Here we go!  Today we are reading 2 Kings 16:19-20, 2 Chronicles 28:26-27, Isaiah 13, 14,15, and 16.  The Old Testament isn’t always easy to read, but I hope you are seeing that God always restores and is always at work to get His children back. Here’s what I am thinking about:

I hear lots of people reject the “God of the Old Testament”.  They won’t read the Old Testament because He seems harsh.  They won’t believe His kindness because they don’t see it, but God is not harsh.  Not in the OT, not in the NT, not now. His character toward His people is always the same. In every judgement, there is love and there is an opportunity for restoration. Every time.

“When this is all over,” Judah answers,  “the tyrant toppled, the killing at an end, all signs of these cruelties long gone, A new government of love will be established in the venerable David tradition. A Ruler you can depend upon will head this government, A Ruler passionate for justice, a Ruler quick to set things right” (Is. 16:5 MSG)

God always wants us back. He is a righteous judge, and He doesn’t act without a cause.

Please read Isaiah 1:21-31, and Isaiah chapters 2,3,4 and 5 this morning. What are you learning from daily spending this few minutes in the Bible?  Here’s what stands out to me:

Isaiah 5, the chapter on the disappointing vineyard is, well, disappointing. I notice how the vineyard was equipped for the immediate and for the future – even a wine press was built as the land was prepared for seed, because the expectation was that the land would produce good grapes.

God has an expectation for our lives as well – we have been prepared for all good things. Now it is up to us to purposefully grow into those good things! The Lord has given us what we need – now let’s walk in what is possible!

“Come, family of Jacob, let’s live in the light of God” (Isaiah 2:5 MSG)

Today we are reading Isaiah 28, 2 Kings 17:5, 2 Kings 18:9-12, 2 Kings 17:6-41, and Isaiah 1:1-20.  Let’s get into it!

I just want to unpack Isaiah 28 a little bit.  Want to do it with me?

“will” suggests future tense: “the Lord has a mighty and strong One who WILL bring them down” (Is. 28:2 NKJV)

not immediate, not all at once: “line upon line, here a little, there a little” (Isaiah 28:10 NKJV)

patience: “Whoever believes will not act hastily” (Isaiah 28:16 NKJV)

process: 28:26 – “God teaches him” (Isaiah 28:26 NKJV)

moving us forward: “the Lord… wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance” (Isaiah 28:29 NKJV)

All of these things represent a process – there’s a benefit to operating in faith.  When you KNOW that the Lord will solve your problem/heal your body/provide your need/ease your worry, then what do you do? You wait on Him in confidence – and now waiting is a pleasure because you KNOW the answer will come. Praise Him in the meantime. Somehow I got into NKJV this morning, but I liked it!

“Then one of the priest whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the Lord” (2 Kings 17:28 NKJV)

Even in this priest’s captivity, he still had a tremendous purpose. I’m noticing that after a chapter in Isaiah on waiting and the process, we have chapters in which lots of difficulties took lots of years.  God is still and always at work.

Please read Hosea chapters 9,10,11,12,13,and 14.  Some treasures in these words!  What are you learning?  Here’s what I am thinking about today:

I love Hosea 10:12, but I love it in the NKJV (it’s been a favorite for a long time, LOL!):

“Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you” (Hosea 10:12 NKJV)

When we sow righteousness  (decency, goodness, honesty, integrity, morality), we will reap mercy (charity, clemency, forbearance, leniency).  I love this – did you notice that what you SOW is about YOU, and what you REAP is what you offer to OTHERS through the gift of the Holy Spirit in you? Wow.  Thank You, Jesus.

Break up fallow (dead, dormant, idle, inactive, unused) ground in your life.  Move these things out of the way so you can seek Him wholeheartedly. When is it time to seek the Lord?  Now.  How long do we have to seek Him? Until He comes! Yes!

Hosea is the best – I want to highlight everything and stay here a little!  Lord, speak to me through Your Word – Your Word is alive!

Today, we are all in Hosea – that’s easy!  Please read Hosea 2:14-23, Hosea chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.  What is the Lord saying to your heart today?  Here’s are a few items I highlighted:

“And now here’s what I’m going to do: I’m going to start all over again” (Hosea 2:14 MSG)

Isn’t that just like God? Restoration after restoration restoration ❤

“maybe when they hit rock bottom, they’ll come looking for Me” (Hosea 5:15 MSG)

Lord, don’t let us wait that long.  We want to seek You NOW.

“come on, let us go back to God. He hurt us, but He’ll heal us” (Hosea 6:1 MSG)

That’s love. I just want to highlight everything today!

Today we are reading Isaiah 12,Isaiah 17, 2 Chronicles 28:16-21, 2 Kings 16:10-18, 2 Chronicles 28:22-25,22 Kings 18:1-8, 2 Chronicles 29:1-2,  2 Kings 15:30-31, 2 Kings 17:1-4, Hosea 1, and Hosea 2:1-13.  Wow – lots happening!  Do you see that God is faithful over and over and over again, in spite continual rebellion?

Ahaz just gets worse and worse and still God is patient.

Finally a faithful king:

“Hezekiah put his whole trust in the God of Israel. There was no king quite like him, either before or after. He held fast to God—never loosened his grip—and obeyed to the letter everything God had commanded Moses. And God, for his part, held fast to him through all his adventures” (2 Kings 18:5-6 MSG)

Hezekiah did tear down all the sex and religion shrines. Hosea begins sad – imagine a child named “No Mercy” or “Nobody”.  God gives them hope, though – Hosea 1:10-11 and 2:1 shows us that God is rebuilding Israel! He’s so patient.

We’re going to stay in Isaiah today.  That’s a little easier!  Please read Isaiah 8, 9, 10, and 11. 

“The Holy can either be a hiding place or a boulder blocking your way” (Isaiah 8:14 MSG)

Wow! Makes me want to search my heart and motives – am I offended by the Word or made secure by it? Am I a “pharisee” or a disciple? Is the Lord my hiding place, or do I have a negative view of Him?  Some people do think that God is just out to spoil our “fun”.  What a sad perspective that is!  God loves us and wants us to move forward continually!

Isaiah 9 is a comfort – I love it.  Remember the stumps in Isaiah 6?  Moving ahead to Isaiah 11, we see the holy seed again, but in a new form:  

“A green Shoot will sprout from Jesse’s stump, from his roots a budding Branch” (Isaiah 11:1 MSG)

The holy seed is a green shoot! The Lord is always looking for a remnant.  He is always wanting to grow us if we cooperate with Him.

Here we go!  Please read 2 Kings 15:32-38, 2 Chronicles 27, Micah 1, 2 Kings 16:1-9, 2 Chronicles 28:1-15, and Isaiah 7. Lots happening, we’re busy today.  What stands out to you in the Word as you read these passages?

Beyond allowing the sex and religion shrines, Ahaz even participated in them.  Even with all of his evil, God tells him to ask for a sign:

“God spoke again to Ahaz. This time he said, ‘Ask for a sign from your God. Ask anything. Be extravagant. Ask for the moon!’ ” (Isaiah 7:10-11 MSG)

God never presents something to us which He is not willing to give. I don’t know why Ahaz rejects this offer, maybe he’s afraid. God gives him the sign anyway: a virgin will bear a Child.  We know Who this is! I am comforted that God had a plan in place to redeem me, even 500 years and more in advance of Jesus’ birth.

Today let’s read Amos 7,8, and 9 (finish up that book!), 2 Kings 14:28-29,  2 Kings 15:8-29, 2 Kings 15:6-7, 2 Chronicles 26:22-23, and Isaiah 6.  Let’s get it done! We’re doing great!

Isaiah 6:9-13 is pretty bleak – a serious judgement against Israel….. but God never leaves it there.  Look at how He ends this prophecy:

“Every tree a stump, a huge field of stumps. But there’s a holy seed in those stumps” (Isaiah 6:13 MSG)

When it looks like it’s over, it’s not over. Sometimes we give up too soon, we get done too soon, we throw out the broken or burned or cut off pieces when God could use those pieces to rebuild.  I love this idea: “a holy seed in the stump”.  Remember this stump and this seed – we’ll see it again!  

It’s not over until God says it’s over! Restoration is always God’s heart toward us.  I love restoration – and God is the best at it!

Today we are reading Amos chapters 1,2,3,4,5,and 6. My highlight is that God is always on our side – what is your highlight?

Amos 2:9 MSG: “In contrast, I was always on your side” (Amos 2:( MSG)

In spite of all the disobedience and all the outright rebellion, God was always for us.

How about this one:

“Seek good and not evil – and live! You talk about God, the God-of-the-Angel-Armies, being your best friend. Well, live like it and maybe it will happen” (Amos 5:14 MSG)

Let’s have our walk match our talk.  Let’s be wholehearted in our service to the Lord. Those who say they follow Christ ought to walk just as He walked (1 John 2:6), right?