for Sunday, April 19, 2009

Reading Selections and Questions for Sunday, April 19th, 2009.

1) Isaiah 45:1-13
Cyrus was the future kind of Persia, who became the world power after Babylon. What was prophesied about him in this passage? What was God’s purpose in this plan? What was surprising about this plan?
Proverbs 21:1; Romans 9:17
What do these verses teach us about God’s role in world events? Who can stand against God?

2) Isaiah 45:1-13
What do these verses say about God’s power?
Psalm 19
What does this Psalm teach us about God’s power? What do these verses teach about God’s sovereignty? Use Psalm 19:12-14 as a prayer today.

3) 2 Chronicles 36:15-23: Ezra 1:1-4
How was Isaiah’s prophecy fulfilled? Why was Cyrus a seemingly unusual person for God to use this way?
Psalm 73:23-28
How can these verses be an encouragement in light of bad or scary national or world news? What do these verses add to your faith in God’s sovereignty?

4) Jeremiah 50:1-3; 11; 15; 18-20; 29; 33-38
God used Babylon to judge Judah’s unfaithfulness to Him, just like He had used Assyria to judge Israel’s idol worship. What do these verses tell us about Babylon’s later fate? Why were they being judged? What would be the end result of the judgment for Judah and Israel?