Isaiah points out that Ephraim’s leaders and clergy were saturated with drunkenness. How is drunkenness, or taking any of God’s good blessing (food, drink, sex, money,), and using them in overindulgence or indulgence at the expense of others relate to pride? How does pride blind people from seeing their faults? How can we as Christians guard against that kind of pride and behaviour? (1 Corinthians 10:31, 1 Peter 5:5-6) 

Isaiah describes the Ephraim leaders as proud and self-indulgent, partying even as destruction approached. Where do you see similar attitudes of false security in our culture today? Christians are not immune to common human vices, how can you guard against things you know are your greatest temptation? (Psalm 119:11, Psalm 139:23-24) How should the church treat people who have vices they frequently give into? (Galatians 6:1) 

God is sovereign over all, including judgement—even using nations like Assyria as instruments. How does God’s sovereignty in judgement be a comfort to the believer? (Lamentations 3:37–39, Romans 8:28) 

Isaiah's critics dismissed God's clear warnings and teaching of God’s word as simplistic baby talk (verses 9-10). Why do you think people—including some religious leaders—sometimes treat Scripture as outdated or irrelevant? (Consider 2 Timothy 4:10, Colossians 2:18) What is the correlation between false doctrine and errant lifestyle? (Titus 1:16, 1 Timothy 6:3-5) 

How can we guard against viewing parts of God's Word as less important or applicable? (2 Timothy 3:16) When someone challenges God’s word and perhaps causes doubt in our mind what are some ways we can overcome those doubts? 

How should the fact that God would save some out of the drunken revelry encourage us in our evangelism? God would use judgement and suffering to bring out a remnant. How could this encourage us when we are constantly stonewalled by proud people we try to evangelise? 

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