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]
The One in Control (Isaiah 10)
It's tempting sometimes to believe that we have a lot of say in what goes on in our lives and in the world. While there is a level of truth to that belief, Isaiah 10 teaches us that God is ultimately the One in control. Yes, we have daily choices that give us the illusion of being in charge, but God seems to have a way of using His sovereignty to make ... [Continue Reading]
The Coming Christ (2 Chronicles 27; Isaiah 9)
It's pretty amazing to think about the prophecies made by Isaiah regarding the birth and life of Christ long before He came to earth. Especially as we draw nearer to Christmas, it's incredible to read some of these words: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name ... [Continue Reading]
The Sky Isn’t Falling (Amos 7-9)
Most of us are familiar with the story of Chicken Little and his concern that the sky was falling. In some ways, reading through Amos feels similar to listening to the cries of Chicken Little. The news for the Israelites was somewhat disheartening: some would be destroyed, others would be led away into exile, and God's voice would be silent. That ... [Continue Reading]
Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God? (Amos 4-6)
Yes and no. When you read Amos you get a glimpse of a God who is angry with the Israelites and who is on the verge of punishing them for their apostasy (falling away from faith). However, to fully understand why God wanted to punish them is important to understanding God. He wasn't seeking to smite them because of their falling away from Him; ... [Continue Reading]
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