Isaiah 38

I wonder why God planned not to heal king Hezekiah. Was there pride in his heart? Was the king fearful to the point that he had quit trusting God? Had his heart become too hard? All of these attitudes would be abandoned when faced with imminent mortality. Whatever obstacle with which he was struggling Heazekiah did abandon it and turned with humility to seek God's face. As he lie on his bed his only companions were his pain and approaching death. But Hezekiah ignored both of them and focused on the God who could heal him. The king offers us a prime example; seek out God at all times. And especially when troubles are near.
Stuart

Ezekiel 18-19

God makes it very clear in Ezekiel 18:23 that he desires all people to come back to him. Then in verse 32 he repeats the value he places on all of our lives. God does not pursue the death of anyone. There is no joy in God's heart when a "bad guy" dies. The only joy is that which shakes the heaven of a repentant believer who surrenders his whole life to the God of Israel. What was true in Ezekiel's day is equally true today.
Stuart

Ezekiel 12-14

God has given all people understanding. He has provided even children with the ability t comprehend his word. Yet Ezekiel is told, in 12:2, that nearly all of Israel has been blinded in their eyes and deafened in their ears. What would cause such an epidemic of disabilities? It is the paralysis of rebellion. A spiritual choice has put blindfolds over their eyes and stopped up their ears. So it goes to reason that the only the way to open eyes and ears is with a spiritual choice among the believers and God's initiative to complete the change. For in reality in all our efforts we can only make our spiritual situation worse. Only God can change the nature of a heart.
Stuart

Isaiah 33

"Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones." The words of Isaiah 33:11follow the same wisdom of that modern proverb. "Since your lives are straw what will happen with your flammable words?" There is a warning to us as well as those rebelling against God; do consume your empty life with boastful words.
Stuart

Ezekiel 1-3

The book of Ezekiel begins with the message Ezekiel received from God. According to verse 2 it was the 5^th year of King Jehoiachin’s exile. I have one question and one observation from the introduction to the book. The question is; Why did God wait 5 years to speak to one of the exiles? That question prompts a number of other questions: Did it take that long for the exiles to find a place to live? Was Ezekiel so distraught and upset that he wasn’t listening before then? Since there was a message after 5 years there must have been a message on day one of the exile. It just seems like a long time for God to wait before he spoke.

My observation is that God is with his people no matter where they are. If they remain in his will he is with them. If they rebel and are sent to exile he goes with them. He will speak to them when they are obedient and provided as well as when they fight with him and live in want. As long as they will listen, and even for a while when they won’t, God stays true to his promise. That is encouraging to me.

 

Stuart

 

Isaiah 32

Wind. Rainstorm. Dry regions. Parched land. These are the descriptions that Isaiah uses to describe the kingdom of Judah. How could God's Promised Land become so empty? How could a land flowing with milk and honey end up so fruitless? Could it be that God was acting in the same manner that he did in the Garden of Eden. There the sinful choices of man led him to curse the ground. Is that his pattern; his first step in the plan of reconciliation? Isaiah then described the LORD's Messiah as the redeemer for each of those hopeless descriptors. He is a shelter from the wind. He is a refuge from the rainstorm. He is streams (note plural) of water in the dry regions. He is the immovable shade for the parched land. Whatever the curse produced God's redeemer restored.
Stuart

1 Peter 4-5

I was captured by the words Peter used to refer to himself in 5:1; “a witness to Christ’s suffering”. I like to focus on the accomplishments of others when I introduce them or acknowledge their contributions. Peter focus on Jesus’ humiliation. I am not saying that this was not a noteworthy accomplishment. To me and billions of Christians who have submitted to his lordship that may have been no greater accomplishment. But suffering is not what the world defines as an accomplishment. So Peter’s statement offers us the greatest contrasts between where believers stand and where the world stands. Peter’s emphasis on Jesus’ suffering also challenges our walk; my walk. Am I ready to join with Christ in his suffering? I don’t like it when the power goes off, even when I’m asleep. Am I really prepared to pick up my cross daily and die to self? I have witnessed the suffering of many faithful believers. Yet in the case of those who were walking in faith the suffering was not a burden to be loathed. It seemed to be an opportunity to display their faith in Jesus. I recall one dear saint who’s last words to her family were; “Get back in church.” They had been tending to her needs as her body shutdown. Yet she knew where they needed to be. Her suffering did not separate her from her Lord. It brought her closer to him. And with the attention of her family she left them a challenge to follow in her steps; even as she prepared to step out of this life.

 

Stuart

 

1 Peter 1-3

Peter points out that people of faith have always been trying to predict God's plans (1 Pet 1:10-11). Just as modern believers lean toward Christ's return ancient believers were drawn to the subject of Messiah's arrival. I wonder if the ancient Jews sat around considering the "signs of the times"? Did they create stories describing how they pictured the coming Messianic kingdom? Who was the Tim LaHaye of the 21st century BC? I think that there is one truth that we should heed when we consider God's plans for the future: we won't figure them out. The ancient Jews were clueless. Even Simeon and Zechariah were caught by surprise. Although most were not ready to accept God's timing, maybe even the angels, many were spiritually ready to receive by faith God's plan.
Stuart

Isaiah 31

Where is my Egypt? Isaiah 31 begins with a discussion regarding those who depend on Egypt. With Judah squeezed between the military powers of Assyria and Egypt it would be tempting to turn to one if the other one attacks. But God's message is a reminder that there is another ally to pursue; him. He then spends the rest of the chapter detailing why he is a better ally than Egypt and a more dreadful enemy than Assyria. The same is true today. What ever country seeks to destroy the church God is stronger and more persistent. What ever army we view as protective, God is not only stronger he is a more effective defender and he never tires or depletes his weapons. Too often I am foolish enough to neglect this friend. That is my failing.
Stuart

Isaiah 30

Verse 11 of Isaiah 30 paints an ugly picture of a nation that claims it is following God. "Step off of God's path and forget his name" were the voices of the people in ancient Judah. The really concerning part is that these are the same words of many in the US today. Only a few generations separated the time of Isaiah's words and the invasion of the army of Babylon. How soon can we expect to see a similar invasion?
Stuart

Isaiah 29

In verse 16 God's points out the unfaithful words Israel speak about him. They claim that God is "something" they created. How absurd. It is more than pointless for the creation to do anything other than honor the creator. How often do I act in a fashion similar to those ancient Jews? That is the question I need to carry when I consider this verse.
Stuart

Isaiah 26

God promises to keep his faithful people completely safe (Isa 26:3). Yet do we see God fulfilling his promise? Was Daniel guilty of idolatry? I don't think so, but he shared in the exile along with the sinful of Judah. Have not millions of believers over the centuries stood by their God only to loose their lives? How is that keeping them safe? I think clarity comes when we understand God's desire to give his people a permanent inheritance. Not one tainted by sin, but access to his untarnishable nature. So we see that even if his grace began at the cross its impact touched creation from the beginning until the end. That is the safety that we need most of all.
Stuart

Isaiah 25

Verses 7 and 8 of Isaiah 25 present a very interesting picture of God. There he makes a promise of a future action he will complete from mount Zion. "On this mountain he will swallow up the shroud that is over all the people,". There is only one trait that is common to every person; death. The idea of the shroud could be associated with contemporary burial customs. But who had ever heard of someone consuming a burial cloth? The image of God swallowing the symbol of death is revolutionary, even today. Many would accuse God of introducing death to paradise as a penalty for our sins. But this promise from the pen of Isaiah is not more death because of more sin. It is the absence of death in spite of the persistent presence of our sinfulness. I recall the miraculous execution of two of Korah's comrades of rebellion; where the earth swallowed them whole taking them down to Sheol (Num 16:30-33).  And verse 8 makes it clear that this action is neither limited or temporary. It will permanently change the landscape of life. And in the process of eliminating death he will remove sorrow and disgrace. Imagine life without sorrow, disgrace, and the fear of death. Sounds like Heaven to me.
Stuart

Isaiah 23

Isaiah spoke of a day that God was planning. It had not yet come to pass. On that future day Tyre will be destroyed. The ramifications to the people and merchants of Tyre are obvious. But what about the other nations who traded through Tyre? Would they not feel the impact of such a loss? Of course they would. That is why all the nations will mourn. Even in ancient days God's actions addressed more than a single people. His rebuke would be poured out on all people who share in Tyre's immorality. The economic  impact of God's rebukes can cause global problems. And only believers will understand the divine work of such actions.
Stuart

Jeremiah 40-42

In Jeremiah 42 we read about the leaders of Judah's remnant asking God's prophet for the LORD's direction. They fear the response of the king of Babylon for the assassination of his governor; an act they did not commit or approve. In the first six verses we see the detail of their request. Jeremiah did pray to God for guidance but verse 7 tells us that God waited 10 days before he returned an answer. Why did God wait so long? To the leader's credit they waited for God's answer. But when they received an answer with which they disagreed they rejected it. Why would they wait on God only to reject his leading? I'm not sure which is the greater message for Christians. We must be willing to wait and keep praying. But we also must heed God's answer when he does speak.
Stuart

Isaiah 20

In Isaiah 20:2 we find God's prophet walking around in sackcloth. There is no immediate indication for this sign of mourning. But the next step is pretty shocking. God called Isaiah to parade in his BVD's. He was to be a sign of the disposition of Egypt. Surely Isaiah shared the future humiliation with the Egyptians in generations to come. But God's message was also for Judah; don't hope in those who will be disgraced and humiliated. Always trust in God.
Stuart

Jeremiah 34-36

These chapters jump around. They are not in chronological order. Yet they carried a similar message to the first audience; obey the LORD with all you heart and soul. When we hear God's word we are to do the same thing.
Stuart

Jeremiah 31-32

I don’t know if it is just me but I think the events described in Jeremiah 32 are absurd. I’m not saying that they didn’t happen exactly as written. What I mean is that God is messing with our standards. He took a normal, everyday event; the selling of a field, and he placed it in an absurd situation; in the prison of a besieged city. Jeremiah is a prison in courtyard of the royal palace. He was not the only prisoner. There were a number of people locked up by the king. Some may have heeded Jeremiah’s message and wanted to defect to the Babylonian army. Regardless of why they were there they were in prison. One day Jeremiah receive a visit from his cousin Hanamel. He want Jeremiah, the prisoner, to buy a piece of land. Jeremiah had been prepared for this even by a word from God. The divine instructions; buy the land from your cousin. This wasn’t territory inside of Jerusalem. It was a field in Anathoth of Benjamin. Property located outside of the siege works that surrounded Jerusalem. Is it just me or does this story sound insane? I wonder why Hanamel wanted with the money? Did he think he could buy food? Was he hoping that he would have something to take with him after the fall of Jerusalem? Then comes another funny aspect; where did Jeremiah get the silver? It could be that his servant Baruch brought him the money. I wonder if he had Baruch bring the money after God gave him the message and before Hanamel showed up. If so what did Baruch think of the request? “Baruch,” Jeremiah could have said, “Go fetch me 20 shekels of silver.” Baruch would have looked through the bars of his imprisoned master with a puzzled look on his face. Then he asked, “Why?” I imagine Jeremiah speaking with a straight face, “God said I’ll need it to buy some land.” In a few days Hanamel shows up and Jeremiah buys the land with the silver Baruch had given him. Jeremiah had his fellow prisoners witness the transaction, and prepared the customary sealed and unsealed documents regarding the transaction.” The scrolls were given to Baruch to put in a “safety deposit box.”

 

If I’m reading it correctly Jeremiah tells the events of this story as answer to king Zedekiah’s question as to why he was prophesying as he did (Jer 32:3-25). Maybe Jeremiah’s answer to the king was the rest of the words of chapter 32.  Regardless it is a good reminder that what may seem absurd or even foolish in my eyes may be exactly what God wants me to say or do.

 

Stuart

 

Jeremiah 29-30

The subject matter of Jeremiah surrounds three letters. One was written by Jeremiah and sent to the exiles in Babylon. The second was prepared in Babylon and sent to Jerusalem. This prompted a second letter from Jeremiah's hand specifically to the author in exile. God did not commission the second but he did the first and third. The second letter was written by Shemaiah the Nehelamite. He claimed God's authority and chose Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to lock up Jeremiah to silence his voice. The outcome of this dueling of letters is not detailed. A search of the name Shemaiah reports a number of such men. Yet only one is listed as the Nehelamite. He is mentioned only in Jeremiah 29. The last we hear of this man is that God chosen to punish he and his family for leading a rebellion against God (29:32). And we never hear of him again. There are no Nehelamites listed among the people who returned to Jerusalem after the exile. This outcome tells me that not only did God fulfill his judgment against Shemaiah, it also validates Jeremiah's message to the exiles. A promise that Jeremiah would not live to see.
Stuart