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?

Today we are reading 2 Kings 14:1-14, 2 Chronicles 25:1-24, 2 Kings 13:12-13, 2 Kings 14:15-16, 2 Kings 14:23-27, 2 Chronicles 25:25-28, 2 Kings 14:17-22, 2 Kings 15:1-5, and 2 Chronicles 26:1-21.  Then, finish by reading Jonah chapters 1,2,3, and 4.

Some scholars say that the prophet Zechariah who counseled Uzziah is the same one who wrote the book of the Bible – another possible connection we are seeing in this chronological order.  Being wholehearted is so important – we’ve read about many kings who have done well in the eyes of God EXCEPT that the left the sex and religion shrines to prosper. When you are a leader, it is your responsibility to speak the truth and lead the people within your sphere of influence to the truth. Have you noticed this too: it was never only leaving the shrines.  Their disobedience spread to other areas and they eventually disobeyed God in a way that was more direct (not just allowing the sins of others, but then opening the door to sin in their own lives).

And the story of Jonah – that’s familiar, an old friend from our Sunday school days still offering a great lesson! I’m also thinking about this:

“BUT NO. The men tried rowing back to shore. They made no headway.  The storm only got worse and worse, wild and raging, THEN THEY PRAY to God, “O God! Don’t let us drown because of this man’s life, and don’t blame us for his death. You are God. Do what You think is best” (Jonah 1:13-14 MSG). Emphasis mine 🙂

They tried their own way first, THEN they prayed. After hearing from God and getting His direction, the sailors could continue in safety and Jonah’s mission could begin.

Our succession of kings continues.  Let’s read 2 Kings 13:1-11, 2 Kings 12:17-21, 2 Chronicles 24:23-27, and 2 Kings 13:14-25.  We’re either learning what to do or we are learning what not to do…. What’s your take-a-way today?

So, after Jehu comes his son Jehohaz.  Things don’t get much better, unfortunately.  It seems as if he is off to a good start:

“then Jehohaz prayed for a softening of God’s anger, and God listened” (2 Kings 13:4 MSG)

Talk about patient and longsuffering – after all this, God still offers then a chance to return:

“God realized how wretched Israel had become under the brutalities of the king of Aram. So God provided a savior for Israel who brought them out from under Aram’s oppression. The children of Israel were again able to live at peace in their own homes. But it didn’t make any difference: They didn’t change their lives, didn’t turn away from the Jeroboam-sins that now characterized Israel, including the sex-and-religion shrines of Asherah still flourishing in Samaria” (2 Kings 13:5-6 MSG)

And again,

“But God was gracious and showed mercy to them.  He stuck with them out of respect for His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He never gave up on them, even even considered discarding them, even to this day” (2 Kings 13:23 MSG)

Even to this day. God is gracious still – He never gives up on us!

Today, we’ll read 2 Kings 11:1-3, 2 Chronicles 22:10-12, 2 Kings 11:4-12, 2 Chronicles 23:1-11, 2 Kings 11:13-16, 2 Chronicles 23:12-15, 2 Kings 11:17-21, 2 Chronicles 23:16-21, 2 Kings 12:1-16, 2 Chronicles 24:1-22, and 2 Kings 10:32-36.  Lots of ups and downs today. Is there anything in today’s reading that stands out to you?  What can you learn from the Word today?

Even those leaders who are faithful to God leave shrines and items of idol worship. Why? Why can’t someone commit to a complete work? Jehu demonstrates some obedience, but not wholeheartedness. At this time,

“God began to shrink Israel” (2 Kings 10:32 MSG)

Everything shrinks, not just property: influence, blessing, favor, anointing… this was no small loss. God isn’t being unkind, He’s doing some major damage control.  Let’s be wholehearted in our pursuit of God, friends.

Today we have some parallels again.  Hang in there!  We’re reading 2 Chronicles 21:8-20, 2 Kings 8:23-29, 2 Chronicles 22:1-7, 2 Kings 9, 2 Kings 10:1-17, 2 Chronicles 22:8-9, and 2 Kings 10:18-31.  

With this succession of kings, it’s hard to keep in sight that these are still God’s chosen people, in spite of their rebellion.  I wonder if they ever looked back and realized that their predecessors had made a terrible mistake in demanding a king.  Remember back 1 Samuel 8 that God Himself wanted to be their king? 

Jehu wasn’t careful to follow God with an “undivided heart”, and there were serious consequences. 

“Even then, though, Jehu wasn’t careful to walk in God’s ways and honor the God of Israel from an undivided heart. He didn’t turn back from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who led Israel into a life of sin” (2 Kings 10:31 MSG)

Our legacy, our reputation is so important. It’s so important to be singular in our purpose and worship, obedient in every area.

Today, we are reading 2 Kings chapters 5,6,7,and 8. Lots going on for Elisha, lots of ups and downs.  What is your highlight today?

Today really showed us two sides of Elisha’s role as prophet.  He was responsible for delivering both good news (that must have been a joy!) and delivering bad news (that must have been heartbreaking).  Can you imagine the ability to see what would happen but still be powerless to stop it? Even when God offers warnings, they go unheeded at times.

Chapter 5 is misunderstanding after misunderstanding, oh my. It’s a reminder that even when we don’t understand, obedience is best AND it is okay to take a step back and ask questions. God isn’t offended by our questions.

Let’s highlight this prayer:

Elisha prayed, “O God, open his eyes and let him see.” (2 Kings 6:17 MSG)

What a wonderful prayer – Lord, open our eyes and let us see as well!