Skip to main content

April 25 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 115

Image result for prophet isaiah speak to us in smooth things

DAILY READINGS

Isaiah 28-30 & Psalm 115

DAILY NOTES

Isaiah 28

  • The people had trusted in themselves. God assures them he has "one who is mighty and strong."  It's been said that God has a mighty wind that will bring destruction to the people.
  • The Church has found in this chapter (Verse 16) a messianic prophecy that points to Jesus.
Isaiah 29
  • How low will Jerusalem be brought down?  Verse 4 says their voice will come "deep from the earth," and "from the ground like the voice of a ghost."
  • Verses 9-10 remind me of what God told Isaiah to do back in Chapter 6.
Isaiah 30
  • The people had planned to align themselves with Egypt.  They were confident in the protection and aid Pharaoh would give them.  Of course, to turn to Pharaoh meant to turn their back on God.  
  • Not only did they turn from God, the people wanted to make sure the prophets weren't speaking what God told them.  They wanted to hear "smooth things," or flattery.
  • Still, God promises there will be a time when he will turn from his wrath.  Jerusalem will "weep no more."  Notice that God is called Teacher.
    • God will bring judgement, but will relent "at the sound of your cry."
Psalm 115
  • The psalmist knows that idols are worthless.  What is the point of putting our trust in them?  They were made by us.  
  • Our trust belongs to God.  And since we trust God, we praise God!

OTHER OBSERVATIONS

That was some scary reading.  In Chapter 29 Isaiah says that the reason (because) Jerusalem will fall is because they have honored God with their lips while their hearts were far from him.  In other words, they were "going through the motions."  In Chapter 30 the people rebel against God so much that they don't even want the prophets to speak God's truth to them.  They want to know how good they're doing.  They want the prophets to forget what God has told them and tell them things that make them feel good.

Be warned.   Those are both real threats today.  There are congregations being led by people simply playing church.  Truly there is no vision from God.  You can tell by the fruit.  And there are plenty of people who remind preachers all the time how much money they give and how long they've been "around this church."  So, that preacher would do well to think about their message a little more, if you know what I mean.

What is most striking about playing church and not wanting to hear from God is that it is pretty apparent to others.  Isaiah saw it.  Other prophets did as well.  You can, too.

The take away, then, is to be on the look out.  Let's not let our churches be led that way.  And let's not let our hearts be strayed that way either.

Stay blessed...john


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

January 27 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 27 We'll be reading about atonement today.  T oday's video helps make sense of that biblical theme. DAILY READINGS Exodus 30-31 & Psalm 27 DAILY NOTES Exodus 30:6 Everything has its place.   Exodus 30:10 Once a year would be Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). Exodus 12-15 The Lord's offering is required of everyone equally (of the appropriate age).  Strangely enough, there is a designation of rich and poor.  Everyone has just come from Egypt.  How has that distinction arisen?   Exodus 31:13 It's interesting to compare how the idea of sabbath here relates to previous mentions of it.   Exodus 31:18 Moses had written the words down.  Now, with merely his finger, God has provided the tablets for all to remember the covenant that has been made.   Psalm 27 Have you ever prayed and prayed and prayed for something?  The psalmist seems to know the feeling.  His final adm...
Post a Comment
Read more

June 18 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 169 DAILY READINGS Jeremiah 4-6 & Psalm 14 DAILY NOTES Jeremiah 4 Perhaps the people swore "As the Lord lives," but they did not do so in truth, justice or uprightness.  That's a sobering reminder that our words about God must match the way we live. Jeremiah (God) wants the people to move from an empty adherence to a covenant behavior (circumcision) to an attitude of praise before God.  In other words, empty religion is not appealing to God. God will ask the people to "wash" their heart "clean of wickedness" (Verse 14). Jeremiah feels as if God has deceived the people (Verse 10).  Maybe God didn't predict the peace Jeremiah was thinking of.  False prophets? Jeremiah 5 The same theme.  There were people who said, "As the Lord lives," because that was the religious thing to say.  But God says there is not one person who acts justly or seeks truth.  The people used the right words, but lived the wrong way.  #Pr...
Post a Comment
Read more

February 16 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 47 Before the movie Shrek, the best known talking donkey was Balaam's donkey.  That's what we're reading about today.   Of course, that's only part of the story between Balak and Balaam.   DAILY READINGS Numbers 22-24 & Psalm 47 DAILY NOTES Numbers 22:2 Apparently, Israel is making a name for itself.  The Moabites are terrified and distressed/irritated by the news of what the Israelites are doing. Numbers 22:5-6 Balaam is, apparentely, a diviner with a good reputation.  Balak is "overcome with fear" and his response is to go to Balaam.  Balak knows that "whomever you bless is blessed, and whomever you curse is cursed." Numbers 22:8 This is the recurring theme for Balaam.  He will only say what  God tells him to say.  That is, there's no money back guarantee.  Even if it doesn't align with what Balak wants, Balaam will only give the words that God gives him. There is no indication why Balaam w...
Post a Comment
Read more