Ezekiel 18
1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel:
“‘The parents eat sour grapes,
and the children’s teeth are set on edge’?
3 “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. 4 For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. The one who sins is the one who will die.
What an important scripture. Later it says that if a wicked man changes his ways his sins will be remembered no more. All of us have the chance to be pleasing to God. God is just and merciful.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
August 18th
This has been a very powerful day of reading for me.
First, how powerful was the part where God said that even if Noah, Daniel and Job were in Jerusalem, they could not save it, but they themselves would be saved. More powerful was the part that even their children could not be saved from the punishment that was coming. This reminds us of Sodom and Gomorrah. What a powerful statement that Jerusalem had become so wicked that it was worse than Sodom!
Secondly, I had not remembered the story in Ezekiel where God compares Israel to an abandoned child that he found and rescued. She grew with His help and became beautiful. He entered into a covenant relationship with her (married her) and gave her fine cloths and shoes, fine food and drink, perfumes, gold jewelry and a crown. She became beautiful and renowned with God's care. Then God says that she gave herself away to any one that would look at her. She used all of the good things that God had given her to build and worship idols. She was worse than a prostitute, because she refused pay, but instead chased after all of her lovers (other nations) throwing all of her wealth at them like a starved for love, depraved, lewd degenerate. How very hurt God was by all of this! This is so powerful to me, because it tells me that we can really hurt God when we are unfaithful to Him. Let us ever be careful to really be true to him.
First, how powerful was the part where God said that even if Noah, Daniel and Job were in Jerusalem, they could not save it, but they themselves would be saved. More powerful was the part that even their children could not be saved from the punishment that was coming. This reminds us of Sodom and Gomorrah. What a powerful statement that Jerusalem had become so wicked that it was worse than Sodom!
Secondly, I had not remembered the story in Ezekiel where God compares Israel to an abandoned child that he found and rescued. She grew with His help and became beautiful. He entered into a covenant relationship with her (married her) and gave her fine cloths and shoes, fine food and drink, perfumes, gold jewelry and a crown. She became beautiful and renowned with God's care. Then God says that she gave herself away to any one that would look at her. She used all of the good things that God had given her to build and worship idols. She was worse than a prostitute, because she refused pay, but instead chased after all of her lovers (other nations) throwing all of her wealth at them like a starved for love, depraved, lewd degenerate. How very hurt God was by all of this! This is so powerful to me, because it tells me that we can really hurt God when we are unfaithful to Him. Let us ever be careful to really be true to him.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
August 16th
In today's reading I was fascinated by God's taking Ezekiel by means of a vision to the Temple in Jerusalem to watch the detestable things that the people and elders were doing there. I was also impressed with the story of how God removed His presence from the place. The stories of retribution of terrifying. It's an awful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God. Indeed, how could he have left it there any longer? I still wonder what happened to the Ark.
Monday, August 15, 2011
August 15th
Amazing things in today's reading:
-Ezekiel 1
25 Then there came a voice from above the vault over their heads as they stood with lowered wings. 26 Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throne of lapis lazuli, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. 27 I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.
This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
What an awesome description of God! God wanted to impress upon the people just how powerful He was.
-Ezekiel 3
16 At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me: 17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 18 When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for[b] their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 19 But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.
What a heavy burden that he and we have when we know the truth! If we don't let them know of their sin, then part of the guilt rests upon us as well. What a convicting concept.
-Ezekiel 4
God has Ezekiel lie on his side for over 300 days! The pain that he must have endured to be obedient! God required a lot from him and somehow I think that He wants total devotion from us as well.
-Ezekiel 1
25 Then there came a voice from above the vault over their heads as they stood with lowered wings. 26 Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throne of lapis lazuli, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. 27 I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.
This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
What an awesome description of God! God wanted to impress upon the people just how powerful He was.
-Ezekiel 3
16 At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me: 17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 18 When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for[b] their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 19 But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.
What a heavy burden that he and we have when we know the truth! If we don't let them know of their sin, then part of the guilt rests upon us as well. What a convicting concept.
-Ezekiel 4
God has Ezekiel lie on his side for over 300 days! The pain that he must have endured to be obedient! God required a lot from him and somehow I think that He wants total devotion from us as well.
August 14th
Several things that I like about today's reading:
-God reveals that it is the Medes that will bring about Babylon's downfall and it actually happens.
-God says that the capital of Babylon will be completely destroyed and never rebuilt. I thing that Sadam was trying to excavate and rebuild the capital, but was stopped by the war. Is this true?
-God reveals that it is the Medes that will bring about Babylon's downfall and it actually happens.
-God says that the capital of Babylon will be completely destroyed and never rebuilt. I thing that Sadam was trying to excavate and rebuild the capital, but was stopped by the war. Is this true?
Saturday, August 13, 2011
August 13th
Jeremiah 23
33 “When these people, or a prophet or a priest, ask you, ‘What is the message from the LORD?’ say to them, ‘What message? I will forsake you, declares the LORD.’ 34 If a prophet or a priest or anyone else claims, ‘This is a message from the LORD,’ I will punish them and their household. 35 This is what each of you keeps saying to your friends and other Israelites: ‘What is the LORD’s answer?’ or ‘What has the LORD spoken?’ 36 But you must not mention ‘a message from the LORD’ again, because each one’s word becomes their own message. So you distort the words of the living God, the LORD Almighty, our God. 37 This is what you keep saying to a prophet: ‘What is the LORD’s answer to you?’ or ‘What has the LORD spoken?’ 38 Although you claim, ‘This is a message from the LORD,’ this is what the LORD says: You used the words, ‘This is a message from the LORD,’ even though I told you that you must not claim, ‘This is a message from the LORD.’ 39 Therefore, I will surely forget you and cast you out of my presence along with the city I gave to you and your ancestors. 40I will bring on you everlasting disgrace—everlasting shame that will not be forgotten.”
I'm starting to gain new understanding as to why God hates false teachers and prophets. They drown out the truth that God is trying to get to his people. A few days ago in the reading Jeremiah complains that no one is listening to anything that God is saying to them, because they have all of these false prophets running around. This gets to why it is a serious thing to be a teacher. It is a sin to mislead the people.
33 “When these people, or a prophet or a priest, ask you, ‘What is the message from the LORD?’ say to them, ‘What message? I will forsake you, declares the LORD.’ 34 If a prophet or a priest or anyone else claims, ‘This is a message from the LORD,’ I will punish them and their household. 35 This is what each of you keeps saying to your friends and other Israelites: ‘What is the LORD’s answer?’ or ‘What has the LORD spoken?’ 36 But you must not mention ‘a message from the LORD’ again, because each one’s word becomes their own message. So you distort the words of the living God, the LORD Almighty, our God. 37 This is what you keep saying to a prophet: ‘What is the LORD’s answer to you?’ or ‘What has the LORD spoken?’ 38 Although you claim, ‘This is a message from the LORD,’ this is what the LORD says: You used the words, ‘This is a message from the LORD,’ even though I told you that you must not claim, ‘This is a message from the LORD.’ 39 Therefore, I will surely forget you and cast you out of my presence along with the city I gave to you and your ancestors. 40I will bring on you everlasting disgrace—everlasting shame that will not be forgotten.”
I'm starting to gain new understanding as to why God hates false teachers and prophets. They drown out the truth that God is trying to get to his people. A few days ago in the reading Jeremiah complains that no one is listening to anything that God is saying to them, because they have all of these false prophets running around. This gets to why it is a serious thing to be a teacher. It is a sin to mislead the people.
August 12th
Jeremiah 23
23 “Am I only a God nearby,”
declares the LORD,
“and not a God far away?
24 Who can hide in secret places
so that I cannot see them?”
declares the LORD.
“Do not I fill heaven and earth?”
declares the LORD.
God's omnipotence. God's omniscience. God's omnipresence.
23 “Am I only a God nearby,”
declares the LORD,
“and not a God far away?
24 Who can hide in secret places
so that I cannot see them?”
declares the LORD.
“Do not I fill heaven and earth?”
declares the LORD.
God's omnipotence. God's omniscience. God's omnipresence.
August 11th
Jeremiah's letter to the captives in Babylon speaks of hope. God has not forgotten them even though it seems like they are being so harshly punished. Remember that these are people like Daniel. He instructs them to pray for the land that they are in, because if it prospers so will they. I think that there are many lessons here for us as well.
August 10th
In today's reading it says that Nebuchadnezzar hauled off all of the Temple treasures away from Jerusalem. Does this include the Ark? I have always been fascinated with where it ended up. Is it in Egypt? Is it buried in Babylon? Did God take it up to heaven? I wish I knew!
August 9th
Jeremiah 49:
12 This is what the LORD says: “If those who do not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, why should you go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, but must drink it. 13 I swear by myself,” declares the LORD, “that Bozrah will become a ruin and a curse,[b] an object of horror and reproach; and all its towns will be in ruins forever.”
This gets to a hard truth. There were many faithful people that had to endure this punishment of going into exile. In fact, if I understand the scriptures correctly, most of the people that went were the most faithful. In that way God protected them to bring them back after 70 years. Those left behind were wiped out. It's a hard truth that sometimes all of us have to endure the Lord's discipline, but we must remember that we are the clay and He is the potter.
12 This is what the LORD says: “If those who do not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, why should you go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, but must drink it. 13 I swear by myself,” declares the LORD, “that Bozrah will become a ruin and a curse,[b] an object of horror and reproach; and all its towns will be in ruins forever.”
This gets to a hard truth. There were many faithful people that had to endure this punishment of going into exile. In fact, if I understand the scriptures correctly, most of the people that went were the most faithful. In that way God protected them to bring them back after 70 years. Those left behind were wiped out. It's a hard truth that sometimes all of us have to endure the Lord's discipline, but we must remember that we are the clay and He is the potter.
August 8th
Some days are filled with the best reading and this is one of these days.
Nebuchadnezzar has always fascinated me. He was so powerful and also really intimidating. This whole thing where he demanded that the wise men tell him the dream that he was dreaming or they would be put to death exemplifies this attitude. He was a hard man. This gives more of a chance for Daniel to shine through with the Lord's true power of foretelling the future. This dream and interpretation is so powerful, because the dates of these books can so accurately be established through the dead sea scrolls. I heard a man say the other day that the most powerful thing to show nonbelievers is prophesy and this one really brings that home.
Nebuchadnezzar has always fascinated me. He was so powerful and also really intimidating. This whole thing where he demanded that the wise men tell him the dream that he was dreaming or they would be put to death exemplifies this attitude. He was a hard man. This gives more of a chance for Daniel to shine through with the Lord's true power of foretelling the future. This dream and interpretation is so powerful, because the dates of these books can so accurately be established through the dead sea scrolls. I heard a man say the other day that the most powerful thing to show nonbelievers is prophesy and this one really brings that home.
August 7th
It took a lot of guts for Jehoiakim to burn the scroll that Jeremiah had written to him from the Lord. As each page was read aloud he then had it burned. It just goes to show that you can have unabashed courage that is often misplaced. Perhaps he was mostly arrogant and impressed with himself and his idols. Or perhaps he listened to all of the false prophets that were saying, "Peace and safety." I'm sure that the Lord will bring this matter up to him again some day soon.
August 5th
Hab. 2
18 “Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman?
Or an image that teaches lies?
For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation;
he makes idols that cannot speak.
19 Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’
Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’
Can it give guidance?
It is covered with gold and silver;
there is no breath in it.”
20 The LORD is in his holy temple;
let all the earth be silent before him.
The last verse really strikes me. So many people of yesterday worshiped idols and today we worship ourselves and money. Very few of us take time to stop and be silent before the Lord. Oh Lord, help us to truly understand (as best we can) who you are so that we will be silent before you.
18 “Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman?
Or an image that teaches lies?
For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation;
he makes idols that cannot speak.
19 Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’
Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’
Can it give guidance?
It is covered with gold and silver;
there is no breath in it.”
20 The LORD is in his holy temple;
let all the earth be silent before him.
The last verse really strikes me. So many people of yesterday worshiped idols and today we worship ourselves and money. Very few of us take time to stop and be silent before the Lord. Oh Lord, help us to truly understand (as best we can) who you are so that we will be silent before you.
August 3rd
As I have said before, I love Josiah for his commitment to God. I was sad to see him killed in battle especially after being warned from the Pharaoh, but I wonder if God didn't just call him home because of the punishment that He had in store for Judah.
August 2nd
Today's reading shocked me with how far the people of Israel had fallen. They had Baal and Asherah idols in the Temple and even had male shrine prostitutes in the Temple. How did God hold back from raining fire down from heaven to wipe that place out. How could all of that detestable stuff be in such close proximity of the Ark of the Covenant which was so holy. I can just imagine the terrible anger of God smoldering about this. His chosen people desecrating everything that He had said was holy was just too much to bear.
August 1st
Jeremiah 18:
I like how God reminds us that He is the potter and can make any nation conform to the purpose He has in mind. How awesome and powerful God is!
I like how God reminds us that He is the potter and can make any nation conform to the purpose He has in mind. How awesome and powerful God is!
July 31st
Jeremiah 15
Then the LORD said to me: “Even if Moses and Samuel were to stand before me, my heart would not go out to this people. Send them away from my presence! Let them go! 2 And if they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ tell them, ‘This is what the LORD says:
“‘Those destined for death, to death;
those for the sword, to the sword;
those for starvation, to starvation;
those for captivity, to captivity.’
I have never noticed this powerful statement from God. How very upset God is with His disobedient people!
Then the LORD said to me: “Even if Moses and Samuel were to stand before me, my heart would not go out to this people. Send them away from my presence! Let them go! 2 And if they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ tell them, ‘This is what the LORD says:
“‘Those destined for death, to death;
those for the sword, to the sword;
those for starvation, to starvation;
those for captivity, to captivity.’
I have never noticed this powerful statement from God. How very upset God is with His disobedient people!
July 29th
Jeremiah 9
23 This is what the LORD says:
“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom
or the strong boast of their strength
or the rich boast of their riches,
24 but let the one who boasts boast about this:
that they have the understanding to know me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,”
declares the LORD.
Truth!
23 This is what the LORD says:
“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom
or the strong boast of their strength
or the rich boast of their riches,
24 but let the one who boasts boast about this:
that they have the understanding to know me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,”
declares the LORD.
Truth!
July 28th
Jeremiah 7
21 “‘This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go ahead, add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices and eat the meat yourselves! 22 For when I brought your ancestors out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices, 23 but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you.
Legalism is easy to fall into. It gives us the idea that we just have to do a few things to be good enough for the Lord, but He really wants our hearts (this is the devotion of obedience that Jesus spoke of when he said if you love me you'll obey my commandments).
July 27th
Jeremiah 5
20 “Announce this to the descendants of Jacob
and proclaim it in Judah:
21 Hear this, you foolish and senseless people,
who have eyes but do not see,
who have ears but do not hear:
22 Should you not fear me?” declares the LORD.
“Should you not tremble in my presence?
I made the sand a boundary for the sea,
an everlasting barrier it cannot cross.
The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail;
they may roar, but they cannot cross it.
23 But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts;
they have turned aside and gone away.
24 They do not say to themselves,
‘Let us fear the LORD our God,
who gives autumn and spring rains in season,
who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.’
25 Your wrongdoings have kept these away;
your sins have deprived you of good.
God says, "Should you not fear me?" He is all powerful, but they and we don't take Him seriously. Most people in America do not fear God. They have come to think of Him as some fictitious white haired man in the sky that is an invention of the weak minded. The last verse really gets me. Our sins deprive us of the good that the Lord wants to do for us. Oh that we would just be obedient!
20 “Announce this to the descendants of Jacob
and proclaim it in Judah:
21 Hear this, you foolish and senseless people,
who have eyes but do not see,
who have ears but do not hear:
22 Should you not fear me?” declares the LORD.
“Should you not tremble in my presence?
I made the sand a boundary for the sea,
an everlasting barrier it cannot cross.
The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail;
they may roar, but they cannot cross it.
23 But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts;
they have turned aside and gone away.
24 They do not say to themselves,
‘Let us fear the LORD our God,
who gives autumn and spring rains in season,
who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.’
25 Your wrongdoings have kept these away;
your sins have deprived you of good.
God says, "Should you not fear me?" He is all powerful, but they and we don't take Him seriously. Most people in America do not fear God. They have come to think of Him as some fictitious white haired man in the sky that is an invention of the weak minded. The last verse really gets me. Our sins deprive us of the good that the Lord wants to do for us. Oh that we would just be obedient!
July 26th
Jeremiah 3
1 “If a man divorces his wife
and she leaves him and marries another man,
should he return to her again?
Would not the land be completely defiled?
But you have lived as a prostitute with many lovers—
would you now return to me?”
declares the LORD.
What must the Lord think about our Hollywood and all that goes on there and elsewhere across the nation. God punished Israel with lack of rain and other hardships. I know that they were in a covenant with God, but I wonder if God might not also treat us to the same doses of discipline. Seems likely.
1 “If a man divorces his wife
and she leaves him and marries another man,
should he return to her again?
Would not the land be completely defiled?
But you have lived as a prostitute with many lovers—
would you now return to me?”
declares the LORD.
What must the Lord think about our Hollywood and all that goes on there and elsewhere across the nation. God punished Israel with lack of rain and other hardships. I know that they were in a covenant with God, but I wonder if God might not also treat us to the same doses of discipline. Seems likely.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
July 25th
Jeremiah 2
In verse 10-12 God makes the assertion that even the pagan nations around Israel were more faithful to their gods that Israel was to the one true God. How very sad!
In verse 10-12 God makes the assertion that even the pagan nations around Israel were more faithful to their gods that Israel was to the one true God. How very sad!
July 24th
Zephaniah 1
17 “I will bring such distress on all people
that they will grope about like those who are blind,
because they have sinned against the LORD.
Their blood will be poured out like dust
and their entrails like dung.
18 Neither their silver nor their gold
will be able to save them
on the day of the LORD’s wrath.”
that they will grope about like those who are blind,
because they have sinned against the LORD.
Their blood will be poured out like dust
and their entrails like dung.
18 Neither their silver nor their gold
will be able to save them
on the day of the LORD’s wrath.”
In the fire of his jealousy
the whole earth will be consumed,
for he will make a sudden end
of all who live on the earth.
the whole earth will be consumed,
for he will make a sudden end
of all who live on the earth.
We recently visited Pompeii. The terrible destruction was palpable. There was one man that died trying to escape with a bag of gold and silver coins. They laid with his bones for centuries and weren't any help at all. So it is with all of us who trust in our riches rather in God.
July 23rd
I love Josiah. He was a person who came into power and had the guts and moral courage to do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. God bless him!
July 21st
Isaiah 65:
I will create a new heaven and earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind!
What a promise!
Isaiah 64:
We are the clay, you are the potter; we are the work of your hands. ...don't remember our sins forever!
I will create a new heaven and earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind!
What a promise!
Isaiah 64:
We are the clay, you are the potter; we are the work of your hands. ...don't remember our sins forever!
July 20th
What a glorious time to live in the year of the Lord's favor! Isaiah prophesied it, Jesus announced it. We witness to it.
because the LORD has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.
The Year of the LORD’s Favor
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,because the LORD has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.
Monday, July 18, 2011
July 19th
Isaiah 58
1 “Shout it aloud, do not hold back.
Raise your voice like a trumpet.
Declare to my people their rebellion
and to the descendants of Jacob their sins.
2 For day after day they seek me out;
they seem eager to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that does what is right
and has not forsaken the commands of its God.
They ask me for just decisions
and seem eager for God to come near them.
3 ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say,
‘and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
and you have not noticed?’
“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
and exploit all your workers.
4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
and expect your voice to be heard on high.
5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
only a day for people to humble themselves?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed
and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD?
6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness[a] will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
11 The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
This scripture shouts volumes about true worship. Going through the motions of worship and then treating your fellow man with contempt is not acceptable to God. In fact, it's detestable. It makes sense, because if we are to be like God then we will be kind to others just as He is gracious to the good and the evil people on earth. Other people are the proving field of good deeds that we may do. We are the Lord's tools in His helping of others.
1 “Shout it aloud, do not hold back.
Raise your voice like a trumpet.
Declare to my people their rebellion
and to the descendants of Jacob their sins.
2 For day after day they seek me out;
they seem eager to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that does what is right
and has not forsaken the commands of its God.
They ask me for just decisions
and seem eager for God to come near them.
3 ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say,
‘and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
and you have not noticed?’
“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
and exploit all your workers.
4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
and expect your voice to be heard on high.
5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
only a day for people to humble themselves?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed
and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD?
6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness[a] will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
11 The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
This scripture shouts volumes about true worship. Going through the motions of worship and then treating your fellow man with contempt is not acceptable to God. In fact, it's detestable. It makes sense, because if we are to be like God then we will be kind to others just as He is gracious to the good and the evil people on earth. Other people are the proving field of good deeds that we may do. We are the Lord's tools in His helping of others.
July 18th
Isaiah 55
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
12 You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the LORD’s renown,
for an everlasting sign,
that will endure forever.”
I am really enjoying all of the direct quotations from God in Isaiah. I had forgotten that this book probably has more of that than any other. Indeed, God's thoughts are not like my puny thoughts. We are so small in comparison. He waits for us to call out to Him for help and care. Help us to remember to be wise enough to do that!
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
12 You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the LORD’s renown,
for an everlasting sign,
that will endure forever.”
I am really enjoying all of the direct quotations from God in Isaiah. I had forgotten that this book probably has more of that than any other. Indeed, God's thoughts are not like my puny thoughts. We are so small in comparison. He waits for us to call out to Him for help and care. Help us to remember to be wise enough to do that!
July 17th
Isaiah 53
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
Answered 700 years later in 2 Corinthians 5
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
What is it to become the righteousness of God? How can we who are so sinful attain such a glory? Only through the blood of Christ that washes and removes all of the sin that separates us from God. Therefore we can stand in His presence. Thanks to Christ.
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
Answered 700 years later in 2 Corinthians 5
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
What is it to become the righteousness of God? How can we who are so sinful attain such a glory? Only through the blood of Christ that washes and removes all of the sin that separates us from God. Therefore we can stand in His presence. Thanks to Christ.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
July 16th
Here in Isaiah 48 I like that God tells them that He teaches them what is best for them. So true even today. God is also so sad the people wouldn’t turn so that He could lavish His blessings on them. Such a sad story.
16 “Come near me and listen to this:
“From the first announcement I have not spoken in secret;
at the time it happens, I am there.”
at the time it happens, I am there.”
And now the Sovereign LORD has sent me,
endowed with his Spirit.
endowed with his Spirit.
17 This is what the LORD says—
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am the LORD your God,
who teaches you what is best for you,
who directs you in the way you should go.
18 If only you had paid attention to my commands,
your peace would have been like a river,
your well-being like the waves of the sea.
19 Your descendants would have been like the sand,
your children like its numberless grains;
their name would never be blotted out
nor destroyed from before me.”
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am the LORD your God,
who teaches you what is best for you,
who directs you in the way you should go.
18 If only you had paid attention to my commands,
your peace would have been like a river,
your well-being like the waves of the sea.
19 Your descendants would have been like the sand,
your children like its numberless grains;
their name would never be blotted out
nor destroyed from before me.”
July 15th
In Isaiah 47 God calls out the pride of the Babylonians. He flat out says that they say of themselves, "I am." I never noticed this before, because they are basically saying that they are just like God. That's a great way to get knocked down. Does modern mad often say the same thing in a humanistic way?
10 You have trusted in your wickedness
and have said, ‘No one sees me.’
Your wisdom and knowledge mislead you
when you say to yourself,
‘I am, and there is none besides me.’
10 You have trusted in your wickedness
and have said, ‘No one sees me.’
Your wisdom and knowledge mislead you
when you say to yourself,
‘I am, and there is none besides me.’
July 14th
Another thing I like about today's reading is found in Isaiah 44. The idea that God puts forward that nobody stops to think about how stupid it is to hold on to the belief that this block of wood can save them really reminds me of how so many people hang on to the belief that this whole universe just happened on its own and sprang from pure chance and nothingness. How completely stupid. How can you look at the complexity of life of this earth and still hold fast to the idea that there can be no God. Nonsence....
16 Half of the wood he burns in the fire;
over it he prepares his meal,
he roasts his meat and eats his fill.
He also warms himself and says,
“Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.”
17 From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
he bows down to it and worships.
He prays to it and says,
“Save me! You are my god!”
18 They know nothing, they understand nothing;
their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see,
and their minds closed so they cannot understand.
19 No one stops to think,
no one has the knowledge or understanding to say,
“Half of it I used for fuel;
I even baked bread over its coals,
I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left?
Shall I bow down to a block of wood?” 20 Such a person feeds on ashes; a deluded heart misleads him;
he cannot save himself, or say,
“Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”
over it he prepares his meal,
he roasts his meat and eats his fill.
He also warms himself and says,
“Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.”
17 From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
he bows down to it and worships.
He prays to it and says,
“Save me! You are my god!”
18 They know nothing, they understand nothing;
their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see,
and their minds closed so they cannot understand.
19 No one stops to think,
no one has the knowledge or understanding to say,
“Half of it I used for fuel;
I even baked bread over its coals,
I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left?
Shall I bow down to a block of wood?” 20 Such a person feeds on ashes; a deluded heart misleads him;
he cannot save himself, or say,
“Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”
21 “Remember these things, Jacob,
for you,Israel
for you,
July 14th
What a powerful verse. Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker. Woe to us when we forget that we are just clay pots that hold the glorious treasure that the Lord bestows. He has the right to do with us what He deems appropriate, but many of us lose our faith when hard times come about.
“Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker,
those who are nothing but potsherds
among the potsherds on the ground.
Does the clay say to the potter,
‘What are you making?’
Does your work say,
‘The potter has no hands’?
10 Woe to the one who says to a father,
‘What have you begotten?’
or to a mother,
‘What have you brought to birth?’
those who are nothing but potsherds
among the potsherds on the ground.
Does the clay say to the potter,
‘What are you making?’
Does your work say,
‘The potter has no hands’?
10 Woe to the one who says to a father,
‘What have you begotten?’
or to a mother,
‘What have you brought to birth?’
11 “This is what the LORD says—
the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker:
Concerning things to come,
do you question me about my children,
or give me orders about the work of my hands?
12 It is I who made the earth
and created mankind on it.
My own hands stretched out the heavens;
I marshaled their starry hosts.
the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker:
Concerning things to come,
do you question me about my children,
or give me orders about the work of my hands?
12 It is I who made the earth
and created mankind on it.
My own hands stretched out the heavens;
I marshaled their starry hosts.
July 13th
I liked these verses in Isaiah 42.
8 “I am the LORD; that is my name!
I will not yield my glory to another
or my praise to idols.
9 See, the former things have taken place,
and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
I announce them to you.”
One thing that I am really enjoying in this current set of readings is hearing so much of God directly speaking and explaining why He does what He does. Why all of the prophesies? Later He states that it is so people cannot look to idols and say that they caused the events of the day. I wonder, if this section of the Bible doesn't have more direct quotes from God than any other. The Lord is amazing. The problem is that we tend to forget that and in this verse He has to announce this Himself, when it should have been continually being said from His people.
8 “I am the LORD; that is my name!
I will not yield my glory to another
or my praise to idols.
9 See, the former things have taken place,
and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
I announce them to you.”
One thing that I am really enjoying in this current set of readings is hearing so much of God directly speaking and explaining why He does what He does. Why all of the prophesies? Later He states that it is so people cannot look to idols and say that they caused the events of the day. I wonder, if this section of the Bible doesn't have more direct quotes from God than any other. The Lord is amazing. The problem is that we tend to forget that and in this verse He has to announce this Himself, when it should have been continually being said from His people.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
July 12th
This passage has Isaiah comforting the people who will be in exile in Babylon
July 11th
This is the shortest reading that I remember this year! It strikes a chord though. Hezekiah was a good king and had led the people back to God. God referred to him as the "leader of my people." In other words, He was pleased with Hezekiah and loved him. Hezekiah's son, Manasseh, however was wicked. He led Judah back to Idol worship and killed many innocent people in Jerusalem Judah
July 10th
Wow! What a day of reading! First of all, I don't know, if people understand what a tremendous miracle it is to make the shadow go backward 10 steps. This involves changing the whole earth's motion, without killing everything on the earth when it is suddenly stopped from its rotating. You see we are all going at about 1000 miles an hour as we revolve about the axis of the earth. We have lots of momentum. Some people try to explain away the miracles in the Bible by natural occurrences (a wind that dried out the Red Sea or a landslide that caused the Jordan River to back up to state a few that I have heard). This is all God or it didn't happen at all and I choose to believe that God has the GREAT strength to do this.
Secondly, when the leader of the Assyrian army calls out the people and basically rebukes them for believing in the Lord this is such a dramatic confrontation. It would have been terrifying to see that vast "unbeaten" army before your gates taunting you with threats of torture and annihilation. I love how Hezekiah took it before the Lord laying the wicked letter out before His alter. I love that the Lord went and kicked the butt of the Assyrian army causing them to turn tail and run. This is my God whom I am proud of. He is powerful and fiercely defends those whom He loves. Great is my God!
Secondly, when the leader of the Assyrian army calls out the people and basically rebukes them for believing in the Lord this is such a dramatic confrontation. It would have been terrifying to see that vast "unbeaten" army before your gates taunting you with threats of torture and annihilation. I love how Hezekiah took it before the Lord laying the wicked letter out before His alter. I love that the Lord went and kicked the butt of the Assyrian army causing them to turn tail and run. This is my God whom I am proud of. He is powerful and fiercely defends those whom He loves. Great is my God!
July 9th
Several things impressed me about this reading. One was that God told Isaiah to embarrass himself by stripping down and prophesying against Judah Egypt Egypt
Thursday, July 7, 2011
July 8th
This passage dealt with the people that the Assyrians transplanted back into Israel. Because they did not worship God in His land, he sent lions to devour them. The Assyrian king had a Jewish priest go teach the people how to worship the Lord. This makes me wonder about what the Lord requires of us as we worship him. Does anything go or is there a way that He wants to be worshipped? I pray that God will have mercy on people that don't worship Him with the "understanding" that He thinks that they should have.
July 7th
For this people is a people without understanding so their Creator has no compassion on them. How important it is for us to contemplate God and what He desires for us in this life. He expects it of us.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
July 6th
7 And these also stagger from wine
and reel from beer:
Priests and prophets stagger from beer
and are befuddled with wine;
they reel from beer,
they stagger when seeing visions,
they stumble when rendering decisions.
8 All the tables are covered with vomit
and there is not a spot without filth.
and reel from beer:
Priests and prophets stagger from beer
and are befuddled with wine;
they reel from beer,
they stagger when seeing visions,
they stumble when rendering decisions.
8 All the tables are covered with vomit
and there is not a spot without filth.
9 “Who is it he is trying to teach?
To whom is he explaining his message?
To children weaned from their milk,
to those just taken from the breast?
10 For it is:
Do this, do that,
a rule for this, a rule for that[a];
a little here, a little there.”
To whom is he explaining his message?
To children weaned from their milk,
to those just taken from the breast?
10 For it is:
Do this, do that,
a rule for this, a rule for that[a];
a little here, a little there.”
13 The Lord says:
“These people come near to me with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of me
is based on merely human rules they have been taught
and honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of me
is based on merely human rules they have been taught
Ahhh, the dangers of legalism in worship! We think that we can make ourselves “good” enough by following a bunch of rules so that we don’t have to give our whole hearts and being to God, because that is much more of a sacrifice than following some rules and punching the time card. We should all beware of legalism, because it is detestable to God.
July 5th
7 The path of the righteous is level;
you, the Upright One, make the way of the righteous smooth.
8 Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws,[a]
we wait for you;
your name and renown
are the desire of our hearts.
9 My soul yearns for you in the night;
in the morning my spirit longs for you.
When your judgments come upon the earth,
the people of the world learn righteousness.
10 But when grace is shown to the wicked,
they do not learn righteousness;
even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil
and do not regard the majesty of the LORD.
you, the Upright One, make the way of the righteous smooth.
8 Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws,[a]
we wait for you;
your name and renown
are the desire of our hearts.
9 My soul yearns for you in the night;
in the morning my spirit longs for you.
When your judgments come upon the earth,
the people of the world learn righteousness.
10 But when grace is shown to the wicked,
they do not learn righteousness;
even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil
and do not regard the majesty of the LORD.
One thing that I am starting to realize more is that we are to learn from discipline, but we are also supposed to learn from the good things that God provides. I mean I always understood this to some degree, but I see God holding up the good things that He has done in accusation to the people that are disobedient. Sometimes it is so easy to neglect the good that we experience from the Lord. The people of Israel
July 4th
1 Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, inviting them to come to the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover to the LORD, the God of Israel. 2 The king and his officials and the whole assembly in Jerusalem decided to celebrate the Passover in the second month. 3 They had not been able to celebrate it at the regular time because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not assembled in Jerusalem. 4 The plan seemed right both to the king and to the whole assembly. 5 They decided to send a proclamation throughout Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, calling the people to come to Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover to the LORD, the God of Israel. It had not been celebrated in large numbers according to what was written.
6 At the king’s command, couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the king and from his officials, which read:
“People of Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that he may return to you who are left, who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 Do not be like your parents and your fellow Israelites, who were unfaithful to the LORD, the God of their ancestors, so that he made them an object of horror, as you see. 8 Do not be stiff-necked, as your ancestors were; submit to the LORD. Come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever. Serve the LORD your God, so that his fierce anger will turn away from you. 9 If you return to the LORD, then your fellow Israelites and your children will be shown compassion by their captors and will return to this land, for the LORD your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him.”
10 The couriers went from town to town in Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun, but people scorned and ridiculed them. 11 Nevertheless, some from Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and went to Jerusalem. 12 Also in Judah the hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered, following the word of the LORD.
13 A very large crowd of people assembled in Jerusalem to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread in the second month. 14 They removed the altars in Jerusalem and cleared away the incense altars and threw them into the Kidron Valley.
15 They slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and the Levites were ashamed and consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the temple of the LORD. 16 Then they took up their regular positions as prescribed in the Law of Moses the man of God. The priests splashed against the altar the blood handed to them by the Levites. 17 Since many in the crowd had not consecrated themselves, the Levites had to kill the Passover lambs for all those who were not ceremonially clean and could not consecrate their lambs[a] to the LORD. 18 Although most of the many people who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the LORD, who is good, pardon everyone 19 who sets their heart on seeking God—the LORD, the God of their ancestors—even if they are not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary.” 20 And the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people.
There is so much good to say about Hezekiah and the people here. They threw themselves into praising the Lord with all of their heart. That's so good to see after all of the hard things that have passed. I like that the Lord forgave the Israelites that sinned against Him by partaking when they were not clean. They were seeking God the best that they knew and He met them where they were. There's a lesson to learn here.
6 At the king’s command, couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the king and from his officials, which read:
“People of Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that he may return to you who are left, who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 Do not be like your parents and your fellow Israelites, who were unfaithful to the LORD, the God of their ancestors, so that he made them an object of horror, as you see. 8 Do not be stiff-necked, as your ancestors were; submit to the LORD. Come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever. Serve the LORD your God, so that his fierce anger will turn away from you. 9 If you return to the LORD, then your fellow Israelites and your children will be shown compassion by their captors and will return to this land, for the LORD your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him.”
10 The couriers went from town to town in Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun, but people scorned and ridiculed them. 11 Nevertheless, some from Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and went to Jerusalem. 12 Also in Judah the hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered, following the word of the LORD.
13 A very large crowd of people assembled in Jerusalem to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread in the second month. 14 They removed the altars in Jerusalem and cleared away the incense altars and threw them into the Kidron Valley.
15 They slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and the Levites were ashamed and consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the temple of the LORD. 16 Then they took up their regular positions as prescribed in the Law of Moses the man of God. The priests splashed against the altar the blood handed to them by the Levites. 17 Since many in the crowd had not consecrated themselves, the Levites had to kill the Passover lambs for all those who were not ceremonially clean and could not consecrate their lambs[a] to the LORD. 18 Although most of the many people who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the LORD, who is good, pardon everyone 19 who sets their heart on seeking God—the LORD, the God of their ancestors—even if they are not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary.” 20 And the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people.
There is so much good to say about Hezekiah and the people here. They threw themselves into praising the Lord with all of their heart. That's so good to see after all of the hard things that have passed. I like that the Lord forgave the Israelites that sinned against Him by partaking when they were not clean. They were seeking God the best that they knew and He met them where they were. There's a lesson to learn here.
July 3rd
3 I have commanded those I prepared for battle;
I have summoned my warriors to carry out my wrath—
those who rejoice in my triumph.
I have summoned my warriors to carry out my wrath—
those who rejoice in my triumph.
4 Listen, a noise on the mountains,
like that of a great multitude!
Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms,
like nations massing together!
The LORD Almighty is mustering
an army for war.
5 They come from faraway lands,
from the ends of the heavens—
the LORD and the weapons of his wrath—
to destroy the whole country.
like that of a great multitude!
Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms,
like nations massing together!
The LORD Almighty is mustering
an army for war.
5 They come from faraway lands,
from the ends of the heavens—
the LORD and the weapons of his wrath—
to destroy the whole country.
6 Wail, for the day of the LORD is near;
it will come like destruction from the Almighty.[a]
7 Because of this, all hands will go limp,
every heart will melt with fear.
8 Terror will seize them,
pain and anguish will grip them;
they will writhe like a woman in labor.
They will look aghast at each other,
their faces aflame.
it will come like destruction from the Almighty.[a]
7 Because of this, all hands will go limp,
every heart will melt with fear.
8 Terror will seize them,
pain and anguish will grip them;
they will writhe like a woman in labor.
They will look aghast at each other,
their faces aflame.
9 See, the day of the LORD is coming
—a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger—
to make the land desolate
and destroy the sinners within it.
10 The stars of heaven and their constellations
will not show their light.
The rising sun will be darkened
and the moon will not give its light.
11 I will punish the world for its evil,
the wicked for their sins.
I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty
and will humble the pride of the ruthless.
—a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger—
to make the land desolate
and destroy the sinners within it.
10 The stars of heaven and their constellations
will not show their light.
The rising sun will be darkened
and the moon will not give its light.
11 I will punish the world for its evil,
the wicked for their sins.
I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty
and will humble the pride of the ruthless.
It’s interesting how the Lord uses nations against other nations as weapons. He proclaimed that he was going to use Darius of the Medes to bring down Babylon Babylon America Babylon
July 2nd
Hezekiah did what is right in the eyes of the Lord. I love this guy’s attitude. Consider the pressure that he stood up against. To overcome that sinful inertia where everyone has accepted that sins just gonna happen and let’s just all ignore it! Hezekiah said, “No!” And he had the power to affect a change. Surprisingly, it was too late and the punishment was still on the way, but this might have been, because of the fact that God could see the leaders that were still to come. How far this people has fallen from the first days of their commitment to God before the mountain. Keep your promises to the Lord!
July 1st
4 Let the Moabite fugitives stay with you;
be their shelter from the destroyer.”
be their shelter from the destroyer.”
The oppressor will come to an end,
and destruction will cease;
the aggressor will vanish from the land.
5 In love a throne will be established;
in faithfulness a man will sit on it—
one from the house[a] of David—
one who in judging seeks justice
and speeds the cause of righteousness.
and destruction will cease;
the aggressor will vanish from the land.
5 In love a throne will be established;
in faithfulness a man will sit on it—
one from the house[a] of David—
one who in judging seeks justice
and speeds the cause of righteousness.
In love a throne will be established. Jesus reigns in love. He reigns in power and faithfulness. Glory in the highest to our everlasting King. Let creation testify that Christ reigns!
June 30th
This passage reminds me that God has told us that there aren't surprises coming our way. He has told us what is coming toward us via the prophets. Evidence of the plan were there for all to see, including a savior for the remnant that would come from the root of Jesse. What prophesies are in my future to which I have not paid close enough attention?
June 29th
1 [a]Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
3 You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
3 You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.
There is always hope with the Lord. When things are darkest with the Lord a bright dawn showing the Lord’s power may be around the corner. This passage speaks about Galilee being honored. I wonder if this was after all of the people in that area were taken away to Assyria . How hopeless it must have seemed then! With God there is always hope. Let us stay TRUE to Him.
June 28th
Shocking! The full extent of the punishment is starting to become evident as whole communities are being taken away. Before the punishment had become somehow endurable. Now the observant start to see the end coming, that which was promised so long ago in Deuteronomy is now taking place. Yet God takes no pleasure in this. This is such a sad story.
June 27th
1 Listen to what the LORD says:
“Stand up, plead my case before the mountains;
let the hills hear what you have to say.
let the hills hear what you have to say.
2 “Hear, you mountains, the LORD’s accusation;
listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth.
For the LORD has a case against his people;
he is lodging a charge againstIsrael
listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth.
For the LORD has a case against his people;
he is lodging a charge against
3 “My people, what have I done to you?
How have I burdened you? Answer me.
4 I brought you up out ofEgypt
and redeemed you from the land of slavery.
I sent Moses to lead you,
also Aaron and Miriam.
5 My people, remember
what Balak king ofMoab
and what Balaam son of Beor answered.
Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal,
that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD.”
How have I burdened you? Answer me.
4 I brought you up out of
and redeemed you from the land of slavery.
I sent Moses to lead you,
also Aaron and Miriam.
5 My people, remember
what Balak king of
and what Balaam son of Beor answered.
Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal,
that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD.”
6 With what shall I come before the LORD
and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly[a] with your God.
and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly[a] with your God.
Powerful, powerful passage! What do I have to complain about? Why do I allow sin in my life? How can I treat the Lord like this after He has done great things in my life? How can people say that studying the Old Testament is not worthwhile when we see the nature of God and all of this that is to teach and lead us?
June 26th
2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans[b] of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.”
though you are small among the clans[b] of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.”
3 Therefore Israel
until the time when she who is in labor bears a son,
and the rest of his brothers return
to join the Israelites.
until the time when she who is in labor bears a son,
and the rest of his brothers return
to join the Israelites.
4 He will stand and shepherd his flock
in the strength of the LORD,
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth.
in the strength of the LORD,
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth.
What must have the people have thought when the prophecy spoke of a ruler whose origins were of old. How could they have taken that, but in a miraculous way? Maybe they thought of Elijah or David? Little did they know that it was to be the very Son of God!
June 25th
It’s interesting seeing how the nation of Israel
June 24th
18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,”
says the LORD.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the good things of the land;
20 but if you resist and rebel,
you will be devoured by the sword.”
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
says the LORD.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the good things of the land;
20 but if you resist and rebel,
you will be devoured by the sword.”
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Blessings and curses….it’s been the same story since the Exodus. Makes sense that it still is the case!
June 23rd
10 Hear the word of the LORD,
you rulers of Sodom;
listen to the instruction of our God,
you people of Gomorrah!
11 “The multitude of your sacrifices—
what are they to me?” says the LORD.
“I have more than enough of burnt offerings,
of rams and the fat of fattened animals;
I have no pleasure
in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
12 When you come to appear before me,
who has asked this of you,
this trampling of my courts?
13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings!
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—
I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.
14 Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals
I hate with all my being.
They have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
15 When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I hide my eyes from you;
even when you offer many prayers,
I am not listening.
Your hands are full of blood!
16 Wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
stop doing wrong.
17 Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.[a]
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow.
This has great significance toward how I worship. Going through the motions and putting in my time is not acceptable to the Lord. Worship that is acceptable is service toward others and treating them well.
you rulers of Sodom;
listen to the instruction of our God,
you people of Gomorrah!
11 “The multitude of your sacrifices—
what are they to me?” says the LORD.
“I have more than enough of burnt offerings,
of rams and the fat of fattened animals;
I have no pleasure
in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
12 When you come to appear before me,
who has asked this of you,
this trampling of my courts?
13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings!
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—
I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.
14 Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals
I hate with all my being.
They have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
15 When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I hide my eyes from you;
even when you offer many prayers,
I am not listening.
Your hands are full of blood!
16 Wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
stop doing wrong.
17 Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.[a]
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow.
This has great significance toward how I worship. Going through the motions and putting in my time is not acceptable to the Lord. Worship that is acceptable is service toward others and treating them well.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
June 21st
After trying in many different ways to get the attention of the people of Israel so that they might change their ways comes one of the scariest scriptures in the Bible.
12 “Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel,
and because I will do this to you, Israel,
prepare to meet your God.”
13 He who forms the mountains,
who creates the wind,
and who reveals his thoughts to mankind,
who turns dawn to darkness,
and treads on the heights of the earth—
the LORD God Almighty is his name.
"Prepare to meet your God" carries the weight of an atomic bomb. God is through with these people who He blessed in every way and yet refuse to acknowledge Him. The Lord can be very frightening. What would it be like if the world knew this?
12 “Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel,
and because I will do this to you, Israel,
prepare to meet your God.”
13 He who forms the mountains,
who creates the wind,
and who reveals his thoughts to mankind,
who turns dawn to darkness,
and treads on the heights of the earth—
the LORD God Almighty is his name.
"Prepare to meet your God" carries the weight of an atomic bomb. God is through with these people who He blessed in every way and yet refuse to acknowledge Him. The Lord can be very frightening. What would it be like if the world knew this?
June 20th
7 Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing
without revealing his plan
to his servants the prophets.
Amos 3 tells me that God isn't going to land something on us that we haven't been fully warned about. This is another example of how God is faithful even though we aren't always faithful.
without revealing his plan
to his servants the prophets.
Amos 3 tells me that God isn't going to land something on us that we haven't been fully warned about. This is another example of how God is faithful even though we aren't always faithful.
June 19th
The end of Hosea says:
9 Who is wise? Let them realize these things.
Who is discerning? Let them understand.
The ways of the LORD are right;
the righteous walk in them,
but the rebellious stumble in them.
I wonder how all of these prophecies were recieved. Were they widely circulated or was it a commentary on the time and not many knew their words? It seems to me that the ending of Hosea says that the people had access to what he was saying and it was up to them to change their ways in light of this witness.
9 Who is wise? Let them realize these things.
Who is discerning? Let them understand.
The ways of the LORD are right;
the righteous walk in them,
but the rebellious stumble in them.
I wonder how all of these prophecies were recieved. Were they widely circulated or was it a commentary on the time and not many knew their words? It seems to me that the ending of Hosea says that the people had access to what he was saying and it was up to them to change their ways in light of this witness.
Friday, June 17, 2011
June 18th
Two impactful statements from today's reading:
1) my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.
2) a people without understanding will come to ruin.
I know as a teacher/coach how frustrating it is when a student/athlete refuses to learn and then when it is time to perform just can't, because they aren't equipped. I also know how frustrating it is as a parent to see your kids not be able to perform, because someone who was supposed to prepare them has not done the job. I feel for God and the heartache that He must feel when we blindly disobey Him or in the case of Israel when the priests didn't do their job and teach the people. A teacher carries a weight of responsibility and this shows in the reading today. Leaders must lead and do it humbly realizing that the Lord is judging their work.
1) my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.
2) a people without understanding will come to ruin.
I know as a teacher/coach how frustrating it is when a student/athlete refuses to learn and then when it is time to perform just can't, because they aren't equipped. I also know how frustrating it is as a parent to see your kids not be able to perform, because someone who was supposed to prepare them has not done the job. I feel for God and the heartache that He must feel when we blindly disobey Him or in the case of Israel when the priests didn't do their job and teach the people. A teacher carries a weight of responsibility and this shows in the reading today. Leaders must lead and do it humbly realizing that the Lord is judging their work.
June 17th
Hosea teaches me about the righteous jealousy of God. It was the perfect lesson having Hosea marry Gomer, have children and then seek to take her back after her promiscuous ways. God puts it so simply. How can you give all the credit for your blessings to worthless, powerless idols and then give Him no credit! I can see how He would be jealous and offended. What does this have to do with me? Obviously, when I put myself first or the things that I own I start to worship things other than God. Is God still a jealous God? You bet He is? Are the lessons that the Israelites had to go through still applicable today? That's why they are preserved. How can I be so foolish to ignore God, the Creator, the Holy One? Help me not to, Lord!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
June 16th
I love the story of Jonah. I liked the comments about the fact that the Assyrians were actually more repentent and godly than the nation of Israel at this time. They even made the animals were sack clothe and ashes! It makes me realize how much that God loves the lost.
June 14th
In Joel 3 it talks about the restoration of Judah and Jerusalem. I wonder about Jerusalem currently and God's interest in having the Jews actually inhabit it.
Monday, June 13, 2011
June 13th
The plague of the locusts was one of the promises that God made to the people of Israel through Moses so many years ago. This is so painful to watch as the people stray farther and farther away from God. Still God cries out to the people saying that if they only repent he will bless them in a supernatural way. God is a just and merciful god.
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