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?

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.  

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. 

June 12th

I liked the promise that God made to Jehu.  He promised to bless him through his fourth generation, because he had carried out God's will with zeal.  He got rid of Baal worship, but he continued to worship the golden calves.  Was he just confused or was his loyalty divided?  Because he refused to give these up he missed out on the blessing.  Am I making the same mistakes by worshipping God only part way?  We scoff at these kings, because they didn't fully obey, but what about us?

June 11th

I was touched how Elisha cried when he had to deliver the news to Hazael that he would become the king of Aram, because he knew all of the harm that he would bring on Israel.  This couldn't have been easy to deliver that news.  I guess that Jeremiah wasn't the only weeping prophet.   Sin brings such pain. 

June 10th

     Classic line as the Syrians surrounded Elisha, "Those who are with us are greater than those who are with them."   Oh, that we could keep that in front of us.  I also like that Elisha handed them over to the king of Israel and told him to feed them and let them go.   There was no hostilities for awhile after that.
    Isn't it also interesting that God sent his most powerful prophet to Israel, instead of Judah.   He wanted to save those who were more at risk.

June 9th

     Ask the Edomites if it is wise to mess with God's people.  I think that this is still true, both for us and I think still with the Jews (though I am unsure of this).

June 8th

Jehoram received a letter from Elijah who had been taken up into heaven.  Yet he didn't repent.  He died a most horrible death.  He didn't follow in the steps of Asa or Jehoshaphat and follow the Lord.  Our ancestors are witnesses against us.  Hebrews tells us that they are looking down watching us as we run the race.  What must have Jehoram's ancestors thought?  What must have Israel thought of the nation that is now divided?  What must David have thought?   What must Solomon have thought since his sin led to the division?  God help us to take heed of the warnings that we receive and live holy and righteous lives.  I wish that I could live half the good life that my grandfather and my father lived. 

June 7th

It's remarkable how many of the miracles that Elisha performed are similar to Christ's miracles.

June 6th

Jehoshaphat was a noble king.  He made real reforms and wanted his people to worship God.  What would it be like if we had leaders like that?

June 5th

I was impressed that even though Ahab was so evil, when he repented and asked for mercy God pulled back his punishment.  God is merciful.  God is long sufferring.  God wishes no man to be lost, but wants all men to come to repentance.  Even still Ahab returned to his sin later.  WE often spit on the grace that we receive. 

June 4th

Jehoshaphat was really a great king.  I like that he sent a teaching "squad" to all of the towns in Judah to make sure that they understood that Law.  It just makes sense and I am sure that the Lord was honored by it. 

I really love the story of Elijah.  I love how the Lord took care of him with the ravens and the widow.  I really enjoy how he taunted the prophets of Baal and then how the Lord showed His power by sending fire on the sacrifice.  Then Jezebel pledged to kill Elijah.  Where was her fear of the Lord?  That's amazing.  But Elijah took the threats to heart and was really scared.  Then the Lord showed Elijah His power to protect, but He scolded him for his lack of faith.  Elijah was inspiring to me.  He stood up for the Lord for the most part.  He wanted to people of Israel to be faithful.  I'm sure it hurt him to see his people worshipping idols and not the Lord.   How much of the blame goes to the kings and how much should go to the people themselves?  God reminds him later that he is not the only person faithful to God.

June 3rd

2 Chronicles 15
 ¹ The Spirit of God came on Azariah son of Oded. ² He went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.

This is a scripture that gives one hope.  If you seek the Lord, He will be found by you.  If you are with Him, He will be with you.  If we can only be true to the Lord.  Lord give us strength.

Later Asa begins to depend on his own strength and the strengths of other kings.  He is duly punished by the Lord.  He doesn't even ask the Lord to heal his malady.  It's hard to finish the race.

June 2nd

It breaks my heart to see Rehoboam and the people following after other gods.  How foolish.  What a slap in the face to God.  How He must have hated that and been hurt by that.  I should be careful that I also don't do things that insult the Lord.

June 1st

     This passage says a lot about the advice that one follows.  Old folks often have much better advice to give than the young.  Ask them and they'll tell you!   On the other hand, Rehoboam takes the wrong path, because of God's will.  I first also noted that Rehoboam's mother was an Ammonite (enemy of the people of Israel).  What on earth was Solomon thinking marrying all of these foreign women?
      Jeroboam had a wonderful opportunity to walk in God's ways and be so blessed, but he built a couple of golden calves for political reasons and said, "Israel, here are your gods!"   How foolish!   Lord, help us to take the opportunities to serve you that you put before us.