood out to me were 21-31. These stood out because Prophet Isaiah explained (in detail) the causes of their barren condition. I sorted his statements using "cause and effect." This is a simple reading strategy that can help with a deeper understanding. I completed this T-chart in OneNote. See image below. 
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Now, let's dig deeper into what we can learn from chapter 1 of Isaiah using the other steps in What STUCK? 

Next, what truth about God was revealed in chapter 1. One truth is that we are God's creation and the earth (land) belongs to Him. He is truth. He is the creator of morality. In addition, He is all powerful and provides for our spiritual and physical needs. 

What universal lesson does this teach all of humanity? I believe it teaches us that we can't live the moral life He desires apart from Him, relying on His power and authority over evil. Because He made us to walk in "wholeness," only He can keep us "whole." 

How does this truth and universal lesson connect to your own life? I would say I must rid myself or disconnect from anyone or anything that causes me to be unfaithful or rebel against God in any way. Our alignment is key. We should also seek God at all times, so He can reveal whatever He needs to show us.

Finally, kneel and pray. Ask God to help you with steps to walk out this universal lesson and to maintain a Kingdom mindset as it relates to what was revealed in Isaiah chapter 1.  

Be Blessed & Keep Studying with "HOPE in CHRIST"
​Denise M. Walker