July 9, 2012

Let Us Reason Together (7/9)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Isaiah 1-4.

At the time when Isaiah prophesied, the people of Judah had become so sinful and corrupt that God would not even accept their sacrifices or hear their prayers (Isaiah 1:2-4, 10-15). Yet God was willing to offer them a chance at reconciliation. So He extended an invitation to them.

“‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord, ‘though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool. If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.’ Truly, the mouth of the Lord has spoken” (Isaiah 1:18-20).

The invitation began with God calling the people to “reason together” with Him. He wanted them to understand their current state, His offer, and the conditions attached to that offer.
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July 8, 2012

It Is Not for You to Burn Incense to the Lord (7/8)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 2 Kings 15; 2 Chronicles 26.

Much of Uzziah’s reign over Judah was marked by faithfulness and success. Yet this success eventually led the king to sin against God by assuming a role that He had not given him.

“But when he became strong, his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to the Lord his God, for he entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.

“Then Azariah the priest entered after him and with him eighty priests of the Lord, valiant men. They opposed Uzziah the king and said to him, ‘It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful and will have no honor from the Lord God.’

“But Uzziah, with a censer in his hand for burning incense, was enraged; and while he was enraged with the priests, the leprosy broke out on his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the altar of incense” (2 Chronicles 26:16-19).

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July 7, 2012

A Gracious and Compassionate God (7/7)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Jonah 1-4.

Most Bible students are familiar with the account of Jonah. God called him to go to Nineveh to prophesy of their coming destruction. Jonah fled in a ship to Tarshish. A storm threatened the ship which led to Jonah being thrown overboard and being swallowed by a great fish. After three days and nights, Jonah prayed to God, the fish vomited Jonah up on to dry land, and he went to Nineveh. As a result of his prophesying, the people, including the leaders, repented; and God changed His mind about their destruction. Jonah was not pleased with this.

“But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord and said, ‘Please Lord, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity’” (Jonah 4:1-2).

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July 6, 2012

“Easier for a Camel to Go through the Eye of a Needle”

Camel

“And Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’ When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, ‘Then who can be saved?’ And looking at them Jesus said to them, ‘With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” (Matthew 19:23-26).

This is one of the difficult statements of Jesus. It almost seems as though He was discouraging a portion of His followers and future followers (the rich) from coming after Him. Yet His statement was not meant to be discouraging, but a warning of the potential danger that riches can be to one’s spiritual well-being.
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July 6, 2012

"Each Shall Be Put to Death for His Own Sin" (7/6)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 2 Kings 14; 2 Chronicles 25.

Amaziah became king of Judah after his father, Joash, was killed. When an appropriate time came, he punished those who were guilty of killing his father.

“Now it came about, as soon as the kingdom was firmly in his hand, that he killed his servants who had slain the king his father. But the sons of the slayers he did not put to death, according to what is written in the book of the Law of Moses, as the Lord commanded, saying, ‘The fathers shall not be put to death for the sons, nor the sons be put to death for the fathers; but each shall be put to death for his own sin” (2 Kings 14:5-6).

Amaziah could have reacted emotionally, rather than according to the Law. It would have been easy to do so since it was his father that had been killed. But rather than overreact and kill the children of the guilty men, he killed only those who were guilty. This was in keeping with the law (Deuteronomy 24:16).
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July 5, 2012

Joash Did What Was Right All the Days of Jehoiada (7/5)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 2 Kings 12-13; 2 Chronicles 24.

Joash became king when he was just seven years old. Understandably, he needed help from a faithful, God-fearing man at the beginning of his reign in order to rule properly. He received the guidance he needed from Jehoiada.

“Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest” (2 Chronicles 24:2).

Unfortunately, after the death of Jehoiada, Joash made a sharp departure from faithful service to God and godly governance.
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July 4, 2012

"See My Zeal for the Lord" (7/4)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 2 Kings 9-11.

When Elisha anointed Jehu as king over Israel, he revealed a specific mission which God had for him.

“You shall strike the house of Ahab your master, that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord, at the hand of Jezebel. For the whole house of Ahab shall perish, and I will cut off from Ahab every male person both bond and free in Israel” (2 Kings 9:7-8).

Jehu faithfully executed God’s judgment against the house of Ahab. When he met Jehonadab, the record shows Jehu’s completion of this work and why he was successful in carrying it out.
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