King Hezekiah knew what to do when he needed help. “And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord” (Isaiah 37:15) The power of prayer still remains just as strong today. “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16)
Today’s reading: Isaiah 37-39; Psalm 76
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Similar to the king’s command in this passage, sometimes it is in our best interest to be silent. “But they were silent and answered him not a word, for the king’s command was, ‘Do not answer him.’” (Isaiah 36:21) The Proverb writer gives similar advice, “Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.” (Proverbs 21:23)
Today’s reading: Isaiah 35-36
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Isaiah 34-35 is a prophecy of the wrath of God on the nations that were against His people. We know the ending: “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isaiah 35:10) We may not be fighting these types of physical battles, but we can still be the “ransomed of the Lord” and enjoy this same protection and promise from our Heavenly Father if we follow Him.
Today’s reading: Isaiah 31-34
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The Isrealites at times lacked trust in God and His plan. In Isaiah chapter 30 we see them trying to do things their way. God had promised to protect them, but they were scared and made an alliance with Egypt. “Ah, stubborn children,” declares the LORD, “who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin;” (Isaiah 30:1) The best ideas that any human can come up with do not compare to what God already has planned. “For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (1Corinthians 1:25)
Today’s reading: Isaiah 28-30
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We know that God’s people did not always follow Him as they should have, but He gave them every opportunity. “O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit.” (Hosea 14:8) He promised to look after them if they would just follow Him and He makes the same promise to us today. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7) This book of prophecy from Hosea ends by giving one last encouragement to study and follow God’s word. “Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.” (Hosea 14:9)
Today’s reading: Hosea 8-14
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God’s words thru Hosea tell a reason that the people were ruined. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” (Hosea 4:6) Without God’s word to guide our lives we will only live like the world. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2) To have the knowledge of God’s word that we need to live takes work on our part. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) We have the Bereans as an example to follow for getting that knowledge and keeping it in our minds to guide us. “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)
Today’s reading: Hosea 1-7
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We are used to everyone having a lifespan. But, as the Psalmist said, we have a Heavenly Father who always has been and always will be. “For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death.” (Psalms 48:14) Where else would we want to go for guidance?
Today’s reading: 2 Kings 18; 2 Chronicles 29-31; Psalm 48
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Isaiah chapter 26 was written as a song of praise to our heavenly Father. It was to be in response to His deliverance of the Jews. It exclaims the trust that they had in God and His power to save them from their enemies. The appreciation of the saved can be seen in these words. “With my soul I have desired You in the night, Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; For when Your judgments are in the earth, The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” (Isaiah 26:9) The seeking Him in the night and early in the morning means their desire to serve Him was constant. These are words that we should repeat in our daily lives as well. We may not have been saved from a physical conflict, but we can be saved from something more deadly, our conflict with sin.
Today’s reading: Isaiah 23-27
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Everything on this earth has a limited lifespan and will be destroyed at some point, but there is something that has an eternal lifespan and will never be weakened or destroyed. “Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.” (Isaiah 26:4) Why would we depend on any other source to guide us towards eternity?
Today’s reading: Isaiah 18-22
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As a prophet of God, Isaiah was able to share God’s words with others. Some of the prophecies foretold of God’s wrath that was to come. “The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.” (Isa 19:1) There is no person today who can prophesy, but each of us can know and share words from God. By His providence, the inspired Word has been preserved for our benefit. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” (2Timothy 3:16) We can also know that God’s wrath still exists today for those who do not heed these instructions. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;” (Rom 1:18)
Today’s reading: Isaiah 13-17
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