Comfort: God Restores the People - Bethany-UMC

Comfort: God Restores the People

Preparatory Scripture Readings: May 27 - 31
Sermon: June 1 & 2

Note: Having a good study Bible, one that has “notes” about the Scriptures, is especially
helpful with texts like these. Please see the Bethany website for additional study resources:
www.bethany-umc.org/jtb-study

Suggested Weekly Memory Verse: Psalm 30:11-12
You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with
joy, so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you
forever.

5 Days - Readings & Questions: Personal Reflections:

May 27
Isaiah 40-43; Psalm 101

Note: Keep in mind as you read in Isaiah
this week that most of chapters 1-39 are
set in the time before the Exile when
Judah was threatened by Assyria.
Chapters 40-66 relate to the period of
the Exile and the return to Jerusalem.
• As you read this week consider the

word “comfort”. What does comfort
mean? What does it look like to
you? Watch for word pictures that
speak to “comfort” and to God’s
restoration of Israel.
• Meditate on Isaiah 40:28-31,
perhaps as a prayer for yourself or
for someone else. Be attentive to
opportunities this week to offer
“comfort” to someone in need.

Sermon Questions for this topic will be available with the Sermon Audio on the website by the
Wednesday following the sermon: www.bethany-umc.org/worship/sermons

May 28
Isaiah 44-46; Isaiah 49-50; Psalm 102

• In Isaiah 45:1-13, Isaiah identifies an
unlikely source of comfort for Israel.
God has chosen Cyrus, king of Persia,
as one who will be an instrument in
delivering Israel from exile. Cyrus
will be the one who issues an edict
allowing them to return and rebuild
Jerusalem and the temple. (see Ezra
1:2-4 and 6:3-5) Have you seen or
experienced God acting in events
and persons who may not be aware
of divine guidance? What does that
tell you about God?

May 29
Isaiah 51-53; Psalm 103

• We read Isaiah 52:13-53:12 each
year at the end of our Tenebrae
Service on Good Friday as we
remember the suffering Jesus Christ
endured for us. Remembering that
Israel is in exile because of their own
disobedience, consider: “Israel may
have deserved God’s judgment but
its suffering is used by God to heal
and redeem the nations.” (Wesley
Study Bible note, pg 878) Then
consider that we are the ones,
because of our sin, who deserve
God’s judgment, but it is Jesus Christ
who suffers for us that we might be
forgiven, healed and redeemed.

• How is that significant for you

today?

Sermon Questions for this topic will be available with the Sermon Audio on the website by the
Wednesday following the sermon: www.bethany-umc.org/worship/sermons

May 30
Jeremiah 30-33; Psalm 104

• Jeremiah 30-33 often referred to as
“Book of Comfort”. Identify verses
that speak to that comfort for Israel.
How are those same verses
comforting for you?

• How is Jeremiah’s purchase of a field

in Anathoth (his hometown) an act
of faith and hope? In the midst of
difficult times, have you ever acted
in a similar way? How?

May 31 • In what ways do you think that
Ezekiel 1-5; Ezekiel 37; Isaiah (chapters 55,
61, 65) Psalm 105 Ezekiel 37 was a source of comfort
for Israel? In what ways is it a
• Ezekiel is in exile with the people comfort for you?
when he has the visions told in these
chapters. As you read chapter 1,
consider that “in a land far removed
from the Jerusalem temple and its
most sacred space, Ezekiel has seen
and heard the God of Israel.” In
other words, God is present. From
the Disciple Bible Study workbook:
“God is with us no matter how far
we travel geographically, no matter
how far we go away from God
spiritually, no matter how sever the
tragedy, no matter how salty the
tears.” (pg 91) How does this
resonate with your personal
experience?

Sermon Questions for this topic will be available with the Sermon Audio on the website by the
Wednesday following the sermon: www.bethany-umc.org/worship/sermons