The Lord told the people of Israel to mark the way home with rocks and signposts. God would make sure that someday things would be different. God promised that someday He would set the people free and lead them back to their hometowns. He would restore them and their vitality too. Someday He would take care to plant the people firmly in the land and care for them. The time would come when God would make a new agreement with the people of Judah and Israel. He would write His laws on their hearts and minds and he would be their God and they would be His people. No longer would they teach each other about God, rather, they would know God because He would put Himself in their hearts. God who is all powerful will never let Israel stop being a nation. Can heaven be measured or the earth's foundations discovered? If that happens then God would reject the descendants of Israel because of their sins. Not only did God declare that Jerusalem would be rebuilt, but he described a word map of the exact outline it would follow. In 1935, (2500 years later) the prophecy had been fulfilled to the letter. (From a footnote in the Amplified version, Jeremiah 31).
Jeremiah had been put in prison because he told everyone what the Lord had said about Jerusalem being conquered by the king of Babylon and how the king of Judah was going to be taken to Babylon. If the people wanted to fight they would lose. While he was in prison God spoke to him and told him his cousin would be coming to sell him some land and he should buy it. So he did. He paid 17 pieces of silver and had two copies of all the necessary documents drawn up and signed and witnessed. One copy was sealed with wax and the other was left open. He told another man, Baruch, to take the copies and put them in a clay jar to preserve them. Then Jeremiah told the people that the Lord promised they would buy and sell land again in that country. Jeremiah had a question for God. He knew that God could do anything, that He had created everything, and made great plans and had great wisdom. So why when Jerusalem was about to be captured by the Babylonians did God have him buy a field? God told Jeremiah how displeased He was with the people. So just as He brought disaster, He would bring good things. Just as Jeremiah had bought the field, someday the land would be bought and sold again.
Jeremiah was still being held captive in the courtyard of the palace when God spoke to him. He told Jeremiah that things were bad now, but they would be good again and he would hear laughter and happy voices. People would come to the temple again to worship God. Then God told Jeremiah about a wonderful promise He made to the people of Israel and Judah. He promised that in time He would appoint a king from the family of David who would rule with justice. In those days there would be peace. There would always be priests from the tribe of Levi serving at His altar in the temple. Just as God would never break His agreement with day and night to stop obeying His commands, so he would never reject the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, or not have a descendant of David as their king. He would be kind to His people and they would succeed.
Tomorrow read Jeremiah 34-36
20100830
August 30, 2010 Jeremiah 28-31:20
There was a prophet named Hananiah who went up to Jeremiah in the temple in front of everyone and said that God would smash the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar and bring the people back within 2 years. Jeremiah said that he hoped that would happen, but that they would just have to wait and see what the Lord does. Then Hananiah grabbed the yoke and smashed it! Later, after they had left the temple, God told Jeremiah to go to Hananiah with a message: the wooden yoke he had smashed would be replaced with an iron yoke on all the nations and they would have to do whatever Nebuchadnezzar said. And God would even let him rule the wild animals! Also that God had never sent Hananiah to speak for Him. That Hananiah had lied, and that he would die before the year was over. Two months later, Hananiah died.
Jeremiah had been left behind when king Nebuchadnezzar had taken many to Babylon as prisoners, including king Jehoiachin of Judah. Jeremiah wrote a letter to them and sent it by way of two ambassadors of the new king, Zedekiah. In it he related what God had told him about what He wanted them to do in Babylon. He told them to settle there and build houses and plant food and eat it, get married and have children and help them find spouses and so on. God wanted the people of Judah to grow in number. But not to listen to the prophets there with them because they had not been sent by God. After 70 years they would return to Jerusalem, strong and healthy. The people who had been left behind would be tormented with war, hunger and disease until they were useless and left the land.
God told Jeremiah to get a scroll and write down what He said. He told Jeremiah that someday he would bring the people from Judah and Israel back to the land. God told the people that he heard their suffering. They were slaves and they needed to be punished. They would come back to God as servants. God told them not to be afraid, because they belong to Him. Someday they would return. The people would suffer for their sins, but God would protect them from enemies while they healed. God promised them they would come home to Jerusalem and rebuild it. It would be just as it was when the people obeyed God and He protected them. God was furious! He wouldn't calm down until He finished what He had decided to do.
Someday all the tribes would return to God. The Lord would rebuild Israel and once again they would dance for joy and celebrate worshiping God. The Lord would bring the people back from Babylon and everywhere else they were. God would protect His flock as a shepherd. Israel would once again be prosperous and happy. God would bless them with comfort and joy. And not to lose hope because someday the people would return. God told the people they belonged to Him and He would show them mercy.
Tomorrow read Jeremiah 31:21-33:26
Jeremiah had been left behind when king Nebuchadnezzar had taken many to Babylon as prisoners, including king Jehoiachin of Judah. Jeremiah wrote a letter to them and sent it by way of two ambassadors of the new king, Zedekiah. In it he related what God had told him about what He wanted them to do in Babylon. He told them to settle there and build houses and plant food and eat it, get married and have children and help them find spouses and so on. God wanted the people of Judah to grow in number. But not to listen to the prophets there with them because they had not been sent by God. After 70 years they would return to Jerusalem, strong and healthy. The people who had been left behind would be tormented with war, hunger and disease until they were useless and left the land.
God told Jeremiah to get a scroll and write down what He said. He told Jeremiah that someday he would bring the people from Judah and Israel back to the land. God told the people that he heard their suffering. They were slaves and they needed to be punished. They would come back to God as servants. God told them not to be afraid, because they belong to Him. Someday they would return. The people would suffer for their sins, but God would protect them from enemies while they healed. God promised them they would come home to Jerusalem and rebuild it. It would be just as it was when the people obeyed God and He protected them. God was furious! He wouldn't calm down until He finished what He had decided to do.
Someday all the tribes would return to God. The Lord would rebuild Israel and once again they would dance for joy and celebrate worshiping God. The Lord would bring the people back from Babylon and everywhere else they were. God would protect His flock as a shepherd. Israel would once again be prosperous and happy. God would bless them with comfort and joy. And not to lose hope because someday the people would return. God told the people they belonged to Him and He would show them mercy.
Tomorrow read Jeremiah 31:21-33:26
20100829
August 29, 2010 Jeremiah 25-27
The Lord told Jeremiah to remind the people what the Lord had been telling them for 23 years. If they stopped worshiping idols and worshiped God he would take care of them in the land. If not, they would be taken captive to Babylon for 70 years. After that the king of Babylon would be punished and they would be restored into the land. Later God showed Jeremiah a vision. God gave Jeremiah a cup filled with the wine of God's anger. He was to take it and make every nation drink some. In his vision, Jeremiah took the cup to all the nations on the earth beginning with Judah and ending with Babylon. Disaster was coming and so many of the people would die that their bodies would cover the ground like manure. The Lord would also punish the leaders.
God told Jeremiah to go to the courtyard of the temple and speak to the people who had traveled from all over Judah to be there. He was to tell them that if they stopped sinning, the Lord would change his mind and not punish them. The people were warned that if they didn't start obeying God right away, He would destroy the temple. The people got mad at Jeremiah and shouted that he should die! Jeremiah told them that if they killed him, they would be killing an innocent man since he was just saying what the Lord told him to say. They decided they didn't need to kill Jeremiah. Some other leaders from other towns reminded them about Micah and the things he had said. They reminded them that they let Micah live and those people had listened and the Lord didn't destroy Jerusalem even though he said he would. So if Jeremiah were killed that would bring a terrible disaster on Judah. Ahikam, an improtant man spoke up for Jeremiah as well, so they didn't kill him.
Not long after Zedekiah became king of Judah the Lord told Jeremiah to make a yoke of wood with leather straps and put it on his neck. Then go and give the kings gathered to meet with Zedekiah a message. Jeremiah did as he was told. The message for the kings was that God had decided it would be Nebuchadnezzar in charge of all the nations. In fact, they would all be his slaves! After his grandson became ruler, many nations would join together and become powerful enough to make slaves of the Babylonians. The yoke represented the power of king Nebuchadnezzar, and the Lord would destroy any nation which refused to obey him. So now the choice was obey Nebuchadnezzar or die. Jeremiah told them that all the furnishings in the temple would be taken to Babylon until God decided otherwise.
Tomorrow read Jeremiah 28-31:20
God told Jeremiah to go to the courtyard of the temple and speak to the people who had traveled from all over Judah to be there. He was to tell them that if they stopped sinning, the Lord would change his mind and not punish them. The people were warned that if they didn't start obeying God right away, He would destroy the temple. The people got mad at Jeremiah and shouted that he should die! Jeremiah told them that if they killed him, they would be killing an innocent man since he was just saying what the Lord told him to say. They decided they didn't need to kill Jeremiah. Some other leaders from other towns reminded them about Micah and the things he had said. They reminded them that they let Micah live and those people had listened and the Lord didn't destroy Jerusalem even though he said he would. So if Jeremiah were killed that would bring a terrible disaster on Judah. Ahikam, an improtant man spoke up for Jeremiah as well, so they didn't kill him.
Not long after Zedekiah became king of Judah the Lord told Jeremiah to make a yoke of wood with leather straps and put it on his neck. Then go and give the kings gathered to meet with Zedekiah a message. Jeremiah did as he was told. The message for the kings was that God had decided it would be Nebuchadnezzar in charge of all the nations. In fact, they would all be his slaves! After his grandson became ruler, many nations would join together and become powerful enough to make slaves of the Babylonians. The yoke represented the power of king Nebuchadnezzar, and the Lord would destroy any nation which refused to obey him. So now the choice was obey Nebuchadnezzar or die. Jeremiah told them that all the furnishings in the temple would be taken to Babylon until God decided otherwise.
Tomorrow read Jeremiah 28-31:20
20100828
August 28, 2010 Jeremiah 21-24
King Zedekiah of Judah (the last king of Judah in Kings) sent Zephaniah and Pashhur to tell Jeremiah that Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had attacked Judah. They wanted Jeremiah to ask God to work miracles for the people again. God had given Jeremiah His answer to this question in advance, surrender to the Babylonians if you want to live. The Lord warned the king to do his job and take care of the people.
Jeremiah had to go to the palace to tell the king that he wasn't doing his job to protect the widows, orphans and foreigners. He was to rescue everyone who had been treated unjustly. If the king would do this, they would be able to stay in Jerusalem and come and go freely. If not, Jerusalem would be flattened. Then, God mentioned Jehoahaz (who had been taken captive in a foreign country) and that the people were to cry for him. The Lord told king Jehoiakim that he was doomed. He had built his fancy palace with slave labor, and only cared about his possessions. He was always thinking of how to get the upper hand with people and take advantage of anyone who might be useful to him. No one would cry at his funeral. The Lord was very unhappy with Jehoiakim and the evil things he did.
The Lord was not pleased with the way the kings had failed. When the time came to bring the people home, the Lord would choose leaders who would care for the people like real shepherds. Someday He would appoint an honest king from the family of David. His name would be "The Lord Gives Justice". When Jeremiah would think of the unfaithful prophets he would tremble because of the way they had abused their power. The Lord gave Jeremiah a message for those prophets and the ways they sinned. They would be punished. Then the Lord gave the people a message that they should not listen to anything the false prophets were saying because it didn't come from Him. God's words are a powerful fire; they are a hammer that shatters rocks. God knows everything that goes on - you can't hide. The Lord promised to punish those prophets.
After the king Jehoikin of Judah had gone to Babylon, the Lord showed Jeremiah a vision. He saw 2 baskets of figs. One basket was full of good figs, the other full of rotten figs. The Lord asked Jeremiah what he saw. So he told God he saw a basket of good figs and another one of bad figs. The Lord explained that the good figs were the people who had been sent to Babylon. When the time was right, the Lord would bring them back to Jerusalem. The bad figs were king Zedekiah and the people who were left behind. The Lord would strike them with war, hunger and disease until they disappeared.
Tomorrow read Jeremiah 25-27
Jeremiah had to go to the palace to tell the king that he wasn't doing his job to protect the widows, orphans and foreigners. He was to rescue everyone who had been treated unjustly. If the king would do this, they would be able to stay in Jerusalem and come and go freely. If not, Jerusalem would be flattened. Then, God mentioned Jehoahaz (who had been taken captive in a foreign country) and that the people were to cry for him. The Lord told king Jehoiakim that he was doomed. He had built his fancy palace with slave labor, and only cared about his possessions. He was always thinking of how to get the upper hand with people and take advantage of anyone who might be useful to him. No one would cry at his funeral. The Lord was very unhappy with Jehoiakim and the evil things he did.
The Lord was not pleased with the way the kings had failed. When the time came to bring the people home, the Lord would choose leaders who would care for the people like real shepherds. Someday He would appoint an honest king from the family of David. His name would be "The Lord Gives Justice". When Jeremiah would think of the unfaithful prophets he would tremble because of the way they had abused their power. The Lord gave Jeremiah a message for those prophets and the ways they sinned. They would be punished. Then the Lord gave the people a message that they should not listen to anything the false prophets were saying because it didn't come from Him. God's words are a powerful fire; they are a hammer that shatters rocks. God knows everything that goes on - you can't hide. The Lord promised to punish those prophets.
After the king Jehoikin of Judah had gone to Babylon, the Lord showed Jeremiah a vision. He saw 2 baskets of figs. One basket was full of good figs, the other full of rotten figs. The Lord asked Jeremiah what he saw. So he told God he saw a basket of good figs and another one of bad figs. The Lord explained that the good figs were the people who had been sent to Babylon. When the time was right, the Lord would bring them back to Jerusalem. The bad figs were king Zedekiah and the people who were left behind. The Lord would strike them with war, hunger and disease until they disappeared.
Tomorrow read Jeremiah 25-27
20100827
August 27, 2010 Jeremiah 16:10-20:18
The Lord told Jeremiah the people would ask him what they had done wrong, and he was to tell them that they had worshiped other gods and did whatever they felt like doing. So they would be punished. Later, after they had learned their lesson, they would be brought back. Then Jeremiah prayed and asked God for protection.
The Lord told the people of Judah what was going to happen to them and why. The Lord put a curse on those who turn from Him and trust in human strength. He said He would bless people who trust Him. They would be like trees watered by a nearby stream, with leaves that are always green. But the people of Judah were so deceitful that they fooled themselves! Jeremiah prayed for protection. The Lord told Jeremiah to go to all the city gates and remind the people to not do any work on the Sabbath and they would be blessed. If not, they wouldn't like what happens.
The Lord told Jeremiah to go to a pottery shop. So he did. He noticed the potter at his wheel would change his mind and make something else if the clay didn't cooperate. He told Jeremiah to tell the people that as the potter has power over the clay, God had power over them. If God told them that they would be taken captive and they turned from evil, the Lord would change His mind. If God promised to make a nation strong and they turned away from Him, He would change His mind and not help them at all. As it stood they were on death row. It didn't have to be that way. The Lord told them He would change His mind if they stopped sinning. Once again the people thought the quick fix was to kill Jeremiah. So Jeremiah asked God for help.
The Lord told Jeremiah to buy a clay jar and gather the city officials and go to Himmom Valley, tell the people how they have sinned and what their punishment will be and then smash the jar. So he did. Then he was to tell them that they would be like the clay jar - smashed to smithereens. Then Jeremiah went other places and told the people there that the disaster was going to come soon.
The chief of temple security heard what Jeremiah said. He didn't like it so he hit Jeremiah, arrested him, and put him in chains. The next morning he let Jeremiah go, but before he left, Jeremiah had a message for him... The Lord had changed his name to Afraid-of-everything, because he would be afraid of everything and watch his friends and family be taken prisoner to Babylon. It seems the chief of security had been telling lies and telling people they were what God told him. Later Jeremiah complained to the Lord. He felt like the Lord had set him up to bear the brunt of the people's anger about what the Lord wanted him to say. His friends and family wanted to kill him. He knew the Lord would help him, but he was hoping it would happen soon. Then he wished he'd never been born just to suffer and die in shame. If you need to complain, you can give it to God.
Tomorrow read Jeremiah 21-24
The Lord told the people of Judah what was going to happen to them and why. The Lord put a curse on those who turn from Him and trust in human strength. He said He would bless people who trust Him. They would be like trees watered by a nearby stream, with leaves that are always green. But the people of Judah were so deceitful that they fooled themselves! Jeremiah prayed for protection. The Lord told Jeremiah to go to all the city gates and remind the people to not do any work on the Sabbath and they would be blessed. If not, they wouldn't like what happens.
The Lord told Jeremiah to go to a pottery shop. So he did. He noticed the potter at his wheel would change his mind and make something else if the clay didn't cooperate. He told Jeremiah to tell the people that as the potter has power over the clay, God had power over them. If God told them that they would be taken captive and they turned from evil, the Lord would change His mind. If God promised to make a nation strong and they turned away from Him, He would change His mind and not help them at all. As it stood they were on death row. It didn't have to be that way. The Lord told them He would change His mind if they stopped sinning. Once again the people thought the quick fix was to kill Jeremiah. So Jeremiah asked God for help.
The Lord told Jeremiah to buy a clay jar and gather the city officials and go to Himmom Valley, tell the people how they have sinned and what their punishment will be and then smash the jar. So he did. Then he was to tell them that they would be like the clay jar - smashed to smithereens. Then Jeremiah went other places and told the people there that the disaster was going to come soon.
The chief of temple security heard what Jeremiah said. He didn't like it so he hit Jeremiah, arrested him, and put him in chains. The next morning he let Jeremiah go, but before he left, Jeremiah had a message for him... The Lord had changed his name to Afraid-of-everything, because he would be afraid of everything and watch his friends and family be taken prisoner to Babylon. It seems the chief of security had been telling lies and telling people they were what God told him. Later Jeremiah complained to the Lord. He felt like the Lord had set him up to bear the brunt of the people's anger about what the Lord wanted him to say. His friends and family wanted to kill him. He knew the Lord would help him, but he was hoping it would happen soon. Then he wished he'd never been born just to suffer and die in shame. If you need to complain, you can give it to God.
Tomorrow read Jeremiah 21-24
20100826
August 26, 2010 Jeremiah 13-16:9
Linen shorts (or a belt) were what the Lord told Jeremiah to go buy and wear for a while, but not to wash them. So he did. Then the Lord told Jeremiah to take the shorts off and hide them in a crack in a wall by a river. So he did. After a while the Lord told Jeremiah to go get the shorts. So he did. The shorts were rotted and ruined. Then the Lord told Jeremiah that he wanted the people of Judah to represent Him in the world, but they wouldn't follow His teachings. Then He told Jeremiah to tell the people to fill their wineskins. To which they would reply D'uh wineskins are filled with wine... To which Jeremiah was to reply that the people would be drunk. Then they would be smashed like filled wineskins (water balloons) and destroyed. Nothing could stop this. Jeremiah told the people what would happen to them. They would be punished for their sins. All the things they thought they were getting away with would be plainly shown for everyone to see. Their secrets would all be revealed.
After a drought the Lord told Jeremiah to tell the people, weep and try to find water, and there won't be any. The people were distraught, but the Lord couldn't trust them anymore, so He didn't believe them. Jeremiah told the Lord that the prophets were telling the people that they would not suffer sword or famine, but have peace. The Lord told Jeremiah the prophets lied and that they themselves would die by the sword and famine. And also that the people would die the same way and many tears would be shed. The people begged God, we know we're bad, but reward us anyway.
The Lord said that even if Moses and Samuel were standing before Him begging Him to change His mind He wouldn't. The Lord told Jeremiah to tell the people that whatever they were destined for was where they were going. There were 4 destroyers: the sword, the dogs, the birds, and the beasts. This reminds me of Revelation 6:8.
In short, there was no hope for them because they had not changed their ways. The sins of the people had bought them enslavement. Their wealth was a gift for their conquerors. Again the Lord offered them a chance to avoid death and destruction by repenting and serving Him. God wanted to save the people, but they wouldn't let Him.
The Lord told Jeremiah not to marry or have children in Judah because they will die. Also, not to mourn or show sympathy for the dead because He has withdrawn His blessing, love and pity for these people. There will be no comfort or consolation for those that mourn in the land. The celebrations of the people would soon be at an end.
Tomorrow read Jeremiah 16:10-20:18
After a drought the Lord told Jeremiah to tell the people, weep and try to find water, and there won't be any. The people were distraught, but the Lord couldn't trust them anymore, so He didn't believe them. Jeremiah told the Lord that the prophets were telling the people that they would not suffer sword or famine, but have peace. The Lord told Jeremiah the prophets lied and that they themselves would die by the sword and famine. And also that the people would die the same way and many tears would be shed. The people begged God, we know we're bad, but reward us anyway.
The Lord said that even if Moses and Samuel were standing before Him begging Him to change His mind He wouldn't. The Lord told Jeremiah to tell the people that whatever they were destined for was where they were going. There were 4 destroyers: the sword, the dogs, the birds, and the beasts. This reminds me of Revelation 6:8.
In short, there was no hope for them because they had not changed their ways. The sins of the people had bought them enslavement. Their wealth was a gift for their conquerors. Again the Lord offered them a chance to avoid death and destruction by repenting and serving Him. God wanted to save the people, but they wouldn't let Him.
The Lord told Jeremiah not to marry or have children in Judah because they will die. Also, not to mourn or show sympathy for the dead because He has withdrawn His blessing, love and pity for these people. There will be no comfort or consolation for those that mourn in the land. The celebrations of the people would soon be at an end.
Tomorrow read Jeremiah 16:10-20:18
20100825
August 25, 2010 Jeremiah 9-12
Jeremiah mourned for his people so much that he wished his eyes were fountains. He also wished for sanctuary from the evil people. The Lord told Jeremiah that he couldn't trust anyone, even his friends and family. God would purify the hearts of people in fire, he had no other choice. Jeremiah mourned the lost beauty of the land. Jeremiah asked the Lord why it was necessary to make the land desolate. God told him it was because the people disobeyed Him, His laws and teachings. They worshiped other gods like their ancestors. The Lord promised them poison, and to be scattered in foreign countries they'd never heard of. Finally, He would send enemy soldiers to kill them. The Lord told Jeremiah to send for the wailing women - especially the loudest ones. They were to cry about the loss of their homeland. They were to teach the younger ones a mourning song. The dead bodies would lie like garbage on the ground. Then God told Jeremiah what He liked best, He said, don't brag about your wisdom, strength or wealth. If you must brag, have enough sense to brag about worshiping Me, the Lord. God said, "What I like best is showing kindness, justice, and mercy to everyone on earth." (Jeremiah 9:24 CEV) The Lord said someday He would punish other nations of men whose bodies are circumcised, but not their hearts.
The Lord told Jeremiah that an idol is no better than a scarecrow. Why worship a thing that can't help or harm you? Jeremiah praised the Lord as the only true and living God. He created the earth with His wisdom and power. Jeremiah told the people that the time was at hand for them to be forced off their land. Then Jeremiah prayed. He told the Lord that he knew that "we humans are not in control of our own lives." He asked the Lord to correct him, but not in anger because he wouldn't survive. Then he asked God to sweep away the enemies.
The Lord told Jeremiah to explain to the people that they had broken the agreement made by their ancestors and that it hadn't changed in all that time. God did exactly what He promised to do for the people and they turned their backs on Him. So God decided to bring suffering on the people of Judah and Jerusalem. He knew they would beg for His help, but He wouldn't listen to them. God told Jeremiah not to pray for the people because He wouldn't listen anyway. Then the Lord told Jeremiah to tell the people how they had messed up. So of course, the people plotted to kill Jeremiah. Not only did the Lord tell Jeremiah about it, but He made sure that those people suffered and died along with their entire families.
Jeremiah asked God why it appeared that the wicked lived such a comfortable life. They do wrong, but live well. God answered with questions such as, how could Jeremiah compete with horses if racing with people wore him out? How would he survive when things got really bad if such trifles bothered him so much? The Lord was furious with His people and began to hate them. If the nations which conquered Judah and Jerusalem accepted Him as their God, He would be good to them, and they would become His people. If not, they would be destroyed too.
Tomorrow read Jeremiah 13-16:9
The Lord told Jeremiah that an idol is no better than a scarecrow. Why worship a thing that can't help or harm you? Jeremiah praised the Lord as the only true and living God. He created the earth with His wisdom and power. Jeremiah told the people that the time was at hand for them to be forced off their land. Then Jeremiah prayed. He told the Lord that he knew that "we humans are not in control of our own lives." He asked the Lord to correct him, but not in anger because he wouldn't survive. Then he asked God to sweep away the enemies.
The Lord told Jeremiah to explain to the people that they had broken the agreement made by their ancestors and that it hadn't changed in all that time. God did exactly what He promised to do for the people and they turned their backs on Him. So God decided to bring suffering on the people of Judah and Jerusalem. He knew they would beg for His help, but He wouldn't listen to them. God told Jeremiah not to pray for the people because He wouldn't listen anyway. Then the Lord told Jeremiah to tell the people how they had messed up. So of course, the people plotted to kill Jeremiah. Not only did the Lord tell Jeremiah about it, but He made sure that those people suffered and died along with their entire families.
Jeremiah asked God why it appeared that the wicked lived such a comfortable life. They do wrong, but live well. God answered with questions such as, how could Jeremiah compete with horses if racing with people wore him out? How would he survive when things got really bad if such trifles bothered him so much? The Lord was furious with His people and began to hate them. If the nations which conquered Judah and Jerusalem accepted Him as their God, He would be good to them, and they would become His people. If not, they would be destroyed too.
Tomorrow read Jeremiah 13-16:9
20100824
August 24, 2010 Jeremiah 5:20-8:22
The Lord was unhappy that the people wouldn't listen to Him. He was angry that they had rejected His commandments. He was sad that they were too blind to notice all the beautiful and wondrous marvels of the earth that He had made for them. They hadn't obeyed Him so He couldn't bless them. God was angry about the wealth that some people had been given and the way they used it to hurt other people, not help them. No one remembered God, but He knew on the day of disaster they would call Him.
God warned the people of Benjamin to get out of Jerusalem. Trouble was coming and Jerusalem was going to be destroyed. Jeremiah was angry too. He had told the people everything the Lord had said and they just laughed at Him. He felt so mad he was having a hard time containing it. God told Jeremiah to let His anger sweep everyone away, young and old alike. Everyone was corrupt, even the priests and prophets couldn't be trusted. All they offered the people were lies. Judah was goin' down. The people of Judah rejected God's way of life when they had the chance to choose it. An army from the north would come and destroy them and they should start mourning. Metal could be purified with fire, but the people were so corrupt that they could not be made pure, so God rejected them.
The Lord told Jeremiah to speak to the people at the gate of the temple. He told them that all they had to do was to be fair and honest with each other and stop taking advantage of foreigners, widows and orphans. Not kill innocent people, and stop worshiping other gods. If they did those things God would let them live long in the land. Instead they broke every single commandment. God refused to protect them so they could go on sinning. They were told not to make the mistake of thinking that the temple would protect them. As punishment God was going to sweep them away. God told Jeremiah that the people insulted themselves and God by sinning as they did. The Lord told the people not to offer sacrifices to Him. They had ignored God and become even more stubborn than their ancestors. God told them to change the name of the valley where they killed and burned their children as a sacrifice to their gods (something God would never have even thought of) to Slaughter Valley because it would become the graveyard for them all.
The bones of the kings would be dug up and scattered. Some people would be left alive and taken into slavery in foreign countries. The people kept going down the wrong road but never stopped to ask directions. They thought they had it made because they had the word of the Lord. They missed the part where they actually DO what the Lord asked. Jeremiah mourned for the people. The people couldn't understand why the Lord hadn't rescued them yet.
Tomorrow read Jeremiah 9-12
God warned the people of Benjamin to get out of Jerusalem. Trouble was coming and Jerusalem was going to be destroyed. Jeremiah was angry too. He had told the people everything the Lord had said and they just laughed at Him. He felt so mad he was having a hard time containing it. God told Jeremiah to let His anger sweep everyone away, young and old alike. Everyone was corrupt, even the priests and prophets couldn't be trusted. All they offered the people were lies. Judah was goin' down. The people of Judah rejected God's way of life when they had the chance to choose it. An army from the north would come and destroy them and they should start mourning. Metal could be purified with fire, but the people were so corrupt that they could not be made pure, so God rejected them.
The Lord told Jeremiah to speak to the people at the gate of the temple. He told them that all they had to do was to be fair and honest with each other and stop taking advantage of foreigners, widows and orphans. Not kill innocent people, and stop worshiping other gods. If they did those things God would let them live long in the land. Instead they broke every single commandment. God refused to protect them so they could go on sinning. They were told not to make the mistake of thinking that the temple would protect them. As punishment God was going to sweep them away. God told Jeremiah that the people insulted themselves and God by sinning as they did. The Lord told the people not to offer sacrifices to Him. They had ignored God and become even more stubborn than their ancestors. God told them to change the name of the valley where they killed and burned their children as a sacrifice to their gods (something God would never have even thought of) to Slaughter Valley because it would become the graveyard for them all.
The bones of the kings would be dug up and scattered. Some people would be left alive and taken into slavery in foreign countries. The people kept going down the wrong road but never stopped to ask directions. They thought they had it made because they had the word of the Lord. They missed the part where they actually DO what the Lord asked. Jeremiah mourned for the people. The people couldn't understand why the Lord hadn't rescued them yet.
Tomorrow read Jeremiah 9-12
20100823
August 23, 2010 Jeremiah 2:26-5:19
Jeremiah continued God's message to the Israelites. The Lord told the people their leaders were corrupt. The people rejected the God who could help them and instead, begged their idols of stone and wood for help. They had made many them, they should be able to help them! God told the people that they accused Him of not saving them, but at the same time, they rejected Him. The Lord had proven Himself to the people again and again, but they wouldn't listen.
The Lord asked why He should take the Israelites back? They had more gods than a prostitute has lovers. They had used sex to worship their gods and had polluted the land with their sins. So, the Lord refused to let the spring rain fall, still they had no shame. God had heard them call Him, but they went right on sinning. God compared Israel and Judah to two sisters. The first one, Israel, was like an unfaithful wife who became a prostitute. He had hoped she would stop, but when she didn't He divorced her and sent her away. Then her sister, Judah, watched what happened and did the same as her sister! She didn't care that she had made herself unclean, but worse, she pretended to come back - even Israel didn't sink that low. God told Jeremiah to shout an invitation to the north to come back to Him. The Lord promised them good things if they would turn away from their lives of sin. God knew that the people would confess their sins and that they would speak empty words.
God insisted they get rid of every idol. He told them that they were stubborn, but needed to keep the agreement their ancestors had made with Him. If not, then His anger would burn like a fire that could not be put out. The Lord told Jeremiah to tell the people He was sending disaster from the north. Jeremiah told the people to keep mourning because the Lord was still angry with them. Jeremiah described the coming doom. He told them it was their own fault they would be punished. Jeremiah saw a vision of the desolation to come. The land would be a barren wasteland where everything was in ruins. The decision had been made, Jerusalem would be destroyed, but not completely.
The Lord told Jeremiah to go and find one honest person who tried to be faithful. If he could find just one, Jerusalem would be spared. Sounds familiar - like Sodom and Gomorrah... When the people would ask why the Lord would punish them and take away their inheritance, Jeremiah was to tell them they abandoned the Lord and worshiped other gods, so they would become slaves in a foreign country.
Tomorrow read Jeremiah 5:20-8:22
20100822
August 22, 2010 Isaiah 66 & Jeremiah 1-2:25
The Lord said that the people He treasures most are the humble - they depend only on Him and tremble at His word. God had seen the hypocrisy of the people who misunderstood the point of atonement. They saw it as payment for their sins only, that they could go out and do anything they wanted and it would be ok as long as they made an offering to God to make up for it. Then they could go out and do it again. Some of the people rejected the humble among them. They made fun of the people who took God's word seriously. They wouldn't be laughing for long. God would bring Jerusalem to life with abundance of people, wealth and comfort. Then everyone would know that the Lord is present with His servants and angry with His enemies. Some of the people would prepare themselves to sin deliberately, the Lord promised to destroy them for it. He knows everything we do and think.
The time has come to bring together all the people of the distant lands so they would know about God. People from all over the earth would come to Jerusalem to bring offerings to the temple. God promised that the Israelites would never be forgotten and that they would always have descendants.
Jeremiah
God told Jeremiah who He was and that He had chosen him before he was born to speak for Him to the nations. When Jeremiah heard this he voiced his concerns to God that he wasn't a good speaker and he was too young. The Lord told him that when he was told where to go and what to say, he'd better do it. God promised Jeremiah that He would be right there with him to guide him and keep him safe, and not to be afraid. The Lord reached out His hand and touched Jeremiah's mouth and gave him words to say and the authority to say them. The Lord told Jeremiah he would speak of doom and destruction and rising and rebuilding again to the people. God told Jeremiah to stand up to the wicked people and to not be afraid of them because He wouldn't let them harm him.
The Lord told Jeremiah to go to Jerusalem and tell the people what He had said. God recalled to them how their ancestors had loved God alone. After a while, even though God didn't deserve to be rejected, the people forgot about Him and made their own gods. God had resuced them from Egypt and kept them alive in the barren desert, and given them a land of abundance, which they made filthy. They turned their backs on God. No other nation had ever abandoned its gods. They rejected Him; the only source of life. Then they found out the consequences of their betrayal, slavery. Jeremiah told the people they were stained with guilt and no soap or bleach would wash it away. They couldn't see that the things they did were sins. They were too busy worshiping their idols to notice anything else.
Tomorrow read Jeremiah 2:26-5:19
The time has come to bring together all the people of the distant lands so they would know about God. People from all over the earth would come to Jerusalem to bring offerings to the temple. God promised that the Israelites would never be forgotten and that they would always have descendants.
Jeremiah
God told Jeremiah who He was and that He had chosen him before he was born to speak for Him to the nations. When Jeremiah heard this he voiced his concerns to God that he wasn't a good speaker and he was too young. The Lord told him that when he was told where to go and what to say, he'd better do it. God promised Jeremiah that He would be right there with him to guide him and keep him safe, and not to be afraid. The Lord reached out His hand and touched Jeremiah's mouth and gave him words to say and the authority to say them. The Lord told Jeremiah he would speak of doom and destruction and rising and rebuilding again to the people. God told Jeremiah to stand up to the wicked people and to not be afraid of them because He wouldn't let them harm him.
The Lord told Jeremiah to go to Jerusalem and tell the people what He had said. God recalled to them how their ancestors had loved God alone. After a while, even though God didn't deserve to be rejected, the people forgot about Him and made their own gods. God had resuced them from Egypt and kept them alive in the barren desert, and given them a land of abundance, which they made filthy. They turned their backs on God. No other nation had ever abandoned its gods. They rejected Him; the only source of life. Then they found out the consequences of their betrayal, slavery. Jeremiah told the people they were stained with guilt and no soap or bleach would wash it away. They couldn't see that the things they did were sins. They were too busy worshiping their idols to notice anything else.
Tomorrow read Jeremiah 2:26-5:19
20100821
August 21, 2010 Isaiah 60:10-65
I never thought I would say this, but I'm going to miss Isaiah. I've read the Bible a couple of times, but I don't remember having a feeling of affection for Isaiah before. I do, I feel affection for what he will tell me next. Just when I am weary of his endless exhortations to the children of Israel to obey the commandments of God, he throws in an amazing bit of information about God and who He is and what He can do for us in our lives if we just say "Yes!" Or his exact descriptions of Jesus Christ and what He will mean for us mere humans and I am astonished. I appreciate that!
Isaiah prophesied that Jerusalem would be rebuilt after a time when the Israelites would be captives in a distant land. Isaiah knew his purpose in life. He listed some of the ways he served the people and God.
The Lord told the Israelites that He would always defend them. They would no longer be thought of as deserted and childless, but happily married. God would protect them and He promised them that never again would those who subdued them eat the grain they had sown or drink the wine from the grapes they planted.
Isaiah recalled the history of the people and the Lord. Over hundreds of years the people lived and God reached out for them. Sometimes they listened and sometimes they didn't. But through it all the Lord remained steadfast and didn't forget or forsake His chosen ones. Isaiah asked God to "Be a spark that starts a fire causing water to boil." He noted that God will "help all who gladly obey and do what you want, but sin makes you angry." That "Only by your help can we ever be saved." Isaiah knew that no matter how hard they tried they weren't good enough for God. God taught His children the right way and then let them do things their way and fail. He allowed them to experience the consequences.
The Lord never really left the children of Israel as they thought. He was there all the time, only they never called to Him. They never asked for Him. He would reach out to them and they would reject Him by worshiping idols and disobeying the laws and tell others that they were dedicated to God. The sins of the past were forgotten and the future would be wonderful. His people would live in the homes they built and live a long and healthy life. Their children would be blessed and their prayers would be answered before they finished praying. God would make sure their lives were blessed.
Tomorrow finish Isaiah (ch 66) and read Jeremiah 1-2:25
Isaiah prophesied that Jerusalem would be rebuilt after a time when the Israelites would be captives in a distant land. Isaiah knew his purpose in life. He listed some of the ways he served the people and God.
The Lord told the Israelites that He would always defend them. They would no longer be thought of as deserted and childless, but happily married. God would protect them and He promised them that never again would those who subdued them eat the grain they had sown or drink the wine from the grapes they planted.
Isaiah recalled the history of the people and the Lord. Over hundreds of years the people lived and God reached out for them. Sometimes they listened and sometimes they didn't. But through it all the Lord remained steadfast and didn't forget or forsake His chosen ones. Isaiah asked God to "Be a spark that starts a fire causing water to boil." He noted that God will "help all who gladly obey and do what you want, but sin makes you angry." That "Only by your help can we ever be saved." Isaiah knew that no matter how hard they tried they weren't good enough for God. God taught His children the right way and then let them do things their way and fail. He allowed them to experience the consequences.
The Lord never really left the children of Israel as they thought. He was there all the time, only they never called to Him. They never asked for Him. He would reach out to them and they would reject Him by worshiping idols and disobeying the laws and tell others that they were dedicated to God. The sins of the past were forgotten and the future would be wonderful. His people would live in the homes they built and live a long and healthy life. Their children would be blessed and their prayers would be answered before they finished praying. God would make sure their lives were blessed.
Tomorrow finish Isaiah (ch 66) and read Jeremiah 1-2:25
20100820
August 20, 2010 Isaiah 55-60:9
God invited the people to come to Him and live. The Lord promised the people eternal love and loyalty. They would tell other nations and they too would come to know God. Return to God, He will be merciful and forgive your sins. We can't know God's thoughts because they aren't like ours. The word of God does everything He sends it to do. When the people are set free, they will return home in peace.
God told Isaiah that His house would be known as a house of worship for all nations. God was angry at the leaders of Israel because of their laziness and greed. They abused those who trusted them. All they cared about was partying.
God's faithful people suffer and die, but in death, they find peace for obeying God. God condemned the people for their idol worship. They perverted their ideas so they were obsessed with evil acts and gruesome rituals and called themselves holy. God told them that if they came to Him for protection, the land would always belong to them. The Lord is here to help those who depend on Him. God told them He didn't want to abandon them. Their greed made Him furious and He punished them. God told the people he would heal them and lead them and give them comfort.
God gave Isaiah a message for the people that they worship Him with their mouths but not with their actions. Did they really think God wanted them to go without eating or sit around all day in mourning to prove how humble they are? What really matters is to set the innocent prisoners free, stop abusing people, share your food, your home and clothes with those that need them. Don't turn away your relatives. When you ask for the Lord's help he will say, "Here I am!" The Lord will guide you and give you good things to eat. You will be healthy. But first you must start respecting the Sabbath as a joyful day of worship. Then you will truly enjoy knowing the Lord.
You can't run after a sinful life and think about doing evil to people and then expect God to answer your prayers. Your sins are the roadblock between you and God. The people confessed their sins once they realized that they weren't helping them get the kind of life they wanted most. The Lord was very displeased when he noticed that justice had disappeared. When no one would do anything about it He was more disgusted. The Lord was furious and did to the enemies of His people just what they had done to them. God promised to give the people His Spirit and His message forever.
God told the people of Jerusalem to rise and shine while the rest of the world was in darkness, they would see the light. Crowds were coming to Jerusalem. Their families and friends were on their way and the wealth of the world as well. The Lord did this to honor the people so they would honor Him.
Tomorrow read Isaiah 60:10-65:25
God told Isaiah that His house would be known as a house of worship for all nations. God was angry at the leaders of Israel because of their laziness and greed. They abused those who trusted them. All they cared about was partying.
God's faithful people suffer and die, but in death, they find peace for obeying God. God condemned the people for their idol worship. They perverted their ideas so they were obsessed with evil acts and gruesome rituals and called themselves holy. God told them that if they came to Him for protection, the land would always belong to them. The Lord is here to help those who depend on Him. God told them He didn't want to abandon them. Their greed made Him furious and He punished them. God told the people he would heal them and lead them and give them comfort.
God gave Isaiah a message for the people that they worship Him with their mouths but not with their actions. Did they really think God wanted them to go without eating or sit around all day in mourning to prove how humble they are? What really matters is to set the innocent prisoners free, stop abusing people, share your food, your home and clothes with those that need them. Don't turn away your relatives. When you ask for the Lord's help he will say, "Here I am!" The Lord will guide you and give you good things to eat. You will be healthy. But first you must start respecting the Sabbath as a joyful day of worship. Then you will truly enjoy knowing the Lord.
You can't run after a sinful life and think about doing evil to people and then expect God to answer your prayers. Your sins are the roadblock between you and God. The people confessed their sins once they realized that they weren't helping them get the kind of life they wanted most. The Lord was very displeased when he noticed that justice had disappeared. When no one would do anything about it He was more disgusted. The Lord was furious and did to the enemies of His people just what they had done to them. God promised to give the people His Spirit and His message forever.
God told the people of Jerusalem to rise and shine while the rest of the world was in darkness, they would see the light. Crowds were coming to Jerusalem. Their families and friends were on their way and the wealth of the world as well. The Lord did this to honor the people so they would honor Him.
Tomorrow read Isaiah 60:10-65:25
20100819
August 19, 2010 Isaiah 50-54
The Lord told the children of Israel that He divorced their mother and sold them because of their sins. He tried to talk to them, but they didn't answer. Oceans do what He tells them, but the Israelites did not. Isaiah told them that each morning God awakens him and he is eager to learn what God has to teach him. People beat and insulted Isaiah, but God never let him down. He knew the Lord would help prove his innocence. The Lord will punish the people who don't believe or obey Him.
If you want to do right, obey the Lord like Abraham. Isaiah told the Israelites that their descentants Abraham and Sarah were blessed by God. Even though things are in ruins, God will bring comfort and the place will be restored like the garden of Eden. God told them they belonged to Him and he would rescue them. God's saving power never ends. The victories of men will vanish, but the victories of God will last. Isaiah prayed for God's help. The Lord answered him: Don't be afraid of mere humans. I will help those who call to me. I will tell you what to say and keep you safe in the palm of my hand. Later, Isaiah told the people that God was angry about the way they had been lulled into a false sense of security and ignored Him. He told them to wake up and pay attention and God would help them.
Rise up Jerusalem and celebrate your victory! They had been oppressed in Egypt, Assyria and another nation for no reason at all, but they would be free. The Lord gives comfort and rescues His people. They would be able to bring back the sacred things of the Lord. The suffering servant would make nations worthy to worship God.
Isaiah 53 is all about the suffering servant and what he did for us. It reads like a biography of the life of Jesus Christ. The suffering servant is commonly identified as the messiah. Jesus said, "You search and investigate and pore over the Scriptures diligently, because you suppose and trust that you have eternal life through them. And these [very Scriptures] testify about Me!" John 5:39 Amplified. Jesus was a rabbi, He knew the scriptures. I wonder if this passage was one of the topics He discussed in the temple when He was 12?
Isaiah urged the Israelites to rejoice because they wouldn't be lonely for much longer. He told them to make their tents bigger and get ready for them to be filled. They were to forget the sins of their youth and stop feeling ashamed. God is powerful and will rescue everyone. They were like a young wife, sad for being abandoned by her husband, but God wanted them back! Just as God promised Noah He would never again destroy the earth with a flood, He promised never again to get angry and punish His children. God would rebuild their city, make their children successful and bring them peace and prosperity.
Tomorrow read Isaiah 55-60:9
If you want to do right, obey the Lord like Abraham. Isaiah told the Israelites that their descentants Abraham and Sarah were blessed by God. Even though things are in ruins, God will bring comfort and the place will be restored like the garden of Eden. God told them they belonged to Him and he would rescue them. God's saving power never ends. The victories of men will vanish, but the victories of God will last. Isaiah prayed for God's help. The Lord answered him: Don't be afraid of mere humans. I will help those who call to me. I will tell you what to say and keep you safe in the palm of my hand. Later, Isaiah told the people that God was angry about the way they had been lulled into a false sense of security and ignored Him. He told them to wake up and pay attention and God would help them.
Rise up Jerusalem and celebrate your victory! They had been oppressed in Egypt, Assyria and another nation for no reason at all, but they would be free. The Lord gives comfort and rescues His people. They would be able to bring back the sacred things of the Lord. The suffering servant would make nations worthy to worship God.
Isaiah 53 is all about the suffering servant and what he did for us. It reads like a biography of the life of Jesus Christ. The suffering servant is commonly identified as the messiah. Jesus said, "You search and investigate and pore over the Scriptures diligently, because you suppose and trust that you have eternal life through them. And these [very Scriptures] testify about Me!" John 5:39 Amplified. Jesus was a rabbi, He knew the scriptures. I wonder if this passage was one of the topics He discussed in the temple when He was 12?
Isaiah urged the Israelites to rejoice because they wouldn't be lonely for much longer. He told them to make their tents bigger and get ready for them to be filled. They were to forget the sins of their youth and stop feeling ashamed. God is powerful and will rescue everyone. They were like a young wife, sad for being abandoned by her husband, but God wanted them back! Just as God promised Noah He would never again destroy the earth with a flood, He promised never again to get angry and punish His children. God would rebuild their city, make their children successful and bring them peace and prosperity.
Tomorrow read Isaiah 55-60:9
20100818
August 18, 2010 Isaiah 45-49
The Lord chose Cyrus, king of persia, to do His work. Isaiah wrote about Cyrus before he was born. He would become the ruler who would rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. God would help Cyrus even though he didn't know God. Then the Lord told Israel they didn't have the right to question Him about Cyrus. The Lord alone is God. He is the only one who can bring about justice.
The gods of Babylon are helpless. God is the only God not formed by man. All the others are made of wood, stone and metal by human hands. They just sit there, they can't help anyone with anything. God will save Israel.
Surrender Babylon! The Lord will save Israel and shame you. You thought you could get away with anything you did, but you were wrong. You thought you were in control, but you don't know that I (God) control everything. You think you are so smart, but you don't know everything. Keep using your magic spells, you might finally frighten somebody! Ask your astrologers what the future will be, the stars won't help you. The fortunetellers can't save you.
The Lord told the people of Israel that they were lying when they said they depended on Him. He told them in advance what He would do so they would know He did it and not some idol they thought up. The Lord told them he would test them to refine them like silver in a furnace. God told them He alone is God and He created the earth and sky. The Lord told them that if only they had obeyed Him, there would be more people than sand and He would never have allowed them to be defeated. Leave Babylon and celebrate. They would say that the Lord had led them. The Lord promised that there will be no peace for the wicked.
There is some discussion among bible scholars about to whom the Lord is speaking in chapter 49; some say, the Messiah, some say Israel and some say Isaiah.
Everyone listen! The Lord chose me to serve Him before I was born. He has honored me and made me strong. Israel, you are the chosen ones and kings will bow down at your feet. The Lord will lead His people home and take good care of them on the journey. Even when the Lord's people suffer, they are shown His mercy - He will not forget them! Jerusalem will be rebuilt faster than it was destroyed. It will be restored and then outshine its former glory. The Lord will take revenge on the cruel enemies of the Israelites.
Tomorrow read Isaiah 50-54
The gods of Babylon are helpless. God is the only God not formed by man. All the others are made of wood, stone and metal by human hands. They just sit there, they can't help anyone with anything. God will save Israel.
Surrender Babylon! The Lord will save Israel and shame you. You thought you could get away with anything you did, but you were wrong. You thought you were in control, but you don't know that I (God) control everything. You think you are so smart, but you don't know everything. Keep using your magic spells, you might finally frighten somebody! Ask your astrologers what the future will be, the stars won't help you. The fortunetellers can't save you.
The Lord told the people of Israel that they were lying when they said they depended on Him. He told them in advance what He would do so they would know He did it and not some idol they thought up. The Lord told them he would test them to refine them like silver in a furnace. God told them He alone is God and He created the earth and sky. The Lord told them that if only they had obeyed Him, there would be more people than sand and He would never have allowed them to be defeated. Leave Babylon and celebrate. They would say that the Lord had led them. The Lord promised that there will be no peace for the wicked.
There is some discussion among bible scholars about to whom the Lord is speaking in chapter 49; some say, the Messiah, some say Israel and some say Isaiah.
Everyone listen! The Lord chose me to serve Him before I was born. He has honored me and made me strong. Israel, you are the chosen ones and kings will bow down at your feet. The Lord will lead His people home and take good care of them on the journey. Even when the Lord's people suffer, they are shown His mercy - He will not forget them! Jerusalem will be rebuilt faster than it was destroyed. It will be restored and then outshine its former glory. The Lord will take revenge on the cruel enemies of the Israelites.
Tomorrow read Isaiah 50-54
20100817
August 17, 2010 Isaiah 41-44
The Lord controls human events. Be silent and listen to the Lord. He was there at the beginning and He will be there at the end. Idol makers tell each other what a great job they did, but they have to nail the idol to the ground or it will fall over. God tells the people of Israel that He chose them from the family of His friend Abraham. He called them His servant and He told them He hadn't forgotten them. God told them not to be afraid because He would protect them. "I am the Lord your God. I am holding your hand, so don't be afraid. I am here to help you." (Isaiah 41:13 CEV) God won't forget the poor and needy. Everyone will see what God does and know that He has done it. Your idols are worthless. They can't save you or predict the future, yet you worship them.
This prophecy in chapter 42 is the first of the great prophecies concerning the great "Servant of the Lord". Scholars and interpreters have different views on what this could mean. Some believe the servant to be the people of Israel, some believe it is the faithful few of Israel and others believe it to be Jesus Christ. God tells the people all about the greatness of the servant. Tell everyone to praise the Lord. Tell everyone to celebrate and sing. The Lord will lead His people. Isaiah laments that the people are set in their sinful ways and refuse to obey God's commandments.
God tells the Israelites not to be afraid because He will rescue them wherever they are. God wants His people to know Him, trust Him and understand that He alone is God. The people are told to forget the past (this is a message I am receiveing very frequently lately.) God wipes away our sins and forgets the wrongs we have done.
God tells Israel (through Isaiah) not to be afraid because they belong to Him and He will take care of them. God reminded them that idols have no power and they will meet God in court to defend themselves and their choice of a homemade idol rather than God. A story is told about a woodcarver who uses a single tree to cook his dinner, which he eats and then he decides to take the rest of the wood and carve it into an idol. Then he bows down and worships this piece of wood and asks it to protect him. Isaiah wonders how anyone could be so stupid to trust something that could be burned to ashes? The Lord won't forget His people. We are to praise God and worship Him. The Lord created everything and everything will be done just as He has said it will.
Tomorrow read Isaiah 45-49
This prophecy in chapter 42 is the first of the great prophecies concerning the great "Servant of the Lord". Scholars and interpreters have different views on what this could mean. Some believe the servant to be the people of Israel, some believe it is the faithful few of Israel and others believe it to be Jesus Christ. God tells the people all about the greatness of the servant. Tell everyone to praise the Lord. Tell everyone to celebrate and sing. The Lord will lead His people. Isaiah laments that the people are set in their sinful ways and refuse to obey God's commandments.
God tells the Israelites not to be afraid because He will rescue them wherever they are. God wants His people to know Him, trust Him and understand that He alone is God. The people are told to forget the past (this is a message I am receiveing very frequently lately.) God wipes away our sins and forgets the wrongs we have done.
God tells Israel (through Isaiah) not to be afraid because they belong to Him and He will take care of them. God reminded them that idols have no power and they will meet God in court to defend themselves and their choice of a homemade idol rather than God. A story is told about a woodcarver who uses a single tree to cook his dinner, which he eats and then he decides to take the rest of the wood and carve it into an idol. Then he bows down and worships this piece of wood and asks it to protect him. Isaiah wonders how anyone could be so stupid to trust something that could be burned to ashes? The Lord won't forget His people. We are to praise God and worship Him. The Lord created everything and everything will be done just as He has said it will.
Tomorrow read Isaiah 45-49
20100816
August 16, 2010 Isaiah 37:30-40:31
Isaiah told Hezekiah about the next 3 years. First Hezekiah would eat crops that grow on their own, the next year he would eat whatever grew from the leftovers, and the 3rd year, he would eat fruit and grain he had planted. Judah would take strong root in the land. Then the Lord sent an angel to the camp of the Assyrian king and killed 185,000 of his men. So he broke camp and went home. His sons killed him while he was worshiping his idol and another of his sons became king.
Hezekiah got so sick that Isaiah told him to put his house in order because he was going to die. This might sound familiar because we read about it in 2Kings 20, on April 24. This is the part where the sun moves backwards 10 steps on the stairway. Isaiah recorded Hezekiah's song of praise to the Lord.
Then comes the part where Hezekiah shows all the riches of his kingdom to the envoys from Babylon. (Also in 2Kings 20) He showed them everything. Then Isaiah told Hezekiah that everything would be carried off to Babylon and his descendants would also be carried to Babylon and become eunuchs. Hezekiah thought this was good, because there would be peace and security in his lifetime.
Isaiah proclaims comfort for Jerusalem. The time of trial and punishment is past and smooth sailing awaits. Proclaim the good news that God is in Jerusalem and He cares for His nation. No one compares with God. No one teaches God. No one instructs God. Don't you know? Isn't it clear that God created the world? Look at the sky at dusk. Who created the stars and gave each one a name? None of the stars is ever missing. So how can you say that God doesn't care about you? He is never drowsy and never sleeps, his wisdom is too great to measure. The Lord gives strength to the weary; to those who trust Him He gives new strength. They will be like soaring eagles, walking and running and not getting tired.
Tomorrow read Isaiah 41-44
Hezekiah got so sick that Isaiah told him to put his house in order because he was going to die. This might sound familiar because we read about it in 2Kings 20, on April 24. This is the part where the sun moves backwards 10 steps on the stairway. Isaiah recorded Hezekiah's song of praise to the Lord.
Then comes the part where Hezekiah shows all the riches of his kingdom to the envoys from Babylon. (Also in 2Kings 20) He showed them everything. Then Isaiah told Hezekiah that everything would be carried off to Babylon and his descendants would also be carried to Babylon and become eunuchs. Hezekiah thought this was good, because there would be peace and security in his lifetime.
Isaiah proclaims comfort for Jerusalem. The time of trial and punishment is past and smooth sailing awaits. Proclaim the good news that God is in Jerusalem and He cares for His nation. No one compares with God. No one teaches God. No one instructs God. Don't you know? Isn't it clear that God created the world? Look at the sky at dusk. Who created the stars and gave each one a name? None of the stars is ever missing. So how can you say that God doesn't care about you? He is never drowsy and never sleeps, his wisdom is too great to measure. The Lord gives strength to the weary; to those who trust Him He gives new strength. They will be like soaring eagles, walking and running and not getting tired.
Tomorrow read Isaiah 41-44
20100815
August 15, 2010 Isaiah 33-37:29
Isaiah foretold the destruction of the Assyrians, who had never experienced defeat. He asked God for protection and strength against their enemies. He acknowledged God as the foundation their lives were built on. Bad things were happening to the people and the land, but God was about to do something great for His people. Those people who lived in sin were afraid, but those who followed the Lord were promised rewards. The Lord told them that they would never again have to see those horrible people who spoke a strange language and threatened them. Jerusalem would be secure because the Lord was with them. All was well.
Isaiah prophesied about the end of Edom. Edom was another name for Esau, Jacob (Israel's) twin brother. So the Lord became disgusted with the Edomites (relatives of the Israelites) and told Isaiah.
Isaiah told the people of Judah not to be afraid because the Lord would protect them. He told them not to worry because God was going to take care of their enemies and everything would be all right. He also told them about "God's Sacred Highway" and that they would be safe upon that road. When they returned to Jerusalem they would be singing with joy.
In 2Kings 18 and 2Chron 32 it tells about Hezekiah and the king of Assyria surrounding Jerusalem (you can review this part if you go to the April 23rd and May 13th entries.) Isaiah recorded the events in his book too. I notice that the prophecy is recorded almost exactly alike in 2Kings 19, it starts "The Virgin Daughter of Zion..."
Tomorrow read Isaiah 37:30-40:31
Isaiah prophesied about the end of Edom. Edom was another name for Esau, Jacob (Israel's) twin brother. So the Lord became disgusted with the Edomites (relatives of the Israelites) and told Isaiah.
Isaiah told the people of Judah not to be afraid because the Lord would protect them. He told them not to worry because God was going to take care of their enemies and everything would be all right. He also told them about "God's Sacred Highway" and that they would be safe upon that road. When they returned to Jerusalem they would be singing with joy.
In 2Kings 18 and 2Chron 32 it tells about Hezekiah and the king of Assyria surrounding Jerusalem (you can review this part if you go to the April 23rd and May 13th entries.) Isaiah recorded the events in his book too. I notice that the prophecy is recorded almost exactly alike in 2Kings 19, it starts "The Virgin Daughter of Zion..."
Tomorrow read Isaiah 37:30-40:31
20100814
August 14, 2010 Isaiah 28:23-32:20
Sooner or later a farmer stops plowing and plants seeds. God helps him understand what to do and when to do it. Grain isn't to be ground forever. This knowledge also comes from the Lord who is a wonderful counselor, magnificent in wisdom and excellent in working.
In this chapter Isaiah calls Jerusalem "Ariel". Ariel will mourn because she will be brought down. Suddenly the Lord will come with thunderstorms and earthquakes. It will be like a dream, very real yet unbelievable. This prophecy is just words on paper that some won't read and others can't read; it is empty for them. For those people, they speak of God, but they don't know God - their hearts are not in it. They think they can hide from their maker but they are wrong. When the Israelites finally see the great works of God they will praise and honor Him.
Bad news for those bent on finding new and exciting ways to sin. Those people keep looking in all the wrong places for whatever it is they think they want. (They don't really know.) God told Isaiah to write on paper His message to the Israelites so it would be a witness against them. They didn't want to know God's truth, they wanted to hear pretty lies. God offered protection and they rejected that too. Isaiah told them that God is waiting for them to come to Him and He will show them mercy. Isaiah told them that if they asked God for directions, they would hear a voice guiding them. God would take care of them and make sure they were safe and had plenty to eat.
Isaiah warned them that they were in trouble if they went to Egypt for help - they are only human. But God wanted them to come back to Him and also destroy all the idols. Assyria would be destroyed.
Isaiah taught the people that a king and his leaders would rule righteously under the law and with justice. Then everybody would understand that decency would prevail and they could trust their government. The women were carefree and complacent in their cushy sinful lives. But that would change and give way to desolation and they wouldn't know what to do. They weren't interested in obeying God and being helpful to others. Everything changes for the better when we have God's spirit with us and we all strive to be better people.
Tomorrow read Isaiah 33-37:29
In this chapter Isaiah calls Jerusalem "Ariel". Ariel will mourn because she will be brought down. Suddenly the Lord will come with thunderstorms and earthquakes. It will be like a dream, very real yet unbelievable. This prophecy is just words on paper that some won't read and others can't read; it is empty for them. For those people, they speak of God, but they don't know God - their hearts are not in it. They think they can hide from their maker but they are wrong. When the Israelites finally see the great works of God they will praise and honor Him.
Bad news for those bent on finding new and exciting ways to sin. Those people keep looking in all the wrong places for whatever it is they think they want. (They don't really know.) God told Isaiah to write on paper His message to the Israelites so it would be a witness against them. They didn't want to know God's truth, they wanted to hear pretty lies. God offered protection and they rejected that too. Isaiah told them that God is waiting for them to come to Him and He will show them mercy. Isaiah told them that if they asked God for directions, they would hear a voice guiding them. God would take care of them and make sure they were safe and had plenty to eat.
Isaiah warned them that they were in trouble if they went to Egypt for help - they are only human. But God wanted them to come back to Him and also destroy all the idols. Assyria would be destroyed.
Isaiah taught the people that a king and his leaders would rule righteously under the law and with justice. Then everybody would understand that decency would prevail and they could trust their government. The women were carefree and complacent in their cushy sinful lives. But that would change and give way to desolation and they wouldn't know what to do. They weren't interested in obeying God and being helpful to others. Everything changes for the better when we have God's spirit with us and we all strive to be better people.
Tomorrow read Isaiah 33-37:29
20100813
August 13, 2010 Isaiah 24:7-28:22
There is no more wine, or music or partying. The city is in ruins. The fields look like they have all ready been harvested. They (I'm not sure who they is) praise God, but Isaiah feels awful. Terror awaits everyone, there is nowhere safe. The earth is shattered and staggers. The Lord will rule in Jerusalem where He will show its rulers his wonderful glory.
Isaiah praises God for the wonderful plans and promises He has made since ancient times. For the enemies He vanquished, the sanctuary He gave the poor and needy, the protection He gave during attacks. The Lord will provide a sumptuous feast for His people, and heal all hurts. Then the people will say the Lord has saved them. The Moabites will finally be defeated.
Soon the time will come when Judah will sing a song of victory because the Lord has subdued the enemy. They were right to trust the Lord. The Lord makes the path smooth for those who obey Him. God's decisions show everyone on this earth how to live right. Others have tried to rule over them, but they obey only God. The dead will live again. Go inside and hide until the Lord is no longer angry. The Lord will punish those who did violent crimes.
On that day the sea monster will try to escape, but the Lord will kill him. There is only one way that Israel's sin and guilt can be completely forgiven. That is to crush every rock used to worship idols. (I'd be getting out my rock hammer...)
Then Samaria will be punished. Every drunkard there takes pride in Samaria, but it will be crushed. God promised the people perfect peace and rest, but they refused to listen. Storms will wash away their shelters of lies, and the wicked people will be swept away.
Tomorrow read Isaiah 28:23-32:20
Isaiah praises God for the wonderful plans and promises He has made since ancient times. For the enemies He vanquished, the sanctuary He gave the poor and needy, the protection He gave during attacks. The Lord will provide a sumptuous feast for His people, and heal all hurts. Then the people will say the Lord has saved them. The Moabites will finally be defeated.
Soon the time will come when Judah will sing a song of victory because the Lord has subdued the enemy. They were right to trust the Lord. The Lord makes the path smooth for those who obey Him. God's decisions show everyone on this earth how to live right. Others have tried to rule over them, but they obey only God. The dead will live again. Go inside and hide until the Lord is no longer angry. The Lord will punish those who did violent crimes.
On that day the sea monster will try to escape, but the Lord will kill him. There is only one way that Israel's sin and guilt can be completely forgiven. That is to crush every rock used to worship idols. (I'd be getting out my rock hammer...)
Then Samaria will be punished. Every drunkard there takes pride in Samaria, but it will be crushed. God promised the people perfect peace and rest, but they refused to listen. Storms will wash away their shelters of lies, and the wicked people will be swept away.
Tomorrow read Isaiah 28:23-32:20
20100812
August 12, 2010 Isaiah 19:11-24:6
We continue Isaiah's prophecies regarding Egypt. He says that the princes are all fools, and that they have no wise men. The leaders have led the country astray, so that they stagger around like a "drunkard staggers around in his vomit." The Egyptians will tremble with fear of Judah. They will begin to pray to God because of their fear and He will send them a savior and defender and he will rescue them. Then the Egyptians will become the Lord's people and worship Him. They will worship the Lord along with the Assyrians and the Israelites.
When the Assyrian king Sargon told his army commanders to capture Ashdod, Isaiah heard the Lord tell him to take off his clothes and sandals and go around naked and barefoot for 3 years, so he did. Then the Lord explained that Isaiah was acting out the future of Egypt and Ethiopia, that they would be carried off naked and barefoot by the king of Assyria. Then the people living on the coast would know that there was no hope for them.
Isaiah prophesies about the fall of Babylonia, in the process he experiences physical pain and agony himself. He foretells of a watchtower being used to wait for news and is told, "Babylon has fallen!" There are also prophesies about Edom, Arabia and Kedar.
A prophecy about Jerusalem, concerning the Valley of Vision: Why are you celebrating? Drunks lie in your streets and your leaders ran away, but were brought back. Then Isaiah said for them to leave him alone to cry. The Lord had set up a time for the valley to be attacked by Elam and Kir and Judah was left defenseless. They trusted in the weapons they had made instead of trusting God. They fixed the broken wall of Jerusalem, but did not trust in the Lord. When this happened, Isaiah reminded them that the Lord told them to weep and mourn, but instead they partied saying, "Let's eat and drink! Tomorrow we may die." The Lord promised to not forgive them of this sin for as long as they lived. The Lord scolded a leader named Shebna for building a tomb where the royals are buried. Isaiah said, "He (the Lord) will roll you into a ball and throw you into a wide open country, where you will die and your chariots will be destroyed. You're a disgrace to those you serve." Then God told him he was going to have Eliakim take over his job. He will do the right things.
Isaiah prophesies about Tyre, that it will be destroyed and forgotten. (Tyre was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 572 B.C. Then it was rebuilt and captured by Alexander the Great in 332 B.C. Eventually true religion prevailed and Jesus visited there (Matthew 15:21) and so did Paul (Acts 21:3-6).)
We end today's passage with Isaiah's oracle about the devastation of the earth. The Lord is going to turn the earth into a desert and scatter those people who survive. Sooner or later everybody's bill comes due and God will collect! Because we the people break the everlasting covenant a curse will consume the earth, so the people are burned up and very few will be left. (Sweet dreams!)
Tomorrow read Isaiah 24:7-28:22
When the Assyrian king Sargon told his army commanders to capture Ashdod, Isaiah heard the Lord tell him to take off his clothes and sandals and go around naked and barefoot for 3 years, so he did. Then the Lord explained that Isaiah was acting out the future of Egypt and Ethiopia, that they would be carried off naked and barefoot by the king of Assyria. Then the people living on the coast would know that there was no hope for them.
Isaiah prophesies about the fall of Babylonia, in the process he experiences physical pain and agony himself. He foretells of a watchtower being used to wait for news and is told, "Babylon has fallen!" There are also prophesies about Edom, Arabia and Kedar.
A prophecy about Jerusalem, concerning the Valley of Vision: Why are you celebrating? Drunks lie in your streets and your leaders ran away, but were brought back. Then Isaiah said for them to leave him alone to cry. The Lord had set up a time for the valley to be attacked by Elam and Kir and Judah was left defenseless. They trusted in the weapons they had made instead of trusting God. They fixed the broken wall of Jerusalem, but did not trust in the Lord. When this happened, Isaiah reminded them that the Lord told them to weep and mourn, but instead they partied saying, "Let's eat and drink! Tomorrow we may die." The Lord promised to not forgive them of this sin for as long as they lived. The Lord scolded a leader named Shebna for building a tomb where the royals are buried. Isaiah said, "He (the Lord) will roll you into a ball and throw you into a wide open country, where you will die and your chariots will be destroyed. You're a disgrace to those you serve." Then God told him he was going to have Eliakim take over his job. He will do the right things.
Isaiah prophesies about Tyre, that it will be destroyed and forgotten. (Tyre was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 572 B.C. Then it was rebuilt and captured by Alexander the Great in 332 B.C. Eventually true religion prevailed and Jesus visited there (Matthew 15:21) and so did Paul (Acts 21:3-6).)
We end today's passage with Isaiah's oracle about the devastation of the earth. The Lord is going to turn the earth into a desert and scatter those people who survive. Sooner or later everybody's bill comes due and God will collect! Because we the people break the everlasting covenant a curse will consume the earth, so the people are burned up and very few will be left. (Sweet dreams!)
Tomorrow read Isaiah 24:7-28:22
20100811
August 11, 2010 Isaiah 13:17-19:10
We were in the middle of Isaiah's prophecy of the destruction of Babylon by the Lord. Isaiah prophecied that Babylon, now glorious and powerful would become like Sodom and Gomorrah when the Lord had finished with them. They were so evil that not even the babies or children could be pitied. The land would become desolate; a place where hyenas and wolves would roam.
After some time, the Lord would have mercy on Israel and let them come home. Israel would be the masters and those who had oppressed them would be the slaves. They were to sing a song to make fun of the king of Babylon, and Isaiah wrote down the lyrics. God promised to punish the Assyrians, the Philistines, and also Moab.
Isaiah suggests that it would be a good idea for the Moabites to send 100,000 lambs to Judah to get their support. Moab was to be a nation in mourning. Their lives of constant drinking and partying were coming to an end. The few people who survive will be helpless.
Damascus was not to be spared either. And, when the time comes, Israel will go down too. Only after all that will the Israelites that remain turn their hearts to God. The Lord defends His people against all foes.
Ethiopia (or Cush) will be punished also. Their people are feared because they are tall and smooth, strong and brutal. But they will be food for vultures. Then the remainder of these people will bring gifts to God.
Egypt will be punished as well, with civil war. They will seek advice from their idols, mediums and spiritists and just end up confused. The Nile will dry up and the land will become barren. The streams will stink and Egypt will have no water. The textile workers will have nothing to do and will all become very depressed.
Tomorrow read Isaiah 19:11-24:6
After some time, the Lord would have mercy on Israel and let them come home. Israel would be the masters and those who had oppressed them would be the slaves. They were to sing a song to make fun of the king of Babylon, and Isaiah wrote down the lyrics. God promised to punish the Assyrians, the Philistines, and also Moab.
Isaiah suggests that it would be a good idea for the Moabites to send 100,000 lambs to Judah to get their support. Moab was to be a nation in mourning. Their lives of constant drinking and partying were coming to an end. The few people who survive will be helpless.
Damascus was not to be spared either. And, when the time comes, Israel will go down too. Only after all that will the Israelites that remain turn their hearts to God. The Lord defends His people against all foes.
Ethiopia (or Cush) will be punished also. Their people are feared because they are tall and smooth, strong and brutal. But they will be food for vultures. Then the remainder of these people will bring gifts to God.
Egypt will be punished as well, with civil war. They will seek advice from their idols, mediums and spiritists and just end up confused. The Nile will dry up and the land will become barren. The streams will stink and Egypt will have no water. The textile workers will have nothing to do and will all become very depressed.
Tomorrow read Isaiah 19:11-24:6
20100810
August 10, 2010 Isaiah 9:13-13:16
The Israelites who refused God would be refused by Him. He will cut off the corrupt leaders and the false prophets and destroy the wicked but He will still be angry. The wickedness burns like a wildfire and the people will destroy each other and still He will be angry.
Woe to those people who succeed by bringing others low. When they are destroyed, God will still be angry. Assyria, a nation of idols will be destroyed after destroying Israel. The king of Assyria, believing it was by his own might that he was able to conquer Israel will be next. The Lord will send a wasting disease among his mighty warriors and the rest will burn. In that day a remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God. But Lebanon will fall before the Mighty One.
Someone from David's family will be king someday. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit and possess great wisdom, understanding and insight. He will know and honor God. This king will be very special and there will be peace at last. Nothing harmful will happen on the Lord's holy mountain. Then the descendants of David will come home from all over the land.
In that day they will priase God and give Him thanks. Everyone will know that God is with them.
A prophecy against Babylon. The Lord will bring together an army to fight against Babylon. Everyone will be shocked and afraid, their courage will melt away. In that time the Lord will destroy every sinner without mercy. Everyone will scatter like rats, but they won't escape. They will see their children killed and their wives abused.
Tomorrow read Isaiah 13:17-19:10
Woe to those people who succeed by bringing others low. When they are destroyed, God will still be angry. Assyria, a nation of idols will be destroyed after destroying Israel. The king of Assyria, believing it was by his own might that he was able to conquer Israel will be next. The Lord will send a wasting disease among his mighty warriors and the rest will burn. In that day a remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God. But Lebanon will fall before the Mighty One.
Someone from David's family will be king someday. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit and possess great wisdom, understanding and insight. He will know and honor God. This king will be very special and there will be peace at last. Nothing harmful will happen on the Lord's holy mountain. Then the descendants of David will come home from all over the land.
In that day they will priase God and give Him thanks. Everyone will know that God is with them.
A prophecy against Babylon. The Lord will bring together an army to fight against Babylon. Everyone will be shocked and afraid, their courage will melt away. In that time the Lord will destroy every sinner without mercy. Everyone will scatter like rats, but they won't escape. They will see their children killed and their wives abused.
Tomorrow read Isaiah 13:17-19:10
20100809
August 9, 2010 Isaiah 5:18-9:12
Woe to the wicked who say we'll believe it when we see it. The Lord's anger burned against them and Isaiah tried to warn them. Around the year 740BC King Uzziah died and Isaiah saw God in a vision. He thought he was a dead man, but an angel touched his mouth with a burning coal and told him his sins were atoned for. Then Isaiah heard God ask them "Whom shall I send?" Isaiah spoke up and said, "Here am I. Send me!" God told Isaiah to tell the people keep doing what they're doing and they would be sorry. Isaiah asked God how long he was to tell the people this? God told him to keep at it until there was nothing left.
Later while Ahaz was king of Judah, Ephraim teamed up with Israel and came to fight against Judah. This betrayal was tough for the people of Judah. God told Isaiah to meet Ahaz and give him a message to stay calm and He would take care of everything. "If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all." (Ch 7:9) The Lord told Ahaz to ask for a sign, but Ahaz told Him he wouldn't test Him. Then Isaiah told him it was bad enough to try the patience of men, but would he try the patience of God too? Isaiah then told Ahaz that the Lord Himself would give him a sign; a virgin would bear a son and they would call Him Immanuel, which means God with us. By then their enemies would be dust. The Lord would bring the king of Assyria and life as they knew it would be gone.
God told Isaiah to write "quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil" on a scroll. God called Uriah the priest and Zechariah as witnesses. Then Isaiah went to the prophetess (his wife) and she conceived and had a son and named him "Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz" which means quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil. Before he could say Mommy or Daddy the Assyrians would overtake Israel and Syria.
In due time God would glorify the land of Zebulun and Naphtali; Galilee beyond the Jordan River. The people walking in darkness would see a great light. "A child has been born for us, We have been given a son who will be our ruler. His names will be Wonderful Advisor and Mighty God, Eternal Father and Prince of Peace. His power will never end; peace will last forever. He will rule David's kingdom and make it grow strong. He will always rule with honesty and justice, The Lord All-Powerful will make certain that all of this is done." (Isaiah 9:6-7 CEV) The Lord warned the people of Israel, but they were too proud to care. The Lord sent the Arameans and the Philistines to attack them and they swallowed up Israel. Since He was still angry with them, He kept punishing them.
Tomorrow read Isaiah 9:13-13:16
Later while Ahaz was king of Judah, Ephraim teamed up with Israel and came to fight against Judah. This betrayal was tough for the people of Judah. God told Isaiah to meet Ahaz and give him a message to stay calm and He would take care of everything. "If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all." (Ch 7:9) The Lord told Ahaz to ask for a sign, but Ahaz told Him he wouldn't test Him. Then Isaiah told him it was bad enough to try the patience of men, but would he try the patience of God too? Isaiah then told Ahaz that the Lord Himself would give him a sign; a virgin would bear a son and they would call Him Immanuel, which means God with us. By then their enemies would be dust. The Lord would bring the king of Assyria and life as they knew it would be gone.
God told Isaiah to write "quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil" on a scroll. God called Uriah the priest and Zechariah as witnesses. Then Isaiah went to the prophetess (his wife) and she conceived and had a son and named him "Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz" which means quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil. Before he could say Mommy or Daddy the Assyrians would overtake Israel and Syria.
In due time God would glorify the land of Zebulun and Naphtali; Galilee beyond the Jordan River. The people walking in darkness would see a great light. "A child has been born for us, We have been given a son who will be our ruler. His names will be Wonderful Advisor and Mighty God, Eternal Father and Prince of Peace. His power will never end; peace will last forever. He will rule David's kingdom and make it grow strong. He will always rule with honesty and justice, The Lord All-Powerful will make certain that all of this is done." (Isaiah 9:6-7 CEV) The Lord warned the people of Israel, but they were too proud to care. The Lord sent the Arameans and the Philistines to attack them and they swallowed up Israel. Since He was still angry with them, He kept punishing them.
Tomorrow read Isaiah 9:13-13:16
20100808
August 8, 2010 Isaiah 1:10-5:17
God doesn't want sacrifices, He doesn't want incense burned for Him. He wants us to obey His commandments and do His will. "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10) Because the people don't care about what God wants, He cares nothing for their rituals. God just wanted them to be willing and obedient and He would give them the best of everything. All that was good is now ruined. God wanted to restore the judges and get rid of the kings.
In the last days the Lord's temple will be established. People will lay down their weapons and take up farming tools. People will walk in the light of the Lord. Some of the people have abandoned God and taken up superstitions of all kinds instead. They worship their own work and are arrogant. They will be humbled. The Lord will be exhated.
Isaiah warned the people of Judah and Jerusalem that the Lord was about to take away the way of life they took for granted, because they thought they did it all by themselves. The righteous would be fine, but the wicked had better look out! God will judge all the people for their deeds - even the women who have made their finery and ornaments their gods will come to ruin.
There won't be enough eligible bachelors for women to marry. Many will want to marry one man. The Lord will preserve a branch of His people, survivors in Israel. God will clean the wicked away by a spirit of judgement and of fire. God will protect His righteous people.
A loved one had a beautiful vineyard. He took good care of it and gave it everything it needed to flourish. At the harvest it yielded only bad fruit. The loved one decided that he would take away all the good things he had done for the vineyard and make it a wasteland. The vineyard is the house of Israel, the loved one is the Lord Almighty. The great houses of the wicked would be ruined and the vineyards would stop producing. Woe to those who just want to drink wine all day and play music and disregard what the Lord has given them. Therefore the people will go into exile and do without the blessings of the Lord. The arrogant will be humbled, but the Lord will be exalted.
Tomorrow read Isaiah 5:18-9:12
In the last days the Lord's temple will be established. People will lay down their weapons and take up farming tools. People will walk in the light of the Lord. Some of the people have abandoned God and taken up superstitions of all kinds instead. They worship their own work and are arrogant. They will be humbled. The Lord will be exhated.
Isaiah warned the people of Judah and Jerusalem that the Lord was about to take away the way of life they took for granted, because they thought they did it all by themselves. The righteous would be fine, but the wicked had better look out! God will judge all the people for their deeds - even the women who have made their finery and ornaments their gods will come to ruin.
There won't be enough eligible bachelors for women to marry. Many will want to marry one man. The Lord will preserve a branch of His people, survivors in Israel. God will clean the wicked away by a spirit of judgement and of fire. God will protect His righteous people.
A loved one had a beautiful vineyard. He took good care of it and gave it everything it needed to flourish. At the harvest it yielded only bad fruit. The loved one decided that he would take away all the good things he had done for the vineyard and make it a wasteland. The vineyard is the house of Israel, the loved one is the Lord Almighty. The great houses of the wicked would be ruined and the vineyards would stop producing. Woe to those who just want to drink wine all day and play music and disregard what the Lord has given them. Therefore the people will go into exile and do without the blessings of the Lord. The arrogant will be humbled, but the Lord will be exalted.
Tomorrow read Isaiah 5:18-9:12
20100807
August 7, 2010 Song 3-8; Isaiah 1:1-9
The bride pines for her lover so much she even looks for him while she's dreaming. She looks for him in the city, searching for the one her heart loves. She found him and held him and did not let him go. Don't awaken love before it is ready. The groom (Solomon) arrives flanked by mighty warriors in splendor.
Solomon expresses his love for his beautiful bride. He lavishly describes her attributes. Who wouldn't want to be loved and appreciated like that?
The lovers are separated, and the bride describes her torment. Friends ask whether her lover is better than others. She describes his attributes which add to her love for him.
The friends ask the bride where her lover has gone and she tells them he has gone to his garden, but that's ok because they belong to each other. Solomon describes his bride and declares that she is above all other women. Friends inquire who is this perfect woman, as dazzling as heavenly bodies?
The bride admires the bridegroom and they belong to each other, and are joined in love.
Then they speak together. They want to be joined physically just as they are emotionally and spiritually.
Isaiah
Isaiah was prophet to kings of Judah during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, around 51 years or so.
Animals know who their master is, but the children of Israel don't know God. They turn their backs on God. They have been beaten and their wounds have been left unattended. Their country is desolate, cities are burned, strangers have taken control. If the Lord hadn't left any survivors, Israel would have been like Sodom and Gomorrah.
Tomorrow read Isaiah 1:10-5:17
Solomon expresses his love for his beautiful bride. He lavishly describes her attributes. Who wouldn't want to be loved and appreciated like that?
The lovers are separated, and the bride describes her torment. Friends ask whether her lover is better than others. She describes his attributes which add to her love for him.
The friends ask the bride where her lover has gone and she tells them he has gone to his garden, but that's ok because they belong to each other. Solomon describes his bride and declares that she is above all other women. Friends inquire who is this perfect woman, as dazzling as heavenly bodies?
The bride admires the bridegroom and they belong to each other, and are joined in love.
Then they speak together. They want to be joined physically just as they are emotionally and spiritually.
Isaiah
Isaiah was prophet to kings of Judah during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, around 51 years or so.
Animals know who their master is, but the children of Israel don't know God. They turn their backs on God. They have been beaten and their wounds have been left unattended. Their country is desolate, cities are burned, strangers have taken control. If the Lord hadn't left any survivors, Israel would have been like Sodom and Gomorrah.
Tomorrow read Isaiah 1:10-5:17
20100806
August 6, 2010 Ecclesiastes 9-12; Songs 1-2
Happy Birthday to our dear friend Cara!
We all share the same fate no matter what choices we've made. We never know when we will die. It doesn't matter how rich or smart or strong or wise we may be, we will still come to our end on this earth. Sooner or later no one will remember you. (To me, this makes living in the present moment even more important - it may be all I have!) This world rewards idiots and geniuses alike. There are no guarantees and tomorrow is guaranteed to no one. Bad things happen to good people - and always have. Some people give up and say, "A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything." (Eccl 10:19) This reminds me of a t-shirt I saw back in the early 80's, it said, "Money may not buy happiness, but it makes the misery more tolerable!"
Be generous because you never know when it will come back to you. Share what you have. Don't worry, just keep on truckin'. No one can explain the mysteries of God, just focus on what you can do now. Enjoy every day while you can. Just remember that God will judge everything you do.
In time, your body will become feeble and you will be in pain. Your teeth will rot, your eyesight will fail and you won't hear very well, if at all. You will fear doing what you don't even think about now, and your hair will be white as almond blossoms. Sooner or later the silver cord snaps, our bodies return to earth and our breath returns to God. Proverbs are like nails that fasten things together. The true secret to life is, most of all respect and obey God!
Song of Songs or Solomon
One Bible translation describes this book as Solomon's most beautiful song, while another describes this book as a script for a drama. Whatever the case, I find it beautiful and intriguing.
What makes the most sense to me is to remember the first and second greatest commandments given by Jesus Christ; love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:37-40) To me, that means that love is the most important thing. The topic of this book is love. The entire book is a demonstration of a loving relationship. They are very careful with each other.
She does not know how beautiful she is. Her lover and friends must tell her. She tells him how handsome he is.
Now she knows that she is beautiful and she tells her lover in many ways how handsome she believes he is. She feels fortunate to have a man such as him in love with her. You can't hurry love. The beauty and wonder of love fills the senses to overflowing.
Tomorrow read Song of Solomon 3-8; Isaiah 1:1-9
We all share the same fate no matter what choices we've made. We never know when we will die. It doesn't matter how rich or smart or strong or wise we may be, we will still come to our end on this earth. Sooner or later no one will remember you. (To me, this makes living in the present moment even more important - it may be all I have!) This world rewards idiots and geniuses alike. There are no guarantees and tomorrow is guaranteed to no one. Bad things happen to good people - and always have. Some people give up and say, "A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything." (Eccl 10:19) This reminds me of a t-shirt I saw back in the early 80's, it said, "Money may not buy happiness, but it makes the misery more tolerable!"
Be generous because you never know when it will come back to you. Share what you have. Don't worry, just keep on truckin'. No one can explain the mysteries of God, just focus on what you can do now. Enjoy every day while you can. Just remember that God will judge everything you do.
In time, your body will become feeble and you will be in pain. Your teeth will rot, your eyesight will fail and you won't hear very well, if at all. You will fear doing what you don't even think about now, and your hair will be white as almond blossoms. Sooner or later the silver cord snaps, our bodies return to earth and our breath returns to God. Proverbs are like nails that fasten things together. The true secret to life is, most of all respect and obey God!
Song of Songs or Solomon
One Bible translation describes this book as Solomon's most beautiful song, while another describes this book as a script for a drama. Whatever the case, I find it beautiful and intriguing.
What makes the most sense to me is to remember the first and second greatest commandments given by Jesus Christ; love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:37-40) To me, that means that love is the most important thing. The topic of this book is love. The entire book is a demonstration of a loving relationship. They are very careful with each other.
She does not know how beautiful she is. Her lover and friends must tell her. She tells him how handsome he is.
Now she knows that she is beautiful and she tells her lover in many ways how handsome she believes he is. She feels fortunate to have a man such as him in love with her. You can't hurry love. The beauty and wonder of love fills the senses to overflowing.
Tomorrow read Song of Solomon 3-8; Isaiah 1:1-9
20100805
August 5, 2010 Ecclesiastes 3:9-8:17
Solomon asks what is the good of all the work men do? God has given men a tiny glimpse of eternity and none of us can wrap our minds around it. Solomon says that he knows that there is nothing better than that men should be happy and do good while they live. Eat, drink and find satisfaction in your work - that is a gift from God. Solomon shows us the futility of life without God; that death is the end for both man and beast alike. If you don't have God, then work is all you have.
Solomon looked at the cost of labor and achievement and the balance of life. He decided that the dead were better off than the living. He looked again and saw a man alone working, wealthy, but miserable; he also found life meaningless. His lonliness was a problem. He wanted someone to share his life with.
Don't make promises lightly. Let your words be few. Don't be a fool with God. Don't promise Him something and not mean it. Whoever loves money never has enough, this too, is meaningless. When we are born we bring nothing with us; when we die we take nothing with us. Solomon realized that anyone who is happy with what they have is blessed by God.
Solomon sees another evil - a man who has been given much but no capacity to enjoy it. It is better to be dead than alive, sorrow is better than laughter and wisdom preserves the life of its possessor. A footnote in my bible says, "...while Solomon is doing his utmost to prove that life is futile and not worth living, the Holy Spirit is using him to show that these conclusions are the tragic effect of living "under the sun" - ignoring the Lord, dwelling away from God the Father, oblivious of the Holy Spirit - and yet face to face with the mysteries of life and nature!" (That may explain the sadness I feel while reading this passage, which gives way to an overwhelming confirmation once again, that without God we're all doomed!) Solomon is looking around and seeing only the ways people are bad to each other. His solution is to eat, drink and be merry since nothing seems to matter.
Tomorrow read Ecclesiastes 9-12; Song of Solomon 1-2
Solomon looked at the cost of labor and achievement and the balance of life. He decided that the dead were better off than the living. He looked again and saw a man alone working, wealthy, but miserable; he also found life meaningless. His lonliness was a problem. He wanted someone to share his life with.
Don't make promises lightly. Let your words be few. Don't be a fool with God. Don't promise Him something and not mean it. Whoever loves money never has enough, this too, is meaningless. When we are born we bring nothing with us; when we die we take nothing with us. Solomon realized that anyone who is happy with what they have is blessed by God.
Solomon sees another evil - a man who has been given much but no capacity to enjoy it. It is better to be dead than alive, sorrow is better than laughter and wisdom preserves the life of its possessor. A footnote in my bible says, "...while Solomon is doing his utmost to prove that life is futile and not worth living, the Holy Spirit is using him to show that these conclusions are the tragic effect of living "under the sun" - ignoring the Lord, dwelling away from God the Father, oblivious of the Holy Spirit - and yet face to face with the mysteries of life and nature!" (That may explain the sadness I feel while reading this passage, which gives way to an overwhelming confirmation once again, that without God we're all doomed!) Solomon is looking around and seeing only the ways people are bad to each other. His solution is to eat, drink and be merry since nothing seems to matter.
Tomorrow read Ecclesiastes 9-12; Song of Solomon 1-2
20100804
August 4, 2010 Proverbs 31 & Ecclesiastes 1-3:8
Proverbs 31 contain the sayings of King Lemuel, which his mother taught him.
Don't spend your strength on women - they can ruin kings! Rulers have no need of beer or wine - they need to keep their wits about them. Give beer to the dying and wine to those in anguish - let them drink and forget their misery. Stick up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of the destitute, defend them.
The Epilogue describes a wife of noble character. (I must confess when I first read this I felt somewhat overwhelmed by the depth and breadth of this woman's day. Now I feel awe for a woman who can do all this and do it with joy.)
A wife of noble character is rare and worth far more than jewels. Her husband has confidence in her, he knows he can count on her, he knows he is lucky to have her. She makes cloth, quickly and competently. She knows how to handle both wool and flax. She is a wonder and brings amazing things to her family. She begins her day before sunrise and makes breakfast for everyone. After she inspects a field, she decides to buy it, takes her earnings and plants a vineyard. She gets to work on her chores and she is strong for it. She expects new customers for her clothing and sashes, in the meantime, she spins. She helps the poor and needy. She isn't worried when it gets cold, she has made everyone warm clothes. She has made beautiful coverings for her bed and she wears her own works of art. Her husband is respected and takes his place at the city gate. She is strong, confident, dignified and wise. She knows how to teach those who will listen. She knows everything that goes on under her own roof and doesn't waste time. Her children and husband are grateful for her and tell her so. Charm is deceptive, beauty fades, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. She has earned reward and praise.
Ecclesiastes
Solomon laments that nothing matters and that everything humans work for ends up being given to those who come after them. (Well, that is true. I read a bumper sticker today that said "The best things in life aren't things." Which reminded me that what matters most, I can't see, but I can feel!) Solomon determined that wisdom is better than folly as light is better than darkness, but in the end the wise and the fools die just the same. Eventually everything and everyone will be forgotten - on earth. This is an essential pain of life. Solomon reasoned that it is God who gives meaning to life.
Everything under heaven has it's own time and season. A time to...
be born and a time to die
plant and a time to uproot
kill and a time to heal
tear down and a time to build
weep and a time to laugh
mourn and a time to dance
scatter stones and a time to gather them
embrace and a time to refrain from embracing
search and a time to give up
keep and a time to throw away
tear and a time to mend
be silent and a time to speak
love and a time to hate
for war and a time for peace.
Tomorrow read Ecclesiastes 3:9-8:17
Don't spend your strength on women - they can ruin kings! Rulers have no need of beer or wine - they need to keep their wits about them. Give beer to the dying and wine to those in anguish - let them drink and forget their misery. Stick up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of the destitute, defend them.
The Epilogue describes a wife of noble character. (I must confess when I first read this I felt somewhat overwhelmed by the depth and breadth of this woman's day. Now I feel awe for a woman who can do all this and do it with joy.)
A wife of noble character is rare and worth far more than jewels. Her husband has confidence in her, he knows he can count on her, he knows he is lucky to have her. She makes cloth, quickly and competently. She knows how to handle both wool and flax. She is a wonder and brings amazing things to her family. She begins her day before sunrise and makes breakfast for everyone. After she inspects a field, she decides to buy it, takes her earnings and plants a vineyard. She gets to work on her chores and she is strong for it. She expects new customers for her clothing and sashes, in the meantime, she spins. She helps the poor and needy. She isn't worried when it gets cold, she has made everyone warm clothes. She has made beautiful coverings for her bed and she wears her own works of art. Her husband is respected and takes his place at the city gate. She is strong, confident, dignified and wise. She knows how to teach those who will listen. She knows everything that goes on under her own roof and doesn't waste time. Her children and husband are grateful for her and tell her so. Charm is deceptive, beauty fades, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. She has earned reward and praise.
Ecclesiastes
Solomon laments that nothing matters and that everything humans work for ends up being given to those who come after them. (Well, that is true. I read a bumper sticker today that said "The best things in life aren't things." Which reminded me that what matters most, I can't see, but I can feel!) Solomon determined that wisdom is better than folly as light is better than darkness, but in the end the wise and the fools die just the same. Eventually everything and everyone will be forgotten - on earth. This is an essential pain of life. Solomon reasoned that it is God who gives meaning to life.
Everything under heaven has it's own time and season. A time to...
be born and a time to die
plant and a time to uproot
kill and a time to heal
tear down and a time to build
weep and a time to laugh
mourn and a time to dance
scatter stones and a time to gather them
embrace and a time to refrain from embracing
search and a time to give up
keep and a time to throw away
tear and a time to mend
be silent and a time to speak
love and a time to hate
for war and a time for peace.
Tomorrow read Ecclesiastes 3:9-8:17
20100803
August 3, 2010 Proverbs 27:11-30:33
Today's passage contains 84 Proverbs. Below are some of my favorites:
Chapter 27
11. "Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart; then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt."
19. "As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man."
20. "Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are the eyes of man."
Chapter 28
6. "Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a rich man whose ways are perverse."
9. "If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable."
14. "Blessed is the man who always fears the Lord, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble."
18. "He whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but he whose ways are perverse will suddenly fall."
22. "A stingy man is eager to get rich, and is unaware that poverty awaits him."
25. "A greedy man stirs up dissension, but he who trusts in the Lord will prosper."
26. "He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe."
27. "He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses."
Chapter 29
7. "The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern."
13. "The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: The Lord gives sight to the eyes of both."
20. "Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him."
23. "A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor."
Chapter 30 These are the sayings of Agur. Most of them are several lines long.
17. "The eye that mocks a father, that scorns obedience to a mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures."
18&19 "There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a maiden."
21-23 "Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up: a servant who becomes king, a fool who is full of food, an unloved woman who is married, and a maidservnat who displaces her mistress."
24-28. "Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise: Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer; coneys are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags; locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks; a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings' palaces."
Tomorrow read Proverbs 31 and Ecclesiastes 1-3:8
Chapter 27
11. "Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart; then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt."
19. "As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man."
20. "Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are the eyes of man."
Chapter 28
6. "Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a rich man whose ways are perverse."
9. "If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable."
14. "Blessed is the man who always fears the Lord, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble."
18. "He whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but he whose ways are perverse will suddenly fall."
22. "A stingy man is eager to get rich, and is unaware that poverty awaits him."
25. "A greedy man stirs up dissension, but he who trusts in the Lord will prosper."
26. "He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe."
27. "He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses."
Chapter 29
7. "The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern."
13. "The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: The Lord gives sight to the eyes of both."
20. "Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him."
23. "A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor."
Chapter 30 These are the sayings of Agur. Most of them are several lines long.
17. "The eye that mocks a father, that scorns obedience to a mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures."
18&19 "There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a maiden."
21-23 "Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up: a servant who becomes king, a fool who is full of food, an unloved woman who is married, and a maidservnat who displaces her mistress."
24-28. "Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise: Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer; coneys are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags; locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks; a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings' palaces."
Tomorrow read Proverbs 31 and Ecclesiastes 1-3:8
20100802
August 2, 2010 Proverbs 24-27:10
Today's passage contains some 74 proverbs. Here are some of my favorites:
Chapter 24
13&14 "Eat honey, my son, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste. Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off."
26. "An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips."
Chapter 25
The bible tells us that these proverbs were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah. He ruled Judah 215 years or so after Solomon.
11. "A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver."
14. "Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of gifts he does not give."
15. "Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone."
16&17 "If you find honey, eat just enough - too much of it, and you will vomit. Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house - too much of you, and he will hate you."
24. "Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife." (Same as 21:9)
28. "Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control."
Chapter 26
18&19 "Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrows is a man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I was only joking!"
28. "A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin."
Chapter 27
1. "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth."
4. "Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?"
What are some of your favorites?
Tomorrow read Proverbs 27:11-30:33
Chapter 24
13&14 "Eat honey, my son, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste. Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off."
26. "An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips."
Chapter 25
The bible tells us that these proverbs were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah. He ruled Judah 215 years or so after Solomon.
11. "A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver."
14. "Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of gifts he does not give."
15. "Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone."
16&17 "If you find honey, eat just enough - too much of it, and you will vomit. Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house - too much of you, and he will hate you."
24. "Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife." (Same as 21:9)
28. "Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control."
Chapter 26
18&19 "Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrows is a man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I was only joking!"
28. "A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin."
Chapter 27
1. "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth."
4. "Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?"
What are some of your favorites?
Tomorrow read Proverbs 27:11-30:33
20100801
August 1, 2010 Proverbs 21-23
Today's passage contains about 66 proverbs. Some of them are several verses long. Here are some of my favorites:
Chapter 21
2. "All a man's ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart."
3. "To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice."
9. "Better to live on the corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrlesome wife."
13. "If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered."
20. "In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has."
23. "He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity."
30. "There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord."
Chapter 22
1. "A GOOD name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold."
2. "Rich and poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all."
4. "Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life."
6. "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."
9. "A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor."
10. "Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended."
16. "He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and he who gives gifts to the rich - both come to poverty."
Chapter 23
4. "Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint."
12. "Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge."
Tomorrow read Proverbs 24-27:10
Chapter 21
2. "All a man's ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart."
3. "To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice."
9. "Better to live on the corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrlesome wife."
13. "If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered."
20. "In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has."
23. "He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity."
30. "There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord."
Chapter 22
1. "A GOOD name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold."
2. "Rich and poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all."
4. "Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life."
6. "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."
9. "A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor."
10. "Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended."
16. "He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and he who gives gifts to the rich - both come to poverty."
Chapter 23
4. "Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint."
12. "Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge."
Tomorrow read Proverbs 24-27:10
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