It's hard to believe that God told Hosea to marry a prostitute. How vile! How warped! And yet He used this image of marrying a prostitute to help Israel understand the weight of their sin. Israel's actions toward God were the equivalent of a woman prostituting herself out behind her husband's back. Think about how defiled the ... [Continue Reading]
Open Arms (2 Kings 18:1-8; 2 Chronicles 29-31)
If the content of this post seems a little repetitive, please know that it's not accidental. In fact, one of the amazing things about the Bible is that, though is was written by dozens of different authors from varying backgrounds, it carries a unified message in all of it's books: God is grace. The leadership of Hezekiah reveals that God was ready to ... [Continue Reading]
One Day (Isaiah 26-27)
These two chapters from Isaiah are prophesies about the future for His people. Though they suffered punishment and captivity by other nations, God is promising that He will restore the nation. Isaiah had in mind a glorious day when God will ransom His people from the gentile nations again (as He did when they were held captive by the Egyptians) and bring them ... [Continue Reading]
No More Tears (Isaiah 24-25)
As bad as Israel's exile was and as bad as hopeless as the situation seemed, Isaiah reminded the people that God would swallow up death: yet another foreshadowing of Christ's death and atonement (payment) for our sins. Though their situation was bleak, the tears would one day be wiped away. This prophecy doesn't relate just to them, however, it ... [Continue Reading]
Simply Pawns (Isaiah 13-14, 22:1-14)
While Babylon and Assyria were used by God to get the attention of the Israelites, one shouldn't think that they were favored by God. In fact, once they were no longer useful for His purposes, their nations faced demise because they never submitted to Him. In their arrogance, they sought to make themselves like gods, and so God had no choice but to humble ... [Continue Reading]
We Need a Ransom (2 Chronicles 28; 2 Kings 16-17)
When you read the acts of the Israelites it isn't hard to believe why God wanted them out of His sight (2 Kings 17:18). Performing such abominations as child sacrifice and worshiping other gods, the Israelites were taken captive by the Assyrians. Was God giving up on them because of their sins? The answer is a shocking NO! God's desire ... [Continue Reading]
Religious Routine? (Micah 5-7)
Every once in a while when I'm sitting in church I look around and think about what I see. How many people would be here if they weren't committed to religious routine? Would I be here if I wasn't committed to my religious routine? I think there is at least some population of people who fall into the bad habit of viewing God in such a ... [Continue Reading]
Judgment and Hope on the Horizon (Micah 1-4)
The message of Micah isn't altogether different than the messages of the other prophets. First there's a warning of the judgment that was to come. After all, the people had sinned, and as Paul teaches us in Romans 6:23 that the wages of sin is death. It's because of the sin of the people that they were going to experience the wrath of God. ... [Continue Reading]
Redemption (Isaiah 12)
Isaiah's description of God's redemption of His people is amazing. His anger is turned away so that we might be comforted; we have no reason to fear; God is our strength, our song, and our salvation. What more reason is there to praise His name? ... [Continue Reading]
The Perfect King (Isaiah 11)
Isaiah's image of a perfect king being born is so incredibly description of the character of Christ: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Might, Knowledge, Fear of the LORD. All this packaged in the form of a baby, sent to us on Christmas Day (or at least that's when we celebrate it). Relient K wrote a really beautiful song about Christ's birth called, ... [Continue Reading]
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