Chronological Bible Blog

June 30th Chronological Bible Readings

2 Kings 16:19-20; 2 Chronicles 28:26-27; Isaiah 13:1-16:14
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HALF-WAY - Big news! We cross the halfway threshold in our Chronological Bible readings today! Whoo-hoo! Yep, June 30th marks the end of our first 6 months of readings and July 1st marks the beginning of our final 6 months of readings. Congratulations!

If by chance you’ve stopped reading the Chronological Bible at some point this past six months, how about starting back up with us again as we embark on our final six months? We’d love to have you on the journey with us once again! Let's go!

In Isaiah chapter 13 we are beginning a new section of the book.  Chapters 1 through 12 were primarily chapters of judgment against the southern kingdom of Judah, as well as some mentions of the northern kingdom of Israel.  Chapter 13 begins 11 chapters of judgment on other nations, beginning with Babylon.  At this time in history (early 700's B.C.) Babylon was still part of the Assyrian empire.  So this oracle from Isaiah was incredible in that it spoke of Babylon's destruction even before Babylon became a world power!  Babylon brought about the downfall of Judah and Jerusalem later between the years of 605 and 586 B.C.   But then Babylon would be conquered by Cyrus the Persian in 539 B.C.  Below is a map of the Babylonian empire from the late 7th / early 6th centuries B.C.  You'll note in this map below that the actual city of Babylon is located in modern day Iraq, about 90 kilometers south of Baghdad.  An interesting quick history of the city of Babylon, along with some pictures, is at this website link.

An interesting commentary I read on chapter 14 verses 12 through 15 is that some think Isaiah is giving a description of the fall of Satan from heaven in these verses.  However, most commentaries seem to say contextually that these verses are about the king of Babylon.  I do see how some could think that these 4 verses could apply to the fall of Satan - ""How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world. For you said to yourself, `I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God's stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.' But instead, you will be brought down to the place of the dead, down to its lowest depths."  Below is an engraving titled "Satan Falls" by the artist Gustave Dore:

In Isaiah we will read many prophecies against cities and kingdoms. I realize these can be tough to read in some ways.  As you read these prophecies, consider why these prophecies were written. Why were these prophecies proclaimed by Isaiah?   Bible.org's excellent commentary on this section of the book of Isaiah titled "The Burdens Upon the Nations" is worth spending a few minutes reading at this link.

Today we read in Isaiah chapter 15 a message against Moab, or the Moabites!  Now, the big question for each of us is how many sermons in your life have you ever heard that touch on the Moabites??  I will admit that there is only one I can think of - and I actually just heard it on my iPod while jogging yesterday!  From a previous post, many of you know that I'm a fan of Josh Harris and listen to his sermons often.  Well, he has a recent sermon about the Moabites from Numbers 22 through 25, where the Moabites were first fearful of Israel (Num. 22) because of their size, and they realized they could not defeat them in open warfare.  So, they tried to get Balaam to curse the Israelites (Num 23 & 24), but Balaam wouldn't do it because God was giving him messages of blessings upon the Israelites!  So, finally the Moabites decide to simply seduce the Israelites (Num 25) into worshiping their gods and this strategy worked!  To the point where God ended up killing 24,000 Israelites with a plague (Num 25:9) because of their disobedience!  Josh Harris does a great job of integrating this story of the Israelites and the Moabites into our lives and how we can fall prey to temptation just like the Israelites if we're not careful. You can download an MP3 of this great sermon on temptation at this link.  And you can check out more of Josh Harris' sermons online at this link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/covenantlifechurch  A very bright map that shows where Moab is located in comparison to Judah and Israel is below:

YouTube: As I mention Josh Harris above, here he is talking briefly about resisting temptation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDa90kth48w

Are you struggling with temptation? Click here and struggle no more!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

June 29th Chronological Bible Readings

Isaiah 1:21-5:30
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Powerful readings in Isaiah today... The southern Kingdom of Judah is getting a stern warning from the prophet today!  A scary warning to the people of Judah for their disobedience comes at the end of our readings today in chapter 5 verses 26 through 30: "He will send a signal to the nations far away. He will whistle to those at the ends of the earth, and they will come racing toward Jerusalem. They will not get tired or stumble. They will run without stopping for rest or sleep. Not a belt will be loose, not a sandal thong broken. Their arrows will be sharp and their bows ready for battle. Sparks will fly from their horses' hooves as the wheels of their chariots spin like the wind. Roaring like lions, they will pounce on their prey. They will seize my people and carry them off into captivity, and no one will be there to rescue them. The enemy nations will growl over their victims like the roaring of the sea. A cloud of darkness and sorrow will hover over Israel. The clouds will blot out the light."  A random side note here, and definitely an indication of how much I'm swimming in our culture...  (as we all do to some extent - like fish surrounded by water - though, I think the Lord of the Rings has many redeeming values to it)  As I read these verses above, I thought of the orc armies from the Lord of the Rings running amuck over Middle Earth...

This map below gives a good overview of the growth of the Assyrian empire between 824 B.C. and 640 B.C. and how it engulfs Judah during this time period.  The prophet Isaiah was preaching his stern warnings right in the middle of this time period!

Isaiah chapter 5 verse 20 was directed at Judah in the 8th century B.C., but I wonder if this verse can have application to our world today? "Destruction is certain for those who say that evil is good and good is evil; that dark is light and light is dark; that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter."  Can you think of any examples in our modern world where evil is portrayed as good and good is portrayed as evil?  I can think of far too many examples unfortunately.  This twisting of good and evil, light and dark, bitter and sweet did not make God happy back in eighth century B.C.   Think God is happy about this twisting of good and evil today?

Worship God: Isaiah chapter 2 today reminds me of the MercyMe song "How Great is Your Love:"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Giwd-i4QNk

Do you know how great God's love is for you? Click here to find out!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

June 28th Chronological Bible Readings

Isaiah 28:1-29; 2 Kings 17:5; 2 Kings 18:9-12; 2 Kings 17:6-41; Isaiah 1:1-20
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Today we read the first chapter of the book of the prophet Isaiah!  (Though we've already been reading many chapters from Isaiah) A powerful quote from Bible.org at this link about this book is: "The Book of Isaiah is one of the most important books of the Old Testament. While little is known of the personal life of the prophet, he is considered to be one of the greatest of them all. The book is a collection of oracles, prophecies, and reports; but the common theme is the message of salvation. There was, according to these writings, no hope in anything that was made by people... There would be a purging of the nation because God is holy. Before the nation could inherit the promises made to the fathers, it would have to be made holy."

~ Isaiah ~
Author: Isaiah
Date: Eighth century B.C.
Content: Isaiah’s long ministry lasted almost sixty years and covered the reigns of four kings, the last one being Hezekiah, the reformer. Isaiah was sent primarily to Judah, although his message concerns the northern kingdom of Israel as well. He lived through the awful days of the civil war between Israel and Judah in 734-732 B.C. and saw the destruction of Israel by Assyria in 722 B.C. the grim lesson taught by Israel’s fall was not lost on Isaiah, and he used it to encourage Hezekiah to trust in the Lord. The Lord delivered Judah from the mighty Assyrian army by sending a plague to destroy the camp. Isaiah also looked beyond his own time to the coming exile of Judah and the deliverance that God would provide.
Theme: Isaiah was one of Jesus’ favorite books and he quoted it frequently, because the central them is salvation. God is seen as the Savior of his people, who redeemed them from Egypt, who will redeem them from their coming captivity, and who will send his beloved Servant to bear the sins of us all (Isaiah 53:6). God freely offers to pardon all who will turn to him in repentance and faith. The future kingdom of God on earth is also described in exquisite detail as a time when men will lay down their swords and, in peace, sing praises to God their King. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” p. 11) More great commentary on the book of Isaiah is at this link.  Below is a portrait of the prophet Isaiah by artist Guy Rowe:

Today in Isaiah chapter 1 verses 2 and 3 we read these words of the prophet Isaiah: “Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth! For the LORD has spoken: "I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner's manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand." These words were spoken to the Israelites in the 8th century B.C., but do you suppose they can apply to our modern world today as well? Do we know God? Do we truly understand God? I do think that sometimes we can forget that God is our Father. We are his children. He has brought us up. And we have rebelled. Is an ox at times smarter than us in terms of knowing who its master is? Do we truly know who our master is? I’m afraid sometimes I live my life as if I am my own master. I am “master of my own destiny!” Well. . . am I really? What about you. Who is your master day in and day out? Do you know your Master? Do you understand?

YouTube: Today's readings in Isaiah reminded me of Michael W. Smith's song "A New Hallelujah:"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBxOkruKpqI

Do you want to sing a new Hallelujah?  Click here and sing!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

June 27th Chronological Bible Readings

Hosea 9:1-14:9
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Today we wrap up the book of Hosea!  It's been a great read for me this year.  It has been a good look at how the prophets of the Old Testament were warning Israel & Judah over and over again of their sins - sins that multiplied as we read in today's readings - and there was no repentance.  Things just got worse.  This did make me think today - if we continue to sin and sin and things get worse and worse in our lives and how we are adversely affecting other people's lives around us, is maybe the most compassionate thing for God to do - for us and others - to stop us from our path of destruction?  My thought here in today's readings is that God is a compassionate God.  Yes, he's throwing out some tough stuff in what he's saying - and will be doing - but for the end goal of getting people from stopping their sinful ways and harming themselves and others.  Today, we are fortunate, compared to the Old Testament days, that we have Jesus Christ as a mediator for our sins between us and God - and not just a mediator - but a Healer.  Jesus can heal us from our sinful desires and ways.  So, while I do see God as being compassionate in the Old Testament & I am so thankful for his great compassion of sending his son Jesus to the earth for us.  Without a doubt, God is good.

Hosea chapter 10 verse 12 I loved today: "Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of my love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.'"  Beautiful verse! Are you planting good seeds of righteousness in your life?  What would good seeds of righteousness be?  Is it possible that faith in Jesus is a seed of righteousness that you should plant - and that would indeed harvest a crop of God's love in your life?  To plant these seeds of righteousness, you may need to plow up some hard ground in your heart and you may need to seek God like never before.  Do you think this plowing is worth it?  Will you plow so that God may come into your life and shower righteousness upon you?

In Hosea chapter 11 verses 8 & 9 we read this about God's compassion: ""Oh, how can I give you up, Israel? How can I let you go? How can I destroy you like Admah and Zeboiim? My heart is torn within me, and my compassion overflows. No, I will not punish you as much as my burning anger tells me to. I will not completely destroy Israel, for I am God and not a mere mortal. I am the Holy One living among you, and I will not come to destroy."  I absolutely love these verses. Do you believe that God will not give up on you?  Do you believe that God's heart overflows with compassion for you?  Do you believe that God is the one and only Holy and Living God, who is indeed involved in every single moment of your life?  Do you believe God is closer than the air you breathe?  (Thanks to the musician David Wilcox for this last question.  I love that thought - God is closer than the air we breathe!)

Hosea 12 verse 6 has a phrase I love - "So now, come back to your God! Act on the principles of love and justice, and always live in confident dependence on your God." Always live in confident dependence on God.  Wow.  My prayer for each of us is that we would indeed always live in confident dependence on God...

The book of Hosea ends with a phenomenal verse - chapter 14 verse 9: "Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those who are discerning listen carefully. The paths of the LORD are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them. But sinners stumble and fall along the way."  This verse reminds me of the beauty of studying the Bible!  The Bible gives us wisdom - and also we need wisdom to understand the Bible's teaching.  But, the beauty is that the more we study the Bible, the more we gain wisdom, and the more that wisdom allows us to truly understand what we're reading in the Bible!  It's a never-ending circle of elevation in our study of the Bible - we'll never fully "get it" all this side of heaven.  But the more we study the Bible, the more I believe we'll be able to truly understand it and put it into practice.  Do you believe this to be true?  Have you found over time that studying the Bible becomes more and more interesting and you gain more and more insights and understandings?  This verse above I think also has a warning if we don't surrender our lives to Jesus, dive into God's Word, and put it into practice in our lives.  There is the very real risk of stumbling and falling along the way...  Let us not stumble!

YouTube: Hosea chapter 10 verse 12 reminded me of the movie "The Blind Side," which is a wonderful movie about a Christian family. Have you seen the movie yet? Below is the trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgHFbjA83PE

Have you been protected from your Blindside?  Click here for eternal protection!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

June 26th One Year Bible Readings

Hosea 2:14-8:14
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Hosea chapter 3 brings us redemption again for Israel.  Verse 5 I believe applies to us today - we who are in the last days (all the days after the life of Jesus) - "But afterward the people will return to the LORD their God and to David's descendant, their king. They will come trembling in awe to the LORD, and they will receive his good gifts in the last days."  Have you returned to Jesus?  Jesus who is from the line of David?  Is Jesus your king?  Are you receiving God's good gifts through your awe and faith in God through Jesus?

Hosea chapters 4 & 5 are classic prophesying!  If you ever think of a prophet in the Old Testament going around and stirring things up in the land - think of these 2 chapters...   If you're just checking out this website and today's readings, I realize that they will sound very harsh on the surface.  However, context from Jeremiah & Ezekiel & 2 Kings will help catch you up on why God is not happy here. Essentially the northern kingdom of Israel is worshiping Baal, an idol/false god, and not God himself.  And the immorality in the land is skyrocketing.  God's reaction here is actually a compassionate reaction - he is trying to reverse the immorality and bring people back to him in repentance.  Below is an image of Hosea prophesying by the artist Duccio di Buoninsegna from the year 1308:

Verses 1 & 2 in chapter 4 set the stage for these 2 chapters: "Hear the word of the LORD, O people of Israel! The LORD has filed a lawsuit against you, saying: "There is no faithfulness, no kindness, no knowledge of God in your land. You curse and lie and kill and steal and commit adultery. There is violence everywhere, with one murder after another."   See any violations of the Ten Commandments in these 2 verses?

Verse 18 really stood out to me today: "Their love for shame is greater than their love for honor." Is it possible in our world today that there are people who love shame more than they love honor?  It is possible that this happens in our lives at times?  Will we pursue love of honor in our lives, leaving behind anything that might look like love of shame?

Today we get prophesying by God via Hosea on what's going to happen to Israel due to her unfaithfulness and many sins.  Hosea chapter 6's first 2 verses start things off on what seem like a hopeful note.  However, commentaries suggest that this was a very shallow pledge by Israel: "Come, let us return to the LORD! He has torn us in pieces; now he will heal us. He has injured us; now he will bandage our wounds. In just a short time, he will restore us so we can live in his presence." Even if this is a shallow pledge from Israel, I do really like verse 3 too: "Oh, that we might know the LORD! Let us press on to know him!"   Are we pressing on in our lives to know God?  Are we returning to God?  Are we seeking to continually live in His presence? 

God's reply to all of this in verse 6 is fantastic: "I want you to be merciful; I don't want your sacrifices. I want you to know God; that's more important than burnt offerings." Are there times in our lives where we try to bring "sacrifices" of prayer or pledges of repentance or works, when really what we should be bringing to God is mercy for others and just simply the desire to know God?  Do our "acts" of repentance sometimes get in the way of our actual love relationship with God?

Chapter 7 Verse 16 stood out to me today as well: "They look everywhere except to heaven, to the Most High."  If we are hurting, sad, tired, do we look to things other than God?  Do we look to "quick fixes" from things of this world that are not healthy for us?  Do these "quick fixes" really fix the problem?  Are we looking everywhere except to heaven, to the Most High?  Will we look only for the Most High - God?

Worship God: Today's readings in Hosea remind me of Brandon Heath's song "Your Love:"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74HXKSYyPKg

Are you experiencing God's love in your life? Click here for love!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

June 25th Chronological Bible Readings

Isaiah 12:1-6; Isaiah 17:1-14; 2 Chronicles 28:16-21; 2 Kings 16:10-18; 2 Chronicles 28:22-25; 2 Kings 18:1-8; 2 Chronicles 29:1-2; 2 Kings 15:30-31; 2 Kings 17:1-4; Hosea 1-2:13
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Today Isaiah chapter 12 is a very short chapter.  But it is a wonderful song of praise to God!  Verse 2 reads: “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation." How does this verse resonate with you? Do you frequently sing songs of praise to the Lord? Do you trust in God? Are you not afraid? Is God your strength and your song?

In 2 Kings 16 today King Ahaz of Judah messes up big time...  Whaddya think about his idea to remove the bronze altar from the Temple and install an altar that was designed in Damascus?  Think God will be happy about this?  Essentially King Ahaz swapped his security in God to placing his security in King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria and his pagan gods.  Stay tuned to upcoming readings...  Again - I come back to our lives today.  Are we ever similar to King Ahaz in doing something in our lives that we know is not pleasing to God?  Do we know what is right and what is wrong and sometimes choose what is wrong?  Why do we do this?  Can we stop doing this?  If so, how?  Might it help us to stop doing wrong things if the #1 priority in our lives today were God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit?  What is the #1 priority in your life today?

Allright, today is a big day! We start the book of Hosea. Hosea prophesied in about 750 B.C. in the northern kingdom of Israel - which was rare.  Most of the prophets were in the southern kingdom of Judah.  Hosea lived during the final / last days of the northern kingdom, which ended in 722 B.C.  Below is an image of Hosea with the five kings: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah and Jeroboam, and with his wife, Gomer, from a 14th century illuminated Bible:

~ Hosea ~
Author: Hosea
Date: Eighth century B.C.
Content: The book of Hosea consists of two unequal parts, the first containing Hosea’s life (chapters 1-3) and the second containing Hosea’s messages (chapters 4-14). Hosea was a prophet to the northern Kingdom of Israel prior to its fall in 722 B.C., and his ministry spanned some forty years. He was a contemporary of Amos, Isaiah, and Micah. Hosea’s unhappy marriage life depicted symbolically the state of affairs in his nation. Just as his wife left home for a life of prostitution, so Israel had left God to seek after false gods. But as Hosea continued to love his wife and finally brought her home again, so God continued to love Israel and promised to restore her someday.
Theme: Two things stand in marked contrast in the book of Hosea: the love of God and the waywardness of Israel. God is depicted as faithful, caring, forgiving, kind, and loving. God’s unfailing love is the theme of the book. Israel is seen as faithless, straying, sinful, rebellious, and wanton. She is characterized by ignorance of what God requires and total lack of desire to please God. However, just as Hosea’s love triumphed in the end, so will God’s love work a miracle of transformation in Israel. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” p. 15)  A wonderful commentary on the book of Hosea by Hampton Keathley IV is at this link.  Below is an image for the traditional tomb of the prophet Hosea near the Jordanian mountain called Jabel Osha (Osha is Arabic for Hosea):

Hosea chapter 1 certainly stands out right away - with God commanding Hosea to marry a prostitute, Gomer.  The purpose of this relationship is to parallel Israel's unfaithfulness to God.  You'll note that the names of the children born to Gomer get progressively worse for the people of Israel - 1.  Jezreel, or "God scatters"  2. Lo-ruhamah--`Not loved'-  3. Verse 9 provides the worse name that could be bestowed to symbolize God's relationship with Israel: "And the LORD said, "Name him Lo-ammi--`Not my people'--for Israel is not my people, and I am not their God." Ouch....  This is about as bad as it can get for Israel.    Below is an image of Hosea, Gomer and their 3 children:

Fortunately, we see redemption in verse 10: "Yet the time will come when Israel will prosper and become a great nation. In that day its people will be like the sands of the seashore--too many to count! Then, at the place where they were told, `You are not my people,' it will be said, `You are children of the living God.'"  Whew!  This applies to most of us reading this as well - Gentiles.  This is the beginning of the mission to the Gentiles after the time of Jesus.  Do you we believe we are part of this promise?  That we are parts of the sands of the seashore?  That we are children of the living God?

Chapter 2 is a powerful "legal case" against Israel and her unfaithfulness to God.  Verse 8 stood out to me in this chapter today: "She doesn't realize that it was I who gave her everything she has--the grain, the wine, the olive oil. Even the gold and silver she used in worshiping the god Baal were gifts from me!"  Do we realize that everything we have comes from God?  Everything?  Do we misuse any of these gifts from God in our life in ways that would not be pleasing to God?  Could God bring a "legal case" or "lawsuit" against us today for misusing his gifts to us?

YouTube: Today's readings in Isaiah 12 reminded me of the Newsboy's song "He Reigns:"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udoUHdBvdVE

Does God Reign in your life? Click here and let Him Reign!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

June 24th Chronological Bible Readings

Isaiah 8:1-11:16
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I got chills today when reading Isaiah chapter 9 about the hope in our Messiah, Jesus Christ!  Keep in mind that the book of the prophet Isaiah was written in the 8th century B.C....  800 years before Jesus walked this earth!  Verses 1 & 2 start off this chapter in such a beautiful way:  "Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will soon be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light--a light that will shine on all who live in the land where death casts its shadow."  Compare these verses to the Gospel of Matthew chapter 4 verses 12 through 17 at this link when Jesus begins his public ministry.  Amazing eh?  Jesus Christ is the great light!  The light of the world!  And indeed, a light to the Gentiles!

Verses 6 & 7 continued the chills for me as I read them - and reminded me of an incredibly beautiful song that is sung at my parent's church every Christmas: "For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His ever expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule forever with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David. The passionate commitment of the LORD Almighty will guarantee this!"  Do you believe that these verses were prophesying the coming of Jesus Christ 800 years later?  Do you believe that Jesus is a Wonderful Counselor?  Mighty God?  Prince of Peace?  Do you believe that Jesus rules forever with fairness and justice?  Praise God for this prophecy in Isaiah that a child would be born to us!  Though we are a few months out from Christmas, now feels like a good time for all of us to reflect upon these words below from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 2 verses 8-14 (from the King James Version):

^"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Isaiah chapter 9 titled "The Glorious Messiah and the Messianic Age" is at this link.  Below is a great image for Isaiah chapter 9 verse 2 from today's readings:

Isaiah chapter 11 in today's readings is an incredible Messianic chapter of the Old Testament!  Check out a webpage outlining the Messianic prophecies from Isaiah chapter 11 and then their fulfillment in the New Testament at this link .  The life and character of Jesus is so clear in chapter 1 verses 1 through 5 today: "Out of the stump of David's family will grow a shoot--yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on him--the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. He will delight in obeying the LORD. He will never judge by appearance, false evidence, or hearsay. He will defend the poor and the exploited. He will rule against the wicked and destroy them with the breath of his mouth. He will be clothed with fairness and truth."  Does this sound like anyone you personally know?  I pray so.

Then, verses 6 through 9 are such a beautiful reflection on the peace and safety of the coming Messianic age when Jesus returns: "In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard and the goat will be at peace. Calves and yearlings will be safe among lions, and a little child will lead them all. The cattle will graze among bears. Cubs and calves will lie down together. And lions will eat grass as the livestock do. Babies will crawl safely among poisonous snakes. Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes and pull it out unharmed. Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain. And as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the LORD."  Can you imagine all of this?  Can you imagine all of this ever taking place, apart from Jesus coming into our world?  Do you look forward to experiencing the day of the lion and the lamb living together in peace!  (Or as I heard a pastor quip once, the dog and the cat eating out of the same bowl! :)

Worship God: Today's readings in Isaiah 11 reminded me of Brandon Heath's song "Your Love:"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74HXKSYyPKg

Do you need God's Love? Click here for Love!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

June 23rd Chronological Bible Readings

2 Kings 15:32-38; 2 Chronicles 27:1-9; Micah 1:1-16; 2 Kings 16:1-9; 2 Chronicles 28:1-15; Isaiah 7:1-25
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Today we start the book of the prophet Micah!  Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah and prophesied in approximately 730 - 700 B.C., primarily to the southern kingdom of Judah.  Micah's name means "Who is like the Lord?"  This following quote is from bible.org's Hampton Keathley IV , Th.M. on the book of Micah:  "Micah prophesied during a period of upheaval and crisis. The reign of Ahaz brought spiritual lethargy, apostasy and hypocrisy. The people still worshipped Yahweh, but it was ritual without life-changing reality. Their treatment of fellow Israelites violated the basic tenants of the Mosaic covenant as they failed to practice justice, or covenant loyalty-love and their pursuit of idolatry revealed their failure to walk humbly before Yahweh." This quote and much more on the book of Micah is at this link.  Below is an engraving of Micah preaching by Gustaf Dore:

In Micah chapter 1, verse 8 stood out to me: "Because of all this, I will mourn and lament."  Micah was obviously saddened by the sins of those around him and the harm they were causing to themselves and to others.  Do we mourn and lament for the sins of others in our world today?  Do we mourn and lament over our own sins?  Do we pray for healing and repentance in the lives of others - and ourselves?  Is it okay to grieve for others and ourselves because of sin?  What should we then do with this grief?

In Isaiah chapter 7 today we read about the sign of Immanuel in verses 14 through 16!  "All right then, the Lord himself will choose the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel--`God is with us.' By the time this child is old enough to eat curds and honey, he will know enough to choose what is right and reject what is wrong. But before he knows right from wrong, the two kings you fear so much--the kings of Israel and Aram--will both be dead."  I don't know about you, but when I read this today I immediately thought of the virgin Mary and Jesus.  With good reason, as we'll recall from the gospel of Matthew chapter 1 verse 23: "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us." Commentaries suggest that yes, indeed, these passages in Isaiah are ultimately wholly fulfilled in Jesus, who truly is "God with us."  But, commentaries also suggest that this prophecy in Isaiah had a double fulfillment - first in a young woman from the house of Ahaz who was not married, but would marry and then have a son - and by the time the son was the age 2, the two invading kings would be destroyed.  Then, the second fulfillment of this prophecy was indeed in the One we now celebrate as the true Immanuel, Jesus Christ, God with us!

Worship God - Today's readings in Micah remind me of the Matt Maher song "Alive Again." Here's a great live performance from Matt:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSTaVmDQP5s

Are you truly alive?  Click here and be made Alive Again!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

June 22nd Chronological Bible Readings

Amos 7:1-9:15; 2 Kings 14:28-29; 2 Kings 15:8-29; 2 Kings 15:6-7; 2 Chronicles 26:22-23; Isaiah 6:1-13
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Old Testament - Today we finish up the book of Amos!  Today in Amos we read about Amos & Amaziah's interactions, visions of Locusts, Fire & a Plumb line, Ripe Fruit, God at the Altar, and then finish up the book with a Promise of Restoration.  I like the beginning of Amos chapter 7 a lot. Here we see Amos praying for the forgiveness of Israel's sins and asking God to forgo the visions of Locusts & Fire.  This is a good reminder to each of us to pray for others, and not just only for ourselves.

Also, in chapter 7 verses 14 & 15 stood out to me when Amos was speaking with the priest Amaziah: ""I'm not one of your professional prophets. I certainly never trained to be one. I'm just a shepherd, and I take care of fig trees. But the LORD called me away from my flock and told me, `Go and prophesy to my people in Israel.'"  This reminds me of something I actually heard from Mac Powell, the leader singer of Third Day, at one of their concerts.  Mac reminded us all that sometimes we think that the only way we can really be serving God and others in big ways is if maybe we are pastors or missionaries.  And Mac reminded us that this is not the case - all of us, no matter what our profession or walk of life, can serve God and others in big ways!  We are all pastors and missionaries in the kingdom of God!  I like that.  And here's Amos saying, "hey - I'm not a professional prophet.  I'm just doing what God asked me to do."   What might God be asking you to do in your life to love and serve Him and others?

Amos chapter 8 verses 11-13 are a great reminder of how fortunate we are to have the opportunity to read God's word, the Bible - where not everyone in our world today has this blessing.  Actually, I have to admit - these are some of the most breathtaking verses for me in all of the Bible.  For some reason I pay attention so acutely every time I hear these verses... this is scary stuff to consider... "The time is surely coming," says the Sovereign LORD, "when I will send a famine on the land--not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the words of the LORD. People will stagger everywhere from sea to sea, searching for the word of the LORD, running here and going there, but they will not find it. Beautiful girls and fine young men will grow faint and weary, thirsting for the LORD's word."  Is it possible that we self-impose on our own lives famines?  Famine's from hearing and reading God's word?  If you are in the midst of a famine from God's Word, the Bible, will you seek out an opportunity to read God's Word each day?   Do you thirst for God's Word?  Will you drink from it?

Amos chapter 9 verse 11 is a great Messianic foretelling of the coming of Jesus: "In that day I will restore the fallen kingdom of David. It is now like a house in ruins, but I will rebuild its walls and restore its former glory."   And verse 13 a foretelling of a Garden of Eden-like paradise to come: "The time will come," says the LORD, "when the grain and grapes will grow faster than they can be harvested. Then the terraced vineyards on the hills of Israel will drip with sweet wine!" Are you looking forward to this time?  Do you want to be part of the restored kingdom of David?

YouTube: Today's readings in Amos reminds me of the NeedToBreathe song "Washed By the Water:"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMAmTLXJG2U

Have you been washed by the water?  Click here and be made clean!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

June 21st Chronological Bible Readings

Amos 1:1-6:14
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Today we start the book of Amos!   Amos was a unique prophet in that he was a shepherd and fig grower.  His prophecies come from about 760 to 750 B.C. at a height of Israel & Judah's prosperity - materially.  (not spiritually...)  Though Amos was from Judah, his messages were primarily directed at Israel.  A good introduction to the book of Amos is at this link.  Below is an image of Amos, the "shepherd prophet":

Amos chapter 1 verse 2 sets the stage for this book and the prophecies to come: "This is his report of what he saw and heard: "The LORD's voice roars from his Temple on Mount Zion; he thunders from Jerusalem! Suddenly, the lush pastures of the shepherds dry up. All the grass on Mount Carmel withers and dies."   Then in the remainder of chapter 1 and 2 there are prophecies against Israel and Judah's surrounding neighbors all starting with - ""The people of _(fill in the blank)__ have sinned again and again, and I will not forget it. I will not let them go unpunished any longer!"  Is it possible that this blank could maybe be filled in on our life or habits at times?  Is it possible that this blank could be filled in by nations in our world today?  If God were to punish, might it be a holy discipline to bring us back to repentance and right relationship with God?  Below is a portrait by artist Guy Rowe of Amos and the people:

In chapter 4 verse 2 it stood out to me how Judah was being called to the carpet as well as the neighboring nations: "They have rejected the laws of the LORD, refusing to obey him. They have been led astray by the same lies that deceived their ancestors."   Do we obey God today in our lives?  Are there areas in our life where we might be deceived - either by others, or maybe even in our own minds?  Below is an image of Amos preaching to Kings Uzziah and Jeroboam II - from a 14th century illuminated Bible:

And Israel is called to the carpet in verses 6 & 7: "They have perverted justice by selling honest people for silver and poor people for a pair of sandals. They trample helpless people in the dust and deny justice to those who are oppressed."  It seems that God is very interested in the care of the poor back then.  Do you think he is still interested in the care of the poor today?  Are we caring for the poor & the oppressed in our world today?  In your life, are you caring for the poor & oppressed?  Consistently?  How?

In Amos chapters 4, 5, & 6 we read about Israel's failure to listen, a call to repentance, and warning of coming Judgment.  Chapter 4 verse 13 stood out to me in today's readings: "For the LORD is the one who shaped the mountains, stirs up the winds, and reveals his every thought. He turns the light of dawn into darkness and treads the mountains under his feet. The LORD God Almighty is his name!"   Here we are reminded that God is the creator of all things, and he still is in control of what happens in the present time.  He is the past, present, and future.  I like that phrase, "reveals his every thought."  Meaning, God wants His ways, His character, His thoughts, His love to be known by all.  Do you believe God reveals His every thought to us?  Where might we best find out what God's every thought is?  Do you want to know God's thoughts above all else?

I think chapter 5 verse 14 today is a good reminder and warning to each of us: "Do what is good and run from evil--that you may live! Then the LORD God Almighty will truly be your helper, just as you have claimed he is."  I believe that sometimes we think we can overcome evil through our own sheer will power.  Or that we can change evil.  This verse reminds us to simply RUN! I like that reminder.  Sometimes you just gotta get out of Dodge to avoid evil influencing you or overtaking you.  Are there temptations or bad habits in your life that you have been trying to overcome, battle, change - and perhaps you should just RUN from them?  Flee from them?  So that you may truly live?

Amos chapter 6 verse 5 stood out to me for some reason today: "You sing idle songs to the sound of the harp, and you fancy yourselves to be great musicians, as King David was."  I guess a couple of things jumped out at me here.  First, the singing idle songs to the sound of the harp made me ask myself, are we sometimes idle with our time?  When perhaps God is wanting us to be purposeful or intentional with our time?  Don't get me wrong - rest is good.  But, is idleness good?  I think rest can be purposeful and intentional and healthy.  Or it can potentially be just the opposite.

Next - do we sometimes fancy ourselves to be "great musicians as King David was" - meaning, do we sometimes try to pretend to be someone who we are not?  Are we masking over who we really are, and playing fake?  Should we instead be real?  And sincere?  And intentional and purposeful?   I guess I'm just getting at here - are there times when we are being fake? When, perhaps God is simply calling us to simply be real?  To be who we are?  Who are you?  If you need to, will you take off your mask and just be who God made you to be?

YouTube: Today's readings remind me of the Building 429 song "Always:"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi39oAOgJn0

Do you believe Jesus is with you Always?  Click here for Always!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike