Let’s read Isaiah 63:15-19, 64, 65, 66, 2 Kings 20:20-21, and 2 Chronicles 32:32-33 today.  What stands out to you? 

”Oh that You would rip open the heavens and descend” (Isaiah 64:1 MSG)

I always think about this verse meaning that the people were so ready for communication from heaven, whatever it was and whatever it took (but I’m not sure  that’s what it really was. I just like the idea of being desperate for a Word).

“But there is something I’m looking for: a person simple and plain, reverently responsive to what I say.” (Isaiah 66:2 MSG)

How’s that for a bottom line, huh? Lord, let me respond to You! “Reverently responsive” –  love that. Simple and plain – that’s a relief, because I am simple and plain!

I’m sad to see Hezekiah go – he was a good one, generally.  But, sadly, he didn’t stay faithful until the end.  

We are making tremendous progress through the Bible – 208 days, can y’all believe it? Let’s read Isaiah 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, and 63:1-14.  Every day, try to find at least one (if not more) piece of truth that you can keep in your heart.  What stands out to you today?

Fasting is such an important discipline – but the motive of our heart in fasting is even more important. I love Isaiah 58:

“I will always show you where to go.
    I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places— firm muscles, strong bones.
You’ll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry.
You’ll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew,
    rebuild the foundations from out of your past.
You’ll be known as those who can fix anything,
    restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate,
    make the community livable again” (Isaiah 58:11-12 MSG)

While Jesus fulfills all of the law (and I certainly don’t mean to make one more important than another), fasting is one of the disciplines He clearly brings into our relationship of grace. So important – we’ll visit it again in the New Testament.

59:15-21, I love it – when God doesn’t see any person offering correction or help, He does it Himself – restoration restoration restoration. He loves His children and wants us in right standing. If you get a chance to read 63:7-9 in the Message, wow, it’s beautiful. Oh, let’s read it together now:

“I’ll make a list of God’s gracious dealings,
    all the things God has done that need praising,
All the generous bounties of God,
    His great goodness to the family of Israel—
Compassion lavished,
    love extravagant.
He said, “Without question these are my people,
    children who would never betray me.”
So He became their Savior.
    In all their troubles,
    He was troubled, too.
He didn’t send someone else to help them.
    He did it himself, in person.
Out of His own love and pity
    He redeemed them.
He rescued them and carried them along
    for a long, long time” (Isaiah 63:7-9 MSG)

I want to always be overwhelmed by God’s compassion and love and grace. Even in the OT, He loved.

Staying in Isaiah today!  We are reading Isaiah 52:13-15, 53, 54, 55, 56, and 57.  The Lord is always generous, always kind.  Search for His kindness in the Word and in your life – find reasons to be grateful!  

“This is what God’s servants can expect. I’ll see to it that everything works out for the best” (Isaiah 54:17 MSG)

That can be my best expectation: that God will work everything out. That makes my problems turn into possibilities.

I like the reminders in 56:1-3 (and beyond) about the importance of the Sabbath – it’s funny that I have to be reminded to rest, but I do get busy with “things” and checking off lists that I forget to rest in His presence.

“When I looked again and saw what he was doing,
    I decided to heal him, lead him, and comfort him,
    creating a new language of praise for the mourners.
‘Peace to the far-off, peace to the near-at-hand,’ says God—
    ‘and yes, I will heal them’ ” (Isaiah 57:18-19 MSG)

Once again in 57, we see how patient and kind the “Old Testament God” is – He looks at us  in our rebellion and still comforts us and loves us.

Here we go!  Let’s read Isaiah 48:12-22, Isaiah 49, 50, 51, 52:1-12 together today.  Here’s my take-a-way:

“For I will contend with him who contends with you, And I will save your children.” (Isaiah 49:25 NKJV)

God is always consistent — what concerns us also concerns Him. If we allow Him to, He will protect us and defend us. Imagine your difficulties becoming God’s difficulties – the ultimate big brother to help us!

Because we are in Christ, our problems are in Christ as well – trust the Lord to work in your favor.

Okay, here’s what we’re reading today: Isaiah 44:6-28, Isaiah 45, 46, 47, and 48:1-11.  Do you have a highlight to share?  Here’s mine:

“Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other” (Isaiah 45:22 NKJV)

He’s always ready to save us! Praying to idols or looking to any other source is worthless.

“Now listen to me: You’re a hardheaded bunch and hard to help. I’m ready to help you right now. Deliverance is not a long-range plan. Salvation isn’t on hold. I’m putting salvation to work in Zion now, and glory in Israel” (Isaiah 46:12-13 MSG)

We might think that we are the ones who wait, but really it is God Who is waiting on us to turn to Him – salvation is not on hold, He is READY!

Today we’re all in Isaiah.  Please read Isaiah 40, 41, 42, 43, and 44:1-5: I love all of this and I want to highlight everything.  What is your take-a-way today?

“Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert
A highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted
And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made ^[b]straight
And the rough places smooth;
The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together;
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken” (Isaiah 40:3-5 NKJV)

Know what I think about exalting valleys and bringing low mountains?  I think that what God made possible for Jesus is what He’ll make possible for you as you serve Him. What mountain is in your way?  As you serve the Lord, He’ll make your impossible possible!

In Isaiah 40:6-8, in the middle of being comforted, the instruction was to “cry out”.  Cry out about the Word of God, make God valuable and more important than anything else – that will put everything else in perspective. So many benefits to being His child throughout these chapters. I’ve adopted Isaiah 44:1-5 as a promise about my children, many years ago.   Today was lots of comfort!

Lots going on today!  Please read 2 Kings 19:1-19, Isaiah 37:1-20, 2 Chronicles 32:9-19, 2 Kings 19:20-37, Isaiah 37:21-38, and 2 Chronicles 32:20-23.  Did you circle or star anything as you read? Leave a comment – I’d love to hear from you!

“For I will defend this city, to save it
For My own sake and for My servant David’s sake” (Isaiah 37:35 MSG)

Again, God references David’s covenant while giving hope to the people.  The strength of this covenant, wow. It has been literal generations since David has died. What a gift to be able to leave such a legacy – Lord help me to build something of such importance to Your Name!

Today we’ll read Micah 6, Micah 7, 2 Chronicles 32:1-8, 2 Kings 18:13-18, Isaiah 36:1-3, 2 Kings 18:19-37, and Isaiah 36:4-22. What stands out to you?  Is the Lord speaking to your heart through His Word?  Here’s a few of my highlights:

I love Micah.  Mercy is God’s specialty! (wait – did I already say that restoration is God’s specialty? Well, He has LOTS of specialties!)

“But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do,
    what God is looking for in men and women.
It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,
    be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don’t take yourself too seriously— take God seriously” (Micah 6:8 MSG)

Sennacherib was an enemy of Israel and King Hezekiah, you are probably familiar with his name.  He sends a messenger to speak to Hezekiah’s people, Rebshekah. Rebshekah speaks to Hezekiah’s people in their own language (Hebrew), telling them that God is not to be trusted, and trying to get them to turn on Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:19-37).  His servants ask him to speak in his own language (Aramaic), but he refused. It’s interesting: Our enemy can “talk a good game”, and even tell us what we think we want to hear. It’s a trap, though, every time – a sheep knows the voice of the Shepherd.  Do not be deceived.  Hezekiah’s people were not deceived:

 ^“But the people held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, ‘Do not answer him’ ” (2 Kings 18:36 NKJV)

When our enemy the devil tries to speak to us (and might even try to use our own language to confuse us), let’s not answer him, either.

Here we go – reading Isaiah 34, and 35; then Micah 2,3,4, and 5 today. Restoration – it’s my favorite!

“It’s for GOD ’s people exclusively— impossible to get lost on this road. Not even fools can get lost on it” (Isaiah 35:8-10 MSG)

In the midst of His anger, God provides a road which will lead us back home.  Always looking for ways to bring us back, draw us close, restore us into right relationship.  (And this is still before Jesus – the best is yet to come!)

How about this one:

“I’m calling a meeting, Jacob. I want all of the survivors back……Then I, GOD, will burst all confinements and lead them out into the open. They’ll follow their King. I will be out in front leading them” (Micah 2:12, 13 MSG)

God wants us back, always! ALL of us!  Lead on, King – we will follow You!

Today, continuing in Isaiah.  Let’s read Isaiah 30, 31, 32, and 33. Are you hanging in there with the Old Testament?  How are you doing?  Here’s what stands out to me today:

A favorite:

“But GOD ’s not finished. He’s waiting around to be gracious to you. He’s gathering strength to show mercy to you. GOD takes the time to do everything right—everything. Those who wait around for Him are the lucky ones” (30:18 MSG)

God, just looking and waiting for opportunities to bless and strengthen us – not at all “out to get us” like people sometimes say of the God of the Old Testament. We must find Him to be kind️, His love toward us unchanging.

In 31, Isaiah says that God “must be reckoned with”. We have to decide who God is for us and operate in truth and faith. It won’t do to say “I don’t understand so I won’t do anything about God”.  It’s really our responsibility and obligation to learn and apply His truth to our lives. I love 32:15-20, so applicable to us today:

“Yes, weep and grieve until the Spirit is poured down on us from above
And the badlands desert grows crops and the fertile fields become forests.
Justice will move into the badlands desert. Right will build a home in the fertile field.
And where there’s Right, there’ll be Peace and the progeny of Right: quiet lives and endless trust.
My people will live in a peaceful neighborhood— in safe houses, in quiet gardens.
The forest of your pride will be clear-cut, the city showing off your power leveled.
But you will enjoy a blessed life, planting well-watered fields and gardens,
    with your farm animals grazing freely” (32:15-20 MSG)

What a blessed peace!