Skip to main content

April 27 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 117

You'll find today's reading probably are easier to read than some of what we've read lately.  These chapters outline a few stories of Hezekiah and Isaiah.  You'll probably feel like you've read some of it before.
Related image

DAILY READINGS

Isaiah 36-38 & Psalm 117

DAILY NOTES

Isaiah 36

  • The Assyrian king takes captive cities of Judah and sets his eyes on Jerusalem.  This could be a fulfillment of what was spoken in Isaiah 7:16-17.
  • Rabshakeh is a title, not just a name.  He is the commanding officer.
  • Interestingly, the Rabshakeh says the same thing God would say.  The Lord didn't want Israel to join with Egypt because they would trust them more than they would trust God.  
  • The Rabshakeh tries to intimidate the soldiers by speaking their language, but they have already been instructed not to answer anything.
Isaiah 37
  • Hezekiah turns to Isaiah so that he would "lift up a prayer for the remnant that is left."
  • Isaiah assures him that God is still controlling this situation.  God will bring confusion, by way of rumor, to Assyria.
    • It works, and, afterwards, Assyria sends a letter to Hezekiah with a new threat.
    • Hezekiah responds with prayer.
Isaiah 38
  • We've read about Hezekiah's illness in 2 Kings 20.
Psalm 117
  • A psalm of worship.
  • It's 2 verses--you can memorize that!

OTHER OBSERVATIONS

First, the Rabshakeh ridiculed Hezekiah's alliance with Egypt.  We've already suggested that God would probably agree with him, although for different reasons.  Assyria didn't want Israel to trust Egypt so that they would fear Assyria.  God didn't want Israel to trust Egypt so that Israel would trust God.  

What Assyria didn't realize, however, was that they were being used by God.  They were full of themselves.  How do we know?  They then turn their words against God.  Whoops.  Bad idea.  

What a great reminder.  For all that God has spoken against Israel, for all that the people have done against God, God responds to Hezekiah's prayer.  Our past can be full of things we're not proud of.  How many times have we turned from God?  Yet, when we turn to God in prayer, God hears us.  

So, don't ever think you're too far from God to pray to God.  

Stay blessed...john


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

March 31 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 90 David's family situation continues to spiral.  In today's reading, David's family is torn apart by rape.  As a consequence, David's son sets his eyes on his father's throne. DAILY READINGS 2 Samuel 13-15 & Psalm 90 DAILY NOTES 1 Samuel 13:1-14 Amnon was David's first born son (3:2).  That may shed light as to why David seems to deal with him so easily (Verse 21).  Although he does kind of the same thing later with Absalom. Tamar is Absalom's full sister, half sister to Amnon.  Amnon is lovesick with her.  He devises a plan, with the help of a friend, to have her enter his chamber (bedroom).   Since she was a virgin, she didn't go out and about.  She remained in her house, perhaps protected.   Tamar knows what will become of her if Amnon goes through with his wishes; she will be left aside, unable to marry (see Verse 20).  She seems willing to have become married to Amnon, but his lust clouds h...
Post a Comment
Read more

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 19 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 170 DAILY READINGS Jeremiah 7-9 & Psalm 15 DAILY NOTES Jeremiah 7 Notice the emphasis of God's house having God's name.  It belongs to God, but the people, through their unrighteous actions, have made it theirs.  God's house has been turned into a "den of robbers" (vs. 11).  Remember when Jesus said that (Matthew 21:13)? According to Jesus, what was the Temple supposed to be called? Remember when the people tried to use the ark of the covenant as a weapon against the Philistines (1 Samuel 4)?  That was at Shiloh.  Jeremiah brings that event to our minds again as a sign (vs. 14).  God says that human sacrifice was not his command, nor did it come to his mind.  You'll have to do some wrestling with the story of Abraham almost sacrificing Isaac (Genesis 22). Jeremiah 8 Jeremiah (God) says to unearth the kings' bones and lay them before the sun and moon and all the other gods they served and worshiped.  Ouch. Even animals ...
Post a Comment
Read more