Today is one of those days where the YouVersion app or the one-year chronological bible would be a help for sure! Here we go: 2 Kings 21:1-9, 2 Chronicles 33;1-9, 2 Kings 21:10-17, 2 Chronicles 33;10-19, 2 Kings 21:18, 2 Chronicles 33:20, 2 Kings 21:19-26, 2 Chronicles 33:21-25, 2 Kings 22;1-2, 2 Chronicles 34;1-7, Jeremiah 1, and Jeremiah 2:1-22. Got all that? 🙂 Lots happening, but I'll just pick one thought. It's hard to narrow it down some days!
Sad day. After Hezekiah, I’m discouraged that his son strayed so far. In 2 Chronicles 33, there’s a couple of verses that say he prayed and turned back to God, but the people didn’t change as a result of his repentance. Actions do speak louder than words, and he had spent a lifetime on evil.
Josiah is a relief! It stands out to me how many times age comes up and doesn’t matter to God. Josiah was only 16 when he turned to the Lord (8 when we became king) but made wise and right choices (unlike Manasseh who also became king very young).
Faithfulness to God is what is important.
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!
Here we go! Let's read 2 Kings 20:1-11, Isaiah 38:1-8, 2 Chronicles 32:24-31, Isaiah 38:9-22, 2 Kings 20:12-19, and Isaiah 39. Lots of ups and downs. Even though I haven’t done a play-by-play of the day’s reading yet, maybe I’ll make an exception today!
Hezekiah receives a prophecy that he’ll die, so he prays (2 Kings 20:3). With the faithfulness that we always find in Him, God hears Hezekiah. The Lord sent a miraculous sign and extended his life ( 2 Kings 20:5-6). Hezekiah says “the Lord was ready to save me” (Isaiah 38:20). Of course, He was ready to save! Even today, He IS ready to save us at all times. Sitting at "go" all the time, waiting for opportunities to show Himself strong on our behalf.
Hezekiah receives another terrifying prophecy (2 Kings 20:16-19) and his response is literally “well, at least I’ll have peace in my lifetime”. Ugh! Is he kidding right now? Yesterday we were talking about leaving a godly legacy like David, and today Hezekiah can’t think past his own life (and he’s one of the good ones! Remember what a relief it was when he came to power after all the evil kings?).
Contrary to what our selfish nature says, what we do and the legacy we leave is important. We have to think beyond our SELF. It’s unbelievable how quickly our hearts can turn from GOD to SELF (Hezekiah gave us whiplash today). This is a constant battle - and we have to purpose to WIN.
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.
