Journey inside the pages of Scripture to meet a personal God who enters individual lives and begins a creative work from the inside out. Shaped with the individual in mind, Immersion encourages simultaneous engagement both with the Word of God and with the God of the Word to become a new creation in Christ. Immersion , inspired by a fresh translation―the Common English Bible ―stands firmly on Scripture and helps readers explore the emotional, spiritual, and intellectual needs of their personal faith. More importantly, they’ll be able to discover God’s revelation through readings and reflections. Take a refreshing plunge into the Bible. The Reverend Janice Catron is the pastor for John Knox Presbyterian Church in Louisville, KY. Prior to this position, she served on the national staff of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in various departments related to curriculum development for adults, book publication, and Presbyterian Women. Married to Gordon Berg, Janice is the author of God's Vision, Our Calling , the award-winning Job: Faith Remains When Understanding Fails , and numerous Bible studies, including Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations in the Immersion Bible Studies series. Jack A. Keller, Jr. served as project editor for the critically-acclaimed and best-selling New Interpreter's Bible commentary series. Dr. Keller is co-editor of the 26-volume Immersion Bible Studies series. A regular Sunday school teacher himself, he has been writing and editing resources for laity, pastors, students, and scholars for more than 25 years. Immersion Bible Studies: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations By Janice E. Catron, Pamela Dilmore Abingdon Press Copyright © 2012 Abingdon Press All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-4267-1637-9 Contents Immersion Bible Studies, 1. Prophecies of Judgment Against the Nations, 2. Prophecies in Favor of Israel, 3. Prophecies of Israel's Deliverance, 4. Prophecies of the Messiah, 5. Jeremiah's Call and His Warnings to Judah, 6. Prophecies Against Other Nations, 7. The Fall and Restoration of Jerusalem, 8. Mourning for Jerusalem's Holocaust, Leader Guide, CHAPTER 1 Prophecies of Judgment Against the Nations Isaiah 1–10; 13–23; 28–31; 36–39 Claim Your Story Have you ever known a saint? If the immediate image that comes to mind is an extraordinarily selfless or dedicated person—for example, Bishop Desmond Tutu or Mother Teresa—your answer might be no. If you think of the way Scripture describes a saint, however, then the answer is a definite yes! The apostle Paul describes saints, in essence, as all who feel called into relationship with God and who seek to live out that relationship with integrity. While the Old Testament writers use a somewhat different vocabulary, they too speak of this basic concept, usually in terms of God's covenant with us. For Isaiah, being right with God involved living according to God's desires, in other words, living a holy (or saintly) life. Looking around your own congregation, you will see a number of ways that people express their commitment to God. Many volunteer their time to help others either around the church or in the world at large. Within this, some commit themselves to work for justice just as Isaiah called on the Judeans to do. Some work to build a meaningful worship experience through supplying music, dance, liturgical leadership, or even such basic items as flowers or a weekly bulletin. Some offer their presence to comfort or to teach others. There are countless other acts of service as well. A vital church produces those who venture outside the sanctuary walls to carry God's message of love and justice to others rather than being content to let the weekly sermon suffice as social action and spiritual nourishment. Isaiah invites all of us to consider the gifts and talents that God has given to us and to use them for the communal good. He calls us to care about our neighbors, both close to home and around the globe. We have an opportunity, as Isaiah did, to commit ourselves humbly and in trust to do God's will in whatever way God chooses to use us. If we take that step, Isaiah promises, we will not only experience the fullness of God's grace for ourselves; but we will also be part of bringing it to the world. Enter the Bible Study This study on Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Lamentations covers significant events in Judah's history including the Syro-Ephraimitic war (735–732 B.C.), the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem (701 B.C.), and the fall to Babylonia in 587/586 B.C. These years were marked by struggles for political power and national security, as well as by injustice and oppression. The study of this history is important, in part, because it shows us how God is at work even in the worst times that human beings can devise. The relevance for our own lives is striking when we consider some of the topics addressed by Scriptures from Judah's day: the misuse of power, the corruption of justice, and the danger of false religion and