Psalms 125 - 126

It took a couple of minutes to read both of these psalms. Both psalms are parables that present truths about God. Psalm 125 points out that God around his people is like the mountains around Jerusalem; premenant and unchanging. Psalm 126 ends with another parable; the joy God provides his people is like the joy of the farmers who enjoy a bountiful harvest.
Stuart

Ezekiel 24-26

It took me about 15 minutes to read this passage.  Chapter 24 starts in the 10^th month of the 9^th year of captivity.  While Chapter 26 starts a year and two months later.  I wonder if God was silent for those 14  or so months?

Stuart

Ezekiel 20-23

It took me 25 minutes to read this passage. Three times God calls upon Ezekiel to judge Jerusalem.(20:4 ,22:1, 23:36). God presents the evidence against them, explaining in graphic terms their unfaithfulness to him. Then God explains how he will execute judgement on them. Toward the end of chapter 23 God explains that righteous men will punish the people of Judah as their deeds deseeve, because they have rejected God's deliverance.
Stuart

Psalm 123-124

Two songs of ascent in less than 5 minutes. One atributed to David, the other unknown. They both speak of the greatness of God. Our God shows mercy when we need it, and he is our help in times of trouble. Give thanks to God for all of his greatness.
Stuart

Ezekiel 17-19

It took about 15 minutes to read this passage.  The last verse of chapter 18 sums up God’s message to all people since Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden; “I take no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies.”  God grants us the freedom to choose as we will.  But he repeatedly points to the prosperity and hope that offers all men and calls us to follow him.  His joy is when we choose life.  He is elated when a person freely loves God for who he is; unconditional.  Yet his patience is not endless, and he sets a time for each person to die.  Some people choose to sin further by taking the life of another before the time God set.  In the end both may be lost.  God is not pleased with anyone’s death.  Which is why He sent Jesus, to claim victory over death.

Stuart

Isaiah 39

This very short chapter took a minute or so to read. I wonder if God's proclamation was in response to Hezekiah's actions, or a forthelling because of God's foreknowledge of Israel's coming rebellion? However, I don't think Hezekiah's attitude was commendable. For a man with only 15 years to live I would have hoped that I would be more focused on the thoughts of those who will follow me. Yet I know that I have pondered similar thoughts.
Stuart

Ezekiel 12-16

It took nearly 30 minutes to read through this passage. This was not an easy passage to read. It would have been a terrible series of lessons to be spoken to me. I am confident that I would not have received it well. The language that Ezekiel uses for God would be insulting if they were not true. But God's words are intended to covey the truth of what is happening. Israel needed to understand what they were doing to their relationship with God. God had poured out his love on this people and when they were grown and comfortable they rejected him. In hopes of waking them up, God turned His wrath against them. We know that it worked. But the pain to reach that point was terrible for Israel.
Stuart

Isaiah 38

It took less than 5 minutes to read this.chapter. Shortly after God saved Jerusalem from the king of Ashur, and apparently before the king was killed as Isaiah predicted, king Hezekiah became ill. In the midst of this potential threat by the king of Ashur and Hezekiah's illness the prophet came to the king and passed on God message: "You will not recover. You will die from this disease." I wonder why God put Hezekiah through this test. I suppose that the king passed the test, because God reversed his death sentence, and granted him 15 years. But I wonder: did Hezekiah get his house in order within the next 15 yaers?
Stuart

Ezekiel 8-11

It took about 15 minutes to read the vision that Ezekiel saw. It was a vision where Ezekiel saw the evil practices of the remaining leaders of  Israel. How they proclaimed that Adonai God had abandoned them, so they should seek the leading of other god's. They refused to admit that they and their fathers were the reason that punishment and exile had been meted out on them. They were unwilling to claim responsibility for their evil acts, and said that God had forgotten them. In doing so they insulted God by equating him with the impotence of the non-gods of the nations around them. Is it any wonder that God continued in his anger toward Israel?
Stuart

Isaiah 37

It took a little over 5 minutes to read this chapter. Isaiah gave two messages to Hezekiah is this passage.  The first was a very short explanation of what would happen. But then the king of Ashur sent a message full of more threats. Hezekiah took the matter to God again, and then God sent a message of assurance is the form of a poem; maybe even a song. The next day 185,000 men from the army of Ashur lay dead in their camp. Words hold no sway compared to the power of God.
Stuart

Ezekiel 5-7

It took about 15 minutes to read this passage.  Chapter 6 begins with a rather strange command.  Ezekiel was told to face the mountains of Israel and speak to those mountains.  The words he speaks are about events that will happen there, but surely they were intended to be heard by the exiles.  They surely were hoping for a swift return to the promised land, but God would have none of it.  They were receiving not just what the generations deserved, but also what they needed – a loving rebuke that was intended to bring them back into submission to God’s law.  God had been faithful in keeping his promises for good.  The people who recognized His justice would have to agree that God was also being faithful in his response to Israel’s evil.

Stuart

Isaiah 36

It took less than 5 minutes to read this chapter. The faith of Hezekiah was in God. The king of Judah was trusting the one true God, who claimed Jerusalem as his footstool, to protect and deliver his people from the hands of the army of Ashur. This baffled the commander of the invading army. How could one city sustain a seige implemented by his powerful army? The shebrachen did not know who our God really is, or that he holds the power of the universe in his hands. What seems impossible, and illogical,  to men is possible in God.
Stuart

Isaiah 34-35

It took about 10 minutes to read this passage. Isaiah begins chapter 34 with a call for the attention of the nations to focus on him, God's message that he will deliver. The prophet proclaims punishment, especially on Edom. Then he talks about the radical transformation that God has in store. In 35:4 he speaks of God's coming with vengence, devine retribution, and salvation. Then he elaborates on the scenery after God's arrival. It is a wonderful description of the future hope that he has for us.
Stuart

Ezekiel 1-4

It took me about 15 minutes to read this passage.  Can you imagine laying on the ground for 430 days?  That is the task the Ezekiel was given to perform before Jerusalem was destroyed.  For one year, two months, and a few days Ezekiel sat before a clay tablet with a picture of the city of Jerusalem drawn on it.  During the rain, wind, and heat of 390 days he lay on his left side facing an iron griddle that stood between the clay tablet and himself.  Then another 40 days on his right side.  He doesn’t say, but I assume that Ezekiel told everyone who passed by why he was doing this, and what God’s warning was; repent or face the consequences of your sins.  Nothing about this assignment was convenient or glorious.  Ezekiel was called upon to humble himself, and expose himself to mockery in order for God’s message to be proclaimed.  He took the assignment.

Stuart

Isaiah 33

It took about 5 minutes to read this passage. In verse 22 Isaiah repeats three of God's titles: judge, lawgiver, and king. Each one of these titles create a picture of authority and justice. And so in the midst of the terror of Isaiah's message God is also repeating that he is able to restore his protection, if only the people will recognize their God and turn back following him faithfully.
Stuart

1 Peter 3-5

It took me almost 20 minutes to read this passage.  We will suffer. That is the message from Paul that Peter repeats at the end of chapter 4.  When we suffer Peter gives us a holy instruction as the proper resaponse in those situations. It is not what we want to hear, but as Christians it is exactly what we need to hear. Peter tells us to do two things; keep trusting God to handle the situation. Keep doing the good things that God has prepared for us to do.
Stuart

Isaiah 31-32

It took me almost 10 minutes to read these chapters. Chapter 31 speaks of the disaster that God will bring on those who trust other nations to provide the protection that only the God of Israel is capable of providing. Many prople today trust in others, or self, to correct problems in our lives. Isaiah seems to say that such an attitude is idolatrous.
However, chapter 32 speaks of a promise about a ruler of righteousness. At that time, in those days, everything will be set right. A time when God will completely show his promises and his justice.
Stuart

Isaiah 30

It took me almost 10 minutes to reasd this passage. The beginning of the chapter explains the fault God has found in his people, Israel. They ignore their God. Instead of seeking his guidance as they consider their plans, they make desisions with asking for God's help. The nation of God rejects him in deed and therefore receives from Him their punishment.
Stuart

Lamentations 4-5

It took less than 10 minutes to read this passage. In 4:6 Jeremiah sums up the transgression that led this total destruction of Judah; the sin of the people. Yet Jeremiah says that the sin of Judah was greater than the sin of Sodom. From our vantage point we might find such a statement difficult to substantiate, but that is the reason God gives his prophet. So the question is: why did God describe Judah's sin with those words?
Stuart

Isaiah 29

I don't remember god's "pet" name for Jerusalem; Ariel. I know that I've read this chapter before, but the name doesn't register in my memory. But God uses the name Ariel not an a term of endearment but as an example to show how God's justice demands satisfaction. Ariel can mean lion of God or fireplace on the alter of God. it seems God is indicating the he will offer Jerusalem on the harth of His alter because of her rebellious sin.
It took about 7 minutes to read this chapter.
Stuart

Lamentations 1-3

It took me nearly 20 minutes to read this passage.  From the beginning of the song until chapter 3 verse 20 Jeremiah writes of despair, hopelessness, and grief.  He paints nothing but pain and suffering as he recalls how the punishment that Jerusalem deserved was poured out.  Then verse 21 begins with a BUT.  Things look bad, Jeremiah is saying, BUT there is a reason to hope.  God’s grace is not exhausted, His mercy has not reach the end, God makes both his grace and mercy new every morning, just like the sunrise. 

The name of the book speaks of hopelessness and sorrow.  Yet whenever God is involved we can be assured that our hopelessness and sorrow has limits; while God’s grace and mercy never stops.

Stuart

1 John 4-5

It took me about 7 minutes to read this passage.  The last words from John in this letter is to be on guard against false gods.  If he were merely talking about idols why would we need to be warned about them?  I think we need to be concerned because false gods are not limited to the idol worship that was very common in John’s day.  I think that John is indicating that our flesh is drawn toward things that oppose God; anything and everything.  Therefore, the enemy will introduce us to false gods, seeking to lure us away from the protection that Jesus’ sacrifice provided.  Once entrapped we will, at the least, destroy our witness and, at the very worst, destroy our salvation.  Some may say the latter can’t happen, and I don’t want to expand on that here.  But I don’t see how Jesus’ grace cannot protect our witness if we willfully serve a false god.

It is something to ponder.

Stuart

Isaiah 28

It took a little over 5 minutes to read this chapter. God speaks to his people in terms they understand; gardening. Though God is promising to break up Judah, he comes back to practical farming. There will come a time when the "soil" has been broken up to his satisfaction. Then will be the time for planting. That was how God dealt with Israel. That is how God has dealt with numerous civilizations. That is how God works in every life that surrenders to Him.
Stuart

1 John 1-3

It took about 15 minutes to read this passage.  John list a number of things in chapter 3 that he says we can know:

3:10 – We are God’s children

3:13 – We have passed from death to life

3:19 – We have the truth in us

3:24 – God is united with us

These are listed to help us judge ourselves rightly; not too leniently or harshly.

Stuart

Isaiah 27

It took less than 5 minutes to read this chapter. God continues to speak of the punishment that he will bring on Israel. Then in verse 6 He makes a promise about those whom He is sending into exile. They will take root like a healthy crop. They will bud then flower. Then the whole earth will receive the fruit of this harvest. I am so thankful the Israel blossomed just as God said they would. For by God's grace I have become the receipient of that harvest.
Stuart

Isaiah 26

It took about 5 minutes to read this passage. Two verses struck me as I read this chapter. Verse 4- Our God is the Rock of Ages. All rocks are slowly destroyed by the weather. They may last 1,000 years, but the day will come when they crumble and fall. Not so our God. He displays all the positive characteristics of a mountain, yet he will never break down.
Verse 12 - Isaiah speaks of God as the one who works through us to accomplish His will. "All we have done, you have done through us." Paul agrees with that in Ephesians 2:10; "for we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works; which Gad has prepared in advance for us to do."
Stuart

Jeremiah 50-52

It took me 30 minutes to read the last three chapters of Jeremiah’s book.  The poetry speaks of the coming punishment upon the kingdom of Babylon because of their arrogance.  God was using them to punish Judah, but they went beyond God’s plan for them, thus turning the same punishment on that kingdom.  The last part of verse 50:29 should be a warning to all nations: “For she insulted Adonai, the Holy One of Israel.”  God is not ignorant of what is going on the world, even today.  He has given nations and kingdoms authority to rule justly.  But if they insult Him, their punishment will not be withheld.  Some will insult him by rejecting His in word and deed.  Other nations will reject him in deed, while speaking praise to His name.  Both will receive His punishment.

Stuart

Jeremiah 47-49

It actually took me about 30 minutes, accumulated over two days to read this passage. Jeremiah delivers God's message of imminate judgement to: the Philistines, Moab, Amon, Edom, Dammascus, Kedar, and Eilam. But Moab and Eilam receive the promise of restoration in the last days. I find that promise interesting. That God would promise restoration to two out of seven surrounding kingdoms.
Stuart

Isaiah 25

It took just a couple minutes to read this chapter. "On this mountain . . ." The Lord God makes promises of what he will accomplish n the heights of Mount Zion. Some of those promises are for the people. But some of them also point to the Messiah. Like verse 8 - He will swallow up death. We now know that God did indeed accomplish that through Jesus on the hills of zion.
Stuart

Isaiah 24

It took me about 5 minutes to read this chapter. Imagine being told that all you own and cherish was about to be taken from you. There are many things that we could easily give up. We might miss them, but life would go on. But Isaiah's message to those who refuse to repent was that everything would be taken; comodity and treasure together. Then image being told that your best friend was planning the chaos. Of course we know that the friendship most people in Judah had with God almighty was a friendship of convience. But they would loose that too. The church in America needs to recognize the failure of our friendship with God, before we face the same end as complacent Judah.
Stuart

Jeremiah 42-46

It took about 20 minutes to read this passage.  I took this long to catch up on my reading.  These chapters cover two periods of time; 42-44 covers the rebellious “escape” of the remnant to Egypt, while 45-46 records some earlier prophecies that Jeremiah presented. 

In the first section some leaders asked Jeremiah to pray for them about their decision; to stay in Judah or flee to Egypt.  Jeremiah prayed.  Verse 7 says that it was 10 days before God provided an answer, but He revealed to Jeremiah that the leaders would not listen to God’s answer.  I wonder what happened during those 10 days.  It would be difficult to hold the people back telling them to wait on the Lord to answer.  Finally Jeremiah delivered what God said and the curse that would accompany their rebellion.

The last two chapters in this passage speak against the land of Egypt; in particular the over-throw of Pharaoh by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.

Stuart

Jeremiah 38-41

It took me a little over 10 minutes to read this passage.  It was a sad time in the life of Jeremiah.  We often speak of Jesus’ return and the emotions that will accompany that time; joy and terror.  Jeremiah saw the terror of the destruction of Jerusalem, knowing that it all could have been avoided and so many lives could have been spared.  Then he witnessed the assassination of the governor whom the king of Babylon had set in place.  The fear of the people continued to surround him.  I wonder if Jeremiah was at peace; recognizing how many times God had delivered him from death because he had been faithful in proclaiming God’s word.

Stuart

Isaiah 23

It took less than 5 minutes to read this chapter. God's word against Tyre is a warning to Judah and to us: God will cause his judgement to destroy any government that sets itself up in opposition to God and His law.
Stuart

Jeremiah 34-37

It took me about 15 minutes to read this passage.  The events recorded in chapter 36 give a picture of the contempt that king Jehoiakim had toward the word of God.  Though the priests and the officials of the temple trembled when they heard the word of God, the king ignored them and burnt them.  This king, in his arrogance, wanted the last word on the rule of the land.  Yet the last verse of chapter 36 recounts that Jeremiah recreated the entire scroll that the king had burnt.  God always has the last word.

Stuart

Isaiah 22

It took me about 5 minutes to read this chapter. What caught my attention was God's words in verse 4; words of a parent in pain. Pain from the sin of the wayward child. Pain from planning the punishment that fits the crime. Pain from the anguish the punishment will bring. God rejected attempts to comfort him, because of the pain of Israel. I don't think that part of his nature has changed.
Stuart

Isaiah 20-21

It took almost 5 minutes to read this passage. Image getting the same assignment from God that Isaiah did in chapter 20: go about your daily routines unclothed and barefoot. I suspect that Isaiah might not have been completely naked. Even today it would be embarassing to prance around in just underware. Regardless of whether he was clothed or unclothed, this was his routine for 3 years. Three years of displaying your all-in-all, and then God gives you a message: such is the shame that your allies, in whom you trust, will wear as they are taken into captivity. The unspoken words should be evident: trust only in the Lord God.
Stuart

Jeremiah 32-33

It took mean nearly 20 minutes to read these two chapters.  These chapters record two revelations of encouragement that came to Jeremiah during a very discouraging time of his discouraging prophetic career.  He was imprisoned with the captain of the guard.  The first word from God was to buy some property  while he is imprisoned.  Jeremiah details the legal process that was executed and the land purchase was completed.  God told Jeremiah and those who witnessed the transaction that this was an example of what would happen in 70 years; land would be sold and traded.  The message was that life would return to “normal” for Israel after their punishment was complete.  The second revelation was that God’s covenant with Israel would never be discarded.  Even after the physical inheritance was destroyed God’s inheritance would remain; unchanged because He is unchanging.    Paul summed up this lesson for us in 2 Timothy 2:13 “If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”

Stuart

Isaiah 19

It took almost 10 minutes to read this. God speaks first of the weakness and future poverty of Egypt. But the day will come when the people of Egypt will know God. When they are His people they will receive His blessings.
Stuart

Jeremiah 28-30

It took me about 20 minutes to read this passage. I think one of best lessons that Jeremiah teaches is in 28:10-11. The false prophet Hannaniah confronts Jeremiah in front of all the people and acuses God's prophet of speaking lies. Jeremiah responds by leaving without saying a word. Why? Because God hadn't given him a word to say. In the heat of the moment he didn't respond. Jeremiah waited to speak until it was clear to him the words God wanted spoken.
Stuart

Jeremiah 25-27

It took me 15 minutes to read this passage.  Chapter 25 gives an idea of some of the frustrations with which Jeremiah must have dealt.  For 23 years (25:3) he had been proclaiming the words from God, and very few people in Judah has heeded his warning.  Because of their hard-heartedness the will be 70 years of captivity (25:11).  Chapter 26 gives us a picture of Jeremiah’s character.  He knew whom he served, and was willing to give up his life to proclaim his message.  God called Jeremiah to depend upon him, and when the prophet did; God did not disappoint him.  We can learn a lesson or two from Jeremiah.

Stuart

Isaiah 17-18

Theses chapters, which took 5 minutes to read, begin with a word against Damascus. But there are equally as many words about Israel. There are many words spoken against the idols that are man made. Isaiah speaks of the day when Israel will no longer put value in the things their hands have crafted. Those the context speaks of idol worship, we today are tempted to follow the same worship of our money, houses, cars, or jobs. The real treasures in life are found in following God.
Stuart

Isaiah 16

This is the rest of the prophecy against Moab. It speaks of the coming destruction of Moab. Isaiah finishes the proclamation with a specific time frame: three years. The glory of Moab will be destroyed, and what is left over will be a shadow of its former self.
This passage took about 3 minutes to read once. I read parts of it a couple times; to make sure I was getting the message.
Stuart

Jeremiah 22-24

It took me about 20 minutes to read this passage.  I wonder what was meant by the phrase “The burden of the LORD”?  From Jeremiah’s writing (23:33-39) God took offense at it.  The imagery of the fig baskets is very interesting.  Both baskets represent people who left the land of promise.  Those who left by captivity were to be blessed, but those who left on their own accord were to be cursed.  I wonder if this could be the lesson; when God sends punishment our way we need to receive it, then we can receive God’s favor.  If we try to punish ourselves, on our own terms, then God’s punishment will continue on, and we will not receive his future favor.

Stuart

Jeremiah 19-21

It took me about 15 minutes to read this passage.  Once again God gives Jeremiah a message of coming destruction.  As I would expect that message was not received well at all.  At the start of chapter 20 Jeremiah is beaten and placed in stocks.  But his response upon his release shows where the prophet’s commitment lie; in obeying God.  He heard God speak and immediately passed on another message of judgment to one of the priests.  In Chapter 20 Jeremiah writes a song(?) that speaks of how he follows God.  It begins almost as a complaint but soon turns into a song of praise as to who God is.  He finishes that song sounding very much like Job; worn down by the pain of this life, yet continuing to trust God to deliver him from all of the trials he is facing.

Stuart