Judah, from Isaiah to Exile
This quarter invites us to discover and appreciate how God, through prophets and other leaders, gave help and guidance to the people of Judah. As we study these people, we will see God’s hand at work in their lives, just as he is at work in our lives and all human affairs.
Isaiah and the Renewal of the Temple
The first unit presents us with the prophetic ministry of Isaiah. These lessons recount the theological reasons for the decline of Judah, seen mainly through Isaiah and two faithful kings of Judah. Lesson 1 introduces the call of that prophet and the substance of his witness to a king of Judah (Isaiah 6:1–8; 38:1–5; see lesson 1).
While most kings of Israel and Judah earn bad grades from the writers of Kings and Chronicles, two seventh-century kings of Judah are revealed as seeking the Lord and reforming worship. King Hezekiah celebrates Passover according to what was written in the Law of Moses (2 Chronicles 30:1–9, 26–27; see lesson 2), while King Josiah is a “by-the-book strategist” who sought proper obedience to the Lord (34:15–22, 26–27; see lesson 3).
The destruction of the temple, according to Scripture, was the result of social injustice, moral decay, and covenantal disobedience. Isaiah finds a spark of hope in the devastation—the prophetic suffering of the people has a redemptive purpose, testifying to God’s judgment and restoration. Near the end of the Babylonian exile, the prophet envisages a humiliated and afflicted servant who carries the sins of many (Isaiah 52:13–53:12; see lesson 4).
Jeremiah and the Promise of Renewal
The second unit explores the prophetic career of Jeremiah, a prophet who lived during the worst of the Babylonian assault on Judah and Jerusalem. The Lord called Jeremiah to preach a harsh message to the people of Judah, one they wouldn’t heed (Jeremiah 26:8–9, 12–15; see lesson 5).
Through the prophet, the Lord warned the people: “Reform your ways and your actions” (Jeremiah 7:3; see lesson 6). The people had repeatedly forsaken the covenant; therefore, Jeremiah warns that judgment is coming. As Jerusalem teeters on the brink of extinction, Jeremiah is given a word of hope: after punishment, God will bring the people back home. On that day, the law of God will no longer be written in stone but on the human heart (31:33; see lesson 8).
Ezekiel and the Exile of Judah
The final lessons recount Ezekiel’s prophetic messages to the people in exile. The account of 2 Kings 24:18–25:9, detailing the last days of Judah, is hard to read, as it is full of violence and desperation (lesson 10). Into that environment, the prophet-priest Ezekiel, in Babylon among the exiles, reports the devastation in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 24:20–21; see lesson 11). His prophecies are replete with visions, signs, and symbolic actions, testifying to the utter ruin of the homeland and promises of renewal.
When Ezekiel’s wife dies, he obediently follows God’s command not to mourn as a sign to the people that no one will weep when Jerusalem falls (Ezekiel 24:15–16). Ezekiel serves as a “watchman” to the people, keeping the promise of a return from exile alive (33:7–16a; see lesson 12).
Ezekiel’s message reaches its hopeful climax in his vision of a renewed temple with water flowing from it (Ezekiel 47:1–12; see lesson 13). Ezekiel died in captivity, his life a living symbol that God’s Word is forever active, present, and powerful. His ministry helped transform the people into the remnant who find a renewed orientation for hope in the promises of God.
by Editorial Staff
Unit 1: Isaiah and the Renewal of the Temple
| Date | Title | Bible Text |
| September 7 | Isaiah’s Call and Ministry | Isaiah 6:1–8, Isaiah 38:1–5 |
| September 17 | Hezekiah’s Passover | 2 Chronicles 30:1–9, 26–27 |
| September 21 | Hilkiah’s Discovery | 2 Chronicles 34:15–22, 26–27 |
| September 28 | The Servant’s Suffering | Isaiah 53:1–7 |
Unit 2: Jeremiah and the Promise of Renewal
| Date | Title | Bible Text |
| October 5 | Jeremiah’s Call and Arrest | Jeremiah 1:6–10; 26:8–9, 12–15 |
| October 12 | Jeremiah’s Message | Jeremiah 7:1–11, 21–23 |
| October 19 | A Family’s Example | Jeremiah 35:5–11 |
| October 26 | Changes Promised | Jeremiah 31:29–34; John 1:17 |
| November 2 | Jeremiah’s Rescue | Jeremiah 38:7–13 |
Unit 3: Ezekiel and the Exile of Judah
| Date | Title | Bible Text |
| November 9 | Jerusalem’s Fall | 2 Kings 24:18–25:9 |
| November 16 | Ezekiel’s Sign | Ezekiel 3:10-11; 24:15-24, 27 |
| November 23 | Ezekiel’s Responsibility | Ezekiel 33:7–16a |
| November 30 | Ezekiel’s Vision | Ezekiel 47:1–9, 12 |