Isaiah in chapter 5 presents a picture of Israel to the people of Jerusalem as a vineyard. Isaiah tells the people of Jerusalem of their straying from the path that God desired for them. “And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not done in it? When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes? And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and briers and thorns shall grow up; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry!” Isaiah 5:3-7 Continue Reading…
Do not be consumed by the things of the world: Isaiah 5 and 6
Find your hope in the saving grace of God: Isaiah 1 and 2
What emotions and thought come to mind when you think about culture, society, and prosperity? Do we live today at the pinnacle of human society? Across the generations people have thought that their current progress and ingenuity was paramount to the existence of man. In Isaiah chapters 1 and 2 the prophet Isaiah brings the word of God to the people of Israel. ”Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the LORD has spoken: ‘Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.’ Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged.” Isaiah 1:3,4 Continue Reading…
A virtuous call to love God and those around us: Proverbs 31
What does Proverbs 31 mean to us today? Does the text only apply to women? What if your not married? It is easy and quite common to say that verses 10 through 31 are an exhortation for women depicting how they should live their lives. However, I believe that the scripture is profitable for everyone in every circumstance they find themselves in. Even through proverbs 31 speak of a woman’s conduct I believe that there is a call for everyone to live a virtuous life seeking God within the text. If we all seek to diligently follow God we will exemplify these virtues described in Proverbs 31. Continue Reading…
A covenant with my heart, mind, soul, and strength: Job 31 and 32
“I have made a covenant with my eyes; How then could I gaze at a virgin?” Job 31:1 What is Job saying? What is the impact of this statement? Is the chapter talking only about sexual lust? Can we withstand temptation if we have not set our hearts first to follow only the things of God? When Job says that he has made a covenant with his eyes to not look with lust upon a virgin, he has set himself toward looking away from what his eyes inherently want to lust after. In the same way today we need to set our heart, mind, soul and strength on the things of God long before we wade through our daily routine. Hope in the moment of temptation will be found when you find yourself desiring God above the lustful things of this world. Continue Reading…
True worship of God expressed in love: 1 Kings 7 and 8
Why did Solomon build such an amazing Temple? Why are we given such details about the actual Temple building and all of the fixtures within the Temple? Does God look at the physical building when people gather to worship him or does He look upon the motives of the people who are gathering to worship Him? What do you think God cares about? The question of how we worship God is nothing new because we are always trying to obtain a direct, tangible, and concrete definition of what faith in God truly looks like. “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval.” Hebrews 11:1,2 In Hebrews we are told that the men of old gained approval by faith and a long list of noteworthy people of renown are listed. So why did Solomon build this temple for the Lord? What does worship look like? What is expressed in worship? Continue Reading…
In life will you seek forgiveness and humility: 2 Samuel 3 and 4
How often do you feel yourself becoming filled with anger, fear, pride, hate, or discontent? What is the motivation behind your actions when you are like this? Do you label your feelings as righteous to justify your actions? Can we label any action by man as righteous? During the time of conflict between Israel and Judah in 2 Samuel 3 and 4 men make accusations, decisions, and assumptions that illustrate the need for true forgiveness and humility.
Abner is accused by Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul and king of Israel, of sleeping with a concubine of Saul’s in 2 Samuel 3. Did Abner truly sleep with the concubine? Was Ish-bosheth afraid of losing his authority as king making him not trust Abner? Was it so easy for Ish-bosheth to forget that it was Abner who established him as king over Israel after Saul’s death? Why did Abner seek to establish Ish-bosheth as king? What motivated thes men? Why do people so quickly turn upon the ones who truly care for them when their personal security feels threatened? After these accusations were made Abner chooses to no longer support the lineage of Saul as king and he seeks out David to make a covenant to serve him and help establish his rule as king. What motivated Abner to make peace with David? Was it spite of Ish-bosheth or a desire for renown that prompted Abner t? Continue Reading…
David fights Goliath as a jealous Saul looks on in 1 Samuel 17 and 18
Is it easy to become too familiar with stories in the Bible causing us to not reread them to discover the truths they hold. In 1 Samuel 17 the story of David fighting Goliath is retold but it was easy for me to want to read the story with less attention to detail because I know the story? The story of God using a small shepherd by to kill the champion of the Philistines exemplifies God using strength found in weakness to bring down the powerful but what else is conveyed in the story of David and Goliath? What were the thoughts and feelings of the men in the army of Israel as they were facing Goliath? What changes are evident in Saul’s leadership of the people? Did Saul’s lack of dependance upon God transfer into the men he led causing them to become fearful? Continue Reading…
Leave lethargy by loving God and loving people: Judges 19 and 20
My reading of Judges 19 and 20 today filled me with a sense of sadness and fear. I initially started reading looking for the positive side of the story presented, looking for the judge that will come and deliver the people of Israel. I was filled with sadness when I read about the action and inaction of the sons of Israel and seeing how far they strayed from the desires of God. I was also filled with fear because I realize how much I am like the Israelites because our common inherent sinful nature. What was lacking that made the Israelites wander so far astray from God? Do I display their same faults that are leading me down a path of destruction and chaos just like the Israelites? Continue Reading…
Pondering the Nephilim brings Hope for tomorrow: Joshua 11 and 12
I have had a few conversations with people recently where they claimed the Bible contradicted itself. The argument rests in the fact that God forbids murder but there is all the bloodshed that happens. I was reminded of the conversation I had because of all the bloodshed and killing in Joshua 11 and 12. Why did God allow these people to be killed? Is this a contradiction? How do we find the answers? As I have blogged my way through the Bible I have developed a greater understanding of the story. Let me share my thoughts with you. Continue Reading…
Following God in the face of deception: Joshua 9 and 10
What happens when we disobey God? What happens when we obey God? Why should we care? There is a story to be found about following and obeying God in Joshua chapters 9 and 10. In Joshua chapter 7 when the Israelites attacked Ai they were defeated by a substantially smaller force because they did not have God’s blessing and in fact God’s anger was kindled against Israel. The disobedience of Achan had made the Israelites unable to fight. Did pride filled their hearts as they thought the people of Ai to be an easy to defeat? In Joshua 9 and 10 the Israelites had moments where they could have again had the wrath of God turn upon them but in this moment the leaders choose to obey God instead of following their own way. Continue Reading…
