We know that Northview people love to be in God’s Word and often ask for direction on different devotional apps and reading plans.
While there are several good options available through various sources, we’d like to encourage you to join in our Northview Devotional Guide which will guide you to read and reflect on the passages preached in our weekend sermons! We hope this will unite our congregation around the study of God’s Word, and help us to more readily absorb and apply the great teaching provided by our preaching pastors. Each week we’ll be providing a suggested schedule for working through a passage slowly (15 minutes a day). You’ll need a Bible and a notebook or blank paper to record your observations.
Each day we endeavour to 1) understand the story of the characters in the text; 2) connect to His story; and then 3) apply it to our story through adoration, confession and supplication.
DAY ONE | UNDERSTAND THEIR STORY
As we seek to understand the story of the people of Israel in this text, we’ll work backwards through the content.
- In Isaiah 50:1-2a, the LORD explains why there is a rift between him and his people.
- What images does He use to describe the separation they are feeling?
- What rationale does He use to explain his actions? Why did he send them away and sell them?
- What do these verses teach you about God? What does he look for and expect from his people?
Pray today in Confession. How do you deserve to be treated by God because of your own iniquities and transgressions?
DAY TWO | UNDERSTAND THEIR STORY
- In Isaiah 49:14-26, Isaiah records Israel’s complaints and questions, and God’s response.
- What is Israel’s core complaint in verse 14?
- How does God answer their complaint in verses 15-17? How does he feel about them?
- What does God promise in verses 19-20 and 22-26 about their “children”?
- What questions will Israel ask when God provides them with “children” (verse 21)?
Pray in Adoration today. Thank God for how deeply he loves his people!
DAY THREE | CONNECT TO HIS STORY
- In Isaiah 49:14-50:3, The LORD assures Israel that he will physically rescue them from exile in Babylon, but in the first few verses of this text, he speaks of a different deliverance which will also come through his “servant”.
- What does the servant say that God has called him to do in Isaiah 49:1-6?
- How will people respond to this servant according to verse 4 and verse 7?
- In the Gospel of Luke, an elderly man named Simeon meets Mary and Joseph when they bring Jesus into the temple to be presented to the LORD. Read Luke 2:25-32. What does Simeon affirm about Jesus as he echoes Isaiah 49:6?
Pray in Adoration today. God kept his promise to Israel, by sending Jesus.
DAY FOUR | CONNECT TO HIS STORY
- Yesterday we saw that Simeon made the connection between Jesus and Isaiah’s “servant”. Today we’ll examine further connections between this promise and its New Testament fulfillment.
- Read John 1:10-11. How is this text connected to Isaiah 49:1-7?
- Read John 8:12 and John 9:1-5. What does Jesus call himself? How is this imagery connected to Isaiah 49:1-7?
- Read Isaiah 49:8-12, and then Revelation 7:13-17. How does Revelation echo the language of Isaiah?
These texts demonstrate that God’s physical rescue of his people points forward to his spiritual rescue through Jesus. Pray in Adoration that the LORD is committed to rescuing his people!
DAY FIVE | APPLY TO OUR STORY
- The Apostle Paul asserts that he understands his mission in light of Isaiah 49:6 and 8.
- Read Acts 13:44-52. How is Paul continuing the mission which was initiated by Jesus?
- Read 2 Corinthians 6:1-2. How is Paul urging people to respond to God’s offer of salvation through Jesus?
- Reflect: Have you responded to God’s offer of salvation? Are you presenting this offer to others?
Pray today in Supplication. Ask God to empower you to be a light to the nations, an instrument of his salvation, to those who do not yet know Him or his servant, Jesus.