 Revised Teaching Outline
Three Children (8:18)
Four Lessons
For more on Isaiah, check out our Introduction and the rest of the series.
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 Revised Teaching Outline
For more on Isaiah, check out our Introduction and the rest of the series.  Revised Teaching Outline
For more on Isaiah, check out our Introduction and the rest of the series.  "Galatians 6:14-15" by Christopher Powers. Find more Scripture art at fullofeyes.com. Introduction
Isaiah was a prophet in ancient Judah, whose father is traditionally identified as the brother of King Amaziah, making him a grandson of King Joash (Is 1:1; 2Ki 14:1). Isaiah prophesied from about 740 to 681 B.C. during a period of steady decline—economic, political, and military—but Judah’s real distress was spiritual and moral. Isaiah thus begins his book with a warning (chs. 1-6), showing the people that their sinful hubris violated the holiness of God himself, “the Holy One of Israel” (Is 1:4). Unfortunately, instead of responding with “a contrite and lowly” humility, Judah closed the eyes of their heart and rejected the healing of the Lord (57:15 ESV; 6:10). So Isaiah turns to the future, predicting God’s holy judgment and his merciful deliverance. Like a miniature Bible, Isaiah spends 39 chapters laying out the bad news, and then 27 chapters tracing out the good news, with a few detours along the way. Like many of the prophets, his visions are fulfilled in three ways: (1) initially in threats from Assyria (chs. 7-38; 7:17) and Babylon (39:1-44:23; 39:6-7), (2) eventually in the exiles’ return under the Persians (44:24-66:24; 13:17), and (3) ultimately in the reign of God himself (52:7). It’s this coming of God’s kingdom that most fascinated the writers of the New Testament. When they read of this newborn king (Is 9:6-7) and suffering servant (52:13), they recognized him as the same bringer of good news they knew as the Lord Jesus (Acts 8:35). Isaiah’s own name says it all: Yahweh is Salvation. The prophet’s ultimate hope is therefore the same as ours today: one day our King will return to reign over an everlasting kingdom filled with joy, love, and light (Is 35:10; 54:8; 60:19-20). Why These Texts? And What’s With the Outlines? Selecting texts for a 12-week survey can be difficult, but especially for a book as significant as Isaiah. These lessons focus on those passages most influential in the New Testament (NT). To identify them, I started with an outline of Isaiah from Outline of Bible Books by David Lang, Greg Ward, and Sean Nelson (Accordance, 2015), and then simply listed NT citations from Isaiah using the margins of my ESV and NKJV, plus a great table in The ESV Study Bible (C. John Collins, “Old Testament Passages Cited in the New Testament”). Next, I highlighted the passages of Isaiah that were cited most often (sometimes expanding or contracting sections in the outline to fit the context), and then rounded these selections out by adding an introduction (chs. 1-2) and conclusion (chs. 65-66). When I teach, I prefer to use outlines just deep enough to remind me of the author’s thoughts, but not so in-depth that I get bogged down in my notes. I share these here in hopes they might be of help to others too. These were usually tweaked right after I taught the text, so they don’t always reflect exactly what was recorded. To focus our thoughts each week, I like to ask a few fundamental questions:
For more information on Isaiah, check out the study helps listed below, or leave me a note at the Contact tab above. God bless! Study Helps:
 “In nine passages, the Hebrew Bible pictures the land groaning under the weight of sin, longing for redemption (Amos 1:2; Hosea 4:1-4; Jer. 4:23-28; 12:7-13; 23:9-12; Isa. 24:1-24; 33:7-9; Joel 1:5-20).” — John Mark Hicks, Bobby Valentine & Mark Wilson, Embracing Creation: God’s Forgotten Mission, p. 73 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good for his mercy endures forever! Sing to the Lord, all the earth saving news from day to day! For great is the Lord, and great in our praise, for the Lord made heavens and earth. In his image God made man, male and female created them. God blessed them both and said, “Bear fruit and flourish, fill the earth, subdue, and rule all that lives, fulfill my form in the flesh.” Thus Lord formed man of dust from ground and breathed in him life’s breath, and man became a living soul. Then Lord planted garden facing dawn, there he put them he formed. And from the ground trees sprang and sang. The tree of life was in their midst, and tree knowing good and evil. A river there flowed to water all, and he called all he made, Very Good. There the Lord put the man he made to tend and keep it safe. Remember his covenant forever, O seed of Abram his friend, the promise he spoke for a thousand births, saying, “The land is yours, roped off and gifted.” When you were few in number, mere strangers in the land, he gave no room for injustice; for you he counseled kings, “Touch not my anointed; do my prophets no harm!” But I looked on earth, and lo, without form, and all void; and the heavens above, alas, were black, for they had no light. I looked on the mountains, and lo, they trembled, to and fro. The earth is utterly broken, his surface rent asunder, the earth is violently shaken, he staggers like a drunk. Transgression lies heavy upon him. If he falls, will he rise again? The earth mourns and fades; and all earth’s people wither. The world lies polluted, stained; for laws they transgressed, changed judgment, broke faith. Their curse devours the earth. “They trampled down my portion; made delight a desolation. She mourns to me, but none takes heart.” So the sword of the Lord devours; no flesh finds Sabbath rest. Be ashamed, O farmers; wail, O vinedressers. Is not food cut off from our eyes, joy and gladness from his house? Lament like a virgin in sackcloth for the husband of her youth. How the beast groans, bewildered! With no pasture sheep suffers need. For fire eats at open field, and flames burn all the trees. Even beasts out grazing thirst for you; their brooks run only dry. Cursed is ground because of you, in pain you eat all your days. Thorns and thistles earth brings forth, plants of field you eat, by sweat of face seeking daily bread, till back to dust you turn. The field is destroyed, the ground groans, the seed shrivels under clods. The storehouse is vain, the granary in ruins, the grain itself dries up. The new wine mourns, the vine withers, the trees in grove sing no more-- pomegranate, palm, and apple. No joy for Adam’s sons, all merry-hearted sigh. The Lord roars from Zion’s Mount, his voice pours forth from Salem; the shepherds’ pastures wither, and Carmel’s springs dry up. There is no faith or mercy, no knowledge of God in the land. Rather cursing, lying, killing, thieving and perverting; broken bounds and bloodstains abound. Thus beasts of the field and heavens’ birds, even fish in the sea flee away. “Shepherds destroyed my vineyard; both prophet and priest polluted. Thus their way shall be slippery paths in the dark, into which they shall drive and fall in the year of disaster.” Put on sackcloth and wail, O priests; Come, pass the night in tears. Set a fast, call around, gather all who inhabit the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry aloud to his name. For it shall be, as with people, so priest; as with worker, so watcher; as with buyer, so seller; as with debtor, so lender; The land shall be emptied and plundered; for the Lord has spoken his word: “I have forsaken my house, my love is in enemy hands. My home is but a hyena’s lair; vultures loiter with greed. Go, gather the beasts of the field; bring them to devour!” Dread and pit and snare upon you, O kings who rule the earth! He who flees the voice of dread shall fall into the pit, and he who climbs the walls of pit shall be taken in the snare. For windows high are opened wide, and earth’s foundations tremble. Moon will stare confounded and sun will sulk in shame, for the Lord Sabaoth reigns on high in glory, before his saints. Behold, the Lord empties and ruins, twists surface and scatters squatters. The city of chaos lies broken; each house shut up so none enter. In the city Death moves in, the gate is battered to ruin. Behold, on the corners heroes cry; brokers of peace weep bitterly. Highways lie waste; and traveler ceases. Their course is evil, and might is not right. Alas for the day! The mirth of timbrels ceases, the sounds of Jubilee fail, the mirth of lyres is stilled. All joy, like night, has fallen; the world’s gladness is exiled. But for you, O Lord, they wait with longing, lift up their voice and sing. Your majesty they shout o’er waves of sea, and glory in your name at dawn. From earth’s end we hear the songs of praise to the Righteous One. Let heavens rejoice, and earth shout out, say to the world, “He reigns!” Let sea thunder, and all its fullness; and field burst forth from chains! Then shall the trees of forest sing to the Lord, for he comes to judge. And saints embodied give an ode, newly sung, “Worthy are you to take scroll and seals, you were slain and your blood paid the price. From natives’ tribes and peoples’ tongues, you have made royal priests unto God, and they shall reign on earth.” Then seventh angel trumpet sounds, and voices loud in heaven say, “The world’s kingdom is Christ’s, he reigns evermore.” And twenty-four elders enthroned on high fell on face and worshiped in song: “To you we give thanks, O Lord our God, who was, and is, and will be, for you have taken up your reign. Nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, to destroy the wicked who destroy the earth.” Then heaven and earth I saw remade for first heaven and earth passed away, and the sea separates no more. But holy city I saw, New Peace, led down from heaven above, adorned as a bride for her groom. And I heard a voice out of throne say: “Behold, God tabernacles with man. To him who conquers this garden comes, their God will he be, he adopts them. He will wipe every tear and Death shall die, without mourning and crying and pain.” And he who sat enthroned spoke out, “Behold, I make all things new.” And, “Write these words, faith and truth.” And yet again, “It is finished! Alpha and Zed, Beginning and End. To the thirsty I give without pay. “As for cowards and faithless, loathed murderers, fakes, loving sex and self and stone, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone-- second death.” Then angel showed me waters of life, flowing brightly from the throne through the midst of Salem’ street; and on either shore of river wide the tree of life sings with joy, yielding leaves and fruits that heal. No longer any trace of curse, for God and Lamb are there. When all his servants see his face, not by light of lamp or sun, but by splendor of his gaze. Where righteousness at last is home. “Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD,
for he comes to judge the earth.” — 1 Chronicles 16:33 ESV  Before leaving our series, I want to give you one more way to enjoy these early songs and prayers, alongside some other favorites. You see, part of what makes these songs so great is that their truths echo across the centuries, and reflect the light of Christ toward us from new angles and with new applications. Setting these songs alongside other classic and contemporary hymns allows us to extend the wisdom of the ages to our situation today. Remember, the gospel is both ancient and timeless—it doesn’t grow old. Like Christ himself said, “every writer who has been discipled for the kingdom of the heavens is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old” (Mt 13:52).
The question then becomes, Which songs make the cut? Well, there’s definitely more than one way to do it, but here’s what I settled on.
Currently, this gives us 42 songs, with 2 hours and 4 minutes of great acapella music you can take with you anywhere. Here’s the link. So which songs are you surprised made the list? Which ones are you surprised didn’t? How would you have done it differently? However you answer those questions, just remember that when we sing, it’s not about a particular list of songs. As the apostle Paul wrote, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col 3:16). Wisdom and Grace—that’s our goal. So let these songs speak the word of Christ to your heart, and find your joy bringing glory to God alongside his people.  Have you ever sat in a Bible class, in awe of the grace and knowledge of your brothers and sisters (2Pe 3:18)? Or heard a prayer in worship that you knew came from the heart of a righteous person (Jam 5:16)? The more you get to know these good people, the more you realize how much of that deep faith, hope, and love were developed alone with Jesus. And when you visit with them in their homes, you’ll find a well-worn Bible and a heart filled with songs and prayers. In this series, you’ve hopefully seen why it’s so important for every Christian (and every Christian family) to set aside time each day for communing with God. And hopefully you’ve also caught some of the how: “singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col 3:16 NKJV), learning to “pray without ceasing” (1Th 5:17), and meditating on the word “all the day” (Ps 119:97). So before we go, let’s pause and think more about what meditation looks like. When we hear that word these days, we probably picture someone sitting silently with eyes closed, legs crossed, breathing deeply. And those are all good things. But when the Bible speaks of meditation, the picture is of someone holding an open scroll, whispering the words of God under their breath, and turning them over in their minds. It reminds me of something C.S. Lewis said about how to enjoy beauty: “Look. Listen. Receive” (An Experiment in Criticism, p. 19). Here’s how that works with the Bible:
So as we read Scripture, we’re not just skimming the words on the page; we’re reading at the pace our own heart can grow. This may be a few chapters a day or just one, a few verses or a single verse. But when we do this well, we find that we’re not just reading Scripture, the Scriptures are reading us. For a great example of these principles in action, check out the Jews coming home from Babylon in Nehemiah 8. For a not-so-great example, compare this to Jesus’ chat with “a certain lawyer” in Luke 10:25-37. Of course, everyone needs some help sometimes, a “Phillip” to come alongside us as our guide (Acts 8:31). Here are three resources I really enjoy:
However you decide to meditate each day, though, pick up a good Bible collecting dust nearby and put it to good use. Remember, these words are ancient, but ever true. Reflect on what God reveals to you through them. Their good news belongs in your heart. Teach it to others with every song you sing and every prayer you pray. Live out God’s own wisdom and grace. Grow more into him, and you will find your strength for the day. Meditation isn’t about finding the perfect prayer routine or the perfect reading plan (though both can be helpful), but about drawing closer to the one who is Perfect. And don’t worry about how much progress you are making each day or whether you’re doing it just right. Just remember those words of the Lord: Stand by the roads, and look, Our class was recorded Oct 9, 2019. Because of scheduling, we combined our discussions of the Gloria Patri and the Kyrie Eleison. In the video below, the portion on the Kyrie runs from 17:50 to 27:40 and from 43:50 to the end. Feel free to follow along by clicking through the slideshow above. This slideshow has been revised to return it to its intended place as the last song in the study. Our class was recorded Nov 20, 2019, and starts at 22:30 in the video below. Because of scheduling, we combined our discussions of the Gloria Patri and the Kyrie Eleison, making this our final class. Since then, the slideshow above has been revised to move the summary material we used in class back to its intended place with the Kyrie (next week's song). Our class was recorded Nov 13, 2019, and starts at 15:41 in the video below. Feel free to follow along by clicking through the slideshow above. Before stepping into this time of prayer, a brief note on the format may be helpful.
In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. ~ Psalm 4:8 ESV ~ Finally, in all the old evening prayers, it is striking how frequently we encounter their plea for preservation during the night from the devil, from terror and from an evil, sudden death. The ancients were keenly aware of human helplessness while sleeping, the kinship of sleep with death, and the devil’s cunning in causing our downfall when we are defenseless. ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together, ch. 2 ~ Psalm 91
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High shall abide in the shadow of the Almighty. He will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler, from the peril and pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the peril that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place-- the Most High, who is my refuge— no evil shall befall you, nor any plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to keep you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known my name. He will call to me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Gloria Patri (Minor Doxology) Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Nunc Dimittis (The Song of Simeon, Luke 2:29-32) Now, O Lord, you let your servant go in peace, according to your promise; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the face of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for the glory of your people Israel. Scripture Reading Kyrie Eléison (Gk.; repeat each line three times) Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name; your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen. Personal Petitions Our class was recorded Nov 6, 2019, and starts at 19:15 in the video below. Feel free to follow along by clicking through the slideshow above. Our class was recorded Oct 30, 2019, and starts at 20:03 in the video below. Feel free to follow along by clicking through the slideshow above. Our class was recorded Oct 23, 2019, and starts at 22:26 in the video below. Feel free to follow along by clicking through the slideshow above Before stepping into this time of prayer, a brief note on the format may be helpful.
And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone…. ~ Matthew 14:23 ESV ~ The community of Christians living together gathers together again. The evening breaking of bread together and the final daily worship service bring them together. With the disciples in Emmaus they ask: “Lord, stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” It is a good thing if the daily evening worship can really be held at the end of the day, thus becoming the last word before the night’s rest. When night falls, the true light of God’s Word shines brighter for the community of faith. The prayer of the Psalms, a Scripture reading, a hymn, and a prayer together close the day as they opened it. ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together, ch. 2 ~ Psalm 113:1
Hallelujah! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Psalm 141 O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice! Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! Let not my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies! Let the righteous strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it. For my prayer is continually against their evil deeds. When their judges are thrown over the cliff, then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant. As when one plows and breaks up the earth, so shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol. But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; do not pour out my soul! Keep me from the trap they have laid for me and from the snares of evildoers! Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by safely. Gloria Patri (Minor Doxology) Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Scripture Reading Phos Hilaron (Gk.; or “Hail, Gladdening Light”) O gracious Light, pure brightness of the ever-living Father in heaven, O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed! Now as we come to the setting of the sun, and our eyes behold the evening light, we hymn your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You are worthy at all times to be praised by holy voices, O Son of God, O Giver of life, your glory fills the whole world. Magnificat (The Song of Mary, Luke 1:46-55) My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring for ever. Kyrie Eléison (Gk.; repeat each line three times) Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name; your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen. Personal Petitions Our class was recorded Oct 16, 2019, and starts at 21:57 in the video below. Feel free to follow along by clicking through the slideshow above. Our class was recorded Oct 9, 2019. Because of scheduling, we combined our discussions of the Gloria Patri and the Kyrie Eleison. In the video below, the portion on the Gloria runs from 17:57 to 43:50. Feel free to follow along by clicking through the slideshow above. Our class was recorded Oct 2, 2019, and starts at 21:52 in the video below. Feel free to follow along by clicking through the slideshow above. Before stepping into this time of prayer, a brief note on the format may be helpful.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. ~ Acts 2:42 ESV ~ At the height of the day the church invokes the triune God in praise of God’s wonders and in prayer for help and speedy redemption. At midday the heavens were darkened above the cross of Jesus [Jn 19:14; Mt 27:35]. The work of atonement was approaching its completion. Where a community of Christians living together is able to be together at this hour for a brief daily worship time of song and prayer, it will not do so in vain. ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together, ch. 2 ~ Psalm 70:1
O God, come to my assistance; O Lord, make haste to help me. Te Deum Laudamus (or “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name”) We praise you, O God, we acclaim you as Lord; all the earth worships you, the Father everlasting. To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, the cherubim and seraphim, sing in endless praise: “Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.” The glorious company of apostles praise you. The noble fellowship of prophets praise you. The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy church acclaims you: “Father, of majesty unbounded, your only Son, worthy and true, the Holy Spirit, our Helper.” You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father. When you became human to set us free you did not spurn the Virgin’s womb. You overcame the sting of death and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God’s right hand in glory. We believe that you will come to be our judge. Come then, Lord, and help your servants, bought with the price of your own blood, and number us with your saints in glory everlasting. Psalm 51 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to the abundance of your mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, that you may be justified in your words and may overcome when you are judged. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward parts, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from the bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; then will you delight in sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar. Gloria Patri (Minor Doxology) Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Scripture Reading Kyrie Eléison (Gk.; repeat each line three times) Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name; your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen. Personal Petitions Our class was conducted Sep 25, 2019, but I'm still tracking down that video. In the meantime, feel free to read through our slideshow above. Many thanks to Brothers Eddie Fisher and David Smith for filling in for me this week.
Our class was recorded Sep 18, 2019, and starts at 16:35 in the video below. Feel free to follow along by clicking through the slideshow above. Many thanks to Brothers Eddie Fisher and David Smith for filling in for me this week. Our class was recorded Sep 11, 2019, and starts at 21:08 in the video below. Feel free to follow along by clicking through the slideshow above. Before stepping into this time of prayer, a brief note on the format may be helpful.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” ~ Lamentations 3:22-24 ESV ~ What do we, who today no longer have any fear or awe of the darkness or night, know about the great joy that our forebears and the early Christians felt every morning at the return of the light? If we were to learn again something of the praise and adoration that is due the triune God early in the morning, then we would also begin to sense something of the joy that comes when night is past. ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together, ch. 2 ~ Psalm 63
O God, you are my God; early will I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth; they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals. But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped. Gloria Patri (Minor Doxology) Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Scripture Reading Gloria in Excelsis Deo (Greater Doxology) “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” [Luke 2:14] We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, one and only Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen. Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah, Luke 1:68-79) Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouths of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us, to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise from on high has visited us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Kyrie Eléison (Gk.; repeat each line three times) Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name; your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen. Personal Petitions Our class was recorded Sep 4, 2019, and starts at 12:23 in the video below. Feel free to follow along by clicking through the slideshow above. I love starting each morning with a good cup of coffee and the word of God. For several years I’ve tried to read a few chapters each day, making my way back through the Bible’s story of redemption by the end of the year. And on days when my reading is shortened or pushed to later in the day (or the next!), I feel a bit off. It reminds me of what Paul wrote to the church at Corinth: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day” (2Co 4:16 NKJV). Despite everything else going on in the world around him, Paul knows why he does what he’s doing, and the One he’s doing it for. With a little unpacking, he even tells us how that renewal comes about: the glorious light of the gospel of Christ is a treasure that God himself stores up within us, in our hearts and our bodies (2Co 4:4-7). It is his overwhelming power, shining through his word that renews our inner humanity. In short, the gospel belongs in our heart. In fact, if we look back through Scripture we should begin to notice just how important this is to God:
God’s own power for daily living, and daily renewal is opened up to us through the power of his word. What is perhaps surprising, though, is what Paul commands the church to do in order to get the word into their hearts: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col 3:16). Catch that? Paul says we need to learn to sing. That’s how we treasure up God’s word, how God writes it on our hearts, how we keep it on the tip of our tongues, how we meditate on it all the day, and how we walk daily in the grace of Christ. That doesn’t mean we shelf our Bibles; it means we learn to sing the Word! Understanding the role of song and prayer helps us in two important ways. First, it helps us go back and look at what the early church actually did. Kind of like last week, it shifts our question from, What should the church do? to What did the church do? What did daily devotions look like in the early church? Here’s a quick outline:
If we were to picture the shape of daily prayer, it might look a bit like this, with the Lord’s Prayer at the center, the canticles connecting the gospel to the big picture of the Bible, the Psalms making up the largest biblical cycle of songs, and our own human hymns pointing us back to the Bible:  The most common way of using these prayers and songs was twice a day, at morning and evening. Limiting ourselves to sources from the first four centuries, it looks a bit like this:  By the end of the sixth century this morning-and-evening pattern expanded in many places to include prayers at midday and at night, kind of like this:  The second way this helps us is in shifting our focus in our daily times with God. When we open our Bibles each day, it is not primarily about receiving information or intellectual knowledge. It is instead about growing toward and knowing more of the One who speaks to us through his word (2Pe 3:18).
And this points us back to praise. As the apostle Paul said, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1Th 5:16-18). Or as another Paul once said, “what is fundamental to the early understanding of daily prayer is that the real aim is unbroken communion with God,” all else is merely “a guide and aid towards the practice of ceaseless prayer” (Paul Bradshaw, Daily Prayer in the Early Church, p. 151). So even if we look at the early Christians and say, Thanks, but no thanks, their example still helps us envision older and better ways to incorporate song and prayer in our daily walk with God. Looking to the early church thus helps us restore both the form and the function of daily prayer. In this series, we’ll follow their example by exploring the fourfold pattern of prayer outlined above. After each time of prayer, I’ll also offer a class video and slideshow to walk through “a psalm, a hymn, and a spiritual song” used at that time of day. But as we go along, don’t forget why it all matters. As the apostle Paul would remind us: The gospel belongs in your heart. Teach one another that good news with every song you sing and every prayer you pray. Live out God’s own wisdom and grace. Grow more into him, and you will find your strength for the day.  This lesson was recorded July 24, 2019, and starts at 31:15 in the video below. It was only after this lesson that I realized I’d need way more time to cover the subject in depth. So now, it serves as an introduction to our new series: “Ancient Words.” Several years ago, I remember talking with two friends about our greatest spiritual struggles. When my turn came, I didn’t hesitate to answer: I struggle to pray. I found it hard to speak to Someone I couldn’t see, or to speak from the heart, or to even know what to say or when. And until a few years ago, I couldn’t really say I had improved. Maybe you’ve found yourself in the same boat.
So where do we begin? One of the simplest ways I’ve found to think through such questions is the simple and well-worn phrase, What Would Jesus Do? (You may even still have your bracelet!) But I want us to take it one step further, asking a slightly different question: What Did Jesus Do? In other words, if we look to the example of Christ, what lessons can we learn from how he prayed? In the Gospel of Luke, we find this same approach adopted by the apostles: “Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples’” (Lk 11:1 NKJV). And Jesus did; even giving them an early form of what came to be known as the Lord’s Prayer or the Model Prayer (11:2-4). We’ll get to that a little later, but first, let’s focus on some principles of prayer from Jesus’ own prayer life. When we look at the role of prayer in the life of Jesus, the first thing we notice is that he prayed habitually. When we think of the word “habit,” we usually think of bad things, but habits can be good too (1Co 15:33; Lk 4:16). And one of Jesus’ habits was to pray: “So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed” (Lk 5:16). The custom was so strong, that Judas knew exactly where to find Jesus on the night he betrayed him—he knew the Lord would be praying (Lk 22:39; Jn 18:2). So how often are we talking about? Well, that’s the second thing Christ teaches us. To make something a holy habit and a way of life you have to make it a priority, so Jesus prayed early and often. “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed” (Mk 1:35). Before he did anything else that day, before anything else could get in the way, before anyone could find him (and they did; 1:36-37), Jesus set aside time to pray. But this was not the only time; he also “went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God” (Lk 6:12). Before daylight and all night. For Jesus, prayer wasn’t just something he did, it was something he sought opportunities for each day. But he didn’t always pray alone. When the opportunity arose, Jesus prayed with others. And, boy, did it make a difference! On one such occasion, after praying, Jesus asks the disciples who he is (Lk 9:18-20). Peter’s answer still amazes: He is “The Christ of God.” Another time, just a week later, the Lord “took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray,” and there they witnessed Jesus not only praying, but transformed into all his heavenly glory, talking with Moses and Elijah (9:28-30). For Jesus, times of prayer became opportunities for inviting the disciples into the really good news that he is the Messiah. We also find that the Lord prayed passionately. In his last moments with his disciples before his arrest, he prays, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done” (Lk 22:42). What always strikes me here is not the angel who then comes to strengthen him, nor even his sweat, “like great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (22:43-44). It’s actually what Mark tells us: “Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words” (Mk 14:39). Read that again: our Lord Jesus Christ—the One who spoke the world into existence, the One who speaks on every page of Scripture, the Word who became flesh—was praying so intensely, so passionately, that in that moment he ran out of words. All he could do was repeat himself. And for the first time… ever, his Father turned his face away. Which brings us to our final point from Christ’s own example: he not only prayed to God, he prayed with God. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reminds his disciples of this point. He says, Don’t get caught up in how long you pray or how many words you use, “For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Mt 6:7-8). Don’t forget who is really working when you pray: your Father. Not just “my Father,” Jesus says, but yours and mine. When we pray, we speak to our Father, Jesus prays with us, and the Spirit comes alongside us to help (Jn 14:12-18). When we pray like Jesus, we use his own words to bring glory to God, and God in turn fulfills our joy (Jn 15:7-8; 16:24). Don’t treat prayer as a duty, or a good work; treat it as an opportunity to commune with our holy and triune God. So how do we put all that together? How do we start the holy habit of daily prayer? How do we follow in the steps of Jesus? For now focus on this one thing, the same thing Jesus gave to his disciples: learn the Lord’s Prayer (Mt 6:9-13 N/KJV) and use it as an introduction or outline as you pray each day. If you already read Scripture each day, use the Lord’s words to pray through that passage. If you’re not quite there yet, think of other ways to turn your heart from the mundane to the holy, like praying though your newspaper, your bulletin, or even your newsfeed. Make prayer a priority, pray passionately about what concerns you most in the world, and remember with whom you pray: “For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” |
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