Topics of Special Interest to the Youth
In ten years of intensive study of Isaiah (which followed 25 years of interested but more casual study), I have observed that there are a couple of topics from Isaiah that will have particular interest and benefit to the youth. It is unlikely that you would ever know that these are in the Book of Isaiah. Both of these topics come out of a view of the structure of the book, and they are subjects that can be discussed while also covering the main point of Isaiah, which is the prophecy of Christ.
The first topic is an integration of faith and learning related subject. Based upon a decade of experience as a Christian educator I can say that integration of faith and learning was one of the best and most important things that we did. In Isaiah, there is an opportunity to combine the teaching of Biblical poetry and mathematics (specifically probability, which actually is not my favorite or most comfortable topic). You will say, “What?” “How can that be?” How can you learn about Biblical poetry and mathematics at the same time? Yes, I assure you it is possible.
The second topic is one of interest to all ages, but might have specific value for those in teenage years, and that is the identification and defeat of idols. This application is clearly in Isaiah 45 – 48, and it will take quite a bit of work to develop it in a useable format. It is possible this can be found somewhere else, but there are some specific things to write about based upon structure.
Chiastic Structures in Isaiah and the use of tools from Math/Probability.
The presentation below presents a high level overview of the first topic, for a specific unit in Isaiah, Isaiah 43:8 - 44:11. It has perhaps a scary title, but it is not too tough. Demand excellence. Do not bring a lazy mind or a second best effort to the study of the Scriptures. This presentation contains information you were not told in Sunday School, but ought to have been! Love the Lord with your mind as well as your emotions.
The Bible Exercise below (not a traditional Bible Study) will be challenging and educational to both young and older adults. It can optionally be paired with the presentation in the link above. This exercise demonstrates Isaiah’s amazing writing. By working through this exercise, you will further appreciate the depth and richness of our Christian cultural heritage. For those who have not already used Bible Hub (or Biblos), this exercise also introduces the use of that incredible tool provided by Bible Hub, a production of the Online Parallel Bible Project.
As time goes on, the hope is to break this down a little and add even more studies or exercises. It may take quite a while to get these topics properly covered and out on this website. It is also particularly valuable for the youth to work through the first couple of structural studies on Deuteronomy. Help them read Deuteronomy to get off to a good start. May the Lord bless us with revival through the study of His Word!